Britain’s unhealthiest attractions for kids REVEALED: Drayton Manor ranks bottom while the Eden Project scores best… so how does YOUR child’s favourite fare?
- Investigators visited shops and cafes at 16 theme parks, gardens and museums
- Many were filled with sweets, processed meat, sugary drinks and fried food
- Kids not offered hot meals at half and some sold ‘nutritionally inadequate’ lunch
Top family attractions are failing children by cutting back on fresh healthy meals in favour of junk food, a damning study reveals.
Investigators visited shops and cafes at 16 leading theme parks, gardens and museums and found many filled with sweets, processed meat, sugary drinks and fried food.
Kids were not offered hot meals at almost half of venues and several sold ‘nutritionally inadequate’ packed lunches lacking fruit or vegetables.
The Soil Association, which organised the Out to Lunch probe ahead of this week’s school half-term, described its findings as ‘alarming’.
The charity sent an average of three families to each attraction and scored them on a range of criteria including their use of seasonal produce, ease of access to free tap water, portion sizes and type of snacks.
Attractions were also asked to complete a survey that considered factors such as the source of their meat, whether eggs were free range and whether food was prepared on-site.
Drayton Manor, which claims to offer the ‘ultimate family day out’, ranked bottom of the league table due to a lack of children’s meals and an ‘abundance’ of sugary treats.
The Ulster Museum and World Museum also performed badly, finishing in the bottom three.
Investigators visited shops and cafes at 16 leading theme parks, gardens and museums. The Eden Project finished top and was praised for serving ‘balanced meals with local, fresh, sustainable ingredients’. The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh finished second for ‘making healthy eating easy’, with ‘delicious salad taking centre stage with vegetables from the kitchen garden’. Drayton Manor, which claims to offer the ‘ultimate family day out’, ranked bottom of the league table due to a lack of children’s meals and an ‘abundance’ of sugary treats
In its report on the Ulster Museum, the Soil Association said: ‘Cakes, doughnuts and other sweet treats are right next to the check out.’
On the World Museum, in Liverpool, it said: ‘The only hot meal for children was chicken nuggets.’
The Eden Project finished top and was praised for serving ‘balanced meals with local, fresh, sustainable ingredients’.
The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh finished second for ‘making healthy eating easy’, with ‘delicious salad taking centre stage with vegetables from the kitchen garden’.
Chester Zoo, which freshly prepares and cooks food in its restaurant, ranked third.
The Soil Association said caterers have come under ‘huge pressure’ from Covid closures, staff shortages and supply disruptions.
Overall, parents reported a lack of healthy children’s options, with kids’ menus removed entirely or typically smaller than before the pandemic.
Fewer than half of the attractions served vegetables with every kid’s meal.
EDEN PROJECT: The park finished top and was praised for serving ‘balanced meals with local, fresh, sustainable ingredients’
DRAYTON MANOR: The theme park, which claims to offer the ‘ultimate family day out’, ranked bottom of the league table due to a lack of children’s meals and an ‘abundance’ of sugary treats
DRAYTON MANOR: An example of snacks sold in one of the cafes at Drayton Manor
DRAYTON MANOR: Sugary sweets are available from floor to ceiling at Drayton Manor
WHAT SHOULD A BALANCED DIET LOOK LIKE?
Meals should be based on potatoes, bread, rice, pasta or other starchy carbohydrates, ideally wholegrain, according to the NHS
• Eat at least 5 portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables every day. All fresh, frozen, dried and canned fruit and vegetables count
• Base meals on potatoes, bread, rice, pasta or other starchy carbohydrates, ideally wholegrain
• 30 grams of fibre a day: This is the same as eating all of the following: 5 portions of fruit and vegetables, 2 whole-wheat cereal biscuits, 2 thick slices of wholemeal bread and large baked potato with the skin on
• Have some dairy or dairy alternatives (such as soya drinks) choosing lower fat and lower sugar options
• Eat some beans, pulses, fish, eggs, meat and other proteins (including 2 portions of fish every week, one of which should be oily)
• Choose unsaturated oils and spreads and consuming in small amounts
• Drink 6-8 cups/glasses of water a day
• Adults should have less than 6g of salt and 20g of saturated fat for women or 30g for men a day
Source: NHS Eatwell Guide
Rob Percival, head of food policy at the Soil Association, told the Daily Mail: ‘It’s alarming that venues are slicing, dicing, or ditching child appropriate menus.
