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Tom Daley gets face deep in balls at new London attraction

Virgin Holidays have installed the UK's largest ball pool on the banks of the River Thames.

By Will Stroude

Tom Daley has helped launched a new London attraction designed to get grown-ups having fun again – by diving head first into a pit full of balls.

The Olympic diver, 24, was on hand to help open a giant ball pool in London on the bank of the River Thames as part of a new campaign by Virgin Holidays to help adults rediscover their sense of adventure.

The ball pool, which is located at Observation Point on the Southbank and is filled with almost 150,000 balls, will be free to use throughtout the day on Thursday 13 and Friday 14 September.

It comes following a recent surbey by One Poll revealing that Brits stop having fun at the age of 43, with many citing cash concerns (30%), exhaustion (23%) and feeling self-concsious (22%) as the main reasons for losing their sense of playfulness.

Half of those surveyed said they were at their most fun on holiday, and nearly half (49%) would say that breaking a routine would help them feel more refreshed.

Four golden balls will be hidden in the ball pool at intermittent periods over the next two days, with lucky punters who discover one during their dip winning a fun-filled holiday for two courtesy of Virgin Holidays.

Tom, who recently welcomed his first child, a boy named Robbie, with husband Dustin Lance Black, said: “We all have responsibilities and every day pressures, but it is important to remember to have a fun along the way.

 

“Whether that means acting like a big kid for a few hours in a giant Virgin Holidays ball pool like me or trying new experiences – avoid mundane routines and ‘take a plunge’ into something exciting.

“The world is our playground, after all!”

Joe Thompson, Managing Director at Virgin Holidays commented: “We want to encourage people to get out into world and have fun, stepping away from the all-too-familiar everyday routine. At Virgin Holidays we want to help everyone enjoy amazing new experiences all around the world.

“For anyone looking for an adventure closer to home, the Virgin Holidays Ball Pool is the perfect way to dive into a new experience – no swimsuit required!”