'I went to the Eden Project with a toddler – this is what parents need to know'

If you've read my previous first person article, you'll know that a to wasn't initially on the cards for us. Our original plan was to spend a weekend in Paris, but . After exhausting all possible alternative routes to Paris, we threw in the towel and opted for a UK instead – with Cornwall emerging as our destination of choice.

With limited time to decide on our exact location, we settled on the charming Green Acres Cottage in Penpillick. Upon arrival, we were taken aback by the beauty of the place and discovered that the was just a 10-minute drive away. Naturally, we decided to visit this iconic venue the following day, Saturday, with our 2-year-old toddler in tow.



I'm aware that many parents prefer to plan ahead when introducing their toddler to a new environment (despite us not getting much chance), so I'm going to share some from our somewhat spontaneous trip. The good news for parents with children under 5 is that they can enter the venue free of charge. Adult tickets are a bit steep (£38 per person online), but this does grant you access for an entire year.

Of course, this isn't particularly useful if you live far away, but there's not much that can be done about that. It's advisable to before your visit, as buying them at the door will cost an extra £4 per person. Students can also enjoy discounted rates (£32.

50 online and £36.50 on the door), and residents of Cornwall or Devon are eligible for a 45% discount. Be prepared for a lengthy walk from the car park.

The parking area isn't exactly close to the entrance, so if you're visiting with young children, it might be wise to bring a buggy or something similar to transport them back and forth unless they have an abundance of energy or you don't mind carrying them. A visit to the Eden Project wouldn't be complete without exploring its vast indoor rainforest. However, there are a few things to bear in mind if you're planning to venture in with a child.

The temperature inside can range between 18-35 degrees, so ensure your little one is dressed in removable layers. The website recommends allocating 1.5 hours to explore the biome, but this may need to be shortened if you're accompanied by a child.

It's also a good idea to bring along some snacks and drinks to keep them hydrated and energised during the visit. Fortunately, there's plenty to keep them entertained, with a variety of plants to discover, waterfalls to marvel at, and bridges to climb over. In addition to the biomes, there's a charming natural adventure playground for children.

This includes a nine-metre 'tree of life' where they can interact with water, a swing, climbing structures, and diggers and pans for playing with natural stones. The playground is located by the lift on the floor leading to the exit, but avoid making our mistake of heading there on your way out. We overlooked its location and passed it when our toddler was tired, resulting in a less than pleased child when we had to leave.

As mentioned earlier, the amount of walking involved can be tiring, especially for children, so don't plan to see everything in one visit. Unfortunately, we didn't even manage to explore the Mediterranean Biome as our little one was too exhausted. However, the year-long pass allows for return visits if desired.

Despite only visiting for the weekend and living quite a distance away, we hope to revisit at some point..