Paying £15 to go and look at some pieces of wax that look vaguely similar to famous people I can't…read morestand, isn't money well spent, in my opinion. But add a group of friends and some good photo opportunities and suddenly it's a bit more justifiable. The Beatles were there, so we joined them for their iconic Abbey Road zebra crossing pose, twerked in Bear Grylls' face, dry-humped Alan Shearer, curtsied for Kate, Wills and Her Maj, danced with Katie Perry, found out those all-important DNA results with King of the Chavs, Jeremy Kyle and climbed a wall with Spiderman. But there was just one problem: THEY"RE NOT REAL! So there was still a part of me that felt the whole thing was a bit pointless. I'm sorry but I just can't get excited by wax. Madame Tussaud's is great for kids, or adults with little or no intellect.

Honestly I thought it would be a bunch of so-so wax mannequins behind velvet ropes and not much…read moreelse but I was wrong. The exhibits are all interactive; you can sit on the X-Factor panel, feel Jamie Oliver's tummy rumble and even ruffle Davina's hair if you feel so inclined. It was actually a lot of fun and I probably had a little too much fun sitting in the Diary Room pretending to complain about house mates to Big Brother. I was shocked when I found out it was actually a real person I was talking to and not a computer!

Avoid a trip up Blackpool tower the view may have been great but they have totally ripped us off…read more As posted previously we visited the tower and the lisft had technical issues we were offered a refund or return tickets. We asked for a refund after waiting over an hour to get it. Despite several calls and assurances that the funds would soon be back with us today the phone line has been removed contact is now only by email. The website has been updated to say regardless of the reason no refunds will be issued. Totally disgusted what appalling service . The tower had a special place in our heart but it appears now it is owned by the council they are just another government rip off

Warning Blackpool Tower Eye…read moreTickets are non refundable. We are in our 70s and made one last trip to Blackpool specifically to go to the top of the Tower something we had never done We prebooked on line for Wednesday 11.30 AM the weather forecast was sunny with a moderate breeze on arrival we were told the tower was closed and our money would not be refunded The Blackpool Tower Eye  can close without prior notice no refunds will be issued however the ticket is valid for one use within 90 days. You have to give them 24 hours notice to rebook that's if the wind has stopped but we would be on our way home by then if they were genuine they would refund the  £32 rip-off blackpool tower eye

Good because Eleanor's narration left us wanting more. Inside was out of bounds so we were left…read morewith a half hour outside tour and the mini museum of the witches. We were thirsty for much more history than was given but what was given was great. Eleanor was a born story teller and there is so much more to this history than was given. For 2 pound 50 it was a bargain. What stories this castle could tell.

You'd be silly to come all the way to Lancaster without seeing the castle!…read more The castle is still a working court and prison, but you can take tours there seven days a week if you head around back (near the requisite gift shop.) The keep dates to the 12th century and the history of the castle is very interesting. The guides are well informed and fun to listen to, and there are events here throughout the year. When you finish, it's worth heading out front, putting the castle at your back and taking a walk down the street towards town. On the right, you'll see a sign for the Nice Cafe, and inside that building is the tourism office, which always has more info on things to see locally. If you go a few feet further and look left, you will find the Merchant's Pub, one of the oldest and coolest pubs in town. Grab a burger and a pint and enjoy their patio!

Ah, the Atkinson. Again, just another Southport landmark full of childhood memories for myself…read more Yep, my father used to bring me here regularly to ensure I had a lovely cultural upbringing, and it's a marvellous gallery housed in a terrific building right in the centre of the seaside town itself, opposite Lord Street and the band stand. Admission is free but donations are encouraged as every gift helps, no matter how small. And once you've walked around this spectacular yet strangely humble gallery you'd have to have a heart of ice not to want to give a little something. It has a varied and rather extensive collection, ranging from LS Lowry to John Piper, John Collier to Ernest Normand and many more. The Friends of the Atkinson Gallery are an organisation which helps to drum up even more interest for the gallery. It's currently closed for refurbishments but plans to reopen bigger and better than ever as part of a Southport cultural overhaul, so get involved as it's bound to increase in popularity after its makeover. Southport might not quite rival Brighton yet in the seaside artsy stakes, but it's getting there, and with the help of the Atkinson it'll get there a lot faster!

