It was an opportunity too good to miss – especially for young Lego fans.
Visitors to the Legoland Discovery Centre in Manchester have the chance to buckle-up and go for a spin in an exhilarating virtual reality ride.
The attraction is home to the UK’s only Lego VR Experience, which sees brick fans immersed in a 360-degree world.
My eight-year-old son Ewan, and his cousin Fin, aged 12, spend hours building with the iconic plastic bricks, so were eager to be among the first to try out the new ride – one of only two in the world.
When it was their turn, they excitedly climbed into one of the four futuristic pods, and were then strapped in and shown how to use the VR headsets.
Here’s a short video of our experience here:
Centre of the action
The ‘Great Lego Race’ got underway, with Ewan and Fin at the centre of the action. The brick-built Lego world took them across rocky mountains, through rolling rivers and over bubbling lava.
During the ride, both boys kept looking around, clearly fascinated by the world they’d been thrown into and picking up the detail of their surroundings – the intricate detail the Lego brand is renowned for.
They had beaming grins throughout, and afterwards wanted to do it all over again.
But it was my turn to have a go, along with my husband Simon, and despite being a little apprehensive initially, I absolutely loved it.
Real excitement
I’m not a big fan of white-knuckle rollercoasters, so the VR ride was ideal. It gave me the chance to experience a thrilling ride without actually hurtling down a vertical slope at breakneck speed.
The virtual reality feels, well, very real. So real, in fact, that I wouldn’t advise eating a big meal before boarding.
It felt like we were characters in a Lego movie, and although the ride doesn’t last long (just a few minutes), it’s an experience I can highly recommend.
What else is on offer?
During our visit to Legoland Discovery Centre, we spent time exploring the rest of the venue, which is packed with boredom-busting activities.
On the Kingdom Quest ride we zapped beastly trolls and sneaky skeletons on our mission to save the Princess.
Ewan and Fin loved the three-storey play area in the Ninjago City Adventure zone, and also the Space Mission section.
And the build and test area is always popular, especially with the grown-ups (Simon became engrossed in building his own ultimate vehicle).
Other attractions include the 4D cinema (where there’s a risk of getting sprayed with water), and for little ones there’s the Lego Duplo Farm play zone.
Ewan and Fin took part in a Master Model Builder session, and they entered – and won – a building competition.
And their prize?
…a free ride on the VR Experience!
Needless to say they were delighted to go on the ride not once, but twice in one day.
Where is Legoland Discovery Centre?
The attraction is within the intu Trafford Centre in Manchester, with free parking and transport links. The nearest car park is at Barton Square.
The full address is:
Legoland Discovery Centre Manchester
Barton Square
intu Trafford Centre
Manchester
M17 8AS
When is it open?
- Daily from 10am to 6pm, with last entry at 5pm (the shop is also open until 6pm)
- On Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve the centre shuts at 5pm, with last admission at 3pm
- Closed on Christmas Day
How much is it?
- Visitors who book online can select a timeslot and are advised to arrive 15 minutes before their slot
- The walk-up price for an individual Legoland Discovery Centre ticket is £19.95 for adults and £15.95 for children (aged 3-17)
- Online prices for an individual ticket start from £15.95 for adults and £11.95 for children (aged 3-17)
- Admission is free for children under 3
- Activity packs are £4
- The Lego VR Experience isn’t included with the entry ticket. This is charged at an additional £5 per person
- Visit the website to find out more about other ticket options, such as annual passes and combi-tickets for Legoland Discovery Centre and Sea Life Manchester
Things to note:
- Adults aged 18 and over must be accompanied by a child (aged 17 years or younger) to visit the centre (with the exception of Adult Fans of Lego Nights)
- The time guests spend at the attraction may be limited at busy times. During these periods, guests are issued with a time-limited wristband
- Legoland Discovery Centre is designed for children aged 3-10 years – everything is child sized
- Baby changing facilities are available
- The centre is wheelchair and pram accessible
- A buggy park is available at owner’s risk
- The coffee shop offers hot beverages, soft drinks, sandwiches and snacks
- For all rides, guests must be able to transfer to the ride vehicle with or without carer assistance. All of the rides also require guests to be able to sit upright unaided
- No wheelchairs or strollers are provided. However, guests are able to rent these from the intu Trafford Centre shopmobility area
- There is no disabled rate but if a member of a party is registered disabled, one carer can be admitted free. Please bring documentation on the day
Review by: Colette Warbrook
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Day Out at the Thinktank Science Museum in Birmingham
Family Day Out to Trentham Gardens in Stoke-on-Trent
Fun Kids Day out to Knowsley Safari Park, Prescot
* We were provided with free entry passes to Legoland Discovery Centre and the Lego VR Experience in return for a review. All opinions are our own.
