Inside Cadbury World’s first new ride in 27 years – with laser guns and free chocolate it’s the star of the attraction

THE distinct smell of dairy milk wafts through the air, which means I can only be in one place, Cadbury World.

Earlier this year, Cadbury World announced the launch of a brand-new ride and two other revamped attractions.

6

6

6

Cadbury Chocolate Quest is the first new ride at the Bournville site in 27 years, and I was one of the first to give it a go.

The new ride officially opened on March 29, 2024, with celebrities like Sam Thompson and Amy Childs being among some of the first visitors to try Cadbury Chocolate Quest.

Just like our previous visits to the chocolate factory, my family and I are given a selection of chocolate bars before we're directed to the start of our sweet adventure.

Before we can give the new ride a go, we're sent around a maze of other attractions including the Aztec Jungle, which explains the origins of the cocoa bean.

Read More on UK Travel

WITH THE FLO

Often-ridiculed English seaside city that's being hailed as the British Miami

SPRING TO IT

Historic UK town with the largest Japanese cherry tree orchard in the world

Other highlights include Bull Street - a recreation of the Victorian Street where John Cadbury opened his first shop in Birmingham.

The Cadbury Story also explains the business's history, including advocating for workers' rights and improving the quality of life for its employees.

It's a true delight to learn about Birmingham's heritage.

After learning about chocolate and the Cadbury family, we're led into a brightl-lit corridor where we watch a chocolate tempering demonstration.

Most read in Travel

SWING BY

Mums say this huge National Trust playground is 'a day trip in itself'

HOP TO IT

I visited London's most child-friendly pub with bowling, a slide & ice cream van

SANDS GOOD

Seaside town is the ultimate staycation spot & one of UK’s 'best places to live'

SNOW WAY

Inside England's only Christmas Winter Wonderland that guarantees real snow

We were then given a tiny cup of melted chocolate, with a choice of two toppings, before we watched skilled chocolatiers pipe messages onto chocolate teapots through a glass window.

Once I'd finished eating my pot of liquid chocolate, my family and I join the snaking queue for the brand-new ride.

The Cadbury website describes the ride as: "a slow-moving interactive dark ride with special effects."

After we reached the front of the queue, we climbed into a purple car where we were told to shoot our laser guns at the ingredients on the interactive screens.

As our car slowly moved and followed the snaking road, we used our laser guns to zap cocoa beans and bottles of milk.

Each laser gun responds to a different colour, meaning each member of the family is tasked with collecting their own ingredients.

I thoroughly enjoyed the interactive elements - especially because the scores are counted at the end of the game, so it's given a competitive edge.

At the end of the ride, we're each given a bar of Dairy Milk, which is the last of our chocolate freebies.

Outside there are two other attractions, which have been recently renovated.

The Bournville Experience and the Have a Go Zone also opened on March 29, 2024.

While the Bournville Experience covers the history of the Birmingham village, the Have a Go Zone lets visitors practice their piping and chocolate tempering skills.

There are plenty of nuggets of information stored inside the Bournville Experience but my favourite was finding out that Mahatma Gandhi visited the area in 1931.

There are plenty of other attractions to keep visitors entertained, including the 4D Chocolate Adventure cinema and a large outdoor play area with climbing frames and slides.

While I might not strictly be Cadbury World's target demographic, as a 30-year-old woman, I was impressed with the new ride and the revamped areas.

The whole attraction has been designed with families in mind, making it the ideal place for families to escape the spring drizzle.

Inside there's a small cafe serving a range of hot and cold drinks, and there's also an outside vendor too.

It can get quite warm inside the corridors, especially when they're busy, so be sure to wear layers you can easily peel off.

There were plenty of toilets too, including gender-neutral cubicles and baby-changing facilities.

The entire place was very clean too, especially considering how many chocolate wrappers could be flying around in the wind.

Entry tickets to cost £22.50 for a full-paying adult when they're booked in advance online.

Cadbury World is a 15-minute walk from Bournville Train Station, which has direct trains to Birmingham New Street Station.

Other chocolate attractions in the UK

Despite being the most well-known, Cadbury World isn't the only chocolate-themed attraction in the UK.

Set at the top of the Shambles, York's Chocolate Story lies in the heart of the city.

Visitors to the museum will be taken on a guided tour spanning three floors, and they'll also get to eat some chocolate along the way.

The museum also runs seasonal activities throughout the year, including the Trick or Treat Trek that takes visitors on a chocolate tour through York.

READ MORE SUN STORIES

BALANCE BOOST

How to get an extra £1077 from your Tesco Clubcard in time for Christmas

STAR IN TEARS

Joel Dommett breaks down in tears ahead of I’m A Celeb Unpacked

York's Chocolate Story is open between 10am to 4pm every day, with entry tickets costing £17.50 for a full-paying adult.

6

6

6