Sussex Exclusive Magazine Issue 6 2023

TRAVEL
TRAVEL
Theme Parks
Bagatelle or Baggy Land as it is
sometimes rather whimsically called, is
big, bold and brilliant. There are loads of
rides, around 40 in all, and I would say
it’s impossible to go on them all in a day
but if you try hard, you might just be
able to do it since queuing here is almost
non-existent. I went on a school holiday
mid-week. Having endured Disney Paris
in the school holidays I was assuming
I’d be in for long waits to get on rides
(and not looking forward to it, keeping
kids happy in slow lines is not easy),
but there was none of that going on. I
checked with my friends who take their
kids there too and they say the same
– it’s never that packed that you have
to queue for ages, though some of the
more popular rides, like the Famous
Jack, might require a tiny wait. (Kids
under 4 go free) Times and details:
parcbagatelle.com/en
Dennlys Park is ideal for younger
children with more than 30 rides.
Most of them are quite gentle, several
involve water (take a change of clothes
if your kids like running about in water
jets!). There are no pop your money
in amusement arcade style machines,
apart from a water pistol range, all the
rides are included in the price which
means no whining children who want
money to waste. (Free parking, kids less
than 1m tall go free). Times and details:
dennlysparc.com
Rainy day fun
NAUSICAA -The National Sea Centre
of France is home to one of the world’s
largest aquariums the size of 4 Olympic
pools. 36,000 animals including sea
lions and penguins, which live in an area
designed by Jean-Michel Cousteau (son of
Jacques). There are giant tortoises, sharks
and an incredible array of fish. Take in
a show, watch as sea lions swim under
your feet in a glass tunnel. You can even
experience what it’s like to be on board
a boat in a gale in one of the exhibitions
here. The perfect day out for the whole
family. (Kids under 3 go free). Times and
details: Nausicaa.fr/en
At the Tour de la Horloge Museum in
Guines near Calais, discover the history
of the area from the Vikings to the Field
of the Cloth of Gold in 1520 when King
Henry VIII visited and jousted with the
King of France! Kids can dress up like
a Viking or a knight, play games and
board a Viking ship! (Kids under 4 go
free, family ticket €20) Times and details:
www.tour-horloge-guines.com
www.magazine.thegoodlifefrance.com
Azincourt 1415 Museum takes you
further back in time and tells the
tumultuous tale of one of history’s most
famous battles: Agincourt. Brush up on
the history of this monumental moment
in time, where the battle was over in just
hours, making the British victors and
King Henry V a legend for the rest
of time. (Children under 5 go free,
family ticket €25). Times and details:
azincourt1415.com
Eat out
You’ll find a huge range of restaurants
in Pas-de-Calais from Michelin-starred
to friteries where you can buy chips and
sausages in a baguette, perfect food to sit
on the beach and watch the views. They
have a sweet tooth here in this part of
France where sugar beet is a main crop,
which is why you’ll find in Pas-de-Calais
some of the very best patisseries in all
of France. And there are markets galore,
perfect for pulling together a picnic.
Something for the grown ups
Stock up on wines at Calais Vins where
you can pick up excellent wines at low
cost. And British passport holders can
make additional 15% savings on wines,
Champagne, spirits and beer with the
easy-to-use tax reclaim service provided by
Calais Vins in-store. Details:
wine-calais.co.uk
Find out more fabulous things to do in
Pas-de-Calais at: visitpasdecalais.com
Janine Marsh is the author of four
books about France and editor of The
Good Life France Magazine and website.
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