Thinking about visiting The Eden Project in the UK? Go – it’s a fantastic day out. To whet your appetite here are 10 amazing facts about The Eden Project.
What is the Eden Project?
What is the Eden Project? This is a very valid question! I had no idea exactly what the Eden Project was until I actually ended up going and I was BLOWN AWAY! If I’d have know what exactly the The Eden Project was beforehand I think I would have definitely visited earlier! How could I have not visited for years when I lived so close! So … what is the Eden Project?
The Eden Project is a surreal, unworldly landscape born in a rather peculiar location. Hiding in a quarry in Cornwall, it’s the brainchild of Tim Smit, who had a vision to build the largest captive rainforest in the world. Yep seriously. Goals or what!
Changing this barren quarry crater forever, the Eden Project, has been quoted as the 8th Wonder of the World, and it might just be one of the most beautiful transformations you might ever witness.
Visiting this immense indoor rainforest, the Eden Project, is amazing for families. It’s an all round fabulous place for families to lay eyes on, to soak up facts, to get touchy feelie, and to meet what you eat from around the world. It’s also one of the best rainy day activities in Cornwall.
We talk more below about visiting the Eden Project with kids, what to expect, the cost and also 10 interesting facts about The Eden Project.
10 Facts about The Eden Project
Dream big little ones
This message we reiterate to our kids on an almost daily basis. Nothing is out of your reach. And this is the message that hits you as you approach the entrance of the Eden Project. Before you’ve even laid eyes on whatever it is you’re about to see, a series of boards display enlarged photos of the landscape as it was – a clay pit quarry with unstable foundations, and describe the vision of one man, Tim Smit, to create a lost world in a crater. Now that’s an adventure!
The Eden Project is made up of a number of interconnecting biomes, the two largest being the Rainforest Biome and the Mediterranean Biome. On site there is also the Core, home to exhibitions and an indoor play area for little ones.
Many visitors wonder ‘What is the Eden Project?’ – I did before my visit. I just wasn’t sure exactly what it was and why I should bother going. GO! It’s amazing!!
Fact 1 – The Eden Project
Because of the shifting soil of the bottom of the clay pit quarry, one of the design team struck gold whilst washing up by noticing bubbles would have more stability on uneven ground – this is the reason for the bubble shaped biomes.
We love this fact about The Eden Project and it’s great to walk around knowing this snippet of genius.
Fact 1. Because of the shifting soil of the bottom of the clay pit quarry, one of the design team struck gold whilst washing up by noticing bubbles would have more stability on uneven ground – this is the reason for the bubble shaped biomes.
Showcasing the World’s Most Important Plants
The Eden Project is the greatest ever collection of plants useful to humans. In one place your children can see a massive diversity of plants from all over the globe and understand how every day products in their lives are made from plants.
Chocolate, rubber, coffee, bananas, sugar – you can see all of it right here under one roof.
A vat of knowledge to be soaked up and digested. Unbelievable.
Fact 2 – The huge dark bud hanging off the banana tree is in fact the male flower.
Fact 2 – The Eden Project
The huge dark bud hanging off the banana tree is in fact the male flower.
World facts, such as these at The Eden Project educate and inform our kids.
It was the first time we had ever seen or even knew about the male part of the banana plant. We’ve now seen them in the wild in Sri Lanka and Borneo.
Understand why Conservation is critical
The Eden Project is an educational charity. From the moment you enter to your entire journey around the site, it’s 100% absorption into the environment and unfortunately its threats.
From a text book in school, our children can read about the perils our planet is facing but here at the Eden Projects it comes to life and they come some way to understanding it first hand.
Seeing plants in their habitat with the ecosystems that the rainforest supports can seriously make the penny drop. Hurray.
>>>>> – – – – – >>>>> – – – – – >>>>> – – – – – >>>>> – – – – – >>>>> – – – – – >>>>> – – – – – >>>>> – – – – – >>>>>
Whilst in Corwall be sure to Visit The Adrenalin Quarry!
