Tickets!
Why Visit Lilidorei?
Lilidorei is a magical, mysterious village full of play and home to 9 clans who worship Christmas. They are ruled by Lord Elfwin, King of Lilidorei who lives in Elfwin Drin, the biggest play structure in the world. When children visit Lilidorei, they can create their own narratives, visit the clan houses, take part in the Quest Challenge and join in with stories with our Story Keepers.
Free Friday Bookings
Free Fridays is on offer to all first, primary and years 5 and 6 in our county middle schools in Northumberland. At present, we want as many children as possible to visit Lilidorei therefore year groups or classes cannot have multiple visits during an academic year. We will let you know if this changes in the future.
Please note, not every Friday is a Free Friday due to the closure of Alnwick Garden in January and availability only being during Northumberland Schools’ term dates. So, book now to avoid disappointment. Please note that all bookings are subject to availability.
You should book your slot so that your arrival time takes into account travelling from your school on the morning of your visit.
Please book by filling in our Free Friday booking form. All groups will need to pre-book their visit beforehand. You can do so by completing the online form here. Once you have completed the booking form, please send it back via email to groups@alnwickgarden.com or post it to Groups, The Alnwick Garden, Gardeners Cottage, Greenwell Road, Alnwick, Northumberland, NE66 1HB.
When we have received your form, we will contact you via email to confirm your booking.
Paid Visit Bookings
We welcome bookings from all schools (in and out of county) from Monday to Friday for paid visits. Costs of visiting Lilidorei for school visits are priced at a reduced educational rate, during Northumberland Schools’ term dates.
Pupils are charged at a rate of £5.00 each, with accompanying adults free in a ratio of 1:5. Additional adults tickets are priced at £7.00 each.
Please book by filling in our Paid Visit booking form. All groups will need to pre-book their visit beforehand. You can do so by completing the online form here. Once you have completed the booking form, please send it back via email to groups@alnwickgarden.com or post it to Groups, The Alnwick Garden, Gardeners Cottage, Greenwell Road, Alnwick, Northumberland, NE66 1HB.
When we have received your form, we will contact you via email to confirm your booking.
Northumberland County Council Provider Statement
Please find attached our part completed <<Insert Hyperlink to NCC Provider Statement>> for you to use for your trip.
Pre-Visits
We encourage all school staff to visit Lilidorei ahead of your school’s trip. You will receive an invitation for up to two staff members to visit us when you confirm your booking.
This will help you to familiarise yourself with the environment and we can answer any questions personally. You know your own pupils better than us so you may want to look at the activities offered and how you think your children should be supervised throughout these activities. Additionally, it also helps to plan for pupils with specific needs or medical requirements.
It is advised that schools should follow their own risk assessments for the Quest Challenge regarding organisation and supervising of the children around the site whilst competing this. Secret Keepers will be there for guidance for the Quest Challenge only.
Map of The Alnwick Garden
Click here for a map of Alnwick Garden that shows a full and accurate description of The Alnwick Garden Site, including all amenities, facilities and services.
Arrival
Coach/Mini Bus
If arriving by coach or mini bus, your coach or mini-bus should use the following postcode to navigate the drop off point – NE66 1FJ. This is the car park next to The Treehouse.
A member of The Alnwick Garden team will wait for your arrival in the coach park and greet you on your coach. Your welcome briefing will include information about site safety and any other relevant information.
On arrival, groups should use the toilets at the Gun Sheds if required. This is a 2-minute walk from the coach park.
Your coach/mini bus will then be directed to park in the main car park during your visit.
Foot
If walking, please make your way to the Treehouse where you will be greeted by a member of The Alnwick Garden team. Your welcome briefing will include information about site safety and any other relevant information.
Groups can use the toilets at the Gun Sheds if needed on arrival. This is a 2-minute walk from the coach park.
Welcome
Your Greeter will direct you to Lilidorei – children should be advised that when they see the gates into Lilidorei they should stay quiet as the gate keepers are listening!
When you arrive at The Village Green you will have a welcome talk from a Secret Keeper about your visit and will be advised where to put your belongings.
School Staff will be handed an on-site learning pack for all the children within your group. This will consist of pencils and a Quest Challenge.
These will need to be distributed to the children.
