Fitness First Chatham

Advantages: Good classes
Disadvantages: No pool

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ali_clautour 14.05.2004 · Read review
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Review of Fitness First, Chatham

Dickens world Chatham Kent

Advantages: Getting out
Disadvantages: All of it

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mblago 05.06.2007 (04.06.2007) · Read review
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Review of Dickens World, Chatham

A Dickensian Dud

Advantages: Well designed and constructed scenery
Disadvantages: Attractions a let down, not enough to do

...Stuck for something to do on a typically wet and miserable Bank Holiday, we decided to pay a visit to Dickens World, the South East’s newest tourist attraction, which opened recently in Chatham, Kent, home to Charles Dickens for many years. Nestling between the town’s Historic Dockyard and a somewhat less historic outlet shopping mall, Dickens World was opened to the public on 25th May, 2007, and all the advertising material we’d seen promised “the day out of a lifetime…with a host of captivating attractions” More accurately, perhaps, it’s a “day in”, since the complex is an indoor one, and taking the inclement weather into account, it seemed like an ideal place to spend the day. ~ Great Expectations ~ “Take a thrilling, chilling, fun packed journey around Dickensian...

silverstreak 31.05.2007 (17.06.2007) · Read review
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Review of Dickens World, Chatham

Banjo for the modern man

Advantages: Superb harmonies, excellent musicianship, modern take on bluegrass
Disadvantages: One misplaced track

...the lead vocal. On previous albums the Chatham County Line did pretty much what you'd expect a band to do with those instruments but the band themselves admit that on their fourth album they decided to push the boundaries and let the instruments be just instruments and not tie them to the bluegrass genre. They wrote the songs they wanted to and then played them on their instruments rather than using the instruments as a starting point. While one or two of the tracks definitely fall under the bluegrass banner, IV as a whole is better described as 'Americana'; pedal steel and steel guitar send the songs more in the direction of alt country and should appeal to the wider audience than the banjo dominated songs that used to be the trademark of CCL. On IV, CCL show that they are no one trick pony. From the opening track, "Chip of a Star...

fizzytom 12.10.2008 · Read review
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Review of IV - Chatham County Line

The Bridgewood Manor Hotel

Advantages: Lovely hotel, plenty of things to do.
Disadvantages: Poor location - need a car.

...This Bridgewood Manor Hotel, well I guess I should start with where it is. The address for this hotel is: Bridgewood Roundabout, Chatham, Kent. It is situated in Walderslade and is approx. 42 miles from London Gatwick Airport and 3 miles from Chatham Train Station. There are many things to do nearby - Chatham Dockyard is only 6 miles away, as is Rochester Cathedral. There's the infamous Bluewater Shopping Centre only 16 miles away and Leeds Castle is 10 miles away. Ideally, you would need a car to travel around but if you are only looking to explore the surrounding areas, there are a couple of buses that stop close by, and taxi's are fairly inexpensive. Now, let's talk about what you can in the Bridgewood Manor Hotel: This hotel boasts an excellent range of amenities including a health centre. Within this there is an indoor...

kimhumphreys 16.03.2007 · Read review
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Review of Bridgewood Manor, Chatham

Hello Mr Crocket have you caught a rat?

Advantages: Historical lessons we should all know
Disadvantages: Absolutely none

...I couldn't believe that only one review has ever been written on what I consider to be one of the best family days out I have ever experienced. Not just entertaining, but interactive and historically educational. I would strongly recommend this attraction or should I say five attractions in one. ~ How to get there~ The historic dockyard in Chatham lies close to the Medway river town of Rochester, but Chatham is a town in its own right and can be found just off the M2 in Kent. Junction 1 or 4 depending on the direction you are coming from. Follow the A289 but the attraction is clearly signposted with a white anchor on a brown background. You can also get there from junction 6 of the M20 via Chatham town centre. Rail services are frequent from London and buses take you to the dockyard from Chatham station. It is also within...

milleniumzeus 12.07.2006 · Read review
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Review of Historic Dockyard (Chatham, Kent)

Fagin Lives!

Advantages: Scenery
Disadvantages: Price, "attractions", location.

...Don't go. 3D cinema show was good, scenery is good. The attendant at the beginning of the boat ride was good. The staff are usually helpful enough. "Little Dorritt" costume exhibition nice. Some animatronic voices and holographic actors are good. The holographic chair is good. No information or posters at Chatham bus stop. £12 entry too expensive. The guide book is too expensive at £2.00, it should come free with entry, besides it is of limited use, with exhibition information muddled up with Dickens information and a poor map. Signage poor. All design, branding and printed material poor to mediocre. Costumes mediocre. Boat ride mediocre - not much happens, not much to see. The attendant at the end of our boat ride didn't look up from her book or acknowledge our existence. The courtyard shows are highly missable. The haunted house...

Nookya 27.06.2009 · Read review
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Review of Dickens World, Chatham

Rather Surprising Dickens World

Advantages: All under one roof - places to eat - rides, helpful, friendly staff
Disadvantages: A bit dark! Not all attractions clearly signed

..., but unfortunately it is rather dark inside the facility and it is somewhat difficult to read it, unless you go into the toilets which are very, very bright, after the dimness of Old London Town! They also have several places to eat, entertainment and a bar! I would thoroughly recommend a visit, if you have older children you could let them go in by themselves and spend your time shopping (there are some Outlet shops just next door) or seeing some of the other historical sights around Chatham Dockyard. There is also a good choice of places to eat, to suit every taste! So go on - give it a try - there's free parking too!...

Ann1eS 27.10.2007 · Read review
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Review of Dickens World, Chatham

Dicken World

Advantages: carefully hidden . . . . .
Disadvantages: Dull, drab, boring, poor value, dissapointing,

...From the moment I arrived I was moved to an emotional state. I rarley experience such a reaction, previously my first visit to Dreamland when I was about 6 years old, then Disney in Florida and Paris. Now, Chatham! The difference though is the emotions I experienced at Dreamland and Disney were big WOW factor excitement emotions. Dickens World in Chatham generates a whole new level of destination attraction amazement. Awe inspiring, tummy churning expectation, dizzy making excitement, the fun of a new experience, all of these descriptions are nothing to do with the feelings generated by Dickens World. This monumentally dull Chatham dockyard dirge of a concept-less poorly excecuted shed was about £10 milion and an imagination short of what was needed to make this naff piece of tatt work. I'm not sure who was responsible...

adejames 22.11.2008 · Read review
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Review of Dickens World, Chatham

The World Naval Base

Advantages: Exciting insight into Naval History
Disadvantages: can't think of any

...If you want to enjoy a great family day out, why not spend it at the World Naval Base in The Historic Dockyard in Chatham, Kent? For us it was a fascinating experience when we visited it in summer last year. So what is it? (for the benefit of those of you who haven’t heard about it before) - it is quite a large area (32 ha), and it serves as a 'museum' these days after having been one of the most imporant dockyards and naval bases of Britain for more than 400 years. Many famous ships for the Royal Navy have actually been built here, it was closed in 1984, and it is now ‘the most complete dockyard of the Age of Sail to survive anywhere in the world’, as they say. How to get there? It is located in the middle between London and Dover. Leave the M2 at junction 1 or 4 and follow the A289 to the Medway tunnel...

Michael-S 23.04.2001 (04.04.2001) · Read review
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Review of Historic Dockyard (Chatham, Kent)