This is now an entertainment/cultural centre, with the art gallery, an auditorium, civic hall and…read morebotanic museum all within the grade 2 listed building. The entrance/foyer is welcoming and strikingly clean - statuary and paintings being the first things I saw. The bookings and information desks are unobtrusive, yet easy to find as the signage throughout is very clear. There are interesting display cases throughout. Up the impressive staircase are the toilets, the superb but expensive bar and the entrances to the auditorium. As I was there for a music concert, this is the area I saw best. A superb setting for Fairport Convention as they attract a fair number of fans, yet like to connect with their audience as intimately as possible. The seating was comfortable and gave us all a good view of the band. The sound was just superb.

Interesting museum showing history of Leyland trucks and commercial vehicles.read more

Excelent museum run by enthusiasts and retired truckers with stories galore. There is a good…read morearchive and many exhibits from the earliest days to modern commercial vehicles. Well worth a visit. Parking is free outside, and there are many cafes, supermkts,shops etc. in Leyland town centre next to it.

Very interactive and interesting exhibits…read more FREE admission will get you into 90% of the actual museum. Variety of exhibits so it has a little something for everybody. The first floor was the Dive In! Aquarium. It had a very nice anemone tank and a variety of other tanks that had sea life. The second floor is the Bug space, and the beginning of the Natural History space. Both are very interactive and have plenty of kid friendly space. The Return of the Gods exhibit (which costs 8 GBP to visit) was on the third floor, but you could also see what I thought was the most interesting part of the museum which was the World Culture exhibit. The exhibits themselves are nice, but this museum has a novel approach to explaining how Liverpool got its items. Comedian Daliso Chaponda was narrating the process of how the museum procured the majority of its items through good ole colonization (kidding, not kidding). He brings to light the appropriation process through comedic discussion, novel and palatable. The 3rd floor also has the Egyptian Exhibit, which is very good. It's probably the jewel of the museum. The history of the pieces are well explained, and the mummies are displayed wonderfully, some in layers, some in narrative, and plenty of interactivity for the little ones. I didn't spend much time on the fourth floor (Dinosaurs) or fifth floor (Planetarium/Space). The fifth floor wasn't as impressive, but gave those genre's some space for those that are interested. It was the meh portions of the museum. If you have a few hours to burn, consider this museum a good choice for kids of all ages and interests.

Visited the museum especially to see the current special exhibition on the Chinese terracotta army…read morewhich was well worth the cost of the tickets. The building contains a large cafe on the ground floor that was well stocked with good quality food and deserts, this area also has access to free Wi-Fi. The next floor has the Aquarium and treasure house theater. The 2nd (3rd in US) floor has the special exhibition and the Bug House. Next floor contains World Cultures, Ancient Egypt and Western Discovery Center (only open weekends & school holidays. 4th floor holds Dinosaurs, Endangered Planet and Clore Natural History Center. Finally the 5th floor holds exhibits on Space and Time along with a Planetarium - tickets needed from the information desk on the ground floor. The staff were extremely friendly and helpful and could not be more accommodating, well worth the visit. I should also add the this museum is free except for the special exhibit which needs tickets purchased either online or at the entrance with limited time slots available each day.

Excellent Museum depicting the history of Fleetwood and environs, particularly the…read more Fishing Industry, ICI and the Isle of Man Boats. The staff where most helpful and informative and I will definitely visit again when in Fleetwood.

Fleetwood museum, is a great source of knowledge for fishing industry history, and they also have a…read moredoll museum in another section of the building, it's a lovely quiet old building, where they greet and treat you well, giving great information if you require it, at certain times of the year, they do different things for different holidays, such as Easter,Halloween,Christmas and so on, the staff are lovely and polite and always have a smile, the cafe is pretty good value and hot drinks and snacks are served all the time the museum is open and there is never a rush to get you out of their seats, overall highly recommend for a visit at any time of the year. Parking can be outside the museum or just across the road and there is a regular 10 minute bus service all year round with the museum being served by 3 different buses. ( for those with no personal transport ). Admission price is £3.00 for adults and £2.00 for children with concessions and under 5s free.

A fascinating perspective on the contributions by the people of the Manchester area to major…read moreinnovations in science and industry throughout history. Numerous displays and examples of equipment and machinery large and small. Steam engines to electron microscopes on display, with emphasis on Manchester's relationship with the cotton industry, both good and bad. Something for everyone here, young and old. Free to enter, donations appreciated. Reservations will make sure that you don't need to wait for entry. A must-see if you are in the area.

Fantastic place for families with children! Adults can enjoy the many exhibits while young ones can…read moreenjoy the hands on displays. We liked watching the textile demonstration in the Textile area. This place has so much to see and do. And it's free! Contributions are gladly accepted to keep this fabulous museum operational.