The Eden Project is wonderful at any time of year; explore the biomes, learn something new with the fun and interactive exhibits, and even ride England’s longest zipwire.
When you visit the Eden Project, it’s hard to believe that the whole place was once a clay pit. It was nearing the end of its life as a pit when Tim Smit (who also restored the Lost Gardens of Heligan) saw its potential and came up with such a radical idea and design. The biomes allow the team to grow plants that would never normally survive the weather in this country. This means visitors can see plants that otherwise they might only have seen in photographs.
The Eden Project is unique and this is a small part of why it has attracted a huge amount of visitors each and every year since construction was finally finished in 2001 and the attraction opened its doors to the public. In the first three months of opening over a million people visited!
There’s a reason why so many people – including the Queen – have visited the Eden Project over the years. It’s partly just how beautiful the place is, with pops of colour all over the place and a huge variety of plants.
You can have a walk around and enjoy the sights, spot the giant bee, learn about different plants and different places in the world, and you can even ride England’s longest zipwire.
Even after your first visit, there are always new reasons to visit. With the changing seasons come changing activities – from hunting dinosaurs to making potions with witches and ice skating, there’s always something to do.
The Eden Project appeals to all ages. For families the different events during school holidays have real appeal, as does the fact that children can interact with and touch a lot of the exhibits. There’s plenty to read about and experience, making learning more fun and interactive.
There is excellent access for pushchairs and wheelchairs, with plenty of slopes and ramps, and people with disabilities can park closer to the main site. There is also a regular bus service to and from the car parks.
The place is so big that even when it’s at its busiest in the school holidays, it doesn’t feel cramped, although the walks through the biomes can take a little longer. There is a lot of walking to do around the Eden Project, but luckily there are also benches and seating areas all over the place for a rest.
The food you can buy while there is fresh, pretty much all local and in the Eden Kitchen café you can actually watch your food being prepared, as the kitchen area is all open plan.
The Eden Project is wonderful at any time of year, and great fun for young, old and everyone in between. Well worth a visit, and on many a person’s bucket list from all over the world.
Practical details for the Eden Project
Review and photos by Stephanie Couch, aka The Cornish Mum