With six stackable pots of slime compounds and four decorations to add texture and sounds, the Slime Sensations 3 in 1 ASMR Desk is a fun sensory toy for children aged 6+. Will it live up to expectations?We put it through its paces to find out!
What is the So Slime Sensations 3-in-1 ASMR Desk
The So Slime Sensations 3-in-1 ASMR Desk contains six compounds with four different decorations that you can mix and match to create fun ASMR textures and sounds. With a multi use desk and stockable storage pots, you can enjoy mess free fun and take your creations with you. All of the slimes are non toxic, boron and glue free and recommended for children aged six and above.
First impressions of So Slime Sensations ASMR Desk
Our toy tester Matilda was super excited to get her hands stuck into this kit – her Mum not so much, largely due to having issues in the past with slime due to the amount of mess created. With stacking storage pots and a small ‘desk’ unit for playing with the slime, Canal Toys claim that this set is more ‘mess-free’ than other products on the market, something we were keen to test!
What’s in the box?
ASMR Desk
Six storage pots
Six different textured slime compounds
Four decorations
Instructions leaflet
Our So Slime Sensations 3-in-1 ASMR Desk Review
The So Slime Sensations ASMR Desk comes in brightly coloured turquoise packaging and you can clearly see the contents stashed inside.
Once opened, we revealed a sturdy turquoise tray desk for making your slime creations in, with several storage areas built into the base. Everything was packed in its own colour-coordinated and stackable tubs which was a big relief – allowing children to play with the slime and then store away easily without leaving behind any mess. We loved the fact that everything could be tidied neatly away after use, with a convenient carry handle for taking it with you outside the home.
Inside the box were six completely different texture compounds including Mega Slime, Foamy Slime, Everfoam, Crunchy Slime, Sandy Fluff and Original Slime, as well as four types of decorations – big beads, bingsu, sponge and smaller multicoloured beads.
It was obvious straight away that the decorations quantities were really quite small – with only about a teaspoon of each one. I wish there had been more of the decorations as this didn’t feel sufficient to create six mix and match slimes. It was also much less than the packaging suggested.
It’s also worth mentioning that all of the slime is ready-made, so the ‘creations’ element comes in by adding the texture and ASMR elements to the preprepared textured compounds.
Our experience of So Slime Sensations ASMR Desk
The desk is a really clever idea, create very little mess if at all. Once opened, the decorations could be poured into the small storage indents on the desk, and other than the odd little bead or piece of foam falling on the floor, we were able to keep it relatively self contained.
What were the slimes like?
There were six different slime compounds in the set and some we liked much more than others. We’ve listed them in order of preference below:
Sandy fluff – This was our favourite slime compound in the set by far. Not only did it smell amazing, it had a really tactile and appealing texture which felt so soft to the touch – almost like pulling candy floss.
Crunchy Slime – we loved the texture of this and the ASMR crunchy crackly noises it created when stretched but found it quite runny and sticky. Matilda loved how much it stretched but it did leave a bit of residue on fingers – so it’s handy to have some baby wipes nearby!
Original Slime – The original slime was a lovely cyan green colour and great stretch really well. We didn’t find this slime sticky at all and the decorations stuck well to it – particularly the bingsu pieces.
Foamy – This slime felt wetter compared to the other slimes and had a unique sensation when touching it, almost like a chewing gum or marshmallow sweet.
Mega slime – This was one of our least favourite slimes in the set. We found it wouldn’t keep hold of any of the decorations and they kept falling out into the tray when played with. It didn’t really stretch very well either, just snapped apart very easily.
Everfoam – This compound was made up of lots of tiny little balls and we struggled to get it out the tub, it kept breaking off into smaller pieces and as such, it felt more like a decoration to add to other slimes rather than a compound in its own right.
Our overall verdict
Over all Matilda loved this kit but thought it would have been more fun if she could have made a slime or two from scratch rather than them already made up and ready to go. We would also have loved to have seen slightly more of each decoration, however at £17.99 its fairly good value overall when you consider you get six pots of slime.
I love the fact it comes in its own carry case so you can easily pack it away without any fuss and won’t cause mess. The stand itself stops the worry of the slime getting all over the furniture as it’s a great size working station to make those creations.
Where can I buy So Slime Mix’in Sensations 3-in-1 Desk?
The So Slime Sensations 3-in-1 Des has an RRP of £17.99 and is available to buy at Amazon or Smyths Toys.
Are you heading on holiday with the kids this summer? These bright and colourful Sticker Wow Activity Pads make a fun and mess-free activity to help entertain children during travel. Here’s our tried and tested verdict!
What are Sticker Wow Activity Pads?
Melissa and Doug Sticker Wow! is a fun and mess free way for children to play with stickers – whether that’s inside the home, during travel or simply to keep them entertained during meals out with friends and family.
Each activity book comes with a refillable sticker stamper in a choice of four characters and 24 pages of brightly illustrated pages with themes such as counting, matching, patterns and search and find activities.
Each character comes pre loaded with 300 easy to remove stickers, all of which feature engaging designs based on the theme of the book. Once all the stickers are used up, you can buy refill packs to reload the stamper and start all over again!
At the time of writing, there are four diffferent characters available in the Sticker Wow activity pads and these are Tiger, Dinosaur, Dog and Unicorn. Each sticker stampler has a cute character on the top and the sticker dispenser on the bottom and are perfectly sized for small hands to hold.
How does Sticker Wow work?
Sticker Wow couldn’t be easier to use and Neve couldn’t wait to get started. The stickers are preloaded into the stamper, so you simply need to remove it from the packagaing and its ready to use straight away. To release a sticker, you simply need to gently press down on the paper and out it pops – making a super satsifying noise as it sticks to the paper below.
You can see Sticker Wow in action in our reel below:
Whilst the stickers themselves aren’t reusable, unlike normal stickers they are very easy to remove, simply lifting them away from the paper with your fingernail without any residue or ‘sticky’ stuff left behind.
Once you have used all 300 stickers however, you can buy a refill pack to reload the stamper and use again.
What are the activity pads like?
The activity pads themselves are great – with a variety of designs all around the same theme as the character. The pages are brightly coloured with engaging illustrations. Neve loved the variety of activities on each page, from completing a circle, stamping numbers in order, following set patterns and even ‘freestyle’ pages like the one below, where she was able to simply stamp to her hearts content.
What we love about Sticker Wow
Ideal for entertainment during travel (without any mess)
Stickers are easy to remove and don’t leave a residue like traditional stickers
Brightly coloured and educational activity pads
Super cute stamper characters
Reusable stamper can be refilled when stickers run out
Good value for money
What would we change about Sticker Wow?
At £4.99 each, we wish the refill packs were a little bit cheaper, but Amazon do sell some combination packs (with a pad and refill pack) at a discounted price, which offers better overall value for money.
Where can I buy Sticker Wow?
The Melissa and Doug Sticker Wow Activity pads are available now at Amazon.
There is no such thing as perfect parenting, but there are always ways to be a better one.
We all want the best for our children, so we can raise healthy and well-adjusted offspring, ready for all the world may throw at them. We need to teach them hard and soft skills for coping with life so that they can thrive.
Some aspects of parenting are harder than others, and although everyone makes mistakes, the best part of being a parent is that there is always room for improvement.
Below are five easy ways to improve your parenting skills that you can start today:
Keep Calm
Children pick up on your emotions faster than you think.
When you are frustrated and short-tempered, they feel it. It is crucial to remain calm, even when your child’s behavior is difficult to deal with. When children feel overwhelmed with emotions or do not know how to deal with a situation, they often voice those emotions, and that then gets labeled as a tantrum.
Call it whatever you want; the result is the same – your child needs you to keep calm.
Be Understanding
Big emotions in a little body can be scary and so overwhelming for a child.
Your little person needs you to be understanding when they feel overwhelmed, excited, angry – or any emotion. As an adult, you have likely experienced every emotion possible. You understand emotions and how they work, but your child is still learning how to process their feelings.
Be patient and understanding with your little one; it will help.
Personality Assessments
Knowing where your child is on the personality spectrum will make parenting simpler.
Doing a kid assessment will help you understand your child and get a complete picture of where they are emotionally, socially, and behaviorally. Your child’s personality today can predict how they will behave as an adult.
Your child’s personality has multiple facets or components, including temperament, character, and environment. The sooner you learn more about your little one’s personality, the more you can tailor your parenting skills to suit their needs.
Make Time for Your Kids
Making time for your kids is essential for building stronger bonds.
It teaches children the importance of interaction, nurtures confidence, and makes them feel safe in their space. Neglecting to spend time with your children will be detrimental to their development.
As busy as you are, you must make time for your family. Never take bonding time with your children for granted – they grow up in the blink of an eye, and you do not want to miss out on anything.
Love Unconditionally
Your children will likely not recall every aspect of their childhoods. Some memories will be cherished, and others will get lost. They might not remember every family holiday or weekend at the park, but they will remember how you made them feel.
Your priority as a parent is to protect your child, make them feel safe, and, most importantly, be loved unconditionally. When you get that part right, everything else will fall into place easier.
There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to parenting – all you can do is your best.
Ad – Our Best Yoto cards for toddlers post contains affiliate links
It’s no secret that we’re HUGE fans of Yoto in this house. We’ve been an avid Yoto family for a couple of years now and with a combination of the Yoto Player and the Yoto Mini, Yoto has made a huge impact on our daily lives. Whether we’re listening to Yoto stories and sleep sounds as part of the girl’s bedtime routine, using the Yoto Mini as a friendly companion during travel or enjoying Yoto Daily – a daily podcast whilst eating their breakfast, we absolutely love exploring the new range of Yoto cards that are released regularly on the Yoto Store. As admin to the Yoto Fans UK Facebook group, one of the questions I hear all the time is, ‘Is my child too young for a Yoto Player?” so I thought I’d share this post to provide a little peace of mind.
Is a Yoto Player suitable for babies and toddlers?
Officially the Yoto Player is aimed at children aged three and above however there are lots of Yoto cards and content that make the Yoto a fun, engaging, educational and calming activity for babies and toddlers when used with parental supervision.
One of the biggest challenges you may have with younger children is that they may enjoy the action of physically adding and removing the card from the Yoto player. Whilst the Yoto players themselves are fairly robust (especially when used with an Adventure Jacket) the card content will stop and start every time the card is removed, which could get a little annoying after a while!
With babies and toddlers, you may find it easier to control the Yoto player or Yoto Mini directly from your mobile phone and introduce the element of choice and self-direction by providing physical cards to your child at a later date. Every child and family is different, however – so do what works best for you.
Summary of the Best Yoto Cards for Toddlers
Full details of the best Yoto cards (with information about each card), along with details of free Yoto features that are ideal for babies, toddlers and preschoolers can be found further down the page, but if you’re in a hurry – here’s our pick of the best Yoto cards for toddlers.
Best musical Yoto card for toddlers: Casper Babypants
Best educational Yoto card for toddlers: LEGO Duplo All Aboard the Number Train
Best sleep Yoto card for toddlers: Friends Forever with Moshi
Best bedtime story Yoto card for toddlers: 10 minutes to Bed collection
Best interactive Yoto card for toddlers: Who’s inside your audiobook?
Best character yoto card for toddlers: Peppa and Friends: A friendship story
Best Yoto card for preschoolers: Percy the Park Keeper Collection
First up, Yoto has lots of free features and content that is perfect for toddlers. Here are just a small selection:
Sleep Sounds – Does your child struggle to switch off at bedtime? Do they sleep better with reassuring white noise or background sounds to soothe them off to sleep? Yoto has a built in sleep sounds function, which can be accessed via the Discover and Sleep Sounds menu on the Yoto app. Here you can choose from a selection of sounds including white noise, a fan, vacuum cleaner or nature sounds such as thunder rain, gentle waves or grassy fields. These sleep sounds are completely free to access and can be played remotely from another room as long as the Yoto player is switched on.
Sleep Radio – Yoto also have a sleep radio station that is free to access (as long as you are connected to your wifi). This Yoto run radio station is curated specifically to create a calm and soothing bedtime routine – with a combination of lullabies, classic music and sleep sounds. You can stream this on wifi or link to a Make Your Own (MYO) Yoto card should you wish.
Toothbrush Timers – Is your toddler learning to brush their own teeth? The fun Toothbrush Timer makes brushing their teeth fun – with two minutes of engaging audio to listen to as they scrub, brush and rinse. The Yoto toothbrush timer is free to access via the Discover section of the Yoto app.
Soundscapes Lab – If your child loves imaginative play, they’ll love the Yoto Soundscapes selection. From the steam train to pirate ship, and our personal favourite, the enchanted forest, these free-to-access soundscapes make the perfect accompaniment to play, with magical sounds, music and sound effects to set the scene. Again, you’ve guessed it, it’s in the Discover section of the app and is completely free to access.
Ok to wake clock – If you’re using the Yoto Player, the nightlight can also make a great addition to your toddler’s bedtime routine, with a choice of seven comforting glows that can provide a reassuring light in your child’s bedroom at night. Using the settings on the Yoto app, you can also set a preferred wake and sleep time, with the symbol changing from a sun to a moon alongside the digital clock as a visual reminder. The sleep and moon can help toddlers learn the difference between night and day, and encourage them to get back in bed if they wake up whilst the moon is still on the display.
Yoto podcasts – Toddlers will LOVE the Yoto Daily podcast – a free podcast with Yoto Legend Jake – with fun games, activities and news with different themes each morning. Each month, Yoto share the Yoto daily schedule so you can see what is coming up – from Fri-yay Jokes to Toungue Twisters, games, facts and draw along,
Make your own Yoto Cards
For babies and toddlers, the Yoto Player opens up a whole host of options with Yoto Make Your Own (MYO) Cards. These blank Yoto cards allow you to record your own content using MP3 files, whether that’s a spoken recording of you reading your child’s favourite stories aloud, messages from friends and family, or downloaded audio books from sources such as Borrowbox and Amazon. You can learn more about how to create MYO cards in our MYO step by step guide here.
Some of my favourite MYO ideas include:
Create a playlist of your child’s favourite music (MP3 format)
Read aloud their favourite bedtime story – they will love hearing your voice
Record birthday messages from friends and family who live a little further afield.
Make fun quizzes or content around their favourite topic e.g. dinosaurs, mermaids
You get one blank MYO card with your Yoto Player (the welcome card can be used as a make your own card) or you can buy packs of MYO cards at the Yoto store.
Best for bedtime: Ten Minutes to Bed Audio Collection
Yoto Says: Countdown to a peaceful slumber with these adorable tales written especially for bedtime. 10…9…only 8 minutes to go.
My girls absolutely loved these books by Rhiannon Fielding that are perfect to get your children ready for a calm and peaceful night’s sleep.
With a choice of monster, mermaid, dinosaur or unicorn, these imaginative stories start lively and count down slowly to the point they get into bed and drift off to sleep – the perfect length to listen to as part of your toddler’s bedtime routine.
RRP £7.99| Running time: 11 minutes | Read by: Corronation street actress Suranne Jones
Best musical Yoto card for toddlers: Casper Babypants
Yoto Says: Caspar is back so get your dancing shoes ready. Songs to make you bop, move and groove from the most fun singer around.
A fun selection of songs that are sure to get your toddler up on their feet and bopping along. With 20 tracks with a Beetles-esque vibe, songs include Rockin’ Robin, Silly Bird and Baby’s Driving a Car. If they enjoy this card, they may also like Easy Breezy which has a similar vibe!
Best educational Yoto card for toddlers: LEGO Duplo All Aboard the Number Train
Yoto Says: An exciting play-along story. Jump aboard the Number Train with Mia, Zack and Paws to go on a magical journey from one to ten.
Thanks to the Yoto icons on your Yoto Player’s screen, this card can help your toddler learn to visually recognise the numbers 1-10 and count as they listen with siblings Zack and Mia. One of a fun range of LEGO Duplo learning cards which are also sold as a card collection pack.
Best sleep Yoto card for toddlers: Friends Forever with Moshi
Yoto Says: Explore a world where Moshlings live, work, play and dream and support the emotional wellbeing of the next generation.
Moshi is a mindfulness app for kids that is renowned for its ability to calm, soothe and settle children before bed, slowing their breathing and encouraging them to shift their mind into a relaxed and meditative state before heading to the land of nod. We are HUGE fans of the Moshi Yoto cards (our full review is here) but this one in particular comes with positive messages around friendship, kindness and compassion.
Best interactive Yoto card for toddlers: Who’s inside your audiobook?
Yoto Says: Join an exciting audio adventure to help free Monster, Dragon, Alien, Elf, Witch and Superhero!
If you’ve ever read any of the Who’s Inside Your Book series by Tom Fletcher, you’ll know you’re in for a treat. This Yoto card is no exception, whether it’s a monster. a witch or a superhero, this fun interactive card encourages children to perform physical actions and sounds in order to help the character escape from the audiobook.
Best character yoto card for toddlers: Peppa and Friends: A friendship story
Yoto Says: Learn how to express your thoughts and feelings with Peppa and her friends.
Toddlers can sometimes have a hard time with their emotions – whether it’s learning to share, coping with tiredness or adapting to change, these big feelings can feel alien and result in toddler tantrums and meltdowns. With the help of Peppa and Friends, this short story introduces big feelings in the form of a familiar Peppa pig episode.
Best Yoto card for preschoolers: Percy The Park Keeper Collection
Yoto Says: Percy and his animal friends have delighted readers for over 30 years! Here are seven of their fantastic adventures.
Percy the Park Keeper is a huge hit with preschoolers – sharing delightful stories about a park ranger called Percy who looks after the park and makes friends with all of the animals. With tales including The Secret Path, After the Storm and The Treasure Hunt, these short stories are full of friendship, adventure and fun.
RRP £7.99| Running time: 51 minutes | Read by: Bridget Jones actor Jim Broadbent
Heading to an Alphabet Fancy Dress party this year? Have you been asked to dress as a character that begins with the same letter as your name? Or are you a group of friends planning costume parties for every letter of the alphabet? Being given a specific letter for your fancy dress costume can be lots of fun, allowing you to get creative and think of themes and ideas that are a little outside the box. If you’re heading to an alphabet fancy dress party and need costume ideas beginning with a, you’re in the right place – here are some options to get you started.
The best fancy dress costumes that start with the letter A
Famous People and Characters beginning with A
Austin Powers – Mike Myers international man of mystery groovy baby – flamboyant and over-the-top personality, distinctive 1960s outfit including purple velvet suit, frilly white shirt, large collar and of course unbuttoned to show off some chest hair – think bold patterns, psychedelic prints, glasses and of course some oversized teeth.
Alice in Wonderland – from the classic Lewis Carroll book, Victorian style blue and white dress, oversized bow – team up with some homemade accessories such as a Drink Me bottle and Eat Me Cake and you’ve got yourself the perfect outfit for fancy dress ideas beginning with A
Aladdin – the diamond in the rough Alladin wears Arabic clothing including trousers and a waistcoat – a great outfit for showing off your toned physique if you’re lucky enough to have one!
Ariel – Various adaptations of this Disney character so you can either buy an off-the-shelf costume or opt to create one yourself. Think long flowing hair, sea shell style bralette and a mermaid style skirt or tail. Lots of options to get creative with this one!
Aurora (Sleeping Beauty) – Are you inclined to take long naps? Fancy being awoken by a gorgeous prince who can rise you from your slumber? Princess Aurora is another Disney Princess who makes a great fancy dress idea beginning with A
Anna (From Frozen) – Do you want to build a snowman? Even more effective if you’re heading to a fancy dress party with a sibling, Anna from Frozen is a fairly iconic and recognisable character and a popular choice for A fancy dress outfits.
Ali G – You don’t need to have a Julie for this one, this outfit is WICKED for a fancy dress costume beginning with A. If you don’t already happen to own a yellow tracksuit (unlikely) this off-the-shelf design is an excellent pick.
Aquaman – Ideal for men with long hair and toned abs, or those who are willing to cheat with this off-the-shelf fancy dress costume, Aquaman is sure to get some attention at your party!
Ada Thorne (Peaky Blinders) – Ready to refine your Birmingham accent and take a step back to the 1920’s? Ada Throne (Shelby) is an iconic, striking and one of the less common fancy dress ideas beginning with A
Alice Cooper – Fancy yourself as a bit of a rockstar. Don’t forget the white face paint here to finish your look. It also helps if you’ve had very little sleep the night before!
Amy Winehouse – ALthough Amy is no longer with us, she remains one of the most recognizable solo artists due to her unique beehive hairstyle, with the rest of her look fairly simple to emulate using a fitted dress or white top and lots of tattoos. Why not attempt to belt out some of her classics like Rehab in the karaoke whilst you are there?
Abba – Dancing queens rejoice, there are LOADS of options with this one, with Abba having a whole host of iconic 70s outfits to explore.
Amelia Earhart – the first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, this iconic aviator outfit features the bomber jacket and goggles and makes a great option for those wanting to celebrate women’s achievements in history.
Audrey Hepburn – with timeless style and confidence, Breakfast at Tiffany’s star Audrey Hepburn is one of the most obvious ideas for fancy dress outfits beginning with A and has become a popular choice for hen dos due to the cute combination of a LBD and pearls. This outfit is also really easy to make yourself – simply combining a glamourous black dress with gloves and a pearl necklace / choker. Why not check out charity shops to pick some up cheap as chips.
Albert Einstein – Fancy celebrating gravity, or reminding everyone that e=mc squared? This is another outfit that could easily be created at home, but you may want to buy off-the-shelf in order to master the moustache and wild hair!
Adam Ant – Stand and deliver in this iconic outfit of Adam Ant – front man of popular 1980s’ band Adam and the Ants. Dance moves optional and one of our favourite fancy dress ideas beginning with A
Astronaut – If you’re looking for a fancy dress costume beginning with a that is really out of this world, then look no further. This inflatable astronaut outfit certainly won’t blend into the background. Giant leaps around the room are optional for maximum effect.
Athlete – For an athlete, you could interpret your outfit in a number of ways, from number badges and gym kit to sweat bands and trainers but we absolutely love this hilarious twist on the 118 man – which provides the illusion of being carried along as you walk. Sure to raise some laughs with this one.
Army – Suitable for both genders, there are a wide variety of army and camouflage outfits available as a suitable fancy dress outfit beginning with a. You could even create one yourself wearing khaki green and face paints.
Aerobics Instructor – Embace your inner Richard Simmons or Mr Motivator and bring on the lycra for a fancy dress costume beginning with A that is sure to get everyone up on their feet.
Ace of Spades – There’s always one person who comes to a fancy dress party under duress. The one who really doesn’t like being restricted by a costume and prefers to feel comfortable in their own clothes. This Ace of Spades costume is ideal – a basic tabard that converts any clothes into a fancy dress costume beginning with A in seconds. Top of the pack!
Alien – Again you’ll be fairly spoiled for choice with alien fancy dress outfits, which come in a wide range of shapes and sizes to explore. We love the inflatable alien outfit which has somewhat iconic status after going viral on TikTok and Instagram. Be sure to pad the ‘legs’ out well for maximum effect – carrier bags work well.
Avocado – everyone’s favourite breakfast and something that your friends won’t be expecting to walk through the door – we love this oversized avocado design.
Axolotl – Last but by no means least, we hadn’t even heard of these adorable animals until last year when they suddenly became our kid’s favourite characters and were EVERYWHERE. Another inflatable one but it’s not one for the meek and mild as it’s pretty massive! Not ideal for eating in either!
We hope this post has given you loads of ideas for fancy dress outfits beginning with A. The first in our series *Yes we will be working our way through the entire alphabet!) we will be sharing lots more fancy dress outfit inspiration over the next few months!
With the Christmas holidays coming so late this year (my girls didn’t break up until the 22nd), a lot of our festive school holiday activities have been enjoyed AFTER Christmas. Despite the weather and the fact that Father Christmas had already been and gone, we had a lovely time embracing everything that Christmas at the Castle at Warwick Castle had to offer. In addition to the Warwick Castle Christmas Light Trail, we also paid to visit Warwick Castle’s outdoor ice rink and experience the magic of an outdoor ice rink as the sun went down. With the ice rink set to return year after year, I thought it would be helpful to share our full review of the Warwick Castle Ice Skating experience in an unsponsored real mum’s review.
When is the Warwick Castle Ice Rink open?
The Warwick Castle Ice Skating is an additional extra to a trip to Warwick Castle. You can add it on to a normal day visit (experiencing everything the castle has to offer including Zogs playground, Horrible Histories Maze, Dungeons, Trebuchet and Faklconer’s quest bird show or alternatively, buy as a stand alone experience for skating only. You may also want to buy tickets to the Warwick Castle Light Trail which also runs in the evenings until 7th January 2024.
In 2023, the ice rink was open from late November until 7th January 2024, and I will update this post when the dates are released for 2024.
How big is it?
The Warwick Castle ice rink is one of the biggest open air rice rinks we’e been on as a family and it was not over crowded at all – with plenty of room for everyone to get around without bumping into each other. There is also a signposted direction of travel. which I am pleased to say everyone seemed to naturally adhere too.
How much does it cost?
Ice skating can be added on to the cost of your day ticket, or can be purchased separately at a cost of £11 per person – carers are free (but may need to provide evidence of this).
The experience lasts 45 minutes and skate hire is included. My youngest had a choice of actual skates or the type that clip on to her actual shoes. We opted for actual skates but for younger children, they may prefer the comfort and familiarity of their own shoes.
It’s worth mentioning that there are some additional costs which I hadn’t fully expected (this was clearly outlined on the information on the website I just hadn’t spotted it). First up is that there are no bags allowed on the ice and therefore possessions need to be stashed in the cloakroom. There is a £2 charge for this, which whilst only small, is something to bear in mind. If you have a family member that isn’t going on the ice, you may prefer to leave bags with them as this would avoid the cost.
Secondly. skating aids are hired at a cost of £5 each, so if you have two children you may easily find yourself spending another £10, particularly if they are young.
Are there skating aids at Warwick Castle Ice Rink?
There is a choice of two skating aids at Warwick Castle – a penguin and a whale. A Marshall advised us that the whale is best for two children to share as one child can sit on while the other pushes, but initially, my youngest really wanted a penguin. She quickly changed her mind (of course she did) and the Marshall very kindly let us swap this to the whale without any fuss.
The girls found the whale skate aid incredibly helpful, so I would definitely say it’s worth paying the extra if you want an enjoyable experience. Neve (7) tried a bit skating on her own but preferred the fun of being pushed around by myself or Erin (10)
What if you fall over?
We did – ALL OF US! The girls lost their footing and slipped onto their bottoms and although they didn’t hurt themselves at all, they did get a little bit wet on their bottoms – particularly as we’d had some heavy rain so the rink was wetter than normal. I slipped over whilst trying to film the girls (multi-tasking clearly isn’t my forte!) and even managed to capture my epic fall on camera. The good news is again, I wasn’t hurt at all and thankfully there are Marshalls on the ice to help you get back up. The Marshalls were really good, and very responsive to come to people’s aid if they needed assistance.
Is there a spectator area?
Yes – if you’re visiting with someone who doesn’t want to skate but would like to watch, there is quite a large spectator area to the one side, with a selection of tables and chairs. A great spot to watch, shout encouragement or snap a photograph or two.
Are there toilets?
Yes there are toilets just outside the ice rink, and I recommend that you take kids before you go on the ice – as you can guarantee they’ll need it as soon as you get on the rink otherwise.
Can you get food and drink at Warwick Castle Ice Skating?
Yes, there are a selection of food and drink stalls just outside the rink including marshmallows for toasting, fries, hot chocolate, mulled wine and a bar. We really enjoyed toasting marshmallows (£5 for a stick of three) and the trays of fries were £3.50 for a decent sized portion that we were able to share.
Our Hints and tips for Ice Skating at Warwick Castle
Be early – Get there around 15 minutes before your time slot – this allows plenty of time for you to get your skates, pack any items away in the cloakroom and make sure your skates are tight enough (they dont have laces but those pull fasteners which can be a bit tricky so your children are likely to need assistance).
Wear thick socks – the skates aren’t the most comfortable things (they never are) so the thicker the socks you have on the better.
Take a change of clothes – Especially if it’s been raining. The surface of the ice was incredibly wet when we visited due to heavy rainfall, which meant that falling over resulted in not just a cold landing but a damp one too. I was really glad that Id bought a change of bottoms for the girls, otherwise they’d have been cold and grumpy during the light trail.
Use the whale – Even if your child is obsessed with penguins (like Neve!) try and encourage the use of the Whale, which not only means two children can share, but also allows younger children to sit down and still enjoy the experience.
I hope this is helpful if you’re planning a visit – you can see more of our Warwick Castle reviews and experiences below.
Hi, I’m Lucy, a thirty something mum of two from Birmingham. A memory maker, tradition keeper, stationery addict and Mr Men fanatic. HR Advisor by day and sleep deprived Mama by night!
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