It’s brilliant for kids. Read our review of The Adrenalin Quarry here
>>>> – – – – – >>>>> – – – – – >>>>> – – – – – >>>>> – – – – – >>>>> – – – – – >>>>> – – – – – >>>>> – – – – – >>>>>
Fact 3 – Rainforests cover 5% of the world’s surface and are vital in controlling the earth’s temperature by absorbing CO2, storing loads of carbon, making lots of rain… & making vast white clouds. White reflects heat, keeping the Earth cool.
Fact 3 – The Eden Project
The Eden Project tells you incredible facts about the world and explains how the eco-systems work.
For example we learnt that rainforests cover 5% of the world’s surface and are vital in controlling the earth’s temperature by absorbing CO2, storing loads of carbon, making lots of rain… making vast white clouds. White reflects heat, keeping the Earth cool.
Explore a Lost World
Indiana Jones or Jurassic Park. You take your pick which movie set you feel you’ve stumbled into when you enter the rainforest biome.
Walking over the Eden Projects canopy is so much fun!
For kids I can only imagine the sense of adventure with the sheer scale of plant life towering above. Scurrying across rope bridges, steamy walkways, scrambling around bamboo huts, dug out canoes and a real waterfall.
My kids adored it running round in wonder. A delight to watch.
Fact 4 – The Rainforest Biome covers about 16,000m² and is 50m high. So high you could fit the Tower of London twice inside it! Over 230 miles of scaffolding was used to build the biomes gaining the Eden Project an entry in the Guiness Book of Records!
Fact 4 – The Eden Project
The Rainforest Biome covers about 16,000m² and is 50m high. So high you could fit the Tower of London twice inside it! Over 230 miles of scaffolding was used to build the biomes gaining the Eden Project an entry in the Guiness Book of Records! A pretty cool fact about The Eden Project!
Test your Nerve – Ascend the Rainforest Lookout
One of the biggest draws to the Eden Project is the chance to climb up to the Rainforest Lookout – a spectacular birds eye view of the Eden Project’s rainforest biome.
Climbing up to the rainforest lookout at the Eden Project
The roof of the rainforest biome is incredible
The Lookout is limited to 45 minute slots at 10am, 12 noon, 2pm and 4pm.
Our biggest tip on visiting the Eden Project is if it’s hot – queue for the 10am as it could well close later on in the day if the humidity exceeds safe levels (although staff tell us that it often quietens down after 3pm as visitors head to the beach – so make a call on just how sunny it is and go with it).
It’s it’s cloudy, then although it can still get very hot in the biome, 4pm is the good slot to avoid massive queues and was in fact the one we went for, with thankfully no queues at all. Result.
The steps up to the perch are mesh so be prepared to see below through every step. The staircase also shakes quite precariously on ascent. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea and some visitors can understandably get spooked!
Groups of a maximum of 24 people are allowed up to the viewing platform at one time and everyone must be able to walk by themselves, so no babies or toddlers.
It’s also recommended that those with dicky hearts, who suffer from vertigo & similar medical conditions sit this one out.
Fact 5 – The Eden Project
Fact 5 – Adventurer Bear Grylls officially opened the Rainforest Lookout by jumping off it and abseiling down it in 2010
Touch and Feel Exotic Plants
Striking tropical blooms shouting ‘I am vivid’ jumped out on us on every turn and blew my girls away.
We allowed them to carefully and with the utmost gentleness to touch the flowers.
Everything’s real here (and giant!)
Fact 6. 83,000 tonnes of soil was made onsite to house over 135,000 plants in the biomes
AND It took 10 years for the plants to grow from the floor to the roof!
Fact 6 – The Eden Project
83,000 tonnes of soil was made onsite to house over 135,000 plants in the biomes. That’s a lot of soil!
Learn about how Rainforests actually Work to Cool the Earth
The Weather Maker exhibit, also includes installations exploring how the world’s rainforests act as air movers, water sweaters, flood defenders, rain makers, sun reflectors and carbon catchers.
