Cadbury World Delights Chocoholic Visitors to England
Learn All About Chocolate at English Candy-Maker’s Factory Tour
May 17, 2009
Chocolate lovers who visit England’s West Midlands are missing out on something special if they don’t visit Cadbury World, home of the century-old Dairy Milk bar. The tour features presentations on the history of chocolate as well as on the Cadbury family business. The Cadburys initially sold teas in the first quarter of the 19th century, but before the century was out, they were finding success in the chocolate world. Cadbury’s is now England’s most famous chocolatier.
Cadbury Tour Starts in Aztec Jungle
The tour covers 14 areas and takes about three hours. It begins with the Aztec jungle where chocolate originated. It was later brought to Europe by Spanish explorer Hernan Cortez where chocolate quickly became the drink of choice for the elite and wealthy.
There are also presentations on how the Quaker family business started, and how they were ahead of the times in terms of employee benefits. Cadbury’s offered its employees a reduced work week (5-1/2 days) compared to other companies, health insurance, better housing and recreational opportunities, including a huge cricket field which remains today in the company compound.
Visitors Can Transform Themselves into Chocolate Statues
There are video presentations throughout, and an interactive experience which allows visitors to see how they’d look as chocolate statues. Visitors can ride a toy car through Cadabra, a tour that is geared to children but which adults will still find enjoyable. Tourists can even write their name in chocolate, see how Dairy Milk bars are packaged, and watch a designer decorate milk-chocolate high-heeled shoes with white chocolate. The smell of chocolate permeates the air. Visitors learn that Cadbury’s quality control program consists of an employee selecting candy from the line every 20 minutes and eating it.
And for a really gooey chocolate experience, visitors can create their own treats. Choose from a selection of goodies including peanuts, jelly beans, popcorn and marshmallows. Attendants then pour warm liquid Dairy Milk chocolate over the section for visitors to stir and eat. Throughout the tour, visitors are given various candy bars as samples to take away. There’s even a playground for children to work off their sugar highs!
Factory Offers World's Largest Cadbury Shop
The facility also has the world’s biggest Cadbury shop for visitors to buy more chocolate as well as merchandise bearing the Cadbury logo. The store also includes a bargain room with reduced prices on goods which have the same quality and taste.
Cadbury World is open almost every day. A schedule, including special events, can be found on the company’s website. The cost in 2009 is £13.75 ($21US) for adults and £10.30 ($15.70US) for children. Birmingham hotels have vouchers for 20 percent off the admission prices. Cadbury’s recommends pre-booking online at their website, but visitors who just show up will be accommodated.
Travel by Train to Bournville
Cadbury World is located in Bournville near Birmingham. The easiest way to get there is to take the train from New Street Station. Trains leave every 10 minutes. To find Cadbury World, turn right after exiting the train station, turn right again on a corner with a green iron fence, and turn left at the bottom of the hill and follow the directional signs.
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