giraffe and elephant lights

Enchanted Journey Of Light 

New displays being added for 2024

When twilight falls, the magic begins!

Thursford’s Enchanted Journey of Light

On sale now!

For all ages

**Father Christmas is NOT at this event**


** If you want to do the Enchanted Journey and see Father Christmas please book through our Santa’s Magical Journey Page


The fading light of the Winter’s sun, starts the magic of Thursford. Your journey will progress into the Fantasy Land Building, as you travel past the penguins and polar bears to the giant-sized teddy bears! Get ready to pass the busy elves as they load Santa’s sleigh using the wondrous wrapping machine and keep a look out for the snowman family and their snowballs!

Your journey continues as you venture outside to the Lantern Light Extravaganza, with lots of creatures to marvel at – a beautifulbreath-taking festival of luminous sculptures, from a fantasy underwater world to the wilds of the North Pole. Watch out for the naughty mushroom gnomes!

Outside bar, food and funfair

*The Fun Fair is independent of the Thursford event and Fun Fair rides are not included in the price of your ticket. We are sorry, but the fair cannot be visited independently of the Enchanted Journey of Light. 

Opening hours vary.

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The Fun Fair will not be open on the evenings of 4th & 5th December.

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Weather Update for the weekend 7th & 8th December

We are aware high winds are expected for the weekend, we are monitoring the situation and if it is necessary to close the external areas for safety reasons, we will publish updates via our Facebook & Instagram pages and this website.  

For more information see FAQs below – Weather

BOOK HERE

THE GALLERY

WISHING WELL CHARITIES 2024

We’re pleased to be supporting three amazing local charities this Christmas. If you would like to donate, please deposit any loose change in our wishing well as you pass through Fantasy Land.

BRAVE
FUTURES

One in ten children are victims of sexual abuse. Brave Futures is a local specialist support service for children who have experienced sexual abuse. They provide a safe place for children and young people to make sense of the confusion they feel. They give children and young people the skills and tools they need to re-build their futures, manage the trauma they have experienced and help them move from victim to survivor.

GET ME OUT THE FOUR WALLS

Get Me Out The Four Walls offers peer support and informal social meets for parents and carers, living in Norfolk and Suffolk to overcome social isolation. Informal social meets are organised by the team of volunteer Ambassadors. They offer support through information, advice, and guidance. They utilise the local network of voluntary sector and professional organisations to signpost parents and carers towards additional support

LITTLE
GILLIES

The Enchanted Journey of Light is on sale now. BOOK HERE

If you want to do the Enchanted Journey and see Father Christmas please book through our Santa’s Magical Journey Page.

Those who needing an essential companion to accompany them, please check our Access Statement for eligibility criteria: https://www.thursford.com/access-statement/ and then call the Box Office on 01328 878477.

Christmas Spectacular ticket holders wishing to visit the Enchanted Journey of Light please see Access to the Enchanted Journey of Light 2024 on our Christmas pages.

Ticket prices are £23 for Adults and Children

Ages 2 and under free

Please note, complimentary tickets for the Thursford Collection cannot be used for this event. 

If you are Christmas Spectacular ticket holder please refer to our Christmas Spectacular page ‘Access to the Enchanted Journey of Light 2024’

For those who require an essential companion to accompany them, please check our Access Statement for eligibility criteria: https://www.thursford.com/access-statement/ 

29th November 15:15 – 20:00

4th/5th/11th/12th/16th/17th/18th December, 15:15 – 20:00

7th/8th/14th/15th/19th – 23rd December, 17:15 – 20:00

24th December, 15:15pm – 18:00pm

Opening times are from 15:15 on days when Santa’s Magical Journey isn’t running. 

When Santa’s Magical Journey is running times start from 17:15

If you want to do the Enchanted Journey and see Father Christmas please book through our Santa’s Magical Journey Page.

If you are a Christmas Spectacular ticket holder please refer to our Christmas Spectacular page and the section headed  ‘Access to Enchanted Journey of Light 2024’.

FAQS FOR ENCHANTED JOURNEY OF LIGHT  

 

The Enchanted Journey of Light

You enter the Fantasy Land building and walk along Christmassy scenes of polar bears and magical figures, of elves at work in Santa’s grotto, to the present wrapping machine. There is an opportunity to pause and grab a bite to eat in the Fantasy Land cafeteria, before going outdoors to the top meadow to see our Lantern Light Extravaganza, which is even bigger each year.

After this you might wish to stop at the Funfair (rides are not included in the price of the Enchanted Journey ticket and is run independently of Thursford).

Accessibility

Thursford is fully accessible; for full details see our Access Statement here.

Age range

  • There is no maximum age for the Enchanted Journey of Light.
  • Children aged 2 and under enter free of charge but must have a ticket booked for them.

Armed Forces Covenant

Thursford Enterprises are signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant, as such we offer regulars, reservists, veterans and their immediate military families a 10% discount on The Christmas Spectacular, Enchanted Journey of Light and Santa’s Magical Journey.

