You can try out some powerful cars at Mercedes Benz World
Fun and adventure
May 15, 2008
Whether it’s the thrill of off-roading, climbing up walls or the sedate pleasure of a few chukkas, there is something for every action-seeker out there
Give your kids their first taste of life behind the wheel. If they’re tall enough to reach the pedals (over 1.5m), then they can have a race around the track at Mercedes Benz World in Weybridge.
They have driving experiences designed just for kids, all in the safety of a dual-controlled car.
Adults, don’t worry, you can have a go too. Put a Mercedes Benz car through its paces over ten-acres of slippery slopes, rocky terrain and deep muddy water, or sit back and relax as one of the instructors puts the M-Class to the ultimate test with you in the passenger seat.
If it’s speed you’re after then you can take one of their cars on the handling circuits.
There are low friction surfaces on the Wet Skid Circle and Wet Straight, which means you can improve your car control on slippery surfaces.
Drivers’ off-road £100 per hour and off-road passengers from £25 for 15 minutes, Kids’ driving from £35 for 30 minutes, 0870 400 4000.
Fast water flows, sloshing flumes and the rush of the rapids – an afternoon at the Coral Reef, Nine Mile Ride, Bracknell, is a great way to spend a few hours.
Aim and fire with the pirate ship cannons, zoom down the Snake River flumes or tumble and turn in the wild water rapids.
For gentler entertainment, there are the toddler pools, or leave the kids to it and take a break in the sauna. Adult £6.95, child £4.80, 01344 862524.
Spending an afternoon at the Craggy Island Indoor Climbing Centre, Guildford, is great fun.
Each climb has a graded route of coloured holds set from ‘easy peasy’ to ‘you can’t be serious!’ meaning that you can climb at any level or ability.
Book a taster session, a two-hour course that gives you the chance to see if you like climbing. If you take to it, book a beginner’s course. You could get so good, that you take on their free-form arch.
If heights aren’t your thing, then relax in the Island Café overlooking the wall. Taster session £20, beginners’ course £89, 01483 566880.
Exercise that bowling arm at Aldershot Bowling, Birchett Road, Aldershot – a cheap and fun way to use up a few hours.
Take advantage of the Bowl and Basket Meal. It costs £12.50 per person and includes food and drink, two games of bowling, shoes and admission.
Between the hours of 3pm and 5pm, bowlers can have a game for £1 – ideal for an afternoon’s entertainment in the school holidays. Various prices, 01252 336844.
The Campaign Paintball Park in Cobham has eight purpose built parks, each one with a different theme.
Dodge City looks like the site of a classic western, with overturned wagons, a saloon and jail. In the Jungle Park, the objective is finding a golden idol inside an ancient Aztec Temple.
And in D-Day it’s your platoon’s mission to navigate your way up the beach, avoiding the onslaught from the pillboxes and wipe out the big gun emplacement. £12.50 per person or £37.50 including 500 paintballs, www.campaign-paintball.com
Splash about this summer at the Aldershot Lido. You can spend a whole day lazing by the pool and having a gentle swim or shooting down one of their slides at the complex in Guildford Road.
The largest open air pool in the area has a picnic area, basketball, sandpit, three fun water slides, spring diving board and a toddler paddling pool.
It also has conoeing and kayaking club on Wednesday evenings. Adult £5.30, child £3.20, 01252 313706.
Learn to play polo at one of Ascot’s Discovery Days. Don’t worry, they don’t let you loose on the horses straight away. First you go through the theory of the game and then practise your swing while standing on milk crates.
Once you’ve got your confidence up, you can mount your mighty steed and practise hitting the ball.
It costs extra to play a chukka, but be assured that once you’ve learned those basic skills, you’ll be desperate to put them into action in a proper game of polo. £95 per person, £35 per chukka, 01276 858545.
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