Best new attractions for kids in 2019

Each year the world seems to provide more and more amazing experiences for the younger generation. Here are just some of the new attractions that children will love to explore in 2019.

Lego House, Billund, Denmark

What’s not to love about the ‘Home of the Brick’? Firstly, it’s an entirely Lego-themed museum and experiential space located where the Lego story all began. Secondly, it’s very easy on the eye (we’re in the home of cool design, after all). Thirdly, it’s specifically constructed to focus on learning through play, with different zones for creativity, cognitive ability, emotion and social play. And for those who want to be inspired in their building, there’s a Masterpiece Gallery and History Collection to explain how it all began. Lastly there’s plenty to explore both within and outside the ticketed zones so it needn’t break the family bank. A must for all fans of the humble brick, be they big or small, girl or boy.

Everything you need to know (including updates on new events), plus some fascinating insights on the whole project, is at legohouse.com.

Live Wire Park, Victoria, Australia

If you and your kids love nature (and adrenaline rushes) then family-owned, environmentally friendly Live Wire Park should be on your collective bucket list. Billing itself as the ‘ultimate elevated adventure’, the park allows children aged between seven and 15 to take part in the Short Circuit, where they have to complete 26 activities involving obstacle courses and suspended trails through the Otway treetops. Once everyone’s heart rates have returned to normal, you can chill out on the beach in the beautiful coastal town of Lorne on the Great Ocean Road.

Book now at livewirepark.com.au.

Sports Legends Experience, Indianapolis, USA

Based at the Children’s Museum, this immersive experience encompasses health education, physical fitness and sports history for an active day out. Families can shoot hoops, be inspired by the stories of famous sports legends or work together on a pit-stop challenge (to highlight just three of the 15 activities available). For children over seven there’s also the chance to climb up inside the 25ft ‘Tree of Sports’. And when everyone needs a break from sports there are five floors of the Children’s Museum to explore, all on the same ticket.

Check out the options for different ages with Varsity Team, Junior Varsity and Little Sports Legends.

Kidzania, Doha, Qatar

There’s no denying that children love the chance to play at being grown-ups and they can do this to their heart’s content in the interactive city of KidZania. Its outpost in Doha is part of an expansion of 12 new sites, so there will soon be a total of 36 venues around the world where your children can try more than 100 different careers and buzz around a safe city that’s created just for them. Children under eight need to be accompanied by an adult so it could be just the place to find some career advice of your own.

A list of all KidZania locations with links to websites can be found at kidzania.com.

Dippy on Tour, around the UK

The former centrepiece of London’s Natural History Museum needs no introduction. Although his days welcoming visitors to the Hinzte Hall may be over, the world-famous cast of a diplodocus – affectionately known as Dippy – is now taking a leisurely tour around the UK. His route takes in various towns and cities including the Ulster Museum in Belfast, Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Newcastle and Cardiff, and he’s settling for a few months in each, giving people plenty of time to view this amazing specimen of natural history and learn all about his time on Earth.

Follow Dippy via the ‘Take Part’ section of the Natural History Museum website: nhm.ac.uk

Monopoly Mansion, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

For most children (and many adults), staying somewhere different is half the fun of travelling. Add to that a hotel themed around a world-famous board game that graces the shelves of most houses in the Western world and the excitement levels are heading straight past Go. Boasting a 1920s Great Gatsby feel, this five-star, 255-room hotel – and world’s first Monopoly hotel – may be better suited to older children (have you tried to play Monopoly with a five-year-old?) but all ages need to come ready to build their property empire and get rich quick.

The Monopoly Mansion is set to open its doors in the spring of 2019.

Sloth Preserve, Arenal Volcano National Park, Costa Rica

The humble sloth is a fascinating creature, both for its looks and its survival techniques. And if you’re taking your kids to Costa Rica, chances are that watching wildlife is high on your list of things to do. So take it to the next level with a visit to this luxury resort in the Arenal Volcano National Park. The Nayara Hotel has planted 300 cecropia trees to create a preserve where the canopy is now home to 15 sloths and counting. Observing the animals at work isn’t exactly taxing but if you want to increase the family’s activity levels then the resort also offers bird watching, canopy tours and a lava field walk.

Driving School, Tayto Park, Ireland

If life in the fast (or even slow) lane appeals to your children, they will love the chance to be proper drivers at Tayto Park’s new driving school, opening April 2019. Not surprisingly, it’s sponsored by a car manufacturer but what children might not expect is that they take away their own ‘driving licence’ at the end of the day. There are lessons in how to drive and then a chance to take to the road with 20 other young drivers. When it’s time for a pit stop there’s the rest of the theme park and zoo to explore.

Tayto Park is in County Meath, 30 minutes’ drive from Dublin.

Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge, USA

When you bring Disney and Star Wars together magical things happen for all lovers of a galaxy far, far away. Opening first in California’s Disneyland Resort and then in Walt Disney World, Florida, this attraction is still in development but we do know that it will be themed around Batuu, a remote outpost on the ‘Galaxy’s Edge’ and visitors will be able to fly the Millennium Falcon. Feeling as if they are actually part of the Star Wars story is a pretty epic draw for fans small (and big!) so we’re sure a visit to Galaxy’s Edge is going to need all the ‘beat the queues’ intelligence you can get.

Keep an eye on the official Disney site for updates: disneyparks.disney.go.com.

Bear Grylls Adventure, Birmingham, UK

If you have teens, this new £20-million (US$27-million) indoor adventure centre could be the perfect way for the whole family to bond over a set of collectively terrifying experiences. In the spirit of survival specialist Bear Grylls you will be able to try climbing routes inspired by famous terrains such as Mt Everest and Yosemite’s El Capitan, plus high ropes and diving of both the sky and water varieties. Then there’s the Basecamp where you will learn the core skills needed for survival, including a secret ‘face your own fear’ challenge. Scared?

Open in autumn 2018 for those aged 13+ only.

https://shop.lonelyplanet.com/products/lonely-planets-best-in-travel-paperback-2019