Activate Poole Review: Our Family Visit

Finding activities that the whole family can enjoy isn't always easy, especially when you're trying to find something a little different from the usual days out. So when we had the opportunity to visit Activate in Poole, we were keen to give it a go and see how we'd get on.

Paul, Elliot, Erin and I headed along for a one-hour session, ready to take on the challenges together. From racing across illuminated floor tiles to navigating laser challenges, there was plenty to get stuck into, and it turned out to be a really fun family experience!

What is Activate?

If you haven't come across Activate before, it's an interactive gaming experience where you become part of the game rather than sitting in front of a screen with a controller. The venue has a series of different rooms, each with its own challenges designed to test your speed, agility, coordination and problem-solving skills.

Some games are all about moving quickly and reacting to what's happening around you, while others require a little more thought and concentration. There are lights, floor grids and laser challenges, with the aim being to complete each game and achieve the best score you can.

It's a great concept for families because adults and children can play together, and you don't need to be particularly sporty to have a go. The different challenges mean there's something to test everyone, whether you're quick on your feet or prefer taking a more careful approach.

How does Activate work?

We booked a one-hour session, which gave us time to try out some of the games on offer. When you arrive, you receive a wristband that you use to scan into the different rooms and get your games started. There are free lockers to use so you can have hands free for the games. 

One thing I particularly liked was the way the timing works. Your hour only counts down while you're actually inside a game, rather than from the moment you arrive. This means you can move between rooms without worrying about using up your playing time while you're getting ready for the next challenge.

Each room allows a maximum of five players, so our family of four could take part together. Once you're in a room, you follow the instructions for that particular game and work towards completing the challenge.

With different games to try, you can see which ones suit you best and have another go at improving your score. It's competitive, but in a fun way, and there's plenty to keep everyone occupied.

Our experience at Activate Poole

With an hour to explore the different challenges, we made our way around the games at Activate Poole, giving everything a go. There was a good variety of activities to try, with each room offering something different, so it was fun to see what each of us found easiest (and what we struggled with....spoiler, I was useless in the laser room!).

Some games tested our speed and reactions, while others needed more concentration and coordination. It was nice to be able to try them all rather than sticking to just one or two, and we soon found ourselves getting competitive as we tried to complete the challenges.

Although we enjoyed having a go at all the games, Mega-Grid and Hoop were our favourites. They stood out for different reasons and were the ones we particularly enjoyed during our visit.

Mega-Grid was brilliant - the game involves moving across an illuminated grid, reacting to the changing lights and completing the challenge as quickly as you can. One of the games involved running and standing on the correct colour in a certain amount of time - this got very competitive!

It gets you moving far more than you might expect, and you need to keep your eyes on what's happening beneath your feet while working out your next move. 

Hoops was another favourite of ours, especially the game where you had to get the basketballs into the hoops in the correct colour sequence. It sounds simple enough, but you need to pay attention to the order and get the balls into the right hoops, so there's a bit more to it than just shooting baskets!

Would we recommend Activate for families?

We all enjoyed our visit, and one of the best things about Activate was being able to take part together. It wasn't just something for Elliot and Erin to do while Paul and I watched; we could all get involved and have a go at the same challenges.

I also liked that the games were varied. With different skills needed for each one, it didn't feel as though we were simply repeating the same activity throughout our session. Within the games themselves, there were lots of variations - you could try different hardness settings, or a different way to play or play against or alongside your team. 

If you're looking for something active to do in Poole, whether during the school holidays, at the weekend or on a rainy day, Activate is worth considering. It's a different kind of family outing and a good option if you enjoy a bit of friendly competition.

Activate Poole: Things to Know

Planning a visit to Activate Poole? Here are a few useful things to know before you go.

• Location: Dolphin Centre, Poole (where Flip Out used to be)
• Booking: I'd recommend booking your session in advance, particularly during weekends and school holidays.
• Session length: We booked a one-hour session but you can also do 30 or 90 minutes
• How it works: You'll receive a wristband to scan into the different game rooms. This also tracks your points!
• Game time: Your time only counts down while you're inside a game, so moving between rooms doesn't use up your playing time.
• Group size: A maximum of five people can play in each room, and a minimum of 2. 
• What to wear: Comfortable clothing and trainers are a sensible choice, as you'll be moving around quite a bit. Would recommend something cool because you will get warmed up very quickly!
• Age restrictions: The minimum age is 6 years old and any child between this age and 13 must be accompanied by an adult. 
• Prices - See website for up to date prices and offers - https://playactivate.co.uk/dorset

To see more of our visit, check out our reel here

Disclosure: We were kindly gifted tickets for our visit to Activate Poole in exchange for coverage on Entertaining Elliot. All opinions and experiences shared in this post are my own.