Visiting Formby and The Red Squirrel Nature Reserve

Visiting Formby and The Red Squirrel Nature Reserve

24 November 2020

19 comments

We have been trying to make the most of lockdown by making sure that we get out at the weekend for some much-needed fresh air. We have a huge list of places that we want to visit in the North West For some scenic walks. A few weeks ago we decided to head to Freshfields which is also known as Formby National Trust Red Squirrel Reserve.

It’s been a while since we visited the squirrel reserve but it's probably one of our favourites and we have been visiting since both John and I were little.  It was once home to lots and lots of red squirrels but as the years have gone on there are less and less and unfortunately we didn't see any on our visit this time. It's a nice scenic walk and perfect for some fresh sea air. 

What To Expect At The Red Squirrel Reserve, L37 1LJ

There are some walking trails to enjoy at The Red Squirrel Reserve including

Formby Red Squirrel Walk

​Explore beautiful woodlands surrounding Formby in Merseyside, home to the rare native red squirrel. This walk is mostly covered by trees so if you choose to visit on a wet and rainy day like we did you won’t feel the rain at all.

There is lots of ground to cover and so much for little ones to explore. There are lots of hills to climb and run down and large open spaces perfect for den building.  We even found a tree swing someone had made which was lots of fun. 

Asparagus Walk

Have a wander through the crop fields and discover how a spring vegetable helped shaped Formby as it is today. There are lots of information points along the way to read about Formby Asparagus.

Over The Dunes

The Squirrel Reserve is a short walk away from the coastline and just over the dunes you will find Formby beach which is perfect for a nice stroll or even a paddle in the sea.

Anything Else?

The National Trust Squirrel Reserve can be reached on foot or by car. If you choose to use the National Trust carpark you will be asked to pay £7.50 if you are not a National Trust member.

Toilet facilities are open every day till  3pm however they are closed at 12:30 for a 30 minute deep clean.

There is an ice cream van selling ice cream and refreshments just located by the toilets. Card is accepted however due to poor wifi signal I would recommend taking cash too. There is also a pop-up trailer serving hot and cold drinks and some light snacks including cakes.

If you are heading to the beach upon arrival please take note of the tide times as it can come in very quickly and you do not want to be surrounded by water.

The Red Squirrel Reserve is very popular with local schools so there are lots of picnic benches and family friendly areas situated around the reserve and clearly signposted.  

Please ensure you follow social distancing rules & Government guidelines and if the reserve is busy on arrival, please consider leaving and returning at a later date. 

Check for local lockdowns / travel restrictions before visiting anywhere. 

Always check with the venue direct as things may have changed after this post was published. 

What Is Close By?

Antony Gormleys Another Place (The Iron Men), L22 1RR

Another Place is a piece of modern sculpture by Sir Antony Gormley located at Crosby Beach in Merseyside, England. It consists of 100 cast iron figures facing towards the sea.

Southport Pier, PR8 1QX

Not only does Southport have 22 miles of coast but also boasts the Grade II listed Southport Pier, the oldest iron pier in the country, standing for over 150 years.

Further Away

Blackpool Promenade, FY1 5BB

There’s nothing quite like a day at the seaside, and Blackpool is one of the best beach resorts you will find in the UK.

Speke Hall Estate and Gardens, L24 1XD

Speke Hall Gardens and Estate is a National Trust property just outside Liverpool with lots of walking trails, adventure playground and beautiful views of the River Mersey.

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Family Walk At Rivington Pike

Family Walk At Rivington Pike

2 November 2020

1 comment

Sometimes the best thing to do at the moment with all the restrictions and constant change to what we can and can't do is to find somewhere new to explore and have a day outdoors. We had heard about Rivington Pike a few times before so after some research about the type of walk we could expect we headed out on another adventure. 

To start your walk, you can park at either The Great Barn House Cafe, or on the road up to Rivington Hall Barn. We parked further away at the Barn House Cafe, as the toilets and availability of parking suited us better. This made our walk a little longer but it was good to be able to get freshened up before we started. From there you walk up to Rivington Hall Barn and your walk starts here. 

There are multiple paths you can choose to start with, however we followed the signposts pointing towards Rivington Pike which took us around the back of the Barn, past a small waterfall and then up towards Breres Meadow, which has a well maintained path and the remains of a long dead tree that looked fun to climb on. 

