The Forbidden Corner
The Forbidden Corner
4.5
12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Monday
12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Friday
12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
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  • David Hirst
    United Kingdom19 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A must-visit for families
    Bonkers. One of the most amazing and surreal family attractions we’ve been to. Every time we thought ‘this must be it’ there was more around the corner. £54 for a family ticket was brilliant value given how much entertainment was had. The gift shop was also very reasonably priced.
    Visited April 2023
    Written 5 April 2023
  • YJ10
    Ayr, United Kingdom35 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wonderfully quirky
    Brilliant day out, the kids loved it (our second visit) and even though it was busy on the day we went, we didn't feel like we were rushed or missed out on anything. We all enjoyed the fact that staff just leave you to it and you can explore the place on your own. Beautiful location as well. Would highly recommend as a quirky day out!
    Visited April 2023
    Written 6 April 2023
  • Megan H
    6 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nothing like it!
    So much fun! I came here a few times as a child (back in early 00s) and then decided to take my partner this month. Most has stayed the same (to my delight!) but there have been a few welcome additions. What I love most about this place is that it is great for all ages! Many places like this are for children only or adults with children which, as a child free couple, is a shame. I saw couples in their 60s and 70s enjoying this just as much, if not more, than the children! We particularly loved the underground area which inspired a lot of dreams I had as a child.
    Visited April 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 6 April 2023
  • Emily H
    York, United Kingdom13 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Exceptionally fun
    10/10 experience. We've been before but we took our 10 year old cousins with us for the first time. They absolutely loved it, and said it was the best thing they did all week. The adults of the group also loved it (maybe even more than the kids 😂)
    Visited April 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 9 April 2023
  • Merecat63
    Manchester, United Kingdom41 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Amazing day out
    If you haven't been to The Forbidden Corner, quite simply, GO. It is a truly amazing place crafted to the highest detail. We took our grandkids 13 and 8 years old and they both loved it. It made the nearly 2.5 hour drive from Manchester all worth it.
    Visited April 2023
    Written 15 April 2023
  • SueP
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Bonkers!!
    Went for a short break with my bestie. It was brilliant. As others have mentioned, our 40 minute Taxi drive from Northallerton took us through breathtakingly villages and Countryside (shout out to "Nobby" our taxi driver, who was ace, and a wealth of information). On arrival we were able to leave our bags with the friendly staff in reception. A slightly unfriendly encounter with another staff member in the gift shop (who also operated the turnstile at opening time and was equally grumpy) and we were off! The grounds are beautiful, but be aware, paths can be uneven, some passages are narrow and underground and stairs can be a tight squeeze. It really is great for all ages though two little tots we encountered found it a bit too scary, and were quite tearful. I wasn't far behind them at times - had a few frights, lol! It's easy to miss lots if you aren't paying attention and don't have a map (free at entry). I loved the walled garden in particular which was a lovely space to relax and chill at the end of your adventures. Be prepared to get wet and to laugh a lot. Afterwards we retreated to the bar and spent a relaxing few hours enjoying a bottle of wine. Staff in the bar and restaurant were first rate - attentive but never intrusive. We were fortunate enough to stay the night. The guest accommodation was spotless, very comfortable and well appointed (but could do with a shelf or hook in the fabulously roomy shower anywhere to put the lovely toiletries provided). Would have loved to have had more time here. Thoroughly enjoyed our stay. No phone signal so you can truly relax while you're there (tho there is a working telephone landline on site, so not an issue if you need to make a call. Would definitely recommend.
    Visited May 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 6 May 2023
  • SBY
    29 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Bonkers but brilliant
    What an amazing place! We weren't sure what to expect, but we absolutely loved it. Even on a soggy rainy day, it was brilliant. The tunnels are so much fun, a little bit scary in places, and quite bonkers!
    Visited May 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 11 May 2023
  • nurse1980
    Lancashire, United Kingdom276 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A great day out
    A great day out. A strange but nice place. Plenty to keep everyone occupied. Good idea that numbers are limited on a time slot but once in there, you can spend as long as you like wandering around. Our Grandson loved it. Gift shop and restaurant fairly priced which makes a refreshing change in a tourist attraction. Will definitely visit again.
    Visited May 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 13 May 2023
  • Richard woodward
    Calverton, United Kingdom4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great day out!
    We had a fantastic experience here. We discovered it completely by accident whilst browsing the Internet & it was well worth the two hour drive. Before entry we visited the cafe, the service was great & the food was delicious & reasonably priced. We then entered the main attraction & were impressed that it kept both kids & adults entertained. Everything is clean, well maintained & well thought out. Will definitely be recommending it to friends and family in future.
    Visited May 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 26 May 2023
  • Donna G
    7 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great Place for the kids
    what a beautiful place, clean lots of areas to keep our 8 year olds entertained! and at the end a lovely ice-cream and coffee shop and park. we spent the afternoon there and we didn't even see it all.
    Visited May 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 10 June 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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4.5
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Excellent
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LondonLover99
Essex, UK227 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Family
Absolutely FANTASTIC!!!
Cannot recommend this place enough!
We loved it!
Daughter (8) was enthralled; we stayed all day,
They are very strict about not letting you in until your exact slot time.
Written 3 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Helen G
1 contribution
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Family
The mixed bag of exhibits ruined our visit. Wow... this place has no idea who their audience is.. There were no warnings up about the exhibits (pictured) and they aren't avoidable, unless you miss out half of what there is to see there, you pretty much have to pass this stuff.

