# The Alnwick Garden and Lilidorei: Tickets, Kids Go Free and Is It Worth It?

*Four children go free with every adult on the Garden-only ticket. Add the Lilidorei play village and the price more than doubles. Here's which one to buy.*

By Dan Fitzpatrick, Bairns & Beaches. Updated Thursday 1 October 2026. Canonical: https://bairnsandbeaches.co.uk/guides/the-alnwick-garden-and-lilidorei-tickets-and-is-it-worth-it.html

**The short answer:** Alnwick Garden tickets for autumn 2026 are £17.90 for an adult (£19.70 with Gift Aid), and up to four children aged 0 to 16 go free with each paying adult on the Garden-only ticket. Adding Lilidorei, the play village, makes it £20.30 an adult and £16.65 for each child aged 3 to 16. Parking is £3.75 for the day, and the garden is open daily 10am to 5pm until 23 October.

Alnwick Garden tickets come in three flavours, and picking the wrong one is the expensive mistake. A Garden-only ticket is £17.90 for an adult and up to four children go in free with each paying adult. Add Lilidorei, the giant play village next door, and every child aged 3 to 16 needs a ticket too, so the bill for a family of four jumps from under £36 to nearly £74. Both can be a good day. They're very different days, though, and this guide is about choosing the right one.

Checked 1 October 2026. Dates, prices and opening times change, so the organiser's link is the one to trust.

We're a North East family and we holiday in Northumberland a lot, with two children (six and seven) whose idea of a garden is somewhere to run between the bits with water in. The Alnwick Garden happens to be quite good at those bits. It also turns 25 this weekend, which is why you'll see fireworks advertised over a garden in October, and why this guide is going up now.

## Alnwick Garden tickets and prices for autumn 2026

These are the prices on the garden's own page for 2 September to 1 November 2026. Each comes in two versions: the higher figure includes a Gift Aid donation to the charity that runs the place, the lower one doesn't. It's your choice at the till or online.

- Garden only: adult £17.90 (or £19.70 with Gift Aid). Up to four children aged 0 to 16 free with each paying adult; a fifth child is £6.25 (£6.90).
- Garden and Lilidorei: adult £20.30 (£22.35), child 3 to 16 £16.65 (£18.35), under 3s free.
- Lilidorei only, from 1pm: £16.65 (£18.35) for adults and children 3 to 16 alike, under 3s free.
- Car park: £3.75 a car for the day, card only, shared with Alnwick Castle.
- The Poison Garden: £1 a person on top, under 2s free, and you book a slot.

So for two adults and two kids aged 3 or over, without Gift Aid, Garden only comes to £35.80 and Garden plus Lilidorei comes to £73.90. Add the car park either way. The garden says all tickets are non-refundable and standard tickets can't be changed. There's a Flexi ticket that lets you move your date up to three times within 90 days for an extra fee, which in a Northumberland October is worth thinking about.

> Kids go free is the best deal in the county until you walk past a 26 metre play tower and have to explain to a seven-year-old that you bought the other ticket.

## Is the Alnwick Garden worth it?

For a family with under-tens, yes, on a dry day, and especially with Lilidorei. For grown-ups on their own, the Garden-only ticket is fair money for a few hours of fountains, roses and the Poison Garden tour, and the free child places make it one of the cheaper big days out in the county if you skip the play village.

Where it falls down is rain. Almost all of it is outside. There are cafes, but it's not an indoor attraction, and a wet Tuesday here with small children is a long day at full price on a ticket you can't refund. Look at the forecast before you book, or pay the extra for a Flexi ticket.

How long do you need? The garden's pre-visit guide says allow 2 to 3 hours for the garden and the same again for Lilidorei. Its FAQ says most visitors spend 3 to 5 hours in the garden. With both, it's a full day, and with children who've found the slides, it's longer than you planned.