As you follow the path you will be heading towards the Terraced Gardens which hide a lot of different areas to explore.  There are maps dotted around the Terraced Gardens so that you can decide which of the areas to explore and plan your route accordingly. 

Within the Terraced Gardens there are many 'crazy paving footpaths' that lead to Man Made Caves, The Japanese Gardens, 2 Summer houses and the ruins of a stone Bothy - where the servants used to live. They are quite spread out, and you will need some time to be able to visit all in one day.  On the outskirts of the terraced gardens there is also Lever Bridge and Pigeon Tower that are also worth a look, and we plan to visit again shortly to be able to pick up the parts that we missed this time around.

Once you break out of the gardens the Pike will be visible, and again there are a number of routes you can take depending on where you come out of the gardens.  We ended up at the far right end of the gardens and our route to the pike from here was quite long with the path more rocky than previous paths had been which made the walk more of a challenge. The path took us out past Bolton Wanderers ground and some great views of the local area, and then swept back round to the left and up to the Pike. 

Once at the top it was noticeable that the temperature was lower and the wind stronger. It was also very busy at the top with lots of people having made the journey enjoying the views and sitting on one of the four benches to have lunch. 

We took a different route down which took us past the Summer Houses and Lever Bridge. You could climb into the gaps in the bridge which was good for Little J who wanted to get as high as he could. We then headed down towards Lower House Car Park, which always has an Ice Cream Van there, to reward Little J for his efforts.  

From there it was a short walk back to Rivington Hall Barn and then back to the Great Barn House Cafe and Car Park. Overall the walk took us around 4 hours, with a stop for lunch at the top included in this time.  It is one of those places that you would get to know the more you visit so you can expect the walk time to reduce depending on the route you choose and how well you get to know the area. 

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Visiting Dream, Sutton Manor

Visiting Dream, Sutton Manor

21 October 2020

11 comments

For the past 11 years we have travelled up and down the M62 for both business and pleasure and every time we pass 'The big white head' I always say we must go and visit and see what it is all about, but we never had until last weekend. We are always looking for ideas for walks in the North West so we headed to Sutton Manor. The big white head which is actually called Dream is situated in the old Sutton Manor Colliery grounds and was created in 2009.

Dream is located in Sutton Manor, St Helens and was the result of St Helens entering Channel 4's 'The Big Art Project' in 2008. Artist Jaume Plensa visited the site and had a vision of a piece of art coming out from the ground. He decided on a neck and head of a woman with her eyes closed as if she is meditating. He later decided to base the sculpture on a 9 year old girl representing the idea of 'future'.

Sutton Manor Woodland is very popular with dog walkers and visitors to Dream. There is a car park and plenty of road parking surrounding the area. 

When entering Sutton Manor via the main entrance sign posts for Dream are dotted along the pathways however if you wish to explore the woodlands and circular paths you can choose a variety of ways. 

Some of the paths are a little steep and not very well surfaced however most of the routes are accessible. 

The Dream Statue is located in the middle of the woodlands and is very hard to miss. Other than visiting the statue there are no other facilities at Sutton Manor Woodland but it was a very enjoyable walk. 

Facts about Dream

Designed by world-famous, award-winning Catalan artist Jaume Plensa

Standing on a plinth, Dream is 20 metres, 66 feet high and is fifty times life size

The sculpture weighs 373 tonnes and sits on the site of Sutton Manor Colliery

Made from brilliant white pre-cast concrete with Spanish dolomite, the whitest marble

The plinth in the shape of a miner’s tally is 17 metres in diameter, made of 36 units

The casting of Dream by Evans Concrete of Derbyshire took a total of sixty days

A total of 6160 man hours were spent in constructing the sculpture

54 different panels each weighing 9 tonnes comprise Dream’s head

The supporting piles go 38 metres underground, nearly twice Dream’s height

An estimated 55 million vehicles pass Dream each year on the M62

We really enjoyed our visit to Dream however I'm not sure whether we would visit again nor would I recommend travelling a great distance to visit. I think if the woodlands itself was to undergo a makeover to include maybe a cafe, toilet facilities, children's play area and other facilities to make a trip worthwhile then I do think it would attract more visitors per year. 

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Walks In The North West

Walks In The North West

3 September 2020

12 comments

Winter is one of our favourite seasons to head out for a family walk. The leaves are falling, the colours are changing and there is a fresh feel to the air. There are so many beautiful parks, woodlands and forests in the North West but when it comes to Winter walks these are our favourites.

