No it's not the "most amazing day out ever" as the publicity machine insists. But the attractions, food, transport and queues are nowhere near as bad as the press makes out either. And I went the weekend after the official opening when crowds were expected to be at the busiest and teething problems at their most painful.

For those who haven't lived in London during the era of the "Dome", this is what it is: a millennium present to the people of Britain, celebrating what it is to be British, what's been achieved and what the future holds. Outside it resembles a massive igloo (as big as 10 St Paul's Cathedrals) with several yellow crane like antenna. Inside, it incorporates over a dozen "zones" - all with corporate sponsorship and all with a dedicated theme. For instance, there's the Body Zone which explores the human anatomy, and the Play Zone which... is self explanatory.

While none of the zones are particularly enlightening or taxing on the brain, the Dome is certainly a showcase of things high-tech. It's fun and the spectacle is something to be experienced.

Cost
It costs £20 per adult, £16.50 for kids and £57 for a family (you must pre-book though). When you add on transport expenses and food, it's not exactly a cheap day out. And, if you're like me, a day won't be long enough to see everything either. A two day pass for £20 would be much more reasonable.

Transport
We travelled via the tube to the brand new and impressive Greenwich North station on the Jubilee line. After reports of delays and overcrowding, I allowed extra time but I needn't have bothered. Travelling via tube during peak hour Monday morning is 10 times worse than this.

Food
One critique I read before going to the Dome slammed the variety of food available, saying there's nothing that's not already on the high streets in London. This comment baffles me. Most London high streets have an amazing array of cuisine from across the globe - from fast food to a la carte. What exactly was this reviewer expecting... meals prepared in outer space?

Dome food is reasonably priced and you can get everything from bagels and pizza to hot soup or french fries.

Queues
Despite rumours to the contrary, there are relatively few queues to the Dome attractions. Those that do exist are generally fast moving. The longest wait I experienced was about 30 minutes for the much hyped Body Zone. You won't get bored either because street entertainers abound. However, if you're over the age of 10, the exuberance of the orange-clad aerobic instructors wears a bit thin.

Attractions
Blackadder - Rating 10/10
As far as I'm concerned, the best part of the Dome experience is the new Blackadder film. The antics of Lord Blackadder (a la Rowan Atkinson) and his faithful Baldrick as they travel through time, and in the process change history, are not to be missed.

Centre Stage Show - Rating 9/10
The show in the central arena is also a must-see event. Performers with an array of colourful props (from huge butterfly wings to giant hamster wheels) tumble from the ceiling and gyrate mid-air.

The Zones
Of the 16 zones, I only got to 10. Here's an appraisal of each.

Body Zone - Rating 4.5/10
This is by far the most publicised and therefore most popular zone. It's also the most disappointing. After queuing for 30 minutes, we entered via the groin. You only realise this after seeing the pubic hair - complete with crabs. From there you wander through other parts of the body until you're unceremoniously spat out through an arm and left wondering "Is that it?"

Living Island - Rating 6/10
Haven't been to the English seaside yet? Well Living Island is a scaled down version - complete with deckchairs and gaudy arcade games.It's especially popular with toddlers who seem to mistake the rocks on the mock beach with teething rusks.

Play Zone - Rating 7/10
A bit dark and gloomy inside but otherwise good fun - particularly for children and teenagers. A series of interactive high tech games designed to keep kids amused for hours. Unfortunately that means crowds accumulate.

Journey Zone - Rating 4/10
Experience journey through the ages. Lots of reading which is all very well if you have the time. We didn't, so we milled through quickly and didn't get much out of it.

Talk Zone - Rating 5/10
An interesting look at the rapidly developing telecommunications industry and the means by which we may be communicating in the near future. Unfortunately it's also a big promotional vehicle for sponsor British Telecom.

Rest Zone - Rating 8/10
Plonk yourself on the cool white concrete with scores of strangers and watch as the room changes colour from blue to pink and orange. All this is accompanied by music. The experience is actually better (and funnier) than it sounds. As the floor slopes, you can also watch as the people around you lie back and then slide onto the person below them.

Self Portrait Zone - Rating 7/10
A massive mural incorporating images of British celebrities and photos sent in by ordinary folk. This is accompanied by hundreds of comments on what sums up "British-ness" (Fish and chips, The Spice Girls and Tony Blair all rate a mention).

Home Planet - Rating 7.5/10
Fasten your seatbelts and take a space ship ride to planet Earth. Not really an "Earth-shattering" experience, but the stifling heat accompanying the "volcanic phase" is impressive.

Mind Zone - Rating 6/10
We got there on closing time so most of the exhibits had shut down. Mind you, a lot more had been "out of order" all day. A zone that's meant to "explore the creative power of your mind". Well, maybe...

Timekeepers of the Millennium - Rating 8.5/10
Thousands of colourful foam balls fill a structure resembling something from Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory. There's nothing much to do here other than throw balls at each other or load them into the supplied canons and fire them at small children (who, by the way, gave as good as they got!) Loads of fun. It kept me and my mates entertained for ages. Sad, but true.

The other zones include "Faith", "Money", "Work", "Learning", "Shared Ground" and a stage for community performances. The Millennium Jewels are on display too.

The Dome is also a sneaky way to conduct widespread social surveys. Each visitor is provided a card with a magnetic strip and the word "yes" on one end, and "no" on the other. Scattered around the place are machines asking such questions as "Do you want to be able to choose the sex of your children?" You give your answer by zipping your card through, and the responses are tallied up for future research.

Overall, the Millennium Dome is better than what you may have heard. It can be expensive and you may not get to see it all. But it's only around for the year 2000 and if you take a bunch of mates along, you'll probably have fun. Even if you don't like it, at least you can tell your grandkids - been there, done that!

Questions?
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