During your visit
A range of learning activities have been created to engage your children during their visit to Lilidorei. In order for us to deliver a seamless trip for your school, we have staggered our arrival times. Please click here to show the schedule for your visit depending on your arrival time. This could be subject to change, but we will advise you of this before your visit.
SEND
Please do advise us on your booking form if you have any children with additional needs that you would like to make us aware of. We do have ear defenders on-site if they are required by any child in your group.
We have an allocated area within Lilidorei designated as a quiet zone if any children feel overwhelmed and need some time out.
For any children who are anxious about their forthcoming trip to Lilidorei, please use our Lilidorei Social Story to help them during the days prior to your arrival.
Staff are happy to show visitors with mobility issues the best route around Lilidorei and access to Elfwin Drin.
Shop
On exiting Lilidorei, there is a wonderful shop with a variety of gifts at a range of prices. The shop accepts cash so your group is welcome to bring spending money to use when visiting. We would ask that the children enter the shop in small groups and are supervised at all times.
Lunchtime
Each school group will be allocated a lunchtime space in Lilidorei (if requested on booking form) of half an hour for the children to have their packed lunches. This will be either at The Groggery, The Village Green or at The Story Telling. You will be advised of your position when you arrive on the day of your visit. Please can you ensure that you stick to your time given so that we can clean the area ready for the next group using it.
Weather
Please be aware Lilidorei is an outdoor magical village that has limited covered space. Visitors should come prepared for all weather – sun, wind, rain and snow!! We remain open regardless of the weather but will need to follow risk assessments in certain types of weather. Please be assured your safety is our main concern.
First Aid
Lilidorei has its own First Aid House housing a fully equipped first aid kit . There are trained first aiders on site at all times. We would like to remind you that DfE guidelines do state that all visiting schools are responsible for providing a teacher or adult helper with good up to date knowledge of first aid and is in possession of an adequate first aid kit.
Personal Belongings
Each school will be allocated a ‘house’ inside Lilidorei where pupils can store belongings during your visit.
Education Offer
Our Education Offer at Lilidorei, is aimed at KS2 children in first, primary, middle and junior schools. This is at present in the initial stages and aims to engage children in creative writing (plus more) before, during and after their visit to Lilidorei. We are working on a full rollout later in this academic year.
Coming..
Our ‘Lilidorei, what’s your story?’ Education Pack will include all the elements that you need to deliver a bespoke programme of work, including resources, PowerPoints and display materials for your working walls covering many of the National Curriculum guidelines for writing and reading. We have tried to ensure that the workload for delivery in school is minimum for teaching staff but is fully immersive for your children. We suggest a two-week programme of study with an adaptable timing plan. However, this is flexible so you can tailor it to your own needs and dip in and out as you like.
At present…
For the time being we continue to offer our Free-Friday visits to our Northumberland schools – first, primary and years 5 and 6 in our county middle schools. However, we welcome bookings from all schools (in and out of county) from Monday to Thursday for discounted educational rate visits. To give you a taster of our package to come, following your visit, you will receive our current educational resources that should assist your children in their creative writing at school following their visit to Lilidorei.
Risk Management & Behaviour
We recommend that staff visit the site ahead of any school bookings, you will receive an invitation for up to two staff members to visit us when you confirm your booking. This helps you to familiarise yourself with the setting and have any questions answered. It also helps to plan for pupils with specific needs or medical requirements.
If there are any adaptations that staff on site can help to provide, please make us aware via your booking form, telephone or email.
We expect students to be supervised at all times around the site. Students are expected to not litter and not use inappropriate language. Smoking and vaping on site is prohibited and anyone found to contravene these rules may be asked to leave the premises.
Photography
Photography is permitted. However, if you do take photographs you must ensure only children from your school are included and that you follow your own school’s policies.
Evaluation Form
We are always looking at ways to improve. We want to ensure that our activities and programmes offered by a provider are current and relevant. Following your visit, we would ask if you could fill in our evaluation form. This will also be emailed to the group leader (contact email on the booking form) following your visit.
Who to contact
If you would like to speak to someone about a school visit, please call our designated Community and Education team on 01665 511350.
Sensory Guide
View or download the Sensory Map for Lilidorei here
Please complete the form below and someone will get back to you.