This article is sponsored by Park Playground.
Who knew a group of eight middle aged women could have so much fun romping around a distant planet, fighting aliens and solving the world’s clean energy crisis in about an hour?
When I suggested a virtual reality experience at Park Playground to members of my Harrogate book club, it’s fair to say they were a little sceptical. This was tech that they’d no idea about but, I successfully argued, would make us pretty cool with our kids and grandchildren.
I had already been to Park Playground on a wet August day with an eleven year old and had a blast…literally. I was convinced Book Club would also find it hilarious.
Group of visitors to Park Playground in Leeds, Photograph provided by Park Playground
Off we set from Harrogate for a night out in Leeds, beginning with our session at Park Playground.
Ahmad was hosting us and we began by taking a virtual lift to the top of a sky-scraper. Once at the top, the doors opened and we each had to walk a plank off what felt like the top of the Burj Khalifa. If you can’t stand heights like me, it’s so real it’s terrifying. I couldn’t do it – but some of my fellow book lovers did it, egged on by the rest of us, shouting encouragement.
So the scene was set for our main session – a journey to a distant planet to collect a crystal which produces clean energy. We fought aliens (big and small) and an enemy army so we had to work as a team. Team work is very hard when you all start acting like teenagers and spend much of the session screaming and howling with laughter.
Our mission was eventually accomplished and we had saved the planet. Pheww. Book Club were awesome!
The technology is so impressive – you feel as though you really are jetpacking and the aliens who come at you are intimidating. It’s serious fun.
Park Playground is not just for the kids – it’s for everyone. I think every Book Club should go – as should every work team.
You enter another world, you are immersed in your new surroundings and it’s one of the best hours I’ve had this year.