h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

You've missed the best bit!
Yeah OK, shopping, eating, films etc. (don't forget the bowling alley, video arcade & Palm reading mysterious lady)

But nobody mentioned the fact that the Trafford Centre is the biggest covered smooth floored fun track for long ways around.

Take small children, borrow some if you haven't got any. Run, laughing loud and hysterically, accross the marble floors holding hands for as long as possible. Go up & down the escalators, in the glass lift, stand on the top and look down at the people below. It's a fantastic place for Jess (4) and I to teach Holly(2) to skip, we all skip swinging arms and irritating serious mided people trying to blow all their cash. Lie in a quiet corner upstairs and look up at the funny people in the cool paintings all around the top, pick out patterns in the clouds even in bad weather. Run down the stairs and stick your fingers in the fountains. Go to the funny african animals shop and stand outside, all pointing at the sculptures and make animal noises - I still can't do a hippo, and Holly insists a giraffe says 'raff, raff, raff'. Always say hello to the Jazz men and ask how they are ( it's only polite). Pat the dragon's tail, race the waves, roar at the lions and dance to the piano. Dare each other to go near the crocdile that moves, and wave to Mickey & Goofy when you fly past (arms out, make noise, move in formation.)

When your tired out, go to the festival village, (not the junk food Orient), and get a cool fresh pressed juice of your own concoction and a big fat hot pancake smothered in chocolate sauce.

On your way out go and visit the dolphins. If you ask nicely they will stand up on their tails and spit water 30 ft to the ceiling.
(So that's dolphins and spitting - h2g2 in a nutshell?)

My daughters and I regularly spend 2 brilliant hours at the Trafford Centre, using our eyes & ears, dreaming up games & having fun, especially when it rains ( hey, we're talking Manchester here!). Not once do we set foot in a shop.

ive been at the trafford center and i think its brilliant.

yes i agree with you that trafford centre is the best probably best in europe because shopping is great and you can have a great family day out

taking your family to trafford centre would be ideal for a family day out especially for the kids because there are arcades and gambling machines for all age i like the way the animals make noises because the kids were really amaged by it. i couldnt do the expression of the lion which i found really funny.

taking your family to trafford centre would be ideal for a family day out especially for the kids because there are arcades and gambling machines for all age my girl never wanna go back home cause she really enjoy herself there anyway its always rainning in machester so we tend to go there quite often we never set a foot in a shop because shes really exited at looking at the animals in the shop windows

i know its brilliant but what do u like about the trafford centre

my kids are really amazed by the animals too there just like standing there and start making noises.

my kids are really amazed by the animals too there just like standing there and start making noises.

Taking your kids to the Trafford Centre would be a great idea - especially if you want to leave them there - they'd not even notice you'd gone for quite a while!

But on a more serious note - the stimulous of the Trafford Centre, especially for very young infants, can be great. My brother in law took his twins to it and they thoroughly enjoyed the pictures on the ceilings, the people and the general place. Apparently they ended up going home happy and tired - a must for all parents of pre-crawlers.

Its good for older people too. I often stop off there after work if I need to get photos developed or get something. Lots of parkig + all free. The nearby golf facility is good too.

The coutry surely needs more of these things..........

Wattaray