*Please do check with the individual parks for up to date information due to Covid19 as things can change 

Merseyside

Calderstones Park
Postcode - L18 3JB

Calderstones Park offers visitors 94 acres of woodland, lake and fields. Visit the beautiful Japanese and old English gardens and make sure you do not miss the one thousand year old tree.

Opening Times - 24 hours a day all year round.

Children's Play Area - Yes, there is a children's playground and also a woodland climbing area for older children.

Cafe - Yes, The Reader Cafe offers the choice of breakfast and lunch, sandwiches, snacks, salads, soups and desserts. Take some time out and enjoy two bookshelves full of books to read while eating.

Toilets - Yes

Parking - Yes there are two main car parks

Anything else - The park recently updated its facilities with The Storybarn an imaginative play space for children and families to discover their love of books, an ice cream parlour and miniature railway.

Sefton Park
Postcode - L17 1AP

Sefton Park is an ideal location for an Winter Walk. It boasts over 200 acres of landscape including paths to follow, an array of trees and even statues of Peter Pan and an Eros fountain.

Opening Times - 24 hours a day

Children's Play Area - Yes, includes a range of outdoor play equipment including slides, swings and roundabout.

Cafe - Yes, the Aviary cafe offers hot and cold refreshments and the lakeside cafe offers coffee and ice cream.

Toilets - No

Parking - Yes, there are a couple of parking areas and also on street parking too.

Anything else - There is no charge to enter the park. The park has a boating lake, the palm house, caves and waterfalls and a bandstand. Fishermen are welcome but you will need an angling licence.

Croxteth Park
Postcode - L11 1EH

The largest of the parks is Croxteth Park offering over 500 acres of woodland, paths, ponds, streams and trails. There is also the chance for you to test your navigation skills whilst orienteering.

Opening Times - 7am - 7pm for the inner park

Children's Play Area - Yes, there are two palygrounds to accommodate all ages.

Cafe - The park has two cafe's. One is situated in the main grounds and the other cafe is within the farm.

Toilets - Yes, situated in the main grounds and within the farm.

Parking - Yes

Anything else - The park has a
Country hall and Walled Garden

Jungle Parc High Ropes Adventure
Open Daily 10am-5pm

Adventurer Course
Price per child £14.00 (free for supervising adults)

Xplorer Course
Price per person £20.00 (participants aged 10-adult)
Family Ticket £70.00 for 4 participants.

Children's Farm.
Farm: Daily 10:00am – 5:00pm
Last entry 4:00pm
£5 per person
Children Under 1 Go Free

Birkenhead Park
Postcode - CH41 4HY

Birkenhead Park has influenced park designs all over the world and was the inspiration for Central Park in New York. The park is a must for a Winter walk with beautiful landscapes, unusual trees and wildlife.

Opening Times - 24 hours a day, all year round. The visitor centre is open 9am-4:30pm 7 days a week except for 25th and 26th December and 1st January

Children's Play Area - Yes, There is a children's play area located just by the Ashville Road entrance to the park with modern facilities. There is also a small rockery meant for climbing and a regular ice cream truck

Cafe - Yes, inside the visitor centre

Toilets - Yes, inside the visitor centre

Parking - There is no car park however there is on street car parking.

Anything else - Two lakes available for angling but a permit is required. Architecture Trail, Sports at the park including boules, cricket and tennis and guided ranger walks

Greater Manchester

Heaton Park
Postcode - M25 2SW

Heaton Park claims to be the biggest and best park in the North West with specific walks and run trails suitable for all the family so it is a must for a Winter walk.

Opening Times - 8am till dusk

Children's Play Area - Yes, there are two play areas designed for children.

Cafe - There are 4 separate cafes offering takeaway only

Toilets - Yes

Parking - Yes, chargeable to a maximum of £3 per day

Anything else - There are a range of activities and facilities also available including donkey rides and Treetop high ropes.

Tramway museum and tram rides. You can visit the museum and take a tram ride on most Sundays and bank holidays. Tickets £1, children 50p. The museum is near the Middleton Road entrance.

