The Adventure Play Fair closes after the October half-term and reopens in November for those who have booked tickets for Santa’s Magical Journey or the Enchanted Journey of Light.

The Adventure Play Fair is not included in the price of a ticket for either of the above-mentioned events.

Tickets can only be purchased on the day of your visit and are subject to availability; there is no automatic right of entry if you have booked tickets to either of the events. No compensation or refunds will be given if the Adventure Play Fair is closed on the day of your visit as it is not included or offered as part of these events.

Please note, as the time of your ticket to Santa’s Magical Journey or the Enchanted Journey of Light is the time that you should arrive to start the event, the Adventure Play Fair cannot be entered until after you have experienced your visit to Santa or completed the interior part of the journey inside the Fantasy Land building.

Prices for 2025

Based on one hour’s Adventure Play:

Adults:                        £2.50 each

Children aged 3+     £5.00 each

Infants from 0 – 2       Free of charge

A minimum of one child must be included in any party wishing to enter.

Notes:

On entry, the children will be provided with a coloured wrist band which will indicate the entry time. This is valid for one hour, we are sorry but we are unlikely to be able to extend any visits.

Please note the Adventure Play Park is ONLY open on days when Santa’s Magical Journey and the Enchanted Journey of Light events are in operation.

The complex closes at 10pm.

Christmas Events

The Adventure Play Fair closes after the October half-term until 2026.

It will re-open (subject to availability) for customers who have booked the Enchanted Journey of Light or Santa’s Magical Journey. Please note, entry will be at an additional fee, only payable on the day.

Access to the Adventure Play Fair is not included in the price of a Santa’s Magical Journey or Enchanted Journey of Light ticket.

2025 Prices

The Adventure Pay Fair is an e-ticket event, tickets to the Adventure Play Park start from £8 for children and £4 for adults.

High season – School and Bank Holidays

Mid season – Weekends outside of school holidays (& late slots)

Low season – Midweek term time (& late slots)

Booking requirements:

• There must be at least one child in each booking; if you would like to add additional adults or children to your order please phone the booking office on 01328 878477 (Monday – Friday from 9am to 4pm). 
• There must be at least one full paying ticket per booking.

Essential Companions:

• If you require an essential companion ticket, please phone the booking office on 01328 878477 to book. We only accept the Nimbus Access card or Thursford Digital Pass which has either a +1 or +2 symbol. The card will be checked at the time of booking.
• Bookings with an essential companion can also be made in person at the play park on the day, on presentation of the Nimbus Access card or Thursford Digital Pass (e mail) with the +1 or +2 symbol.
• Essential companion tickets cannot be added retrospectively to any booking and no refunds will be given once the booking has been paid.
• You can apply for a NIMBUS Access card or Thursford Digital Pass via our website here.

Please note the Adventure Play Fair is now closed until 2026, however will be open to customers who have purchased tickets to Santa’s Magical Journey or Enchanted Journey of Light during November and December.

The Thursford Collection (Steam Museum) is closed and will reopen in Spring 2026

The advised age for Thursford’s Adventure Play Fair is 0 – 14 years.

We suggest younger children are accompanied throughout by a parent or guardian as this is an Adventure Play Fair, with various entry and exits to the structures.

For peace of mind, on arrival we strongly advise parents / guardians to arrange a designated meet up place in the event the child becomes lost.

We advise those who are wanting to play in the water fountain to bring suitable clothing including swimming costumes, swim nappies (if applicable), towels, and water shoes. Please note you will get wet.

Once your play session has started, same day re-entry cannot be guaranteed except in exceptional circumstances, subject to availability.

Yes! We have a new catering unit on the site of the Adventure Play Fair.

Please be aware that the tables sited around the catering unit are for the use of those purchasing food and drinks from the unit.

We have multiple toilets, including our brand-new changing places facility. Free parking, ample outdoor seating (both for those purchasing food from the catering unit and also around the play area), and the site is completely accessible.

Our Rainy-Day Guarantee applies where there has been 60 minutes or more of continuous rain.

• The Rainy-Day Guarantee only applies to tickets booked online, a minimum of 24 hours in advance of arrival. It does not apply to bookings made within this time frame whether online or in person at the venue.
• The Rainy Day return voucher has a nominal value of 0.0001p and cannot be used as part payment towards another booking.
• Customers must attend the time slot they have booked despite the weather forecast as the Rainy-Day Guarantee voucher will only be issued to those who are present in the Adventure Play Fair.
• The responsibility for obtaining a voucher is that of the attendee and not the Thursford Adventure Play team. If the Rainy-Day voucher was not obtained by the attendee or where the voucher has been mislaid or lost it will not be replaced or issued retrospectively.
• Thursford will not track or record the prevailing weather conditions, so if you have not obtained / been issued a voucher, you will not be permitted re-entry under the Guarantee.
• The return voucher is valid for 28 days or until the last date of the summer season; this includes days where the play park is closed e.g. if it rains on 16 June the 28-day limit will end on 14 July.
• Vouchers given at the end of the season may not have a 28-day period in which to return as the park will close for the season in October.
• The voucher is only valid for the year the original booking was made and cannot be carried over into the subsequent year/s
• No extensions will be permitted beyond the date stated on the voucher.
• The Voucher does not guarantee ‘immediate’ re-entry. As such, the party may have to queue for an indeterminate period on the return visit particularly at popular times and popular days as there is maximum number of children & adults permitted in the Adventure Play Fair for safety purposes. Our team will do their best to accommodate return visitors as soon as reasonably possible.
• The voucher is not valid for use during our Christmas events.
• The Rainy-Day Guarantee may be removed at any time and does not form part of your booking contract with Thursford Collection.