### The Alnwick Garden (Alnwick)

The Duchess of Northumberland came up with the idea in 1996, garden designers Wirtz International drew it up, and the first phase opened in 2001 with the Grand Cascade, the Rose Garden and the Ornamental Garden. The Poison Garden, the Treehouse, the Bamboo Labyrinth and the Serpent Garden followed in 2005, and the Cherry Orchard of 326 Taihaku cherry trees in 2008. It's run by a charity, The Alnwick Garden Trust.

For children the draws are water and mazes. The Bamboo Labyrinth is exactly what it sounds like, the Serpent Garden has water sculptures you'll be peeling them away from, and the Cascade is the centrepiece. Grown-ups get the roses and the orchard. In spring the cherry blossom is the big show; in October it's autumn colour and the Pumpkin Garden.

- Price: Adult £17.90, up to four children free per paying adult (autumn 2026)
- Parking: £3.75 all day, Denwick Lane, NE66 1YU, card only
- Toilets: Yes, including a Changing Places toilet in the Garden Gift Shop
- Buggy access: Wheelchairs free to borrow; mobility scooters to hire, book on 01665 511350
- Check first: Opening days change from 2 November
- Website: https://www.alnwickgarden.com/the-garden/opening-times-and-prices/

### Lilidorei (Alnwick)

The play village next to the garden, opened in May 2023. ITV reported its central tower, Elfwin Drin, at 26 metres with six slides, and it was billed at the time as the world's biggest children's play park. Around it are clan houses, huts selling food, and enough ladders, nets and bridges to wear out most primary school children. There are no screens, which was the whole point according to the Duchess.

Is it worth the extra? If your kids are roughly 5 to 11, I think it's the reason to come. A local cottage company's guide says it's aimed mainly at that age range with ground-level areas for under fives. For a toddler who can't climb yet, you'd be paying £16.65 for them to watch their sibling, and I'd buy the Garden-only ticket and save the play village for a year or two.

- Price: With the garden: child 3 to 16 £16.65, adult £20.30; Lilidorei only from 1pm £16.65 each
- Parking: Same car park as the garden, £3.75
- Toilets: On site; food at The Groggery and The Magic Muffin
- Buggy access: Pram-friendly routes at ground level; the towers are climbing only
- Check first: No dogs except assistance dogs
- Website: https://www.alnwickgarden.com/the-garden/opening-times-and-prices/

### The Poison Garden (Alnwick)

The garden's most famous corner, behind locked black gates, full of plants that can kill you. You can only go in on a guided tour, which the garden says takes about 20 minutes, costs £1 a person (under 2s free) and has to be booked. The guides are good at the gory stories, which is precisely what a seven-year-old wants from a garden. Hold small hands and keep them off the plants; that's the whole premise.

- Price: £1 a person on top of entry, under 2s free
- Parking: Garden car park
- Buggy access: On the garden's paths; ask at entry for the tour
- Check first: Book your tour slot when you book entry
- Website: https://www.alnwickgarden.com/faqs/

### The Grand Cascade (Alnwick)

The big stepped water feature down the middle of the garden, with 120 jets according to the garden's visitor guide, and the thing on every postcard. It's at its best when the jets fire in sequence and children stand at the edge waiting to see which one goes next. Bring a spare top for anyone under eight, just in case.

- Price: Included with garden entry
- Parking: Garden car park
- Buggy access: Paths run alongside
- Check first: It's outdoors, so dress for the weather
- Website: https://www.alnwickgarden.com/events/the-alnwick-garden-25th-anniversary-celebration-weekend/

## Do you need to book Alnwick Garden?

You can buy on the day, but for anything with a date on it (the anniversary weekend, Spookydorei Nights, Winter Lights, Father Christmas) book online, because evening slots are timed and the popular dates go. For a normal weekday in term time I'd still buy online the night before, mainly so you're not standing at a ticket desk with two children who can see the slides.

Members book separately for the special events, using the links on each event page.

