WHEN it comes to Christmas with little kids you can feel overwhelmed with what events to take them to and which ones they may not be quite ready for.
When I got tickets to go to Knowsley Safari Park’s Enchanted Light Trail launch I knew we were in safe hands though and my 2.5 year old thoroughly enjoyed the night’s shenanigans.
On arrival he ran to the newly laid out toddler play area (open all year round as a permanent feature of the site) which we had to coax him off after he realised he could also play on the amusement rides there – which for the first time he really enjoyed being that little bit older to appreciate it all in the festive glow.
The trail itself is well laid out with lit up animal figures dotted along what is normally the foot safari in the day.
My little boy was particularly taken with the tigers, giraffes, hippopotamus and wolves as well as the polar bears and the Christmas tree itself.
The stalls available offered a wide variety of festive foods including cocktails and Yorkshire pudding wrap as well as festive hot drinks. There was also booths to write a message to Father Christmas and post it in their special post box.
There was plenty of space to sit and video displays of Father Christmas with his reindeer which left my toddler spellbound for long enough that the adults in our party got a few seconds reprieve from running after him while he tried to figure out where Santa had gone with his presents.
The toasting marshmallow section is a welcome treat, mine got overdone as I let my little boy do it which he very much enjoyed and staff kindly gave a cold one to him to prevent him risking burning himself which was very kind.
All the staff were really attentive and the atmosphere was great.
The trail is big enough – but not too big – for little legs to enjoy without the needs of a stroller (I did take reins) though many people took prams and strollers for younger and more tired little ones than mine – that marshmallow sugar rush got him through to the end of the night!
We were lucky to get a press invite but priced from £8 to £25, dependent on peak periods and special discounts for members, with under threes and carers being free I think it’s good value for money.
There is also opportunity at an additional cost – and separate booking – to see Father Christmas which is a nice opportunity to tie up all the Christmas magic into one visit, which we sadly did not do but due to the queue it is clearly popular and I can understand why.
My son absolutely loved it and a week on has not stopped telling me all about the light up animals at Knowsley – or about that marshmallow, which I think Father Christmas may have to remember when sorting his Christmas stocking this year.
To book, go to tickets.knowsleysafariexperience.co.uk
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