48 comments
That looks like so much fun. I had no idea that there were so many things to do there. It will be going on our “places to visit” list.
Such great news Laurie, thank you for sharing that with us
You had my kids at the Batman, lol They would love going there and how cool are those name tags.
Yes such great activity pack and yes Batman was supercool too
Oh, this looks like such a fun day out for little ones! The VR experience totally seems worth the extra money too.
Yes its worth heading there just for the VR experience
Been saying for sometime I so need to go and take the kids as it does look so much fun at this place.
Yes it is Hannah, real good fun!
OH, this is so cute. I’ve been wanting to visit. I was recently in Orlando but didn’t have time to visit.
This was such a great trip for us LaDonna, hope your Orlando trip was fun as well
I tend to avoid movie/ toy/ amusement collaborations. But it really looks like your boys had a good time. And I’m all of that.
Yes we did, its a mix of both and our boys have lots of opportunity to be creative while playing with lego
I watched your video clip and think the kids really having so much fun! I like how you added the final tips such as how much and also things to notes.
Your welcome, so glad you enjoy reading the post and watching the video
This looks so fun and my kids would love the VR experience. We have a Discovery Legoland locally, and my kids always love it when we go.
How wonderful to hear that Stephanie!
We are visiting Manchester next month and this is top of our wishlist to visit with the kids
Hope you do get a chance to experience the VR Kara, its super cool
oh yes, looks so super cool I can imagine that both the little kids and big kids would enjoy it
Yes all of us did for sure
I would love to try the VR Experience. I have a VR helmet at home and I know how real it can get. Not sure how I would feel about a virtual roller coaster ride though, as I’m scared of them in real life too 🙂
Ha, it was so realistic and we are sure you would enjoy it Joanna
Even as an adult I’d love to go to this! The Trafford Centre is great 🙂 x
Yes certainly! Its a great experience for the whole family x
Legoland looks like a really treat for the kids! I need to head out there sometime soon!
Hope you do Vanessa, its a great place with so much to do there
What a fun day out. Mine have just gotten into the Lego movies so would love to go see the lego characters like batman as well as go on the rides.
Yes its a great day out for kids especially if they love the lego movies, the 4D cinema is a hit for sure
This looks like so much fun! We have visited the Legoland discovery Center in Atlanta, Georgia USA and we had a great time. We love the rides and the 4D theater. My kids played with Legos for hours there.
That sounds amazing! Hope we get a chance to visit Legoland in Atlanta someday too
Legoland looks like it would be so much fun! My kids would really love to go!
Yes we are sure they would have
I first went to Legoland as a child myself and absolutely loved it – I’d love to go back and try the VR experience! x
Yes absolutely Stephanie, we were there earlier this year and decided to head back just for the VR experience as well and it is so well worth it x
What a great place to treat kids. They sure look like they are having fun at Legoland.
Yes they enjoyed it very much Garf
Our local legoland discovery center doesn’t have the vr experience. Hope they bring it soon!
Hope they do Caroline, otherwise do head to Manchester which is the first in the UK to do it.
This place! I’ve been wanting to visit. My kids will surely be happy. Love all your photos. Look so fun!
Thank you, so glad you enjoyed the read.
This looks like so much fun, I would love to take my boys there one of these days! Both of my boys are huge Lego fans, i just love the huge Lego sculptures!
Hope you get the chance to visit Legoland Discovery Center in Manchester Terri, such a fab place!
We went to Legoland Discovery in PA and Legoland in CA. I’m all lego’d out until next year when my girls want us to go again.
What a fabulous experience that must have been, hope you all enjoyed it!
I took Pickle a few years ago and he loved it, He would love it even more now with the VR experience! Kaz
Yes the VR experience is new and they have a lot more at the LDC Manchester now than they did a few years ago
This looks like such a great day and living in Cheshire, Manchester is far easier to get to than Windsor. Will be putting this on the activity list for the October holidays!
Glad to hear that Laura x