Between April and September, you can hire a rowing boat or a pedalo to explore the Lake and the wildlife around it. Boat hire is available:

Monday-Friday 10am to 5.30pm (last boat goes out at 4.30pm)
Saturday/Sunday 10am to 8pm (last boat goes out at 7pm)

Alexandra Park
Postcode - M16 7JL

Alexandra Park boasts 60 acres of grassland and a £5 million transformation in 2014.

Opening Times - From dawn to dusk

Children's Play Area - yes, there are two play areas. One suitable for toddlers and another for older children.

Cafe - Yes

Toilets - Yes, during cafe opening hours

Parking - Yes, parking is available.

Anything else - There is a boating lake which is home to many ducks.

Cheshire

Delamere Forest
Postcode - CW8 2HZ

Delamere Forest is the largest woodland in Cheshire boasting 972 hectares. It is managed by Forestry England for all to enjoy.

Opening Times - Summer opening times: 8:00am to 8:00pm. Winter opening times: 8:00am to 5:00pm.

Children's Play Area - No

Cafe - Yes. There is a cafe at the visitor centre near the main car park and also The Station cafe near the railway.

Toilets - Yes.

Parking - Yes, there are a number of sharable car parks.

Anything else - Go Ape, Gruffalo Orienteering, bike trails and walking trails

Walton Hall Gardens
Postcode - WA4 6SN

Walton Hall Gardens is set within acres of tranquil and idyllic parkland, steeped in local history and is the perfect space to pop on your wellies and head out for an Winter walk.

Opening Times - September - June 10:30-4pm. July and August 10:30-8pm

Children's Play Area - Yes, a large play structure suitable for all ages.

Cafe - The Heritage Cafe is open 9-5pm for takeaway only.

Toilets - Yes

Parking - Yes, chargable.

Walton Hall and Gardens operates a pay and display car park.
Daily charges:
Mon-Fri: £3.00
Sat-Sun and bank holidays: £4.00
Coaches: £8.00

Anything else - There issue much to do and see at Walton Hall Gardens including

The Children’s Zoo
Summer opening
10.30 am – 4.00 pm
Last admittance at 3.45 pm

Adventure Golf
10.30 am – 4.30 pm
Last tee off 4.00 pm

Thomas The Tank Engine Land Train

Lancashire

Williamson Park
Postcode - LA1 1UX

Williamson Park is home to the iconic Ashton Memorial and 54 acres of beautiful parkland with enchanting woodland walks, play areas and breathtaking views to the Fylde Coast, Morecambe Bay and the Lake District fells and mountains.

Opening Times - October to March: 10am - 4pm. April to September: 10am - 5pm

Children's Play Area - Yes

Cafe - Yes. The Pavilion Cafe is serving takeaway

Toilets - Toilet facilities are open next to the Ashton Memorial and in Wyresdale Road Car Park but remain closed in the café.

Parking - There are two pay and display car parks in Williamson Park - at the Quernmore Road entrance (15 spaces, including disabled parking) and at the Wyresdale Road entrance (100 spaces). Please note that from the Wyresdale Road car park there is quite an uphill walk to the park facilities.

Up to 1 hour £1
Full day £2
Evening after 5.30pm £1

Anything else - Entry to Williamson Park grounds and the Ashton Memorial is free. Entry to the Butterfly House and Mini Zoo (available for purchase at the gift shop)
Adult £4
Child £3 (under-3s free)
Family (2+2) £13
Concessions/students £3.50

Avenham & Miller Parks
Postcode - PR1 8JT

Avenham & Miller Parks are located in the heart of Preston's city centre, yet feel far removed from their urban surroundings. The parks are connected by beautiful and scenic paths, creating one large and diverse park with a lot to offer.

Opening Times - Listed as Always Open

Children's Play Area - Yes

Cafe - Yes, The Pavilion Cafe offers hot and cold drinks, lunch options and children's menu.
April - September: Monday - Sunday: 10am - 5pm
October - March: Monday - Sunday: 10am - 4pm

Toilets - Yes

Parking - Yes. A 40-space car park for Avenham & Miller Parks can be found on South Meadow Lane, opposite The Continental Pub (PR1 8JN). There are also a number of city centre car parks to choose from, which include disabled parking.

Anything else - The park's paths circle this large green space and offer serene views from all angles. This includes views of the park's Japanese Rock Garden - a beautiful and exotic garden area created in the 1930s. Miller Park has many fascinating and historical points of interest. These include its listed water fountain, rock features, spiralling gardens, and a large basalt rock from the Giant's Causeway.

