You are taken on a journey from the beginning of time through to the present day with The Deep telling a story of the world's oceans.
The start of the 'tour' takes you along long, downward ramps showing you how life on the planet has evolved with a time line the whole way down.

Gradually you make your way down to the depths of the ocean seeing some of the larger sharks, rays and other fish that would normally occupy this level of the sea.

And finally you walk through the under sea tunnel and from there you can look up to the very top of this huge tank to where you started the tour. The amazing under water lift takes you up inside the tank and pauses for about 30 seconds to give you the feeling of being in the tank with the fishes. *Eve Hanson

The Deep
Tower Street
Hull,
HU9 1TU
Telephone: 01482 381000
www.thedeep.co.uk
Open daily between 10am and 6pm. (Last admission 5pm)

Marks out of five:
Parking: 3/5
The car park is £3 which I thought was a little expensive. However, the £3 ticket includes a sticker worth £2 that you can exchange for food and drink .
Cost: 3/5
Adult (16+) - £8.75 Children - £6.75 Under 3s - Free Student - £7.25 Senior - £7.25. If travelling from afar, after adding the price of petrol and food, it could appear to be a costly day out.
Travel time: 3/5
Only a 40 minute drive from Doncaster which is not too tedious with restless kids in the car.
Food: 3/5
One of the restaurant areas gives you the opportunity to go up to the fourth floor and look out over the Humber, which is quite an interesting view! The indoor picnic zone is a good idea because you might want to bring sandwiches.
Toilets: 5/5
The toilets were absolutely spotless with plenty scattered about.
Staff: 5/5
All extremely helpful.
Gift shop: 3/5
As you'd expect there's a big shop where you can stock up on all the cuddly stingrays and plastic shark pencil sharpeners you could ever need.
Time spent there: 4/5
Lots of things to do around the centre. Spent three hours in total before Tia told me she was sick of seeing fish!!!
Overall mark: 3/5
A at, interesting day out - but it could turn out to be a little pricey.

Potteric Carr

IF theme parks, noise and crowds aren't your thing but you still want a day out with the kids and at the same time, rediscover nature, then you can't go wrong with Potteric Carr.

The Yorkshire Wildlife Trust nature reserve, the largest in South Yorkshire, sprawls across a huge area and is a fantastic haven for wildlife - and a regular and popular spot for birdwatchers too with its numerous hides dotted around the site.

The paths around the reserve cater for all ages and abilities - you can wander into the depths if you want to or you can simply take a short stroll among the pleasant woodland - the choice is up to you.

And if you want to put your feet up for a bit or fill hungry tummies, make sure you make it as far as Low Ellers Cafe at the centre of the reserve - there can't be many more idyllic places in Doncaster to enjoy a cuppa and a breather! *Darren Burke

Potteric Carr
Open daily from 9am to 5pm
Telephone: (01302) 570077

Marks out of five:
Parking: 5/5
Large, secure and convenient car park at the entrance to the centre.
Cost: 5/5
Charges are pretty small - with token admission fees for the various events on site. Even with a big group you'll not be shelling out too much.
Travel time: 3/5
15 minute drive or so from home. But public transport is a little more difficult with no direct bus or rail services.
Food: 5/5
Traditional, tasty and large helpings of good homemade grub. No rumbling tummies here!
Toilets: 3/5
Back to nature - a lot of the toilet blocks are outside so can be quite leafy!
Staff: 5/5
You're left to your own devices so human contact is minimal.
Time spent there: 3/5
Could be tiring for little ones - so make sure you've got the pushchairs. Little ones will love the slugs and spiders but older ones might find it not quite so exciting.
Overall mark: 4/5

Astrabound

ASTRABOUND is one of the newest arrivals on Doncaster's entertainment scene - and since its opening in March has become a firm favourite with parents - and of course, youngsters - all over town.
It has always been busy on my regular visits - and judging by the screams and whoops of delight from the scores of youngsters, its a big hit with them too.
Safe, secure and clean - and with play areas for three distinct age groups - 0-2, 2-5 and 5-12 - there's something for everyone in among the slides, climbing frames and ball pools.
Parents can relax in the large seating areas - and if you are really luck you can bag one of the squishy sofas and catch up with a paper and a coffee while the kids run around to their heart's content.* Darren Burke.

Astrabound,
Unit 6,
Crompton Road,
Doncaster,
DN2 4PJ
Telephone: (01302) 847753
www.astrabound.com
Open daily between 9.30am and 6.30pm.

Marks out of five:
Parking: 2/5. There's a small car park outside - but the other industrial units around have clamping in progress and the street parking is difficult too.
Cost: 3/5 . Off peak (Mon-Fri term time): Under 1's - Free; Under 5's - £3.50; Over 5's - £4.95; Adults - £1.00.
Peak (Sat-Sun and school holidays): Under 1's - Free; Under 5's - £3.95; Over 5's - £4.95; Adults - £1.50.
The prices are reasonable but with a larger group, it can soon mount up.
Travel time: 5/5
Literally a five minute walk from my home - so ideal!
Food: 4/5
Lots of the usual fare to choose from - fish fingers, beans etc - but fruit and healthy options too. Decent prices and plenty of room to eat.
Toilets: 5/5
The toilets were absolutely spotless.
Staff: 5/5
All extremely helpful and on hand if there are any problems.
Time spent there: 4/5
Two hours is your maximum - but more than enough to tire the kids out.
Overall mark: 4/5

Eureka!

WHERE can you cycle with a skeleton, scan your shopping, change the tyres on a car and sample all sorts of musical instruments?

The same place where you can step into a giant mouth, inspect an undergound gas pipe, listen to the sounds of the forest and pretend to be a rat.

That place is Eureka!, the national museum for children - a place that's designed for families to play and learn together and share exciting discoveries about the world around them.

Touching and exploring is positively encouraged - and it means the youngsters can live out their dreams all day long without ever getting bored.

We found plenty to keep ours - two and four - entertained - and they were more than happy just to get on with things while we occasionally took the weight off our feet.

Its ideal for larger groups - and with everything at little people level - its well worth making the journey to enjoy a good old fashioned family day out. *Darren Burke

Eureka!
Discover Road,
Halifax,
HX1 2NE
Telephone: (01422) 330069
www.eureka.org.uk
Open daily between 10am and 5pm.

Marks out of five:
Parking: 3/5
Massive car park nearby - so no shortage of spaces - but it is pay and display.
Cost: 5/5
A special promotion when we visited saw five of us - three adults and two children - admitted for just under £12. The normal price is £31 so it was a fantastic saving - and nice bonus!
Travel time: 3/5: An hour's drive from Doncaster - and the last leg through Halifax is a bit windy. Halifax railway station is bang on the doorstep though.
Food: 4/5
We tucked into jacket spuds with a variety of toppings, with drinks, fruit, ice cream and crisps also on the menu. Everyone was filled anyway!
Toilets: 4/5
A little tatty in parts but with it being a children's museum, you'd expect that.
Staff: 5/5
Helpful and patient at all times.
Time spent there: 5/5
A full five hours - though if our eldest had anything to do with it, we'd have been round in ten minutes - he was that excitable!
Overall mark: 4/5