Before Christmas a group of us visited Xscape, in Castleford – a destination where you can play, eat and shop all under one roof! The scale of the centre is huge. It’s the size of six football pitches, and at 38m high you could fit nearly four double-decker buses on top of each other inside.

It offers a great family day out even if you’re single or going with friends or family. As well as adults we had three children under ten, and they were so excited they didn’t know what to try first. They certainly weren’t disappointed because as well as the country’s biggest real snow slope, there are two rock climbing walls, an aerial assault course, indoor skateboard park, Laserzone, bowling, Volcano Falls Adventure Golf, which is set on a mysterious island amid dense jungle, an exploding volcano, plunging waterfall and a ferocious T-Rex, two challenging indoor 18 hole mini golf courses, a multiplex cinema, 17 bars and restaurants including Subway and TGI Fridays, and 10 urban retail outlets all under one roof! And if that's not enough for you, across from Xscape there is a massive retain shopping outlet

The first thing you see is a exterior ride like a giant claw, which my son wanted to go on, but no-one else was brave enough. Inside, suspended some 15 metres high above the rock climbing tower is SkyRide a aerial assault course. Looking up as we went up the escalators I was startled to see to see people- mostly children swinging from the wooden and rope features, and my heart skipped a beat until I realised that were wearing safety harnesses. We all breathed a sigh of relief when none of the younger members of the family wanted to have a go. Intsead they headed straight for the amusement arcade and dodgem cars where they spend fhalf an hour winning enough tickets to ensure taking home a good prize.

We’d booked for lunch at Harry’s Carvery, where different booths have a theme. We’d chosen Hogwarts because two of the children were Harry Potter crazy. This was perfect for them. We dined on the platform of the Hogwarts express with the children demanding that we take their picture with the train.

The adults opted for the carvery, while the younger members of the family enjoyed the jacket potatoes. The food was plentiful, reasonably priced and the staff were very helpful and friendly.

Outside the restaurant the children resisted the temptation to have their picture taken while they held a live tarantula or a snake, but they did enjoy checking out the owls which sat serenely on perches.

For many the main attraction at Xscape is the Snowzone where you can enjoy the thrill of snowsports, fun family activities and special events. The 170m long main slope is covered with over 1700 tonnes of fresh snow, with two poma lifts. You can enjoy skiing and snowboarding - with lessons and coaching available for all levels of experience, or fun family activities such as sledging and ice sliding.

My son has been snowboarding here on and off for a couple of years. Unless you are experienced you can’t just don a snowboard or skis, but there is a dedicated lesson slope for beginners and novices to build their skills and confidence before progressing to the main slope.

Even if you don’t participate, it is definitely a spectator sport and we had great fun watching everyone else.

Our enemy here was time. To sample it all we should have arrived much earlier, especially as we wanted to look around the shopping outlet – Junction 32 – which was only a couple of hundred yards away. Built around a tree lined square, it looked very festive with the trees covered in twinkling lights. We spent some money and enjoyed some freshly cooked doughnuts, before heading home with three very tired children.

I’d certainly come back again, but it pays to check out the website and see exactly what’s on offer and how much it will cost so that you can try more things. I plan on heading back in February when there is a new ride called Gravity the regions first ‘bounce house’.

Wall-to-wall trampolines will be connected together with those at the edge literally going up the wall. These amazing open expanses of bounceable space will be used for a variety of activities, including; free jumping, aerobic exercise classes, and group entertainment and parties.

Xscape, Colorado Way, Glasshoughton, Castleford, WF10 4TA

How to get there: Take the M62 westbound (signposted Manchester and Leeds) and leave at J32, following the brown tourism signs for Xscape/Outlet

Xscape is open 364 days a year, closing between midnight and 2am on most nights depending on the activity or business. Entry is free but costs for activities vary.