Stockeld Park — Attraction in Spofforth with Stockeld

A fun day out for all ages, adults included on the boats. I just have a few moans.

A little bit of common sense in some areas. Every time we go on the boats we're asked by staff to put all bags and any valuables into a large wooden crate, fair enough and a sensible idea. However then the people getting off the boats have to rummage through all our bags on top to get to theirs at the bottom. Every time I go on the boats I say to staff wouldn't it make more sense to have the people on the boats collect their bags first then put ours in but nope, falls on deaf ears everytime. At least have two crates then because as you can clearly see, people awkwardly moving other people's bags and purses out of the way to get to theirs.

Shockingly missing off the menus are chips/fries. I never eat at Stockeld Park as the menus are pretty boring for me and over priced, seems to be on a bit of a health kick too. I always bring a picnic or sandwiches as I'm not paying £8.50 for a burger, just a burger with no fries. Kids want simple food like fries and well adults do too. A quick easy snack sorely needed. Understandable they'll probably say they'll be more mess but you confine food to certain areas so this shouldn't be a problem.

Food again. Why do the food places shut an hour and 45 minutes before closing, then shortly after from 4:30 pm. Stockeld Park closes at 6pm but food starts to shut down from 4:15pm right when everyone's starting to get hungry. So prepare yourself for this too as last food orders could realistically be 5:20pm.

Prices inside, and it's like this at most places. Once you have paid your entrance fee you shouldn't then have to pay for rides inside. So be aware that you have to pay for the boats £6.50 a boat, then the train, £3 a person.

Look at where parents have flopped their bums down, that's where you need benches. A lot more benches, as you'll notice a lot of grandparents and well adults too, just needing a quick breather and there's not enough benches.

Stockeld Park always looks like a work in progress, like it's never truly finished, like there's usually an area that used to be there (minigolf) that's being turned into something else, but taking a long time to do this. Bring back a decent mini Golf, that was fun. You can also see areas under construction, pretty much each time you come and usually the same areas too.

Staff are quick to herd you out once its closing time. Give us chance we've heard you. Maybe that's why food closes early too as the staff really want to get out of here and it shows.

Anyway fun parts, its all pretty much fun, we do miss the segways which used to be on the train route, maybe some electric drivable buggies would be cool instead of the train. Also the train driver vaping, at least blow the smoke up into the air to simulate a steam train 😂

It's a nice walk, with some fairly decent play areas dotted around. The maze is always a fun challenge with points to look out over and see where you need to backtrack to, alot.

The play hive is amazing. With food, drink and shoes not allowed inside, so it all feels very nice, clean and welcoming, I would save this for a hot day to cool down in or a cooler, wetter day to keep dry in. or if you're spending the full day here enjoy it anytime.

It's a nice day out but needs fries for a 5 star...

Highly Recommended - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Stockeld Park is an adventure-packed play park that guarantees to keep children entertained all day long. Whether you visit during the summer or winter, this remarkable destination offers a wide range of outdoor activities and indoor attractions that are sure to delight both kids and adults alike.

During the summer months, Stockeld Park transforms into an exhilarating wonderland of inflatable slides and go-karts. Children can indulge in thrilling adventures, racing down the slides and zooming around in go-karts, creating unforgettable memories of fun and excitement.

However, Stockeld Park truly shines during the winter season, where it offers a magical experience in the form of a beautiful winter woodland walk and breath-taking light shows. Taking a stroll through the enchanting winter woodland allows families to immerse themselves in a fairy-tale-like atmosphere, surrounded by the beauty of nature. The mesmerizing light shows further add to the charm, creating a captivating spectacle for visitors of all ages.

For those who prefer indoor activities, the "Play Hive" at Stockeld Park is an absolute delight. It is one of the largest indoor play areas in the country and boasts exceptional design. The Play Hive features a multitude of different themed areas, ranging from space to oceans and everything in-between. This well-crafted play area stimulates children's imagination and offers endless opportunities for exploration and discovery. With an impressive variety of slides and sensory equipment, the Play Hive is an ideal environment for children to develop their skills and abilities, regardless of their age.

Stockeld Park goes above and beyond by offering additional attractions and entertainment options. During school holidays, short pantomimes are held, providing a delightful experience for the kids. Additionally, in winter, visitors can enjoy a fantastic ice-skating rink, adding a touch of magic to the already remarkable offerings at Stockeld Park.

In conclusion, Stockeld Park is an outstanding destination for families seeking adventure and entertainment. With its plethora of outdoor activities, including inflatable slides and go-karts, as well as its breathtaking winter woodland walk and light shows, Stockeld Park caters to all seasons. Moreover, the Play Hive, with its diverse themed areas, slides, and sensory equipment, provides a stimulating and enjoyable indoor experience. The inclusion of short pantomimes during school holidays and an ice-skating rink in winter further enhances the overall appeal of Stockeld Park. For these reasons, I highly recommend Stockeld Park and award it a well-deserved 5-star rating.

Highly Recommended...

Absolutely appalling experience! I booked Santa’s Grotto for my two children at 5.20 on Friday 6th December. We arrived at 5pm, queued for 20 minutes to arrive at the ticket desk to be told very nonchantly, with no apology, that there was no Santa’s grotto because there had been a power cut. We were given a little card with an email address on or told to go to the gift shop to speak to a manager. I said there could have been an email or a phone call and I was told emails had been sent. (I STILL have not received an email) We went to the gift shop and were told that we needed to go back to the ticket office, however they would radio for a manager. The man that we eventually spoke to was a technician, who yet again didn’t apologise to my children but was massively defensive and kept saying that he had been trying to fix the power fault. He told us it “only happened at 3pm” so our response was yes then we would have expected to be contacted as soon as possible after that.

We were then sent back to the ticket office, to speak to another “manager” who tried to fob us off by emailing the complaint and that there was nothing else she could do. She didn’t seem to be overly interested and there was a lack of care in her voice and she didn’t seem to care that our children were very disappointed. Yet again, no apology from the staff to the children. We then spoke to a senior manager, who said an email had gone out and that she had been in the ticket office since then. We said an email hadn’t come to us and that random email checks have been done. She didn’t seem to believe us that we hadn’t had an email. Again, there was genuine lack of interest or care in what had happened and she seemed more interested in getting rid of us.

Not one member of staff apologised to our children.

We are local and regular customers to Stockeld Park and we feel extremely disappointed and let down.

We feel like the situation could have been managed better by

A. Sending emails or phoning customers to say this had happened- not make them travel to be told the bad news

B. When the queue was forming, having a member of staff to mention it rather than making children stand in the cold

C. Staff to be trained in genuine care and coming across like they are understanding of how appalling the situation was and was managed

Sadly, until you show us that you value us as customers, we will not be returning. We will spread the news about how disappointing this all was to people we know and through social media. Not good enough...