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A Dad Review: Preston Park: Museum and Grounds

PRESTON PARK: MUSEUM AND GROUNDS
 
About 40 miles away from Newcastle in Stocksfield is what I would consider to be one of the best attractions in the North East...Preston Park.
 
 
 
We have been coming here for years with the twins and we visit at least 3 or 4 times a year. Situated on Yarm Road in the middle of a residential area is the entrance to Preston Park which, once you have entered the grounds, is much bigger than you would anticipate. There is a decent sized car park with a good sized overflow car park so parking is never really an issue although if you arrive in the afternoon you could struggle. Preston Park is one of those places that you can accidentally spend the entire day at as there is so much to do. This includes:
 
  • Adventure Playground
  • Parklands
  • River Walks
  • Skate Park
  • Preston Hall Museum
  • Victorian Street
  • Walled Garden
  • Café
 
 
 
The first thing you will see is the giant adventure playground, which is extremely well equipped for all ages, and has one of the biggest climbing nets I have ever seen. The twins have only been able to get all the way to the top this year and they love getting there, crossing the rope bridge and going down a pretty awesome slide. As well as the climbing net and slide there are plenty of other things for the kids to play on too including swings, climbing frames, a zip wire, sand pit and snake swing. Just down from the adventure playground is the river and the there are really nice walks along the riverside and in the surround parklands areas. One of the best things about this is that it is all FREE. There are no fees to park and there is no cost to enter the playground or the other outside areas. At the back of the adventure playground is a café which has a decent menu, is reasonably priced and where parents can get a really good cup of coffee to enjoy whilst their kids run wild. As well as the café there is also a good area full of picnic tables (we always take a picnic), good sized toilet facilities that are well maintained and a skate park which is always absolutely rammed with kids on their skateboards and scooters.
 
 
 
If you can manage to get your kids out of the playground and / or skate park you can then visit Preston Hall itself. There is a charge to get in here but it is only £5 for a family ticket (2 adults and 4 concessions) which lasts for 12 months. So you pay once and can then go again and again and again as many times as you like for the next year. Now that is a bargain! Preston Hall is a really interesting museum. The galleries are split over two floors into the following sections:
 
The Hall and It's People: A history of the people who used to live there
 
 
Collectors and Collecting: A range of collections including weapons, medals and Ions
 
The River Tees: The history of the settlers and trades who came to the borough
 
Clocking Off: A world of "after hours entertainment" throughout the years
 
Temporary Gallery: Regularly changes - on our recent visit it was about The Seaside
 
 
Usually there is some kind of activity you can do throughout the museum which appeals to the kids (and grown ups). The latest one was searching for treasure chests throughout the galleries by solving pirate related clues. It was great fun and the kids got really involved. Once you have made your way through the galleries you go downstairs and enter a replica Victorian street. This is one of the highlights of visiting. The street contains several replica shops such as a chemist, drapers, grocers, police station and a blacksmiths. There is also a sweet shop and a tea room which are fully functioning and where you can actually get a cup of tea and buy sweets. The street is operated by volunteers so there are no set hours for anything being open but generally at least one of the shops will be open. We have yet to visit when the sweet shop hasn't been open which, having kids, is a good thing. There are also Victorian games that can be played in the street and there is a walled garden which you can explore too.
 
We love Preston Park. We enjoy the drive there and back, the twins love the adventure playground, the cafe is good, the grounds are interesting, the museum is brilliant and never gets boring, the Victorian street is brilliant, the sweet shop is awesome and all in all it is a superb day out. We must have been here over 20 times since the twins were born and I have no doubt we will continue to visit for years and years to come. If you are able to get there you will have a great day out and you won't regret it.
 
 
Preston Park: Museum and Grounds is truly one of the best gems of the North East and should be visited by everyone.
 
Here is their website: http://www.prestonparkmuseum.co.uk/
 
And you can follow them on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/pparkmuseum
 
Until next time...
 
The Twiglet's Dad 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


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