Cumbria

Grizedale Forest
Postcode - LA22 0QJ

Grizedale forest in the heart of the Lake District World Heritage Site, offers the perfect Winter day out for everyone

Opening Times - The forest is open 7 days a week, dawn til dusk

Children's Play Area - Yes. Grizedale Visitor Centre has a large children's play area and there are a couple of picnic benches surrounding the structure.

Cafe - Yes, at the visitor centre for takeaway only.

Toilets - Yes, there is a large toilet block by the main car park and also toilet facilities in the visitor centre.

Parking - Yes. Visitor Centre and Kennels car parks have a pay on exit system with the current charges
Up to 20 minutes £0.00
Up to 1 hour £2.20
Each additional 20 minutes £0.45
All day £8.00

Moor Top and Bogle car parks - currently no charge

Anything else - There is a Go Ape at Grizedale Forest, Bicycle hire, 10 walking trails and 9 cycle trails to follow.

Tarn Hows 
Postcode - LA21 8AQ

Tarn Hows offers an accessible circular (1¾ miles) walk through beautiful countryside with majestic mountain views.

Opening Times - From Dawn to Dusk

Children's Play Area - No

Cafe - No, an ice cream operates most days in the car park.

Toilets - Yes, they are situated in the main car park

Parking - Yes. Tarn Hows and Glen Mary car parks are open operating pay and display.

Anything else - There are accessible paths at the lakes edge so wellies would be ideal for little paddlers.

This is just a few of the many beautiful walks available in the North West and I would love to hear from you if you had any others to share.

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What To Expect When Visiting Gulliver's World, Warrington This Summer

What To Expect When Visiting Gulliver's World, Warrington This Summer

11 August 2020

13 comments

Disclosure - We were invited to Gulliver's World, Warrington. Any thoughts, opinions and photographs in this post are our own. 

As lockdown eases across the country we have been exploring more and enjoying days out. Last week we headed to Gulliver's World, Warrington to enjoy a day of fun on the rides and to meet and greet with Lampo and Milady from 44 Cats who are visiting Gulliver's World this Summer. 

You may already know that we love theme parks and although we have been to Gulliver's World many times before it was nice to visit post lockdown and see what measures have been put in place to make it a safe environment whilst still enjoyable. 

Entering The Park

All tickets must be pre booked before arrival. This ensures Gulliver's World can keep track of how many visitors will be arriving each day. At the moment the website states they are running at less than 40% capacity so booking in advance will also ensure you can visit. 

You can also choose an arrival time when booking this helps to stagger the times visitors arrive.

There were chevrons in place in the queue lines to enter the park and we had our temperature checked by a member of staff. 

When we arrived at the front of the queue we were shown to an available desk where are tickets were scanned. We were told that there are no paper park maps available at the moment but there are map boards dotted around to ensure you can find the rides you wish to go on or you can take a photograph of the one by the the main entrance. 

The Rides

Most of the rides at Gulliver's World are suitable for younger children and up. There are no huge thrill rides so it makes for a lovely family day out. 

To ensure social distancing takes place the queue lines have chevrons which are 2m apart from the guests in front and behind.

The rides are running on reduced capacity where needed, leaving rows of empty seats in-between guests and families. 

Masks must be worn on all rides, inside gift shops and attractions. Under 3s are exempt or those wearing a wristband which I assume means they cannot wear one for medical reasons. 

Staff on the rides were really good at enforcing masks to be worn on the rides however inside shops we saw a few people with masks lowered to under their chin and not covering their mouth or face. 

In between every ride a member of staff sprayed and wiped each seat and hand bars before they would let the next guests on the rides. Also each ride has it's own closure time throughout the day for up to 1 hour for a deep clean. 

There are no estimated queue times for the rides so you just join the queue however the park was not busy at all and I think the most time we waited was 20 minutes for The Antelope Rollercoaster. 

Meet and Greets

Just at the main entrance there is a small stage which is home to characters for meet and greet opportunities including Gully Mouse and throughout the Summer Lampo and Milady from 44 Cats are appearing at the park. When they come on stage you are requested to form a queue keeping to social distancing and when it is your turn you head over to the cats and stand inside the small red circle. 

Although you are unable to give the cats a cuddle or a high five they were still very interactive with the children dancing and posing getting the children to copy the moves. 

