An amazing day out, with something for everyone.

Magna is easy to locate, and you pick up the brown signposts with plenty of distance, there is plenty of free parking on arrival (disabled spaces are available, no parent and child - but we didn't have a problem opening our doors to get the kids out).

We had booked in advance online, and were met by a lovely person at the front desk, who set us up with a pass that means we can come back all year (this is a plastic card, which will stand up to the trials of a wallet).

The site is enormous, and there is a fair bit of walking to do, and 4 floors to handle. It is entirely accessible for anyone needing wheels (pram/wheelchair). We did have a bit of confusion working out what floor we wanted in the lift - while there are signs explaining outside the lifts, signs on the inside near the buttons would be handy.

The lavatory facilities are clean and tidy, but could do with a coat of paint and a replacement rusty radiator or two. The baby change units are free-standing, rather than the ones that drop down from the wall; there are no safety straps - beware of this if you have a climber who needs a fresh nappy!

The canteen has a fabulous rainbow wall, that had my 8 month old absolutely fascinated. Hot drinks are reasonably priced. Unfortunately a lack of recycling bins for cardboard cups. You can only sit in the canteen to eat food you have purchased. However, there are various spots with indoor seating (the drop down style like at the theatre), benches outside and grass in the playground to sit on in fine weather (please note: there is limited shade from the sun, bring a hat or an umbrella if you're picnicking outdoors on a sunny day).

The exhibit is initially quite dark and a little intimidating with rumbles and clanging - if you have members of your group who have audio sensitivity, please bring their ear defenders or ear plugs. It is eerie to walk above the skeleton of the steelworks, and I was genuinely surprised how much was still in-situ! There are videos from before the steelworks closed being projected; all delightfully narrated in Proper Yorkshire Chelp! (This is definitely not a 'BBC News Voice').

You will wander by a sensory play area for under 4s, and if you have a tiny one with you, it is a lovely spot for them. Soft surfaces and bright colours.

The BIG MELT ran approximately every hour from 11am on the day we went, and lasted about a quarter of an hour. A marvellous Yorkshire narration talks through how they made moulton steel - with sound effects, lights and pyrotechnics. It isn't overly scientific or inaccessible for of those of us who don't have a clue about how steel is made. Educational and entertaining, and didn't overstay it's welcome or get boring.

The exhibit levels cover: Fire, Water, Earth, and Air (all required to make steel!). They are full of hands-on experiments for youngsters - and grownups - to partake in. Some require a "re-set period" and can't be run constantly, such as the fire tornado. However, after a clearly stated countdown, they can be set going again. A small number of experiments are being repaired or refreshed and are out of order, but they were in the minority.

We paid a small extra fee to watch a live experiment session about rockets; and if more school science teachers were as engaging and enthusiastic as the presenter, more kids would succeed in science! An excellent summer addition to the venue!

Outside is a huge playground, well padded with rubber mats and sand (make sure to tip your kids' shoes out before they get in the car!). There is a range of equipment to clamber on, suiting all ages capable of climbing. A water playground (bring swimwear and towels) was proving very popular on the beautiful sunny day that we visited - as mentioned earlier, shade is very limited.

Our family (two grownups, a 5 year old and 8 month old) had a wonderful time, and we will definitely go back in the future.