The Gallery - Water

Where can you get wet, see art and PLAY?

We are lucky enough to live very close to Burghley House where they have an attraction called The Gardens of Surprise.

It is brilliant. No, scratch that. It is fan-bloomin-tastic. It is a cross between interactive sculpture and water, where you will definitely get wet. Kids (and *ahem* adults) run through fountains, paddle in streams, navigate mazes, dodge geysers (water spouts not a slightly lairy gentleman in the know) and look on in wonder at clever sculptures.

The Wee One loves water, he 'squeally' loves water. And the instant he saw the water and fountains he squealed and didn't stop for, ooh, about 2 hours. I had to wrestle him into his little rash vest and swim nappy before I could let him run wild. For that alone it was well worth the £24 for the family day pass which admits you to the Sculpture Garden as well (also amazing).

There is a timetable of summer activities for kids and a rather nice (but pricey) cafe too. For £58 you can get a family season ticket which runs from Easter to October so you have loads of time to get your moneys worth.

We go at least a couple of times a year and this year, knowing we don't have a summer holiday planned, we splashed out (geddit? see what I did there? LOL to myself) on a family season ticket so I am praying for lots of sunny days so the kids can get nice and wet! Oh and under 3's are free.

Hot tips to get the most from the day:

• Take a picnic. There are some lovely grounds to eat in and the cafe is limited
• Take towels
• Take swimming costumes and flipflops or crocs
• Make time to go round the Sculpture Garden. It is a large area and you can spend a couple of hours there alone
• Get the kids into their swimming stuff before you go through the gates. After that and you will be wrestling to keep hold of them.
• Take a warm layer that they can put on

This is not a sponsored post. I just really love it there and just wanted to share!

Go over to Sticky Fingers for more entries in The Gallery