‘It’s a tough environment for caterers, who are grappling with staff shortages and rising ingredients costs, but it’s disappointing that children’s health seems to be taking the hit.
‘In a cost-of-living crisis, when every penny counts, parents should not be forced to buy large adult portions or waste money on nutritionally inadequate meals for their children.’
He added: ‘Finding good food for kids is the real roller coaster at UK attractions, but there are some great examples of caterers who do put children’s health first.
‘The others must catch up.’
The study found no apparent link between food quality and the cost of a day out.
Second place holder Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh does not charge for entry and eating out at table-topping Eden Project costs just 24p more than dining with bottom-place Drayton Manor.
More than half of parents (55 per cent) said having a range of children’s meals and healthy options was their top food priority when visiting a tourist attraction, compared with 2 per cent who wanted ‘treat’ or ‘junk’ food.
Some parents raised concerns that junk food was being marketed directly to young children.
Eve Thomas, who visited Drayton Manor with her two children, aged three and seven, said: ‘I was surprised at how few healthy options were available.’
Soil Association experts were disappointed to see high quantities of sugar at many venues, particularly those near the bottom of the table.
Whipsnade Zoo’s chocolate brownie, aimed at both adults and children, was the worst offender containing 73g of sugar.
This is more than twice the recommended daily allowance for adults (30g) and nearly four times the limit for kids aged four to six-years-old (19g).
Official figures show four in ten children are overweight or obese by the time they leave primary school, increasing their risk of ill health in adulthood.
Almost a third of five-ten-year-old’s eat less than one portion of veg a day.
Legoland – the most expensive day out among the attractions visited – ranked 13th in the league table after investigators found fried food remains the ‘dominant food on offer’.
It pledged to serve vegetables with every kid’s meal after finishing bottom of the league when the study was last conducted four years ago but the Soil Association said it has failed to honour it.
Six attractions did not have a hot kids’ menu in the restaurant that investigators visited: Drayton Manor, Eden Project, Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh, Science Museum, The Great North, Ulster Museum.
Salad or vegetables only came with every child’s meal in seven of the attractions.
The data from the 11 attractions who returned their survey to the Soil Association showed they serve more than 21,500 kids’ meals each month.
Those who failed to respond were docked a few points as a result: Drayton Manor, the World Museum, Legoland, the National Museum Wales and Ulster Museum.
Rebecca Tobi, registered nutritionist and senior engagement manager at the Food Foundation said the findings were ‘deeply concerning’. She added: ‘Although times are certainly tough for many in the hospitality industry at the moment, we cannot keep kicking the can down the road when it comes to children’s health and nutrition.’ A spokesperson for Drayton Manor Resort said: ‘Where possible, we source local British produce from accredited suppliers.
‘We offer child-sized portions in all restaurants, apart from Safari Pizza, where family-style sharing is encouraged, and free water is available at all of our food and beverage outlets upon request.
‘Healthier options are available in many of our outlets across the resort, including in the hotel, where children’s meals accompanied by vegetables are also available.’
Brona Moffett, head of experience and enterprise development at National Museums NI, which runs Ulster Museum, said feedback on its catering is ‘mostly positive’, but added: ‘We do know we could do better in terms of the variety and appeal of our food offering.’ especially for children which the Out to Lunch survey focused on, and we will be working closely with our catering partner to reflect and improve on this feedback.’
A spokesman for the World Museum said they were unable to comment.
What the attractions said
EDEN PROJECT
Becky Fenner, hospitality manager at the Eden Project, said: ‘We are delighted to have come top of the Out to Lunch league table.
‘The Eden Project’s mission centres around building relationships between people and the planet to demonstrate the power of working together for the benefit of all living things.
‘Central to this is our food story.
‘We explore ways to deliver Earth-friendly food at scale using a food system rather than a food product approach, finding ways of producing food in a regenerative system that is climate positive, increases biodiversity and enhances soil health.