## Opening times this autumn and winter

- 1 September to 23 October: daily, 10am to 5pm.
- 24 October to 1 November (half term): daily, 10am to 4pm.
- 2 to 15 November: Thursday to Sunday, 10am to 3pm.
- 16 November to 18 December: Thursday to Sunday, 10am to 3pm, plus Winter Lights evenings, 4.30pm to 9pm.
- 19 December to 3 January: daily, 10am to 3pm, plus Winter Lights. Closed Christmas Day.
- 4 January to 7 February 2027: weekends only, 10am to 3pm.

Lilidorei follows the same pattern. The one that catches people out is November: from 2 November the garden is shut Monday to Wednesday.

## What's on at the Alnwick Garden: October to January

These are from our Almanac and checked against the garden's own event pages today.

### The Alnwick Garden 25th anniversary weekend (Alnwick)

Thursday 1 October is a normal day ticket, 10am to 5pm. Then from Friday 2 to Sunday 4 October the garden stays open to 8.15pm, with evening-only tickets from 5pm at £10. Up to four under 16s go free with each paying adult. There's unseen footage from the garden being built on a big screen, an exhibition in The Pavilion, rides and bubble performers in the day, and fire jugglers and LED performers in the evening, finishing with a Grand Cascade show with lights, lasers and fireworks.

The £10 evening ticket with the kids free is a cracking deal for a family. Fireworks over water in the dark is the sort of thing that gets talked about at school on Monday.

- Price: Evening-only £10; up to four under 16s free per paying adult
- Parking: Garden car park, £3.75
- Toilets: On site
- Check first: Dogs only until 5pm on Sunday; fireworks in the evening
- Website: https://www.alnwickgarden.com/events/the-alnwick-garden-25th-anniversary-celebration-weekend/

### The Pumpkin Garden (Alnwick)

From Saturday 10 October to Sunday 1 November the garden is dressed for autumn, with a Pumpkin Garden scavenger hunt and harvest games. It's free with garden entry, so on a Garden-only ticket the children cost nothing and still get a trail to do. Hours are 10am to 5pm to 23 October, then 10am to 4pm in half term.

- Price: Free with garden entry
- Parking: Garden car park, £3.75
- Toilets: On site; pumpkin lattes in the Pavilion cafe
- Check first: Shorter hours from 24 October
- Website: https://www.alnwickgarden.com/events/the-autumn-pumpkin-garden/

### Spookydorei Days and Nights at Lilidorei (Alnwick)

Lilidorei goes Halloween from Saturday 10 October to Sunday 1 November: costumes encouraged, spooky games and storytelling, and a choice of a Spooky or Not so Spooky trail (good thinking, that). A trick-or-treat bag with riddles and sweets is an extra purchase. Hours are 10am to 5pm, then 10am to 4pm from 24 October.

Spookydorei Nights run from Friday 23 to Saturday 31 October, 5pm to 9pm. The garden's events page didn't show a price when we checked, so look when you book.

- Price: Lilidorei ticket; trick-or-treat bag extra; Nights price not shown
- Parking: Garden car park, £3.75
- Toilets: On site
- Check first: Book Nights ahead; price shown at checkout
- Website: https://www.alnwickgarden.com/events/spookydorei-days-lilidorei/

### Winter Lights at The Alnwick Garden and Lilidorei (Alnwick)

From Friday 20 November to Sunday 3 January, 4.30pm to 9pm, the garden and Lilidorei become a light and sound trail. You get a timed entry slot for the garden and can visit Lilidorei any time after 4.30pm, before or after. Prices go in three tiers: Saver from £11.50, Standard from £18 and Premium from £20.50, with the mid-December dates the dearest. No dogs, apart from assistance dogs.

- Price: From £11.50 (Saver) to from £20.50 (Premium)
- Parking: Garden car park
- Toilets: On site
- Check first: Pick a date tier and timed slot; closed Christmas Day
- Website: https://www.alnwickgarden.com/events/winter-lights/

## Is the Alnwick Garden dog friendly?

On Thursdays and Sundays, yes. Those are the garden's Dog Days: dogs on leads, a maximum of two per person. On other days dogs can use the walkway between the town and Denwick Lane entrances, The Bakery, the Gift Shop and the Potting Shed, but not the garden itself. Lilidorei is assistance dogs only, every day, and so is Winter Lights.