Eligibility: The discounted tickets for all events must be booked via the Box Office on 01328 878477, our phonelines are open Monday to Friday 09:00 – 16:00. If the tickets are booked on line, we are sorry, but we cannot add the discount.

To confirm eligibility for the 10% discount, Thursford will need to receive a copy of the Defence Discount Service card at the time of booking (Christmas Spectacular, Santa’s Magical Journey & the Enchanted Journey of Light)

In the event of cancellation, tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable. However, in the event the service person is posted at short notice either overseas or to an area outside the service provision we will refund the tickets if necessary. This is providing we are informed as soon as you are notified of any change of circumstances (so that we have an opportunity to resell the tickets). Prior to giving any refund we will need evidence of the posting and will accept the original call up letter with any sensitive information blocked out.

N.B By ‘Immediate’ we mean card holder, their partner and children. 

 Arrival

  • Please be sure to turn up at the time printed on your ticket, latecomers cannot be guaranteed entry.
  • When you arrive at the event your tickets will be checked, so please have them ready.

Booking

  • Tickets can be purchased via the relevant booking links.
  • Tickets cannot be bought on the day.
  • Adding an extra ticket – we can always add an extra ticket to an existing booking, please call the Box Office on 01328 878477 as this cannot be done online. We will need to refer to your original booking so please have the booking reference number handy.

 

Booking On Line / Web Account

  • Existing account: If you are an existing user, go into But Tickets click on the blue figure in the top right-hand corner, enter your e mail address and password.
  • New Account: If you are a new customer select your tickets etc and then enter your details in the boxes then at the bottom of the page, click on Register.
  • Passwords: If you have forgotten your password, go into Book Online, click on the blue person, you can reset your password via the pop-up box. Click on this link to reset your password. Once the link comes though, ignore the code box and enter a new password twice, click Continue, enter the new password again and then click on Log in.
  • Your password should be made up of letters and numbers and whilst there is no requirement to include a symbol, the following are accepted:  @ $ ! – % _* # ? &

 

Booking Protection – XCover

  • XCover also known as refund protection covers your tickets so you can apply for a refund should you or anyone in your party be unable to attend the event (subject to Terms & Conditions being fulfilled).
  • Refund protection is provided via a third-party company called XCover.com.
  • Refund protection must be added at the time of booking and cannot be added once the booking has been paid.
  • There is a 14-day cooling off period for this cover, so if you decide within the 14 days that the cover it is not for you, please call the Office on 01328 878477 and we will refund the payment to the original card.
  • Outside this time frame we cannot action any refunds for the cover. For full Terms & Conditions or to make a claim please click here.

 Cancellation

  • Tickets to the event are advertised and sold as non-refundable and non-transferable, you agree to this at the time of booking.
  • Follow the link to see the Terms & Conditions of sale.
  • We suggest that you purchase refund protection provided by XCover at the time of booking to cover you in the event of unforeseen circumstances, please read their  Terms & Conditions here. Note that this cover cannot be added after the booking has been confirmed.

 

Collection Rides 

The Collection’s vintage rides (Carousel & Gondola) will not be running for the event.

Complaints

If you do have any complaints, please let us know on the day, there is always a manager on duty who can help. We would much rather that any issues are resolved on the day and both you and the children leave Thursford happy.

Dining

  • We have three catering facilities including the cafeteria in the Fantasy Land building which will be open. The cafeteria closes between 30 minutes and an hour after the last entry (this is dependent on demand).
  • We do not take any table reservations for our catering outlets as they are provided on a first come first serve basis. That said, you are highly likely to get a bite to eat as we are used to a high turnover of customers.
  • Special diets, we cater for gluten free, nut allergies, vegan etc. Please phone our office on 01328 878 477 to find out more.
  • Bringing your own food, we are sorry, but this is not possible, customers cannot consume their own food anywhere on the complex. An exception will be made for severe allergies and for other medical purposes providing it is agreed with a member of office staff prior to your visit. Please contact the office on 01328 878477 where we will be happy to assist.

 

 Duration

It very much depends on you, but we would suggest that it takes approximately 1 – 1.5 hours to complete.

Entry Time

  • The time slot that you have booked is the time that you must turn up to start the Enchanted Journey of Light.
  • If you fail to turn up on time, we cannot guarantee entry.
  • If you think you will be delayed, please call the Box Office so we can inform the team.

Essential Companion Tickets

  • At the time of booking essential companions are entitled to a discounted ticket where they are accompanying a person who requires an essential companion, this is subject to availability and eligibility criteria, see following:
  • Proof of eligibility must be provided of one of the following:
    • Attendance Allowance
    • PIPs/DLA at the higher / enhanced mobility rate
    • Blind Person’s Registration
    • Armed Forces Independence Payment
    • Nimbus Access Card with +1 symbol (the Thursford Digital Pass will be accepted from 2025)
  • These tickets can only be booked by calling the Box Office on 01328 878477.
  • If tickets are not booked via the Box Office essential carer discounts will not be added retrospectively.

