The five attractions included in the StayPlayExplore programme include the spectacular National Space Centre in Leicester, with its real rockets and interactive challenges! Greeted by the Space Centre’s impressive 42 metre Rocket Tower, this amazing attraction offers hours of breathtaking discovery and interactive fun for all the family. You can become an astronaut and join the crew in the futuristic lunar base, test your mental and physical ability to survive in deep space, and blast off on a stunning 3D SIM journey to the ice moon Europa.

www.spacecentre.co.uk

Twycross Zoo is set in 50 acres of parkland and houses nearly 1000 animals, mainly rare and endangered species. The zoo is home to a famous primate collection, from tiny pygmy Marmoset to huge western Lowland Gorilla. The fascinating South American Tropical House is a great place to explore and there’s a children’s adventure playground and a new play area with rides suitable for young children. There are four cafeterias in the zoo and plenty of lovely picnic areas. Also, the zoo has recently been granted funding to create a new ‘world class’ eco-friendly, state-of-the-art Visitor Centre. The new welcome centre will be a single storey, grass-roofed building which will speed up access to the zoo, provide new improved facilities for visitors, and house a Tourist Information Centre to highlight all the attractions within Leicestershire and the surrounding counties.

www.twycrosszoo.org

Conkers, the award-winning attraction at the heart of the National Forest, offers a unique mix of indoor and outdoor experiences for all the family. This all-weather attraction is ideal – indoors the Discovery and Waterside Centres have over 100 interactive exhibits, the new Energy Town and Enchanted Forest simulated tree top canopy walk, and licensed cafes and gift shop. Outdoors there’s 120 acres of maturing woodland to explore, including the Conker’s train, woodland and lakeside trails, adventure play areas, an assault course, picnic areas, ranger led activities and a covered amphitheatre with live shows. They also have a great events programme including a Halloween party, Fireworks display, Christmas panto and Santa special train rides, and summer programmes. Check the website for events and theatre shows.

www.visitconkers.com

Twinlakes Park has an exciting variety of family rides and attractions set in 60 acres of glorious countryside. This all-weather attraction has indoor venture centres, 14 family rides including the favourite Buffalo ride, castles and play palaces to explore, cuddly creatures and majestic birds of prey. There’s also a boating lake, Texan assault course, Zip slides and an interactive soft play area for the little ones.

www.twinlakespark.co.uk

Snibston Discovery Park is an all-weather science and industry museum located on the site of the former Snibston Colliery. The award winning attraction explores the impact of technology on our every day lives with over 90 indoor and outdoor interactive exhibits, including ‘Wild Water’ and ‘Science Play’. There’s a new colliery themed adventure play area, you can ride on a diesel hauled locomotive along the restored colliery track, and take a tour of the historic colliery buildings with a real life miner. The museum houses an amazing Fashion Gallery with over 1000 items from the 1750’s to the present day, the largest such collection outside London. The Grange Nature Reserve has a wildlife bug hut, pond dipping, nature trails, a fishing lake and picnic areas.

www.snibston.com