Embark on a woodland adventure with The Gruffalo’s Child at Hillsborough Castle and Gardens this Christmas

This winter, follow a series of mysterious tracks into the deep dark wood as Historic Royal Palaces welcomes The Gruffalo’s Child to Hillsborough Castle and Gardens for a magical Christmas adventure.

From 28 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, families will step into the playful world of Dame Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s The Gruffalo’s Child, first published in 2004 and now a firm favourite to a generation of young readers, as they embark on an enchanting trail through Hillsborough Castle’s spectacular 100-acre gardens.

Curious little explorers can follow in the footsteps of this iconic character as she embarks on a woodland adventure, with familiar moments from the much-loved tale waiting to be discovered along the way. Follow the peculiar tracks, take part in interactive games and see where the adventure leads, with plenty of playful surprises to uncover amongst the gardens.

After exploring the trail, visitors can warm up with festive food and drink, including a range of The Gruffalo’s Child-themed food options, featured alongside a wider Christmas menu. Families can also catch a screening of the film, before visiting the shop to discover books, toys and gifts – ideal for a little Christmas shopping.

Meet Santa in his hideaway on selected dates in the lead up to Christmas where little ones can share their seasonal wishes, capture a festive family photo and receive a gift of reindeer food to save for Santa’s special reindeer. After Christmas, another beloved character will emerge from his cave as The Gruffalo himself comes to Hillsborough Castle. From 27 December to 3 January, visitors can book a meet-and-greet with the famous creature, spot his knobbly knees and turned-out toes, and take a photo together.

Access to The Gruffalo’s Child trail is included with admission to Hillsborough Castle and Gardens, with under-fives able to enjoy the experience completely free. Visitors can book a general admission ticket for their chosen date between 28 November 2026 and 3 January 2027, with no separate trail ticket required. For those looking to make their visit extra special, an upgraded Castle ticket provides access to the beautifully decorated State Rooms, glowing with seasonal sparkle. Inside, visitors can explore the famous Throne Room and discover fascinating stories from the Castle’s past.

Created in partnership with Magic Light Pictures, The Gruffalo’s Child trail follows a successful year of family experiences at Hillsborough Castle and Gardens, including The Snowman™ and The Snowdog trail last Christmas and Beano Hijinks this summer, continuing a programme of immersive experiences that bring stories and characters to life against the backdrop of the historic estate.

Stuart Campbell, Public Engagement Manager at Historic Royal Palaces, says:

“The Gruffalo’s Child is a wonderful story to bring to Hillsborough Castle and Gardens at Christmas, with its sense of adventure and curiosity perfectly suited to exploring our 100-acre gardens. Visitors can follow the trail through the atmospheric winter landscape, spotting familiar moments from the tale and taking part in playful activities along the way, from cosy film screenings to indulging in festive treats. We’re looking forward to welcoming families to the estate and seeing little explorers set off to discover where those mysterious tracks lead.”

Set against a beautiful winter landscape, Christmas at Hillsborough Castle and Gardens will bring to life the enchanting woodland world of The Gruffalo’s Child. With mysterious tracks to follow, familiar characters to meet and festive treats to enjoy, curious explorers can venture into the deep, dark wood and see where the adventure leads this Christmas.

Notes to Editors: Christmas at Hillsborough Castle and Gardens

Contact Information:

For further information or images, please contact LK Communications:

Amy Millar - [email protected] / 07525436802
Paula McNulty – [email protected] / 07710785543

The Gruffalo’s Child Trail:

28 November 2026 – 3 January 2027 (Excluding 24–26 December)

The Gruffalo’s Child daytime trail and film screenings are included with general admission. Visitors simply need to book a general admission ticket for their chosen date between 28 November 2026 and 3 January 2027. Members go free and do not need to pre-book. Children under five can experience the trail for free.

Hillsborough Castle and Gardens admission: Adult tickets (18–64) are £21.50 and child tickets (ages 5–15) are £11. A donation option is also available.

Watch The Gruffalo's Child:

Film screenings take place in the Clore Learning Centre in the Stable Yard at 12:00, 13:30 and 15:00 on weekends and every day during the school holidays, excluding 24–26 December.

Screenings are included in admission and are first come, first served. The film lasts approximately 25 minutes.

Meet Santa:

Santa will be in the Garden Shop on:

Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 November
Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December
Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 December
Friday 18, Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 December
Monday 21, Tuesday 22 and Wednesday 23 December

Add-on tickets are £8 per family (up to four children) or £7 for Members. Tickets will be on sale soon. General admission ticket also required.

Meet The Gruffalo:

Visitors can meet The Gruffalo from Sunday 27 December to Sunday 3 January. Add-on tickets are £8 per family (up to four children) or £6 for Members. Tickets will be on sale soon. General admission ticket also required.

Santa and Gruffalo meet-and-greet tickets must be pre-booked, including for Members.

Upgrade your visit:

Visitors can upgrade their admission to explore the beautifully decorated Hillsborough Castle, including the famous Throne Room. Visitors can also upgrade their ticket to membership, providing a full year of family adventures at Hillsborough Castle and Gardens, including Easter hunts, Halloween activities and summer family fun.

For further information, tickets and images, please visit: www.hrp.org.uk/hillsborough-castle/

About Historic Royal Palaces

Historic Royal Palaces is the independent charity that loves and looks after six of the most wonderful palaces in the world. The palaces are the setting for the stories that shape us all, and we’re bringing them to people in ways that mean more to them. We want everyone to find themselves in the spaces and stories we share.

Registered charity number 1068852. For more information visit www.hrp.org.uk

About The Gruffalo’s Child

The Gruffalo’s Child is the much-loved sequel to Dame Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s bestselling picture book The Gruffalo. First published in 2004, the story follows The Gruffalo’s Child as she ventures into the deep, dark wood in search of the Big Bad Mouse, despite her father’s warnings. The story has become a modern classic and was adapted into an animated film.

About Magic Light Pictures

Magic Light Pictures is a multi-Oscar-nominated, BAFTA-winning company creating high-quality family entertainment and products. Founded by Martin Pope and Michael Rose in 2003, it is best known for its animated adaptations of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s books, including The Gruffalo, Zog, and Tiddler. The films are regularly a centrepiece of BBC One’s Christmas family schedule, a mainstay on iPlayer, and have sold to more than 170 countries. Magic Light’s growing slate of work also includes the preschool series Pip and Posy, the Oscar-nominated Revolting Rhymes, and the Emmy-winning The Velveteen Rabbit. In addition, the company runs an extensive licensing programme, with over 90 global partners and 2,000 product lines in the UK alone. Its latest releases include The Scarecrows’ Wedding on the BBC, which was the highest-rated show of Christmas week 2025, and the Zog preschool series which debuted on BBC One and CBeebies in May 2026.

www.magiclightpictures.com / Follow on LinkedIn and Instagram: MagicLightPics

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