Disclaimer: We received complimentary entry to Knockhatch Adventure Park for our review, but words and pictures are mine.
This weekend we took our third trip to Knockhatch Adventure Park in Hailsham, East Sussex. About a fifty minute drive from us in Kent, the first visit was four years ago when my oldest was almost three, and then again in late 2018 when she was five and my smallest was three and a half for a birthday party.
This time we returned with my children now aged five and almost seven, to see how the place had changed and how it was coping with new COVID regulations.
What is there to do at Knockhatch Adventure Park?
Rides:
There are several rides suitable for small kids; the chairoplanes, the Tractor and Quadapillar which are all suitable for children from 2ish years old.
My oldest still enjoyed the Chairoplanes and the Quadapillar, where a quad bike pulls you along on a track. She’s growing out of (but under 1.3m so not too big for) the tractor ride.
We also visited the Dino Safari – a Jurassic Park style simulator – for the first time and they both said that was their favourite – although it was the last thing we did, and you know what kids and their memories are like…
Animals:
There is a small farm at the entrance to the park with chickens and turkeys, pigs, donkeys, ponies, goats, llamas, emus and small pets like guinea pigs and rabbits.
Further into the park there are other animals including meerkats and raccoons.
There is also an Owl Sanctuary, and the bird of prey are flown twice a day in the flying arena.
Outdoor activities:
There are two Jumping Pillows, a Mini Golf course and a Pirates Cove splash pool and water slide (probably not one for the cooler months, although there were some very brave kids were having a go!). There are also rowing boats; again we did not brave this one.
Play areas:
There are also two adventure play areas, the Chestnut Wood play area and the newer Dragon’s Castle play area.
Chestnut Wood has a massive open area of wooden frames, slides and ziplines to explore.
Dragon’s Castle is a new, huge and very impressive play area with enclosed tunnels, ropes, slides and even a dragon! The kids could probably have played for hours.
What has changed for 2020?
Firstly, you need to book tickets online and turn up within your designated time slot. This is to ensure that the park doesn’t get too busy and that families are dispersed into the park before the next slot.
There are markings all around the park showing where you should walk, and sanitiser at the entrance to every attraction. Rides are cleaned off in between each use. Obviously not everyone adheres to the signs and markings – do they ever – but in general it didn’t feel too overcrowded.
The restaurant inside Froggies Soft Play has closed, and food can now be purchased for takeaway only from the burger van (vegan and vegie options are available) or from the Dino Safari area.
The indoor Cannon Arena is closed, with the area selling takeaway drinks only.
The main indoor attractions (Froggie’s Soft Play and Lost World) are ticketed entry.
You need to queue to pick up a ticket one hour before your session and then need to turn up at the allotted time with your ticket in hand, for a 40 minute session. The queuing can get a little crowded but people are reminded to queue with adequate distance between them. Masks must be worn inside the venues by people aged over 11, unless exempt.
Froggies has had the restaurant closed and the tables removed so parents and carers can’t sit and have a drink; the seating has been spread out to distance.
The sessions are 40 minutes each, with 20 minutes between each session to allow the area to be sanitised. We only stayed for a short time at the soft play (long enough for my oldest to decide she is too old for soft play – score!) at the very start of the day, so numbers were very low but in general, the number of children allowed in at once has been massively reduced (and so has the noise, which I’m sure parents will love to hear). Although it is impossible for children to adequately socially distance inside any soft play they are encouraging them to stay apart wherever possible, and sanitiser is available at the entrance.
The slides inside the Lost World play barn are my daughter’s favourite part of the whole park however my son isn’t such a fan. She happily went off to go down the sack slide a hundred times; she wasn’t keen to try the drop slide which I’m glad of as it probably would have given me a heart attack. Meanwhile my son we went to look at the animatronic dinosaurs.
Parents are encouraged to take a seat and follow the markings and will be asked to leave the slide area by staff who appear vigilant.
Is Knockhatch COVID safe?
As it is largely outside, it does feel quite safe to spend a day at Knockhatch Adventure Park. Understandably some of the indoor activities and restaurants are closed, so this is definitely something consider, especially in bad weather.
Regarding the indoor attractions which remain open, it is never going to be perfect with a large number of people entering an enclosed space, much like any supermarket or shopping centre, but they are clearly working hard to keep thing clean and sanitised and staff are happy to remind parents to abide to the rules. I didn’t see anyone who wasn’t wearing a mask or was ignoring the rules.
Having had COVID recently I recognise that this maybe isn’t such a huge concern to me personally right now, as I am as immune as I’ll ever be and it is extremely unlikely that right now I could catch it give it to anyone else. However, you are understandably nervous, I am sure you could have a great day without going into either of the indoor attractions.
To book a visit to Knockhatch Adventure Park, go to their website.
Some attractions are closed on ‘green’ days so make sure you are aware of what is open before you book. On ‘orange’ days when all attractions are open, tickets booked online cost £11.99 (per adult under 65 or child over 2 years) and on ‘green’ days, pre-booked tickets cost £7.99.
Thanks for reading our Knockhatch review. See more of our days out here!