Note for 2025 season: As we endeavour to improve the booking experience for those who need an essential companion, for 2025 we will be partnering with Nimbus Disability and the Access card as the only form of evidence that we will require to book an essential companion ticket. We will update in advance of the 2025 season, in the meantime for more information please see: https://www.accesscard.online/how-it-works/

Fun Fair

The Fun Fair operates independently of the Thursford events.

It only opens, when the Enchanted Journey of Light & Santa’s Magical Journey are for sale on line.

As the Fun fair operates independently of Thursford there are occasions when the owner operators will decide to close, whilst this is rare, it is outside of Thursford’s control and no refund will be given if the Fun Fair is not open at the time of your visit.

Location

  • We are well sign posted. Located 1 mile off the A148, halfway between Fakenham and Holt.
  • Turn off at the Crawfish Inn Restaurant & Public House. Follow the brown and white tourist sign for the Thursford Collection.
  • If you are using a form of GPS, then please use our address/postcode or What3words:

Thursford Collection
Thursford
Fakenham
Norfolk
NR21 0AS

What3words: //guards.settle.enchanted

Lost Property

We will store any lost property that we find for 30 days after the date it was found. Thereafter we will donate all items to charity.

Our crew clean the auditorium and the Fantasy Land building every night and any items that are found are brought to the office in the morning.

 Parking

  • There is a large, free car park on site.
  • We have car park attendants to assist you on the day so if you need a disabled space or have another requirement.
  • If you need a disabled space (limited in number and cannot be pre-booked) please speak to the attendant as you enter the car park, and they will direct you to the most suitable space. Please note there are no facilities on the car park.
  • The car park is located on site and, depending on your ability will be roughly a 5-6 minute walk to reach the venue.

 Payment

  • Payment is preferred by debit or credit card. All our tills have card machine facilities.
  • Please note we do not accept American Express.

 Pets

Dogs / pets are not allowed beyond the car park, except for registered assistance animals.

 Photography

  • Photographs and / or video can be recorded along the journey, but not in Santa’s House as we offer professional photography packages.

Santa’s Magical Journey Event

Santa’s Magical Journey comprises of all the aspects of the Enchanted Journey of with the addition of a visit to see Santa and a gift for each (paying) child.  For further information or to book select Santa’s Magical Journey from the blue banner.

 

Shops

We have gift (e.g. Christmas Gift, Toys, Food) shops on site which will be open during your visit.

 Special Effects

There will be moderate flashing lights and sound effects, however no strobe lighting. Please contact us via [email protected] if you require any further information. On our Relaxed Day (see main website for this year’s date), sound and lighting will be adjusted as appropriate.

 Tickets

  • Tickets are emailed to the account address at the time of booking.
  • If you receive a confirmation, then you should have received the tickets. If you cannot see them in the first instance, check your spam / junk and deleted folders before contacting the office. The tickets are sent from a ‘Do not reply’ address so may well have been automatically discarded.
  • Each visitor must have a ticket to enter the Enchanted Journey of Light, and we will not accept a confirmation e mail in place of the authorised tickets.
  • Tickets must also be booked for children aged 2 and under who enter FOC.
  • Whilst you do not need to print off your tickets, we must be able to scan the bar code on each one. Please ensure that you download them before you arrive or take a screen shot of each one before you arrive as the WiFi signal is not strong at Thursford.

 Venue

The event is experienced both inside the Fantasy Land building and outside in the high meadow (wide, secure walkways provided), please wear appropriate clothing for the prevailing weather as the event will not be cancelled if it is raining or snowing.

Walking aid/ mobility scooter/ wheelchair / pushchairs

You are very welcome to bring these with you, Thursford is fully accessible. The outdoor exhibits will have matting over any grass areas.

Weather

  • Please come dressed for the weather (rain and cold) and wrap up warm with suitable footwear.

High Winds

  • The Enchanted Journey of Light will not be cancelled if there is rain or snow, the only time we foresee having to cancel (or suspend) the experience is in the event of high winds which would make it unsafe for employees or customers to traverse the external section of the experience.
  • If there are 48mph+ warnings for high winds in this part of Norfolk, please check our social media channels – Facebook and Instagram and our website (which will be updated as necessary throughout the day.
  • If it is closed we will offer a refund (less transaction fee and insurance premiums) or an opportunity to return during the current season. Tickets cannot be carried over to the subsequent year.

Fun Fair

As the Fun Fair is not included in the price of the Enchanted Journey of Light and operates independently of Thursford events, if the operator judges it best to close for the safety of their employees and and visitors, no refunds will be given if it is not open during your visit.

Wheelchair Hire

Sorry, we do not have any wheelchairs for hire.

The journey is suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs.

Please note we do not supply wheelchairs for our events.

Please click on the link to view our Access Statement: https://www.thursford.com/access-statement/

Photography and recording is allowed during all parts of the experience.  Photography and recording during the event is only allowed if it does not hold up other visitors on their journey, if this does happen, we reserve the right to stop photographs and recording to enable free flow of visitors.

The Enchanted Journey of Light

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