Today was a horrid wet, cold and windy day. By 10am my 1 and 5 year old were driving me (and each other) crazy at home so I needed to find something to entertain them that wasn’t outside. Living in North Yorkshire, I often forget that we have a fantastic indoor attraction within an hours’ drive…The Deep! So after a lot of searching I dug out our annual pass, made a picnic, wrapped us up and off we went.
The Deep have started their half term activities this weekend, they run until the 21st February. The theme is ‘Bubbles’ and there are extra activities around the exhibition that investigate the animals who use, create and play with bubbles. At the entrance we picked up a ‘Bubble Trail’ sheet and we had to fill in the missing words which were hidden in various tanks in bubbles as we went round. Making my 5 year old ‘chief bubble spotter’ made him look closer and for longer at the tanks and he really enjoyed it.
We spent time in our usual favourite spots – sitting at the first tank of colourful fish to see who could spot the most colourful/the biggest/the most exciting fish, watching the penguins jump in (my 1 year old was totally mesmerised by this) and going to see them swimming below, touching the ice wall and spotting frogs.
When we reached the Amazon Explorers Den there were more activities to do. My 5 year old (and me!) really enjoyed making our very own jellyfish from the craft materials and instructions provided. He then he had his face painted with a shark blowing bubbles which he is still refusing to wash off.
I like the food in The Deeps cafe and they have good kids meals but I find it easier with the age of my children to stop half way through the exhibition in their picnic room and take a pack-up with us, its just near the Amazon Explorers Den. You can buy hot/cold drinks and snacks their too which we did to jazz up my rather dull cheese sandwiches.
After lunch we then carried on through the exhibition. My children were both delighted to find a new very inquisitive turtle in the catfish tank and we ended up in the soft play for a bit. I always get nostalgic in the soft play as that was were I started contractions with my 2nd baby! On that visit we rushed straight home and then to Hull Royal! Today we ended with a last look for rays and sharks in the tunnel then rode the glass lift back to the top.
Home to a whopping 3,500 fish including spectacular sharks and rays, The Deep is a great family day out and I feel very lucky to have this on our doorstep. I have been quite a lot recently with my toddler mid week when its quiet, the annual pass is such good value to go regularly. It was lovely to take my 5 year old too as I hadn’t taken him since he started school in September and I found he spent more time looking at things today and asking questions. I’ll definitely take him for school holiday activities again as these are free once you’ve paid to get in or used your pass.
Find The Deep at Tower Street, Hull, HU1 4DP (Sat Nav HU9 1TU). For more information call them on 01482 381000, follow them on facebook or on Twitter @thedeephull or check their website here. All of their school holidays activities are listed on Mumbler’s School Holidays page here.
Guest Blog by Rachael- Hull and East Riding Mumbler