‘Healthy planet – healthy people.’
ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN EDINBURGH
Clare Short, head of commercial Sales at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, said: ‘This award from the Soil Association highlights the importance of offering visitors a range of healthy and responsibly sourced produce.
‘All the dishes celebrate our made-from-scratch principles, with ingredients harvested from our on-site kitchen garden.
‘The team is committed to providing food that is both delicious and nutritious and it is great to see their dedication reflected in these results. We will continue to enhance and develop the catering we offer at the Garden.’
CHESTER ZOO
Simon Lockhart, head of food and beverage at Chester Zoo, said: ‘We’re pleased to have once again been named as one of the highest ranking attractions in the UK for the range of healthy, sustainable and family-friendly food options we offer at the zoo.
‘As a not-for-profit wildlife charity with a mission to prevent extinction, we’re acutely aware that what we choose to eat not only affects our own health but also the health of our planet.
‘That’s why we proudly prioritise fresh, local and sustainably sourced food.
‘Our policies incorporate sustainably sourced fish, free range eggs, British farmed meat, fresh local fruit and vegetables and healthy choices; while we use our knowledge and expertise to persuade suppliers to provide environmentally friendly products, using the most environmentally friendly ingredients.
‘We also try to encourage visitors to think about how food is grown and produced, and the effect that can have on global biodiversity.
‘We’re always looking to improve where we can and our friends at the Soil Association, who we already work closely with, have been able to provide us with some pointers through the creation of their report. We’ll be exploring those to see where we can do even more in the future.’
SCIENCE MUSEUM
A spokesperson for the Science Museum said it outsources its catering to a third party.
LONDON ZOO
A spokesperson for ZSL London Zoo said: ‘ZSL London Zoo is delighted to have scored so highly in the recent Out to Lunch survey.
‘As London’s zoo, we aim for our Terrace Restaurant and other refreshment outlets to be of the highest standard for our visitors, which were praised by the survey for their ‘family friendliness’ as well as our ‘strong waste reduction policy’, use of ‘local seasonal produce’ and ‘nice balance of different cultural foods.’
‘ZSL works with the Association on the survey, and we’re pleased they have recognised the importance we place on providing a wide range of food options to visitors of all ages when visiting the Zoo – including free water, healthy items like seasonal fruit and salads, plant-based protein options like lentils and beans, alongside freshly prepared indulgent treats such as pizzas and burgers.
‘Free range eggs, sustainable fish and Farm-Assured meat are all used throughout our menus, and our children’s lunch box features a range of healthy options to choose from including carrot sticks, cheese, and fruit – as well as fun treats to enjoy on their day out.’
NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM
A spokesperson for the Natural History Museum said nobody was available to comment.
WESTONBIRT ARBORETUM
A spokesperson for Fosters Events, which operates the Kitchen, Smokehouse & Pantry at Westonbirt Arboretum, said: ‘We were delighted to be involved in this year’s Out to Lunch survey.
‘The survey acknowledged our commitment to serving high quality, local and responsibly sourced ingredients at Westonbirt Arboretum.
‘We pride ourselves on the diverse range of healthy snacks we provide our guests throughout the Arboretum and were pleased to see the survey recognise that all children’s meals are served with fresh fruit and vegetables.
‘In this, our first year of participation, we are delighted to rank in the top 10 and look forward to improving our offer and position in future years.’
KELVINGROVE ART GALLERY AND MUSEUM
A spokesperson for Glasgow Council, which runs Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, said: ‘The feedback we received from The Soil Association after taking part in their annual survey this year is positive and shows a significant jump up the UK league table for the Kelvingrove Museum.
‘In the current post-pandemic and cost of living environment it can be challenging at times to cater for varied budgets but we will continue to update our menus seasonally and work with suppliers to provide best value.’
ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, KEW
A spokesperson for Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, said: ‘We welcome the results of the survey as a guide to help us continue to improve our catering offering and fulfil our commitments to sustainability for our family visitors.
‘We were pleased to see that Kew Gardens scored strongly and was the only attraction in the league table to score full points for antibiotic and animal feed policy.
