Our Officially Amazing Day Out with #GWR2016

Last Updated on 13 May 2020 by Colette

This post features gifted product & contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

You may have seen on social media last week that Ben and I had a special “Mummy and Ben Day” last Tuesday.  We were invited down to London to visit Guinness World Records HQ to spend the day learning about the latest Guinness World Record book and it’s sibling Gamer’s Edition.   As is par for the course I didn’t tell Ben where we were going, just that we were going on an adventure and that we’d be going on a train.  That in itself was exiting enough as he’s never really been on a proper train journey.  In fact I think the last time he was on the train was when Chloe was tiny and we took him on a steam train from Whitby!

Ben was a real joy to travel with, I guess in part due to it just being me and him so I was able to focus my attention on him and not have to worry about anyone else running off or trying to speak to me!  

We arrived in London and made our way to Guinness World Records HQ which is just a short walk away from Euston Station – I must admit I was relieved not to have to negotiate the underground with my little man, we’ll save that adventure for another time!  

Ben only found out where we were actually going when we arrived at the building and he read the sign at the bottom of the stairs!  “Mum!! You’ve brought me to my favourite TV programme!”  I knew he was going to be thrilled!  

We enjoyed a quick lunch – Ben went a bit mad on bread sticks – and a catch up with friends before being split into two groups for the first sessions of the day.

We were treated to talks from the editors of each of the books focusing on their favourite spreads and records.  I must admit that much of the Gaming Edition went over my head, Minecraft might as well be Japanese for all I understood!  Debs on the other hand was in her element and I think she might like me just a little bit less now that knows how little I know about gaming!  I loved Craig’s talk about the various statues around the world and I’m in awe of just how flipping enormous some of them are!

Once we’d been filled in on how the books are created and why some records make the books and others don’t (there are some standard records which get in every year like “Worlds Tallest Man” but others are newer or themed records) we were ferried in taxis to another venue.  (As a side note this was the first time I’d sat in the back of a Galaxy and I want one even more now – Ben and Ellie were super comfy in the very back seats together!)  

Anyhow, the purpose of our visit to this new venue was to meet some actual real life record breakers and even have a go at breaking some records ourselves!  Ben was super excited at the prospect of this – and even more excited when he saw “Adjudicator Anna” as soon as he walked through the door announcing “I’ve seen you on the telly!!” – I don’t think he could actually believe his eyes!

Interspersed with some impressive hula hooping demonstrations, mad balls skills and some super speed sport stacking (yeah I’d never heard of it either) we attempted to break a few records ourselves . . .

The cherry on the top of an already fabulous day was seeing both John Farnworth and JJ break two world records!

Before catching our train home we were able to take time to enjoy dinner with Ben’s newest friends whom he referred to as “The Gingers” from The Brick Castle – the boys have met before but not actually spent any time together, by the end of the day they were thick as thieves and had named themselves “Team Ginger”!  

To get a full taste of our day you can watch the video that Ben and I made (apologies for the slightly wobbly camera work on my part!)

Thank you so much to the lovely team at Guinness World Records for your wonderful hospitality and helping me to make some fantastic memories with my little boy.  On the train home I asked him what his highlight had been fully expecting him say John’s amazing ball skills or meeting Adjudicator Anna but no, “spending my day with you Mum” – Love that boy!

If, like Ben, you have more than a passing interest in the crazy world of Guinness World Records you can find them on YouTube, Twitter and Facebook.  Ben is a big fan of Officially Amazing and I know he’d recommend you buy the latest editions now in readiness for Christmas gifts!

*Disclaimer – We were treated to a wonderful day out and given copies of the GWR2016 books to enjoy.  All thoughts and opinions remain our own*

*Many thanks to  Ivan Gonzalez / Guinness World Records for use of the official photographs from the day – I think you can probably tell which are his and which are mine!*