Lilidorei at The Alnwick Garden is due to open this Spring. This much anticipated attraction has been YEARS in the making and I am so pleased that it's opening is just around the corner. This post will take a look at what we know so far.........
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Lilidorei will be the world's largest play structure (wow!) The structure is 26 metres tall and called 'Elfvindrin' The new play village cost a whopping £15.5 million to build There are six slides The lower level of the play structure and magical village is accessible Areas will be connected by zip wires, slides and climbing walls There are 170 metres of bridges You can expect a cafe and grassed area for parents to relax as their kids play (although does anyone else think that trying to find them to let them know it's time to go is going to be a bit of an issue) Entry is going to be FREE on Fridays during term time. This will only be available for schools to book - more info coming soon. The play village is based around Christmas and 1300 Christmas Trees have been planted around the site to create a permanent Christmas forest which will light up in the evening The playground is plastic free and crafted from natural materials There are nine clans (or areas) of magical creatures and each clan is preparing for Christmas around the castle The build has been documented by channel 4 and a programme will be broadcast later in the year There are three permanent Santa's grottos The nine clan houses will each have their stories told with an immersive sound experience The nine clans are Sprites, Elves, Fairies, Pixies, Goblins, Hobgoblins, Trolls, Dwarves, Squiffles) There is a jail for naughty elves (and children!) Pet dogs are not permitted. Book Now for Summer Although Lilidorei does not have an opening date yet (and they do hope to open before this), they know for certain they will be open from 29 June and you can now book tickets from 29 June - 3 September. These tickets won't give you a 'first look' as I do expect it to open before these dates but it does allow you to get booked in now for peak summer holiday dates. Book your tickets here. Please note, gift aid is automatically added to the prices. You can remove it if required towards the end of the booking. Lilidorei Opening Times The Lilidorei website has been updated with further info. We now know that Lilidorei will be open from 9am-7pm during school holidays (there may be reduced hours in term time but we will have to wait and see. Each session lasts 2 hours 45 minutes and you can book one of three sessions: 9am - 11:45am 12:30pm - 3:15pm 4pm - 6:45pm There is no opening date at the moment but they have said it is likely to be after Easter and before summer. Lilidorei Prices Just a quick note to say, it might be worth checking out this 2 for 1 Alnwick Garden deal before booking. It's not valid for the playground but it is valid for the garden itself and may save you a bit of cash if you plan on visiting both. Check the t&cs. Children aged 2 and under go free Child (One Lilidorei Session) - £15 (must be accompanied by an adult) Adult (One Lilidorei Session) - £12 Child (One Lilidorei Session and Same Day Garden Visit ) - £15 Adult (One Lilidorei Session and Same Day Garden Visit) - £24 Founder Lilidorei Membership (one named child with any adult) - £125 for unlimited visits across the year Founder Lilidorei Membership (one named child with any two adults) - £145 for unlimited visits across the year Parking is available in the Alnwick Garden Car Park where normal charges apply Max card holders will receive discounted entry, more info will be available soon A family of 4 will pay £78 to visit Lilidorei and Alnwick Garden. This compares with £86 for Stockeld Park (with a 1.5 hour Playhive Timeslot) or £82 for Bewilderwood Cheshire. So I would say if you are comparing like for like, although it is a very expensive day out, it is priced in line with other similar attractions. If you're looking for cheaper options, scroll to the bottom of this post for alternative ideas. Included Activities As well as access to the play structure and magic village, your session will include activities, games and interactive storytelling. No two visits will ever be the same! Age Recommendation Lilidorei is recommended for up to age 11 and under but all are welcome and yes, adults can play too. Spend the Weekend in Alnwick (ad - affiliate links) If you're looking for a cheap night away, Alnwick Premier Inn is just 1 mile from Alnwick Garden and offers free onsite parking as well as family rooms. Check prices from £29 per room per night here. A family room at Alnwick Premier Inn Alternatively, the Hogs Head Inn is a lovely family pub with rooms a few miles from Alnwick Garden with good links to the A1. It has a playground too. Find out more and check prices here. Doxford Farm Camping and Glamping If you're looking for a camping/glamping site nearby, I can highly recommend Doxford Farm Camping. We enjoyed a wonderful stay there earlier in the year ( watch our video review here ). You can find out more & book Doxford Farm Camping / Glamping here. There are lots of other places to visit in the vicinity. You might find the following posts helpful when planning your trip: 5 things to do in Alnwick with Kids Visiting the Cherry Blossom Orchard at Alnwick Garden A guide to visiting Hulne Park in Alnwick Broomstick Training at Alnwick Castle Visiting Barter Books Alnwick with Kids Bailiffgate Museum Alnwick Review Aln Valley Railway Review Other Adventure Playgrounds to try If you absolutely cannot wait for Lilidorei to open, here are some alternatives to try: Lowther Castle Lowther Castle in the Lake District is absolutely fantastic! Definitely recommend a visit. You can read our full guide to visiting here. Plotters' Forest at Raby Castle Plotters' Forest at Raby Castle is a treetop play structure in County Durham. Find out more and read our review here. Shiremoor Adventure Playground Shiremoor Adventure Playground is FREE to visit (do check their session times before you visit though) and has dedicated sessions for families with additional needs too. There are lots of added extras including hands on activities and farm animals too. Read our full review here. Adventure Playground at The Kelpies The adventure playground at the Kelpies in Falkirk is FREE to visit and definitely somewhere I'd recommend. There is lots to do including a splash pad in the summer. Read our guide to visiting Falkirk here. Harestanes Adventure Playground Harestanes adventure playground in the Scottish Borders (nr Jedburgh) is one of the best playgrounds I've ever visited and the kind of place you can easily chill and spend a few hours. There are wheelchair swings and a sensory play area too. Read our full guide to visiting Harestanes here. Preston Park Adventure Playground The adventure playground at Preston Park is free to visit and has a good range of play equipment for all ages. It's easy to spend a day here, especially if you combine with a visit to the museum and Butterfly World too. Read my full guide to visiting Preston Park here. As mentioned earlier in the article, I will update this post with opening dates and prices as soon as they're released. Pin Me
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