They have a woodchipper/mincer set up with a womans body being shoved through it, with a heap of minced gutts hanging out the other end in a section titled 'cannibal camp'?! What?!. There is also a body shaped object wrapped up in bin bags with tape, just lying in the woods, how fun! another totally crap and tone deaf 'exhibit'.

On your website you have a 'Schools Educational resource pack' also 'wow'

The website reads 'This is a day out with a difference which will challenge and delight adults and children of all ages'

'Children of all ages'... yeeeeep. Cheers for showing my 5 and 8 yr old what a minced body looks like.. nice one!

When you market a venue for families, we shouldn't have to ask if its suitable for families. The marketing makes no sense. I'm amazed at the arrogance of the other site responses here, telling families they can check up before they visit?!

Hidden in the FAQ's there is a line there about some of the exhibits being scary. Thats a ridiculous place to hide such a causal warning. Try putting a warning on the main page of your site and a decent sized sign at the entrance, its standard stuff.

Written 30 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Helen Congratulations on your first-ever TA review and sorry were not the place for you. We clearly advertise as best as possible our Halloween events with lots of pictures that ran from the 21st October – 5th November. So thanks for writing this 25 days after it could have happened. The items in question are just a very small part of Halloween celebrations and are only there during the period stipulated. The body mentioned is NOT a woman’s body it is just a pair of lifelike mannequin legs. We invest heavily in Halloween and lots of spooky things … and welcome over 10,000 customers during this period and have only received one complaint on a public review!! We had many families visiting who thoroughly enjoyed their time and have received so many compliments with many stating it was the best year ever. Our staff put tireless hours of work into the attraction during this time and most things are bespoke made and not " Off the shelf" We have staff on hand and patrolling the gardens to help people out and DO have a board at the entrance with a warning as well as the FAQs section on the website, again apologies if you have missed all of this. Asking a member of staff or talking to someone on the day seems to be “standard Stuff” to us. Schools usually visit during term time due to children being on holiday at normal times however we do In actual fact we have a large primary school group aged from 5- 11 years old that come specifically at Halloween to see the spooky and scary one-off additions for the period. …. As you will see this is a resource solely aimed at schools and is KS1 and KS2 accredited. As we clearly state “ The Strangest place in the World and a day with a difference” we would always suggest people research before booking either via the website, email, Facebook or picking up the old-fashioned phone to ensure you have an enjoyable experience. Our staff are more than happy to help. Thanks again for your public review as TA which as TA States “Discover where to stay, what to do and where to eat based on guidance”
Written 1 December 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Neha B
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Family
It was very good. kids enjoyed walking down the tunnels and narrow space and there was a good cafe for coffee.. we all had great fun.
Written 27 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mick C
Ribchester, UK11 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2023 • Family
Excellent value for money. Kids will have a great time. Lots of unexpected underground areas and also water surprises. Best hotdogs I’ve ever had inside the attraction and a great cafe next to the entrance/exit.
We didn’t know what to expect on arrival but we all really enjoyed the day.
Written 26 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Andrew W
Caythorpe, UK100 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Couples
We've had this on our wish list for a few years, ever since we picked up a leaflet somewhere long ago.
Finally got an opportunity to go this Halloween weekend year and it didn't disappoint.

It's a fantastic place. Quirky and imaginative with surprises around every corner.
We thought we knew what to expect from the brochure but the reality was way better.
Written 19 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

dianne m
manchester481 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Friends
Definitely a one-off, we really enjoyed this place. We got lost about a hundred times and got wet about a hundred times (take a towel or wear waterproofs). All done up for halloween there were plenty of frights and special effects, wonderful stuff. The issue was litter, there was too much of it, some of it quite unsavoury. Additionally, the long hot dog sausages were all smoked, unsmoked ones would have been acceptable.
Written 30 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hiu thanks for the review ... The Hot Dog shack is a new addition this year and only been opened for a short time ... We do advertise " Hickory Smoked" and have sold so many with positive reviews but take your comments onboard. Luckily we have many many options avail;able for the hungry traveller Kindest The Fc Team
Written 2 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Martin P
Watford, UK131 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Couples
This is a strange one and something I have never experienced before.