If you have a fan of 44 Cats at home they will love to see the characters up close and have a photograph taken with them too.

Food and Drink

There are a few places to grab a bite to eat at Gulliver's World. We headed to Big G Diner for lunch as our food was pre booked. There was a limited menu of just chicken burger or veggie burger for adults and turkey dinosaurs for children however there were kiosks offering pizza's and other snacks around the park. 

There is also a Costa Coffee serving hot drinks and cakes. 

Around The Park

As I said we have been to Gulliver's World many times and it feels natural to us to head around the park clockwise which is a good idea as some of the 'lands' do not open until 11:30am.

There were a few hand sanitiser stations around the park however I would recommend bringing your own. 

There are quite a few 'plastic' play areas around the park which were quite busy at times but you can use your own judgment on whether you are happy for your child to play on there or not. 

In some places there are one way paths put in place when the paths are quite narrow. Most people adhered to the one way which is great.

Other Info

The park opens at 10:30 - 5pm. Like I said it wasn't busy at all considering it is the Summer holidays and we managed to ride everything we wanted, some rides twice, stopped for a coffee, ate lunch and also met the 44 cats. 

There is a hotel on site and although we didn't go inside it does look lovely from outside and I've promised little J we might stay overnight soon. 

We had a great day out at Gulliver's World, Warrington and we are looking forward to returning again maybe around Halloween or Christmas. 

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Go Ape At Delamere Forest

Go Ape At Delamere Forest

10 August 2020

14 comments

Little J has been asking us for weeks if we could book to do Go Ape. Obviously with the situation at the moment we have been putting it off however over the past few weeks we have been out and about more so last week we booked to go on a Tree Top Adventure at Go Ape, Delamere Forest. 

We pre booked our tickets online which is advisable as it was almost full. The timed slot we chose was the only one that day that could accommodate us all. 

We arrived about 15 minutes before our time and were quickly checked in, given our wristbands and shown the way to the Tree Top Adventure Course. 

The Tree Top Adventure Course is suitable for both adults and children and lasts 1 hour. 

Staff lay out harnesses on the floor for your party and ask you to step in to them however they were on hand to help if needed. Once the boys were in their harnesses they were shown the demo area for a safety briefing. 

The demo area is a small platform which gives you an idea on how to walk with your harness attached at all times. The boys were told that there is no more than one adult and one child allowed on an obstacle at any one time and only 3 people on each podium in between the obstacles. 

There are two courses within the tree top adventure. Course 1 and Course 2, you can choose to do either or both depending on how much time you have left. 

Once the safety briefing was done they were free to head up in to the trees. They chose course 1 first. I stayed safe on the ground below watching them as they took on the obstacles. It is actually really high but they looked liked they were having lots of fun. 

You are advised to wear gloves. We brought our own. Its protection for your hands as you are attached to a metal wire which you glide your safety harness belt across as you move. 

The course took them approx 15 minutes and at the end there is a zip wire that brings them back to the ground. This was definitely a highlight. 

You can go around the courses as many times as you want within your 1 hour time slot. Course 1 is a little tricky at times but they loved it. Little J was unsure about course 2 as it has more wobbly obstacles so they stuck with course 1, maybe next time!

I wasn't worried about little J being up so high as I knew he had his brother and dad up there with him to help if he needed it. While they were up there a young boy with his brother started to cry, he wanted to get down however you can't once you are up there you have to keep going. 

A member of staff was soon up next to him and was really good with him encouraging him to keep going and finish the course with the staff member behind him. 

If you are spectating there are plenty of benches underneath the course for you to sit at. With regards to social distancing it was quite hard on the ground as people were walking around, watching and taking photographs of their children or family but as long as you try your best then you should be okay.

After the boys had finished their harnesses were popped over the fence and sprayed with anti bac.

The Tree Top Adventure course cost us £19 each for both adults and children. Time slots run every 15 minutes from 10am-4:15pm

It is worth noting that Go Ape, Delamere Forest has it's own car park and you pay at a machine. It only takes cash, there are no card payments. 

There is a toilet block in the car park however this was closed. The nearest toilets were in the Station cafe about 5 minutes walk away however to use the toilets you do have to be a paying customer. We bought some take out drinks after using the toilets.  

The boys had a great time and I would definitely recommend it.

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