I visited little-known building down city side road and had the best day of the summer
When I arrived, I initially wondered if I'd made a big mistake in spending the time travelling here
I fancied a day out somewhere different from usual go-to weekend destinations. I live in Cardiff so my default option is always to look in and around south Wales for things to do.
But this time, I looked a bit further afield and thought Bristol would be a good bet. It's just an hour's drive from Cardiff so it's really no different from a spin to Swansea, Gower or the Brecon Beacons.
With the help of Google, I came across something called Wake the Tiger. It had a 4.6 out of 5 rating from more than 3,000 visitors on Google, with the vast majority of them giving it full marks, WalesOnline reports. It's described as "the UK's largest immersive art experience and the world's first amazement park". It sounded interesting and the pictures looked good so I booked a visit for the family.
Google Maps took us around the fringes of Bristol city centre and eventually down a road lined with industrial buildings and into a small car park. It didn't look like the "UK's largest" anything at all, and I hoped it wasn't going to be a disappointment. The first sign that it was somewhere different and interesting was the fact that there was an old Ford Ka embedded in the car park's concrete floor, with only its top half visible and some colourful mushrooms growing inside. The kids were entranced, I was yet to be convinced.
Inside, shortly after the standard visitor welcome desk, stood an abandoned office desk with a half-written urgent email visible and an old TV crackling as someone addressed the camera in a state of distress. I won't give away too much. It was an intriguing scene-setter but it only really gave the briefest hint at what was to come (afterwards, I appreciated that it was actually a brilliantly understated start to the whole adventure).
We opened a set of doors and then everything changed. We were in a whole new world, a labyrinth that kept going and going. It's not art as you know it. I've never seen anything like it. It was like being inside a Pink Floyd song while on magic mushrooms. It was sensational and the stand-out moment of my entire summer. The level of creativity and the attention to detail is staggering. I'm in awe of people who can dream up things like this and then bring them to life.
I took two children, both under 10, who also loved it, getting lost in a whole new world - several new worlds, actually, as there are more than 40 spaces, each one a completely different experience from the last, all changing with every doorway and passageway you venture through. But this isn't just for children. I was over the moon spending hours here as an adult too. In fact, Wake The Tiger hosts after hours sessions for adults, and there's a great bar and cafe/restaurant on site too.
I'm not going to describe any of the spaces in any great detail because I won't do them justice with words. I'll just say I recommend it wholeheartedly and at just an hour's drive from Cardiff, it's well worth the trip. There's lots more to do in Bristol to make a day of it too - We Are Curious is another great place to make a day of your trip.
Wake The Tiger opening times and prices
- Wednesday to Sunday 10am-6pm
- Adults: £15
- Child (5-15): £12.50
- Under-5s: Free
- After Hours sessions for adults are held every other Friday from 7-11pm and cost £19.50.
How to find Wake The Tiger
- The address is 127 Albert Road, St. Philips Marsh, Bristol, BS2 0YA
Where to eat and drink
- The Guildhall Café Bar inside has plenty of decent food & drink and a fully-licenced bar including gin from a local distillery.