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Harry Potter Forbidden Forest Trail, Cheshire

15 replies

Sirinn · 10/08/2021 17:12

I must admit I get a bit of a laugh each year at the "Winter Blunderland" events which are advertised as snow-covered mountaintops and warm cabins with reindeer, and instead you end up £300 lighter standing in a car park in Grimsby with a few bits of fake snow fluff, an £8 hot chocolate and spending 3 hours in a massive queue for a single portaloo.

My town woodland has tried "light trails" before, but having parted with £150, families demanded refunds as all they got was, well, the same muddy park trail and a few lights. This stuff just never seems to end well - it's never going to look like the expensive stock photography!

The Marble Arch - designs showed lush green fields and trees, reality; scaffolding with plastic grass on. Angry customers, refunds.

So, seemingly licenced by WB, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Forest. £39 for adults and £29 for children, rising to £59 per person if you want to throw in a hot chocolate and a beanie, which must be knitted from actual unicorn hair. £116 a family.

"A nighttime woodland trail experience filled with magical creatures and wizarding wonders from the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films. Explore after dark the sounds, lights, and special effects that bring the magic of the Wizarding World to life..."

Although: "this nighttime trail experience has been created by award-winning theatrical designers and experiential creators."

To be fair, I've attended outdoor theatre which has been VERY good indeed, however usually due to human actors setting the atmosphere. Not animatronic hippogriffs.

Multiple references on the site to buying "magical inspired" food and drink.

What do you think? Possibly magical experience akin to the Studio tour, or possibly a newspaper sad-face waiting-to-happen of a child stood beside a rain-soaked owl teddy cable-tied to a branch?

OP posts:
AZFell · 10/08/2021 17:15

I looked at this but decided against it as it's far too expensive and too far away for a risky day out... if it were closer or cheaper I'd consider it again.

Booked Chester Zoo lanterns instead.

NotMyCat · 10/08/2021 17:22

I am booked to go Blush alone with no DC because well, it looked ok Grin
I've done a cheap ish ticket though which was £24....

Sirinn · 10/08/2021 17:35

£24 should be OK! Probably not too bad for that amount :)

£39 rising to £59 for a coffee, though, that's nuts.

Clicking around I think a lot of the offpeak times sold out so there's only peak left.

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NotMyCat · 10/08/2021 17:46

I'm booked at 8.20pm some time in November
Figured it gives them chance to iron out any issues from the first few weeks Grin

SquirryTheSquirrel · 10/08/2021 17:56

"Winter Blunderland" events which are advertised as snow-covered mountaintops and warm cabins with reindeer, and instead you end up £300 lighter standing in a car park in Grimsby with a few bits of fake snow

This description made me laugh! It's one of the highlights of Christmas for me, reading about people's disappointing 'Winter Wonderland' experiences.

Nothing very helpful to add but if this is a new attraction I'd wait a while before booking so they can iron out any issues, and you can also look at reviews to see if it's worth it or a rip-off.

Sirinn · 10/08/2021 21:09

The one near me last year got hammered - the paths practically flooded after they let in hundreds more people than they had space for, the car parking was a shambles and all people got for their money was some wonky lit-up 1980s style "generic children's characters" and some lights in the trees.

Weirdest of all, while most people had to shell out £££ for their tickets, they switched the lights on - or they were on a sensor - at about 4.30, when it was lovely and dark, so me and the kids would go and wander around for free until they 'cleared the park' at 5.30.

I bet they can do something interesting with spiders. There's a warning in the FAQ for the arachnaphobes!

OP posts:
Wonderbox · 10/08/2021 21:16

I could be missing the point here, but wasn’t the whole point of the Forbidden Forest in HP that it was a horrifying place full of huge, people-eating spiders, warring centaurs, feral cars, giants, dead unicorns being feasted on by regenerating dark wizards etc? That no one in their right mind would want to go near?

PaulGallico · 10/08/2021 21:22

I did seriously consider this for my Potter mad son...but I couldn't get out of my head the thought that it could be really really bad ..and it's just too far away to take a chance. Hope it is brilliant for anyone who decides to go.

PinkPurpleParade · 10/08/2021 21:26

I've been seriously considering going, but I don't think I can justify the price at the moment. I'll also be 36ish weeks pregnant and probably cba walking around a freezing forest at that stage Grin I'm only 20 minutes down the road and a massive HP fan so I will be a bit sad to miss it. I do hope it's good for that price. I bet with the food, inevitable gift buying etc it'll end up £250 for a night out with the kids. Really hope it's worth it for the families shelling out, some of these things are scandalous.

Eminybob · 10/08/2021 21:29

I looked at booking as we have just come back from the studio tour which was amazing. But the cost is horrific and if it weren’t the booking system put me right off and didn’t give me much confidence as it’s run by a 3rd party which always rings alarm bells for me.

It’s a no from me until it’s been around for a while and I can read some reviews.

tinkerbellvspredator · 10/08/2021 21:32

If it's a success (profitable) it'll probably be on again next year (with lower overheads as the design and creatures already done) so you can wait and watch for the reviews.

NotMyCat · 10/08/2021 21:32

Well if it's shit I can do a thread in real time from it? Grin

TheShadoutCrepes · 16/10/2021 15:11

We went last night. Two families all with teenage children. We all unanimously loved it.
It’s done really well, I have however have no other winter/Christmas themed outdoor events to compare it to.

NotMyCat · 17/10/2021 19:56

I'm going in November

Just seen a review here

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/harry-potter-walking-trail-cheshire-21880015

NotMyCat · 01/11/2021 23:19

I'm back! I really enjoyed it BUT I don't think I would have paid £40 or so
£24 was reasonable for me, it was a gorgeous trail, lots of pics on Instagram if you search. Really atmospheric - but wet and muddy!
Food wasn't cheap but I expected that

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