We visited on 28th May which was a wet miserable day so made the indoor venue ideal. We set off with high expectations of an entertaining family outing as the Dickens World website promised " a fascinating journey through Dickens’ lifetime as they step back into Dickensian England and are immersed in the urban streets, sounds and smells of the 19th century" We arrived 30 minutes before opening, joining the queue of 30 or so people. An actor in costume as a 'rat catcher' helped pass the time as we waited patiently for the opening hour. First hiccup with 3 tills of which only one took credit/debit cards - surprising when you consider at £12.50 per adult it requires quite a bit of cash for your average family to enter. On first entering
it is a remarkable recreation of victorian buildings around a square as if you are entering the film set of 'Oliver Twist'. We were a little puzzled on arriving in the square as to where to go next, there was little to guide people as to touring the venue's 'attractions'.
We wandered into the school room, with victorian pew like school seats and unvictorian touch screens built in to them, on which to play snakes and ladders based on questions related to Dickens work. An actor in costume hurried in and tried to play head teacher. It was a little perplexing as you were not sure if you were supposed to watch or take part in someway. After a few minutes we wandered back to the square and found the boat ride entrance.
With some excitement we joined a short queue for "the largest dark boat ride in Europe". Got in a boat and sat there. Slowly floated round roof tops, no animations, no smells, no sounds and why the setting was roof tops was not clear. Went up a short conveyor to a turntable which dropped the boat down backwards a short drop and splash. My 10 year old daughter found it exciting, cant say I was that impressed. Another slow float round grave yard scenes - again no sounds, smells or animations and the end of the ride. We got out dissappointed, and went to find Fagin's Den. This proved to be a kids little play room. Dissappointed we went and queued for the 'haunted house' . More people were in the venue now so we had a good 30 minute wait up a flight of quite steep stairs to get in. An actor in costume acted as gate guard and let in groups of about 10-12 at a time, in between which he tried to tell Charles Dickens biography to the queue, which was growing in length and impatience. Finally reached the head of the queue and were let in, met by a girl in costume who seemed to be playing an abrubt school marm character. Giving sharp commands "wait here" and "follow me" etc. This was a little puzzling ! She took us and left us at a sort of video screen showing the ghosts scene from 'A Christmas Carol', we moved on to another screen of something more incomprehensible, and after 2 more naff video clips that was it - The Haunted House Attraction ? - scary NOT The Theatre was closed. We had a coffee in the upstairs cafe (£1.50 per cup) then watched what was described as a 4d cartoon film with 4d glasses supplied. It was OK lasting 10 minutes on the life of Dickens.
This was the entire 'host of attractions' at Dickens World which didnt quite match the website description : "With a host of captivating attractions, Dickens World features one of Europe’s largest dark boat rides, the Haunted house of Ebenezer Scrooge, a state-of-the art animatronic show, Victorian School Room, 4D high definition show and Fagin’s Den. Offering a unique showcase for one of the world’s best loved storytellers, Dickens World will truly offer visitors the ‘day out of a lifetime’. " It definitely was not the 'day out of a lifetime'
My wife demanded a refund which we received and were advised all the sounds/smells/animatronics were not working. However on leaving there was a huge queue to get into Dickens World who were still taking peoples money to enter.
Dickens World is a huge let down, and seeing other complaints from visitors on other days it appears the much vaunted sounds/smells/animatronics have never worked since the venue opened - if so this is an issue for Trading Standards
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Jun 4th, 2007
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