HARDENED cynics have been knocking the Millennium Dome since it was a sketch on a piece of paper.

The £758 million project would never be complete on time, they scoffed, and even if it was, no one would visit it. Well, the dome opened to the public on January 1 and a day in Greenwich as a guest of BAE Systems Steve Dunthorne went along to see just what will be on offer for the coming year:

Divided into 16 distinct zones, the dome provides a bit of something for everyone.

It is entertainment on a grand scale, with every zone attempting to amaze and astonish the older visitors with an array of fascinating facts, while keeping the children happy with a bit of fun.

Kids will love 'Home Planet' zone where visitors journey through space to Earth, discovering the elements of air, fire, water and earth in spectacular fashion. Adults may find the seating uncomfortable and the show has the look of getting the easy things right and the difficult things wrong.

Preston's contribution comes in the BAE-sponsored 'Mind Zone'. A video shot at the local site's Fast Event Facility shows incredibly fast and ultra-slow motion images in a short film which plays tricks with scale.

The real highlight for me is the 'Shared Ground' zone, where visitors are asked questions by the exhibits, with the best answers recorded in huge banners around the walls. At the end of the year, the complete answers will be placed into the world's biggest time capsule and buried for 1,000 years.

One of the most enjoyable dome moments was the Work zone's huge table football game, complete with madcap referee.

The Journey zone also deserves credit, with an exhibition of transport through the ages and a 50s-style look at what we will be driving/flying/sailing in in the future.

Disappointment comes in the form of the Faith zone, which feels like an afterthought, and the National Self Portrait, which fails to capture the imagination.

On a brighter note, the Millennium show is a real spectacle and the new Blackadder film retains the original series' smutty humour - though it may be a bit racy for the kids.

Despite all this, it's the staff who are the real stars. With an American cheeriness, friendly assistants are on hand - if you look lost or confused, even for a second, expect a yellow-jacketed dome employee to pounce.

Tackling the dome requires a full day and careful planning. You will be on your feet for a long time. Take a look at the (confusing) map over a coffee and prioritise - you might not be able to see everything.

Don't expect thrills and spills - the dome is aimed more at making you think than short-term excitement.

All in all, a good - but not great - experience. It's definitely worth £20 for a packed day out, but whether its worth £758 million is for you to decide.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.