Our kids had fun turning the handle to show how water vapour evaporates through leaves and pulls water up from the roots (flood defenders).
I love that the Eden Project has such an interactive, enthralling way of teaching.
Fact 7 – Older children over 5 will definitely get the educational slant on the Eden Project. In fact we’d suggest slightly older.
Fact 7- The Eden Project
Older children over 5 will definitely get the educational slant on the Eden Project. In fact we’d suggest slightly older.
Our 9 year old lapped it up like it was a gift from the gods and loved the kids booklet that she could fill in whilst roaming the place (£5 on entry).
Our 6 year old enjoyed the general atmosphere but understandably many exhibits went way over her head.
Whilst under 4 years old receive free entry, it might be best to wait until your kids are the right age to visit given the stiff admission fees (although annual guest card offered free for a further 12 months after full price admission).
Walk in a Cloud & Learn about Climate
The new Weather Maker section is now open and includes a rope bridge, a cloud bridge and an immersive exhibit where you can shelter from tropical rain storms.
Our girls were thrilled with the cloud bridge and excitedly walked over and waited for the bursts of steam at least half a dozen times with no sign of interest waning.
It’s pretty cool.
Fact 8 – the Weather Maker was developed with academic support from the Med Office
Fact 8 – The Eden Project
Rest little legs by scheduling in the story telling sessions
The Eden Project, however exciting, can be a mammoth day out for Littles. We found that instead of wandering around aimlessly (easily done whilst in so much awe!) we took a note of the story telling times so that our girls (and us) could get a bit of down time.
These are displayed on a board on entry after paying and were 12 noon and 2pm on the day we visited in the Citrus Grove in the Mediterranean Biome.
An animated story teller captivated the children, all happily relaxing on bean bags. Definitely a wise move.
Fact 9 – The Eden Project’s two largest bubbles are the Rainforest Biome and Mediterranean Biome. The Med Biome covers about 6540m² and is 30m high. It’s a warm dry climate in here where sunflowers, olive trees, and lemon & orange trees all thrive. Bo (above) in the Mediterranean Biome.
Fact 9 – The Eden Project
Relaxed, plentiful family eating options
After steep entry fees, paying for an entire family’s lunch (as well as the delicious ice-creams on sale) may well blow your entire budget.
If that’s the case, bring a packed lunch – there are plenty of lovely areas to spread out and graze. The friendly staff also commented that it was fine to have your own packed lunch on the outside and inside tables of the Eden Kitchen and the Burrito Bar.
All the food onsite though looks absolutely delicious oozing healthy options.
The stone baked pizzas (from £8.50) at the Med Terrace in the Med Biome looked outstanding, whilst European dishes such as Spanish Paella, Lamb Tagine or Linguine (£9.95) looked pretty darn good too.
We would head to the Med Terrace on our next visit as it seemed much less busy than the other eateries.
The restaurant at The Eden Project sells yummy food and is a chance to rest during a long day out
Fact 10 – if you ever wondered what the fruit of a Baobab tree tastes like – you’re in luck. Try a baobab smoothie or a rum baobab cocktail in the rainforest biome
Fact 10 – The Eden Project
This is my favourite fact about The Eden Project – they sell baobab smoothies or a rum baobab cocktails in the rainforest biome!
If you ever wondered what the fruit of a Baobab tree tastes like – you’re in luck.
Visiting The Eden Project with Kids – the conclusion
We took advantage of the Eden Project’s locals summer offer – a family ticket bought in June for £37 valid until the end of October. Amazing!For more information, check out
www.theedenproject.com
01726 811972
Eden Project Prices 2020
0-4 free, 5-16 £14.00, adult £28.50, family ticket (2 adults/2 kids) £75.00
If you buy online you get 10% off tickets
If you live locally in Cornwall or Devon watch out for the local deals on Summer or Annual passes
1 comment
You should check out the snooze pods at the on site YHA, they are really good value and my three year old and six year old really enjoyed staying there.