Accessibility & Additional Needs
We want every family who visits us at Christmas to have a magical and enjoyable experience. Because our events are immersive and run to a structured schedule, it is important that families choose the experience that will be the most comfortable and suitable for their child.
All of our Christmas tickets are sold as group tickets rather than individual admissions. For this reason, we do not offer additional carer tickets. Families book a team ticket (up to 4 or up to 6 people), and any supporting adult should be included within that group booking.
If you are unsure which experience will work best for your family, please contact Sam before booking and we will always do our best to advise.
Our Classic Grotto
Our Classic Grotto has been created as a warm and welcoming visit to Father Christmas and is generally the most suitable option for children who may find our crime solving experiences too demanding.
The Classic Grotto follows a gentle festive journey which includes:
- A photo opportunity
• A visit with Father Christmas
• Fun in the magical snow room
We regularly welcome children with a wide range of additional needs and many SEN families find the Classic Grotto to be the most comfortable option.
Although the experience is designed to be calm and enjoyable, families will still be asked to move between each part of the visit at specific times so that all visiting families can enjoy their experience.
For this reason, it is important that children are able to follow simple instructions from our team when asked to move to the next part of the journey.
Our Christmas Crime-Solving Experiences
Our Christmas crime events are structured, story-led adventures where participants solve puzzles and complete tasks as part of a developing storyline.
These experiences require participants to:
- Follow instructions from performers
• Complete puzzles and challenges
• Move through the building at specific points in the story
The crime experiences take place over two floors of our historic building. Unfortunately, there is no lift access, and these events are therefore not wheelchair accessible.
Because the storyline relies on group participation and movement between floors, these experiences may not be suitable for visitors with significant mobility requirements.
As all tickets are sold as group bookings, we do not offer separate carer tickets for these events.
Families who feel that this type of immersive activity may be challenging for their child may find that the Classic Grotto is the more suitable option.
Neurodivergent Children and Structured Experiences
Many neurodivergent children enjoy our events and we welcome families to choose the experience they feel will work best for them.
However, it is important to note that all of our Christmas experiences involve following instructions at certain moments so that the event can progress for all visitors.
Children with Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), or those who find it particularly difficult to follow structured instructions when prompted, may find this type of experience challenging.
We encourage families to consider whether the format of the experience will suit their child before booking.
Mobility Access
Our Christmas attraction takes place inside a historic building, which unfortunately includes narrow doorways, stairs between floors, and limited turning space in some areas.
The Classic Grotto takes place on the ground floor.
Our crime-solving experiences operate over two floors and there is no lift access. For this reason, they are not suitable for wheelchairs, mobility scooters, or larger mobility aids.
If you have specific mobility requirements and would like to discuss whether the Classic Grotto may be suitable before booking, please contact us and we will do our best to advise.
Choosing the Best Time to Visit
For families who prefer a quieter environment, we recommend booking weekday sessions where possible.
Weekend sessions and dates during the Stratford Christmas Market weekends can be particularly busy and may involve additional queuing.
Families who feel that queuing or busy environments may be overwhelming for their child may wish to consider visiting on a quieter weekday session.
If you would like advice before booking, please contact Sam at magicalleystratford@gmail.com and we will be happy to help you choose the most suitable experience.