## Food, picnics and the Treehouse

You can picnic on the lawns and benches as long as you take your litter home, which with children and a family-size bag of crisps is easier said than done. Inside there's the Pavilion cafe and The Bakery in the garden, and The Groggery and The Magic Muffin in Lilidorei.

### The Treehouse Restaurant (Alnwick)

A restaurant up in a huge wooden treehouse, which the garden calls the largest in the world, and you don't need a garden ticket to eat there. To 2 November it's open for lunch daily and dinner Thursday to Saturday; from 2 November it closes Monday to Wednesday. Tables up to nine book online, up to three months ahead. As a treat after the anniversary fireworks or Winter Lights it's hard to beat for atmosphere.

- Price: See the sample menus; £5 a head deposit for tables of 6 to 9
- Parking: Garden car park
- Toilets: Yes
- Check first: Book, especially for evenings
- Website: https://www.alnwickgarden.com/the-treehouse-restaurant/

## Where to park for the Alnwick Garden

The official car park is on Denwick Lane (NE66 1YU), shared with the castle: £3.75 a car for the whole day, card or contactless only, with EV charging. Blue badge holders park free in the priority car park. The castle notes it's not free, which sounds obvious but seems to need saying. From there the castle, the garden and the town centre are all walkable, so park once and stop.

## More to do in Alnwick on the same trip

### Alnwick Castle (Alnwick)

Right next door. The castle's FAQ now says it closes for the 2026 season on 20 October, so it's shut for Northumberland's half term. Until then it's open daily, grounds 10am to 5pm (last entry 3.45pm). Online prices: adult £22, child 5 to 16 £11.60, family £64.20, under 5s free; the online ticket also works as a 12-month pass on open days. Garden and castle together in one day is a lot of walking for small legs. Two days is kinder.

- Price: Online: adult £22, child £11.60, family £64.20
- Parking: Same car park as the garden, £3.75
- Toilets: Yes
- Check first: Last day of the season is 20 October 2026
- Website: https://www.alnwickcastle.com/plan-your-visit/visitor-information/opening-times-ticket-prices

### Barter Books (Alnwick)

One of the biggest second-hand bookshops in Britain, in Alnwick's old railway station, and the original home of the Keep Calm and Carry On poster. It's open every day 9am to 7pm (closed Christmas Day), with a station buffet, an ice cream parlour from 12 to 4, a children's area, parking and toilets. On a wet afternoon after the garden, it's the obvious move, and it's free to wander.

- Price: Free to browse
- Parking: Own car park at NE66 2NP
- Toilets: Yes
- Check first: Buffet 9am to 6pm; ice cream 12 to 4
- Website: https://www.barterbooks.co.uk/

### Hulne Park (Alnwick)

The Duke of Northumberland's park on the edge of town, with walks through old woodland to the ruins of Hulne Priory, founded in 1240. It's free to walk, but no dogs and no bikes are allowed, and the estate lists the gates as open 11am to 4pm. It's sometimes closed, so check the estate's website or call the Estate Office on 01665 510777 first.

- Price: Free
- Parking: Not on the estate page; park in town
- Buggy access: Estate tracks; surfaces not listed
- Check first: Closures, and no dogs
- Website: https://northumberlandestates.co.uk/the-estate/walks-trails

### Alnwick Pumpkin Patch at Broxfield Farm (Alnwick)

If you'd rather pick a pumpkin than look at one, Broxfield Farm (NE66 3RQ) runs a pick-your-own patch on the weekends of 10 and 11, 17 and 18, and 24 and 25 October, according to Visit Northumberland. The listing mentions parking and toilets and says pets are welcome. Booking is through the farm's Facebook page, and no prices were shown.

