This popular attraction includes an interactive demonstration area, a tour around the packaging site, a chance to taste your own chocolate creation and plenty of free samples!
When to go to beat the queues
It’s of no surprise that the busiest times are school holidays and in particular it seems, half term holidays where, at their peak, they are catering for about 3000 people a day! Beware that even a visit midweek term time will find you surrounded by school trip parties.
Pre-Book Your Ticket: tickets are not only limited to capacity but are time slot managed. Pre-booking allows you to book your time slot in advance rather than turning up and finding the next available time slot isn’t until some hours later!
Get There Early: you may have booked your ticket but you still need to queue for your time slot even if you have booked the first slot of the day. With 80 time slots being allocated for every 10 minutes, the queues build quickly! At peak times, it is wise to arrive by 10am at the latest to avoid lengthy queues. The busiest times being between 11am & 3pm, so try to ensure you are ahead of the crowds.
Be Prepared: with all these free samples of chocolate, the children will quickly be asking for a drink. Have a bottle of water with you to alleviate this little problem.
Avoid the food queues: bring a picnic and set yourself down by the play area to allow the kids to run off all that chocolate!
Have a break
Picnic & Lockers: a large picnic area is located close to the play park with seating & benches. There is an indoor tented area closeby for wetter weather. Although there aren’t any lockers available, the car park is close by.
Places to Eat: this is only one restaurant, the Cadbury Cafe. Usual style with hot & cold food. For about £4 the children can choose from a hot meal or a pick & mix selection.
Staff Shop: try to get your hands on a ticket to the staff shop. These are given out at admission to a select few each day, (I was told they are given out early in the day – another incentive to get there early!) The staff shop is a short walk away from the attraction and offers unbelievable discounts on chocolate & other confectionary.
Brought the kids but not interested yourself?
The social history surrounding the creation of Bournville is interesting and can be glimpsed at within the Bournville Experience. There is also a self guided walk around the village with information points along the way.
There is a baby changing room on the ground floor near to reception and a second facility half way around the tour. Pushchair access throughout with the exception of the packaging plant where there is provision to store your buggy.
A microwave is available in the cafe for parents to heat baby food.
There is a small play park on site with plenty of seating around the area. A second play park is located close to the main entrance to Bournville Park in the village.
Free car parking.
Whilst a wide range of accommodation is readily available, one worthy of note is Woodbrooke. This is the former family home of George Cadbury and offers bed and breakfast, half & full board. More details can be found at accomodation with a difference
And finally..
Keep an eye out for additional activities that tend to run during the school holidays. Whilst there are the busy days, at least the extra activities disperses the crowd a little!