I would say it is aimed at youngish children rather than adults. It would have been nice to have some information boards dotted around explain architecture, history etc. of the place.

I do not want to go into details, as I do not want to spoil it. I think it is best if you go in, like we did, NOT knowing anything about it. Just explore and enjoy.

I think it is a little on the pricey side, for what it is, but it is still well worth a visit.
Written 30 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Many thanks for the review, Due to the cost of living and the Hospitality Crisis, we have had to increase prices and in addition, feel we are in line with other attractions locally. So pleased you had a good time and feel its well worth a visit Kindest The FC
Written 2 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

MissEm74
Sunderland, UK51 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Family
We have been visiting Forbidden Corner for a number of years now, and it’s slowly changed over that time.

The place itself is unique with a lot of twists and turns and secret doorways, passages and underground tunnels. Which we love.

We’ve just visited for Halloween and the extra decorations really add an extra touch to the already unique area.

The let downs however are the staff, mostly working in the cafe. They seem very young, uninterested and just have no social interaction whatsoever. The young lady working on the till Saturday (28th) could not even crack a smile when serving us. I work in hospitality myself and a smile with a polite greeting goes a long way, it’s basic training.

The cafe provides a wide range of food with a variety of prices. The miserable young lady had overcharged us which we hadn’t realised until after.

Some of the areas aren’t suitable for younger children, for example the Mausoleum. It’s dark with loud bangs and coffins etc, although it’s a fun experience for adults the area after the mausoleum which leads you back into the park, is also the back of the kitchens, the staff doors were left open so we could see what looked like oil buckets, mops etc which is not something you want to see on a family day out. It takes it away from the aesthetic of the place.

We have returned many times here so we have managed to navigate ourselves around the different areas, we believe that we have fully explored it all so we would return again further in the future if there’s any new developments added.

Written 29 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Many thanks for your review, Glad you had a good visit and have seen the investment we are putting back into The Forbidden Corner and also the local economy. We do employ a lot of seasonal workers and school/college people in the attraction but can assure you we have a strong management team available and on hand for any issues or for customers to talk to us. In addition, we do provide a full training schedule for the staff.. As you can appreciate with sickness and unplanned days off the show has to go on!! and we are employing all the time so to provide customer service training when we could be serving 4000 customers a week is a challenge when we have the statutory and legal training to do as per law. We do conduct customer training at various periods of the year.. And your comments have been noted. Sometimes instead of talking to us and taking a public view this can upset and hurt members of staff of all ages and takes us then lots of time to console and investigate the matters. The route at the back of the kitchen is part of The Saddle Room Restaurant and is not really the attraction as is a cut-through route to get you back and has no attraction features.. . . Apologies if a door has been left open but please appreciate as you have worked in hospitality that we have been dealing with an extra week of school and back-to-back weddings and over 700 diners these things may happen ... ! And yes there is storage areas .... We feel that out of 4 acres a 20ft stretch of walkway that happened to have a door open is not a feature that would spoil a visit. However, your comments have been noted Many thanks The FC Team
Written 2 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Carl
8 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Family
A really strange but wonderful place to visit. However would not advise for pushchairs or anyone with mobility issues as you will struggle to get the full experience. Parking was free, cafe reasonably priced and gift shop had a great selection of products. One critism was the lady on the entrance window to the attraction itself was not friendly at all we went on 26 Oct she could see we were struggling to get signal to access our online tickets but didn't offer to help until I asked then she was able to look up the surname and give us access. She then presumed we were taking a picnic in because we had a bag (which contained drinks, my daughters ear defenders (autistic with sensory processing difficulties) and a towel for drying off play equipment as it was a rainy day) and told us we couldn't take picnics in we informed her that we didn't have a picnic and had infact just eaten in their cafe. I thought this was a bit of an assumption to make and she was rude imo about how she addressed us. Generally she was just throughly miserable sorry to say not a someone suited a to a customer facing role. All other staff we came into contact with were really lovely and helpful 😊. Definitely worth a visit but have your online tickets at the ready or printed and what ever you do do not take a picnic lol
Written 27 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

cpw-mp
Sawbridgeworth, UK192 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Family
The Forbidden Corner was recommended by a couple of people with kids the same age as ours 9&11..

It was described to me as a bit like Alice in Wonderland, which is a decent description.

We visited at the end of October, so the spooky theme fit with the time of year.

I’m sure there is a set way that you could go round/through but there are so many different paths to take, you end up making your own way through the mazes, tunnels, gardens, castles and across stepping stones all whilst dodging the boobytrap water squirts and the sometimes macabre models.

All in all a good few hours of fun entertainment.
Written 27 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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The Forbidden Corner - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Frequently Asked Questions about The Forbidden Corner

The Forbidden Corner is open:
  • Sun - Sun 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
  • Mon - Sat 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm