Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre

CJ is a big Roald Dahl fan, though I could never see the appeal, myself. At the weekend, we took the kids to the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre, which is not too far from us, in Great Missenden, Bucks.

It was quite good really, I thought. Lots and lots for kids to do and play with, like stamping machines, things to cut out, dressing up clothes; and they hand out little booklets and pencils as part of the "write down your ideas" experience. Even on a quiet Sunday early in the season, there were visitors from all over the world there, so it was good that they'd got it about right in terms of it being worth the trip. There was easily more than a couple of hours' worth, and when the café is open, too, there'll be that. The little book and gift shop has some interesting things, and there are activities going on, like chocolate bar decoration sessions.

At busy times, they advise booking in advance, as they only allow so many people in at a time. I think they expect 800 visitors a day in the high season, but at the weekend, I think it was more like 200. It costs £16 for a family ticket (up to 3 kids), and the choc bar decoration was £3 per bar. Parking for up to 3 hours costs around £1.50 I think, and of course you'll likely spend another £20 in the café when it's open. But the staff are friendly and helpful, and the experience is really centred around children, with the assumption that they're familiar with the body of work.

It's certainly a long way from the so-and-so sat at this desk school of museum that I remember from my childhood.