Opening date announced for Lilidorei at The Alnwick Garden

By Ian Smith

Specialist Reporter

Published 4th May 2023, 07:00 BST
Updated 9th May 2023, 15:13 BST
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Lilidorei, the new £15.5m visitor attraction at The Alnwick Garden, is set to open later this month.

The highly-anticipated opening of the world’s biggest play structure and adventure village will be on Thursday, May 25 – just in time for the half-term school holidays.

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The new attraction aims to bring the magic of Christmas all year round and attract 280,000 visitors per year to Northumberland.

Years in the making, the project is the brainchild of the Duchess of Northumberland, who wanted to create a magical land filled with clan houses, secret sounds, and visual attractions designed to encourage children to use their own imagination.

St Paul’s pupils with the Duchess of Northumberland at Lilidorei. Picture: Phil WilkinsonSt Paul’s pupils with the Duchess of Northumberland at Lilidorei. Picture: Phil Wilkinson
St Paul’s pupils with the Duchess of Northumberland at Lilidorei. Picture: Phil Wilkinson

The Duchess said: “Lilidorei has been a long time in the making and it’s exciting to see it finished and being able to share it with visitors.”

Construction work has been underway since last summer.

Thousands of advance tickets have already been snapped up.

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Ian McAllister, strategic head of marketing and communications at The Alnwick Garden and Lilidorei, added: “We are absolutely delighted to finally be able to announce that – thanks to the hard work and dedication of every single person who has been working on the Lilidorei project – we are now in a position to announce an opening date for the much anticipated attraction.

St Paul’s pupils trying out the world's biggest play structure. Picture: Phil WilkinsonSt Paul’s pupils trying out the world's biggest play structure. Picture: Phil Wilkinson
St Paul’s pupils trying out the world's biggest play structure. Picture: Phil Wilkinson

“We are thrilled to announce that our opening date will be Thursday, May 25, perfectly timed to be open for the May half term holiday!

“Tickets are sure to be snapped up quickly,” he added.

Its focal point is Elfwin Drin, the world’s largest play structure, which is 26 metres tall with 170 metres of rope bridges and six slides, surrounded by individual homes to the clans, and a gaol (for naughty elves) all policed under the watchful eye of the Squiffles.

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The lower level of the play structure and magical village is accessible to all and there are mushroom and cupcake-shaped cafes and food stalls for parents to relax in as their children play.

Children from St Paul’s Catholic Primary School in Alnwick with the Duchess of Northumberland. Picture: Phil WilkinsonChildren from St Paul’s Catholic Primary School in Alnwick with the Duchess of Northumberland. Picture: Phil Wilkinson
Children from St Paul’s Catholic Primary School in Alnwick with the Duchess of Northumberland. Picture: Phil Wilkinson

The whole village has been crafted from natural materials and is plastic free, surrounded by 1300 Nordic Christmas trees to create a permanent forest which will light up in the evenings.

Book tickets at https://www.lilidoreialnwick.co.uk/

Related topics:NorthumberlandDuchess