- Price: Not published; check
- Parking: On the farm
- Toilets: Yes, per the listing
- Check first: Booking and prices on the farm's Facebook page
- Website: https://www.visitnorthumberland.com/explore/things-to-do/events/family-events/alnwick-pumpkin-patch

## Which ticket would I buy?

With two children aged six and seven: Garden and Lilidorei, on a dry day, arriving at 10am, with the Poison Garden booked for late morning and the afternoon left for the play village. If it's a grey day or the kids are under three, Garden only, with the Pumpkin Garden trail in October, and save the money. And if you're anywhere near Alnwick this weekend, the £10 evening ticket for the anniversary fireworks with children free is the best value thing the garden has done in a while.

## Questions people ask

**is the alnwick garden worth it** Yes for families on a dry day, especially as up to four children go free with each adult on a Garden-only ticket (£17.90 an adult in autumn 2026). Almost everything is outdoors, so it's poor value in heavy rain.

**how much is lilidorei** With the garden, children 3 to 16 are £16.65 and adults £20.30 (higher with Gift Aid); Lilidorei-only tickets from 1pm are £16.65 each. Under 3s are free.

**is lilidorei suitable for toddlers** Partly. There are ground-level areas and pram-friendly routes, but the big towers are for climbers, and a 3-year-old pays the full child price, so many parents of toddlers stick to the Garden-only ticket.

**do you need to book alnwick garden** Not for an ordinary day, but book online for timed events such as the anniversary weekend, Spookydorei Nights and Winter Lights. Poison Garden tours (£1) must be pre-booked, and standard tickets are non-refundable.

**is alnwick garden dog friendly** On Thursdays and Sundays dogs on leads are welcome in the garden, up to two per person. Lilidorei and Winter Lights are assistance dogs only.

**how long do you need at alnwick garden** The garden suggests 2 to 3 hours each for the garden and Lilidorei, and says most visitors spend 3 to 5 hours in the garden. With both, plan a full day.

**how much is parking at alnwick garden** £3.75 a car for the whole day at the Denwick Lane car park (NE66 1YU), card only. Blue badge holders park free in the priority car park.

## Sources

- The Alnwick Garden: opening times and prices: https://www.alnwickgarden.com/the-garden/opening-times-and-prices/
- The Alnwick Garden: FAQs: https://www.alnwickgarden.com/faqs/
- The Alnwick Garden: pre-visit guide 2026 (PDF): https://www.alnwickgarden.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Pre-Visit-2026.pdf
- The Alnwick Garden: our history: https://www.alnwickgarden.com/?p=33
- The Alnwick Garden: what's on: https://www.alnwickgarden.com/whats-on/
- The Alnwick Garden: 25th anniversary weekend: https://www.alnwickgarden.com/events/the-alnwick-garden-25th-anniversary-celebration-weekend/
- The Alnwick Garden: The Pumpkin Garden: https://www.alnwickgarden.com/events/the-autumn-pumpkin-garden/
- The Alnwick Garden: Spookydorei Days: https://www.alnwickgarden.com/events/spookydorei-days-lilidorei/
- The Alnwick Garden: Winter Lights: https://www.alnwickgarden.com/events/winter-lights/
- The Alnwick Garden: The Treehouse Restaurant: https://www.alnwickgarden.com/the-treehouse-restaurant/
- ITV Tyne Tees: world's biggest play park set to open (2023): https://www.itv.com/news/tyne-tees/2023-05-24/worlds-biggest-play-park-set-to-open
- Cottages in Northumberland: Lilidorei guide: https://www.cottagesinnorthumberland.co.uk/guides/lilidorei
- Alnwick Castle: opening times and ticket prices: https://www.alnwickcastle.com/plan-your-visit/visitor-information/opening-times-ticket-prices
- Alnwick Castle: FAQs: https://www.alnwickcastle.com/plan-your-visit/visitor-information/faqs
- Barter Books: https://www.barterbooks.co.uk/
- Northumberland Estates: walks and trails: https://northumberlandestates.co.uk/the-estate/walks-trails
- Visit Northumberland: Alnwick Pumpkin Patch: https://www.visitnorthumberland.com/explore/things-to-do/events/family-events/alnwick-pumpkin-patch