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Have you heard of the very new Nickelodeon Adventure at lakeside? If not, then let me tell you all about it!
There are six different zones that your kids can experience and have a load of fun.
I think we managed to see everything but the 4D cinema. Everything is included in the price too!
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles area was quite cool. Definitely a place the kids will burn lots of energy as they can Climb, crawl and explore the Ninja Turtles’ New York City like a true ninja! There’s also a fun flying ride in this area too! A bit of a warning, this area is quite dark and it’s quite easy to lose your kid even if you watch them like a hawk. I suggest letting them wear white on the day of your visit as it will be easy to spot them!
The Spongebob Bikini Bottom area is quite cool too. There are cool games and a miniature replica of Bikini Bottom that the kids will love. Oh, and Mrs Puffs boating school is a blast!
The Paw Patrol Adventure Bay was a big hit with the kids and one of the places you can meet the Paw Patrol gang! It’s like a little Paw Patrol playground. Kids will love it!
Where is it?
Intu Lakeside Shopping Centre -West Thurrock Way, Grays, Essex, RM20 2ZP. Parking is completely FREE
Opening times
Nickelodeon Adventure Lakeside is open 364 days a year. They are closed on Christmas day.
Opening Times: Monday – Sunday 10 am – 6 pm. Last entry at 5 pm. Always double check before taking a trip. Either give them a call or check out their social pages.
How much?
Beat the queues and book your tickets online. Children under 90cm enter for free, you can get their ticket from the admissions desk on arrival.
Annual Pass – something I definitely recommend if you live close by.
Our highlights.
Little miss absolutely LOVED Mrs Puff’s Boating School! She was responsible for all the driving, and she couldn’t get enough. My only complaint is the lack of space for parents in the ride. It is very cramped and uncomfortable. The ride should’ve either been designed to allow adults to sit comfortably or designed for kids to ride alone.
The meet and greets were pretty good too. Little Miss got to meet Spongebob, some of the Paw Patrol gang and Shimmer and Shine. She spent a reasonable time with them, and it didn’t feel like she was being rushed. You can take your own photos as well as professional ones.
Food
What you would expect at a place like this. Prices are okay, but I always say bring your own packed lunch. There are a load of restaurants in the actual shopping centre too!
I must say the Oreo Cupcakes were fantastic. Definitely, a must-have!
Rating…
I would give this an 8 out of 10. I think any child would LOVE this place. The different activities are pretty good. I feel like there could be more. Maybe staff-led activities with the kids, a few more play apparatuses…
With that being said, this is a very new place, so I’m pretty sure they will constantly be adding new activities. It’s just a matter of when!
Pricing – at a place like this specifically designed for kids, I don’t believe that adults should have to pay. It’s £7.50, which is quite a bit considering it’s one of those activities where we will be watching the kids play and not actively getting involved. I reckon it should be cheaper or free!
Would we go again?
Yes definitely. As I said, little miss loved it. I can imagine this place gets quite crazy on the weekend so if you could possibly go on a weekday, I would totally suggest that.
You can book tickets here.
(*Gifted invite to the official launch)
UPDATE – 20th August 2020.
We were kindly invited to come back and check out what Nickelodeon Adventure is now like during a pandemic. Things are a little different, and a few of the activities are closed, but the kids still had fun.
Here’s all the important info you’ll need before your visit.
A face covering MUST be worn inside the attraction unless you declare that you have a government exemption. Face coverings will not need to be worn when dining in their Slime Cafe. Children under the age of 11 will not need to wear one.
Visitor numbers are limited each day. I suggest going early morning because we practically had the place to ourselves! Everyone will need to book in advance.
Due to governments guideline, the two soft play areas and climbing tubes were closed during our visit. This could possibly change soon seeing as the advice has now been updated.
Character meet and greets are a little different, but still fun. Kids are required to stand on one spot and the character on another. There’s still lots of interaction but at a distance of course.
The 4D Cinema is operating at a reduced capacity. Some of the effects in the cinema have been switched off for your safety.
The Slime cafe is open, and they are only accepting card payments.
There is regular cleaning going on throughout the day, and they also have hand sanitiser around the attraction. It might be a good idea to bring your own as they were quite difficult to use.
Price
The online price is slightly cheaper than it was back in February. If your child is under 90cm, you do not need to book a ticket, or reserve an arrival slot for them.
You will need to book both a day of visit and an arrival time slot. Arrival time slots will be at 30-minute intervals starting at 9.30 am. The arrival slot is 30 minutes long. However, the visit slot is 2.5 hours long from the commencement of arrival slot.
Opening times:
Their opening times are currently 9:30 am – 6:00 pm, our last entry is 5:00 pm.
Is it worth going with the closures?
I would say yes. No child is really going to be bothered by the closures but as a parent, if you want more for your money then I would suggest waiting until the other parts reopen! The kids had a great time, and I would definitely go back!
