LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Manchester has over 2 million LEGO bricks under one roof.
On Sunday (7 February 2016) I visited LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Manchester (my first visit) on behalf on What’s Good To Do with 3 year old twin boys (they have visited several times). It was well signposted and easy to get to through the Intu Trafford Centre and is situated near SEA LIFE.
We have Merlin Annual Passes which gave us priority entry in the attraction so meant we didn’t have to join the main queue and only queued for about 5 minutes.
LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Manchester is an attraction aimed at children from the ages of 3 to 10 years old although I do feel that there wasn’t enough for 3 year olds to do and is better suited from 4 years. That said, while I felt there wasn’t enough for 3 year olds both boys enjoyed it and had a good couple of hours with both of them saying they had fun.
Once inside the centre our first stop was the LEGO Factory Tour where a very excited host showed us how LEGO bricks are made – these involves getting everybody to jump up and down to start the machinery followed by children selected at random to press buttons and turn wheels to “help” make the bricks. This tour lasts 5 to 10 minutes and at the end each child gets a “freshly made” LEGO brick to take home.
After the Factory Tour we went on the Kingdom Quest Laser Ride where each rider (up to 5 per car) has a laser gun and has to shoot skeletons and trolls on their way around the track with the aim of rescuing the Princess and of course to see who can get the highest score. While at 3 the boys didn’t quite understand what they had to shoot they loved the ride.
In to the main part where we took a slow walk through Miniland – a miniature land built in LEGO with trains, boats, canals, even the local area. After this both boys rushed off to the LEGO pits and spent at least half an hour building towers (they only left when I said we had to try something else or they would have been there for hours).
Both boys were too small and too young for the Forest Pursuit ride and soft play area but by this time had spotted a slide next to the café and rushed off. This is a small chute with padded areas all around for safety, part of the LEGO DUPLO Farm and if allowed they would have probably spent all day climbing through the house to slide down the chute.
We didn’t get time to try the LEGO Racers Build & Test, the 4D cinema or some of the other things on offer, some things the boys are just too young or small for but as we have annual passes this isn’t a problem as we can visit as often as we like.
On leaving you pass through the impressive LEGO Star Wars Miniland display and then exit, as with most attractions, through the shop.
Overall both boys had great fun. Personally I feel that there wasn’t much do for their age group, at least on the day of our visit – special events are held regularly throughout the year, and feel that it would be better suited for age 4-10. That said both boys found things to do and enjoyed themselves and that’s all that matters.
As Merlin Annual Pass holders this represents value for money as you can visit as often as required, if paying for a one off visit I think once the boys are older would be excellent value as tickets can be purchased online in advance from £9.95 but if I had purchased tickets as a walk up I think at age 3 the price is a bit steep.
But as both boys enjoyed a couple of hours there I would have to rate it 4 out of 5. A good day out for LEGO fans as more that 2 million LEGO bricks inside, but in my opinion more suitable for children aged 4 years and over.
Rating: 4/5
Tickets cost from £9.95 if booked online in advance or £18.95pp walk up price.
For more information or to book tickets online visit www.legolanddiscoverycentre.co.uk.
LEGOLAND Discovery Centre, Barton Square, The Trafford Centre, Manchester, M17 8AS
