Raby Castle, Park & Gardens will host an immersive Hidden Garden experience this summer. Following the Castle in Bloom installation, which has transformed Raby Castle and the visitor buildings throughout its grounds with nature-inspired arrangements, families and visitors of all ages can enjoy another experience.
Taking over the 18th-century Riding School in the castle grounds until Sunday 23 August, the Hidden Garden features a grass-walled maze, an English Country Garden installation, and a themed activity area. Children will be completely immersed in a garden maze, which stands at 1.2m tall and is decorated with butterflies, flowers and wooden tree silhouettes, as they journey through the structure to find their way out.
The space will include colourful kaleidoscope projections, glittering lights bouncing from the rotating mirror ball in the centre and atmospheric music. The maze of mystery leads visitors into a English Country Garden scene, decorated with trees with Wisteria branches, green ficus leaves and fairy lights, as well as toadstools dotted around a tranquil water fountain as the focal piece.
A tree full of blossom, with a wooden swing, will also provide a photo opportunity for visitors before heading to the activity area featuring giant interactive garden games. The whole experience begins with an ornate Gothic tunnel, adorned with foliage and twinkling lights, which visitors will travel through to reach the wooden door to enter the rest of the floral takeover and immersive new world.
Sophie Brown, Sales and Events Manager at Raby Castle, Park & Gardens, said, “Our vision of bringing nature inside this summer has been a tremendous success, with our Castle in Bloom installation impressing all who have visited, but we had one more building in the castle grounds that was ready to become its very own oasis for children over summer. Whilst our new hidden garden and sensory-friendly experience will appeal to all ages, we wanted to make sure that it had plenty of interactive and explorative elements to spark the imaginations of our younger visitors. The Hidden Garden experience can be enjoyed at your own pace, and as an indoor addition, it will also be the perfect place to shelter from those summer showers or midday sunshine.”
Throughout the summer holidays, families can continue their journey into nature at Raby’s woodland adventure playground, The Plotters’ Forest, where Cyril the Squirrel will also be making an appearance at select times, bringing with him a carnival-themed celebration for little ones and an engaging trail to enjoy.
Continuing the outdoor explorations, there’s Raby’s picturesque Deer Park to stroll through and the peaceful 18th century Walled Gardens full of planting schemes. The Vinery Cafe has lots of fresh and seasonal dishes on its menu, with Raby’s Garage Cafe also providing a pitstop for ice cream and tempting sweet treats.
As part of the government’s Great British Summer Savings scheme, Raby is offering a Summer VAT saving of 15% off family tickets and children’s meals until Tuesday 1 September. Raby’s family explorer ticket, which provides access to everything at the lifestyle destination, including the Hidden Garden experience, Raby Castle and its Flower Passport Children’s Trail, as well as a daily family tour on the castle terrace, The Plotters’ Forest, deer park and gardens, is now £65.80 for two adults and two children when booked online in advance. Under-fours go free.
Standalone tickets for the immersive experience are also available at £4.38 for adults, £4.38 for children (4-15 years) and under fours are £2.19.
For more information and to book tickets, click here.