‘We welcome the commitments to improving choice as outlined by the SA, and underline the excellent offer at our award-winning Family Kitchen & Shop which features an array of plant-based offerings, allowing visitors the opportunity to enjoy a selection of eco-friendly food.’
WHIPSNADE ZOO
A spokesperson for ZSL Whipsnade Zoo said: ‘ZSL Whipsnade Zoo is grateful for the feedback from the Soil Association’s Out to Lunch survey, but was disappointed that they focused the majority of their review on just one of the many catering outlets at the UK’s largest Zoo.
‘At ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, we offer our visitors a variety of choice, understanding that some visitors want to indulge in a treat as part of their special day.
‘We also ensure that there are healthier alternatives available; in addition to our Basecamp Restaurant – designed for speedy treat meals – visitors can enjoy lunch at the Viewpoint, which offers a mainly plant-based menu and serves freshly made pizzas, salads and pasta dishes.
‘In addition to this, our visitors are also able to bring their own food, which they can enjoy in our covered picnic area, or overlooking the stunning Dunstable Downs.
‘ZSL works with the Association on the survey, and we’re pleased they have recognised the importance we place on providing seasonal and local produce, and British farm-assured meats and sustainably sourced fish.
‘As part of our commitment to environmental objectives, we also place carbon scoring on our sandwiches, which are produced locally with local produce – so visitors can rest assured their lunch has a low carbon footprint – while all our coffee is Rainforest Alliance certified.
‘We will continue to regularly evaluate our drinks and snacks to ensure we offer a balanced range that supports both healthy eating and sustainable environmental objectives.’
GREAT NORTH MUSEUM
Adam Goldwater, manager of the Great North Museum: Hancock, said: ‘We welcome this constructive feedback about our cafe offer from the Soil Association Out to Lunch investigation.
‘We aim to offer a quality, good value, healthy offer for our family audience.
‘We have only recently brought our catering offer in-house and we are in the early stages of developing this offer so we will certainly be taking all of these recommendations onboard.’
NATIONAL MUSEUM CARDIFF
A spokesperson for the National Museum Cardiff declined to comment.
LEGOLAND
A spokesperson for Legoland said: ‘Legoland Windsor and Aramark have been working together since March 2022, with a continued focus on improving food and beverage offers at the resort.
‘Aramark will continue to work with Merlin as the official food and beverage provider, to ensure they are giving guests what they want and what they expect, whilst considering value, nutrition and key health and safety priorities.
‘When surveyed this year, 88 per cent of Legoland visitors stated they are they are satisfied or more than satisfied with the variety of food on offer at Legoland Windsor.
‘Healthy food options are available for families, including a range of fruit, sandwiches, salads, and sugar free beverages.’
WORLD MUSEUM
A spokesperson for the World Museum said they were unable to comment.
ULSTER MUSEUM
Brona Moffett, Head of Experience and Enterprise Development at National Museums NI, said: ‘We take on board and learn from all feedback in relation to the catering services provided within Ulster Museum.
‘Despite this score being partly due to an omission on our part in response to the survey; there is still much we can learn from this experience.
‘Ulster Museum hears from our visitors every week through our own visitor research and we are always encouraged that our overall catering experience at the museum is mostly positive and above benchmark.
‘However we do know we could do better in terms of the variety and appeal of our food offering, especially for children which the Out to Lunch survey focused on, and we will be working closely with our catering partner to reflect and improve on this feedback.’
DRAYTON MANOR
A spokesperson for Drayton Manor Resort said: ‘We always welcome feedback from visitors and industry bodies, which helps Drayton Manor Resort to continually develop and offer the best possible experience for guests.
‘Where possible, we source local British produce from accredited suppliers.
‘We offer child-sized portions in all restaurants, apart from Safari Pizza, where family-style sharing is encouraged, and free water is available at all of our food and beverage outlets upon request.
‘Healthier options are available in many of our outlets across the resort, including in the hotel, where children’s meals accompanied by vegetables are also available.
‘We review and develop our food and beverage offering on an ongoing basis, and look forward to reviewing the Soil Association’s latest study once available, to help further improve our offering across the resort.’
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