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If you're looking for a magical few hours out with your family, Fairytale Farm presents a charming option that combines adventure and enchantment. Nestled in the picturesque Oxfordshire countryside, this unique attraction provides an array of experiences for children.
Here's a comprehensive overview of what you can expect at Fairytale Farm, including its various themed areas, the experiences we loved, and a few aspects that might need improvement.
Disclaimer: I was kindly gifted tickets to visit Fairytale Farm. However, all opinions and views expressed in this review are entirely my own.
What is Fairytale Farm?
Fairytale Farm is a family-friendly farm attraction located in Oxfordshire, designed specifically to blend outdoor play and sensory experiences with a classic fairy tale theme. It features a variety of interactive zones, including a fairytale trail, animal encounters, and sensory gardens. Fairytale Farm prides itself on providing a truly inclusive experience, where everything is accessible and everybody is welcome. According to the farm's website, Fairytale Farm is the UK's first visitor attraction to put disabled children first in their design and layout.
The farm also hosts seasonal activities, including themed events during Easter, Halloween, and Christmas, offering an engaging and magical experience for visitors throughout the year.
What's at Fairytale Farm?
Fairytale Farm is divided into several themed areas, each offering something different for families to explore. Here's a quick rundown of the different zones you'll encounter:
Jack’s Yard
This is where the adventure begins. In Jack’s Yard, you can see Snow White’s Castle, Rabbit Burrow, the Wishing Well, and Mother Goose’s Garden Party. In Mouse Town, you can see a family of mice going about their daily business in a small indoor model village. Your children can have a go at milking Daisy the Cow, or have fun in the sand pit while you enjoy a coffee or an ice cream.
There's also a (very small) indoor play area, "Rapunzel's Kingdom.” It was so busy and the area so small, we skipped this area so don’t have any photos. But a photo of the indoor play area can be found on the Fairytale Farm website.
Enchanted Walk
Take a stroll along the Enchanted Walk, a sensory experience that invites visitors to engage all their senses—look, touch, smell, and listen. Along the way, you’ll encounter Fairytale Street, where traditional characters like Little Red Riding Hood and Goldilocks come to life in shed-like buildings.
The Mermaid Garden offers the chance to see a mermaid and her sea creature friends, who have plenty to say with the press of a button (not too sure about the mermaid with her hands across her naked chest though… anyway). As you continue, the Sensory Garden enchants with its vibrant plants and flowers, accompanied by the soothing sound of a golden mermaid fountain, and the playful fish darting through the waters. Meet The Extinct Band, a group of quirky, never-before-seen animals who invite you to listen to their music or even join in. For a larger-than-life memory, take a picture at The Giant’s Camera and email it to yourself as a keepsake.
Interactive fun continues with activity panels where children can explore time or test their skills with the rotating ball maze. There's also a small Niagara Falls Water Play. The fun doesn’t stop there—press the button on the Giant Party Poppers and hear them burst, or perform on the colourful Musical Chimes. Don’t forget to step inside the Musical House to discover if it’s a home or an instrument—it just might be both!
Fairy Dell
Step into the Fairy Dell, a new exciting adventure playground area that shrinks you down to the size of a fairy. This immersive space invites visitors to explore its whimsical features. From giant toadstools to raised walkways, crawl tunnels, climbing walls, and an embankment slide. The Giant Toadstool is the heart of the adventure—climb inside and explore its multiple levels, peering out through doorways and windows at ever-increasing heights.
Dino Valley
Dino Valley is a relatively new dinosaur-themed area. As you explore, watch the T-Rex as it moves toward you—can you tell if it's roaring or laughing? Keep an eye on the pond, where mysterious bubbles reveal a Water Dinosaur that might give you a splash! Don’t miss the colourful Big Bird, a fantastic photo opportunity. And for budding palaeontologists, the Dino Dig offers the chance to uncover some fossils.
Huff and Puff Adventure Playground
Burn off some energy at the Adventure Playground, where children can enjoy the play equipment. Race a rubber duck along the wacky waterway, powered by hand pumps, or climb the timber play structures. Jump aboard the combine harvester or explore the Storybook Castle climbing frame. There's also a Nest Swing and a wheelchair-accessible swing.
Alfie & Friends
See all the friendly animals up close, including Fairytale Farm's mascot, Alfie the Alpaca (This was a highlight of our day - more info below)! You can see other animals, such as Shetland ponies, pigs, goats, the Donkeys from the Brothers Grimm, chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs, sheep, peacocks, geese, ducks, and swans.
What We Loved:
One of the standout moments of our visit was meeting the alpacas. They were a big hit with the entire family. Elijah couldn't stop talking about them long after we left. The two members of staff with the alpacas were great. They were super friendly and knowledgeable. Elijah wasn't sure at first, but with the encouragement of the staff he even held the lead ropes and posed for a few photos. We thought that it was great that the alpaca meet-and-greet was included in the admission price, as at some farms, you can pay £5+ per person on top of the admission price for photos with the alpacas. Your children can also take part in rabbit and guinea pig petting.
The new wooden play area "Fairy Dell" was great! Elijah (...and his dad) had a blast, and it was perfect for burning off energy between animal encounters. The "Fairy Dell" and the other small play apparatus just past the small dinosaur area were lovely too. I just wish the playground with giant toadstools was on a much larger scale. I'd say the play areas are aimed at younger children though, probably under 8 years of age. There's nothing really challenging enough for older children. We'd love to see a few benches installed in the new "Fairy Dell" area though, as there is currently nowhere to sit and families were congregated at the bottom of the slides, which also blocked the underpass to the rest of the farm.
We enjoyed the interactive elements of the Enchanted Walk such as pressing the buttons in the Fairytale Street to see all the classic fairytale characters come to life as well as hearing the giant mermaid and her sea creature friends. The small water play area was also a hit with our little one.
What We Didn't Love As Much:
There is only one set of toilets, located by the entrance next to Rapunzel's Kingdom. When you're on the other side of the farm, near the animals, it can be inconvenient, especially if you have younger children. Having just two cubicles in the toilet (in the female toilets anyway) also meant it was really busy and people were queuing throughout the small soft play for them, which isn't ideal when families are already crowding in front of the small play area to watch their children as the few tables that are in there have all been taken up. Thankfully, it sounds like they're planning additional toilet facilities near the farm animals, which would be a huge improvement.
You could also only get hot food from the café at the entrance. Again, this is inconvenient when a lot of families want to sit at the picnic benches by the play area to eat. There is, however, a small kiosk next to the outdoor picnic area, but this only sold drinks and ice cream when we visited. We also found the café food expensive, and there was limited indoor seating in the café itself (just six small tables that were all taken up).
Another drawback is the size of the farm itself. It’s very small (possibly one of the smallest we’ve been to), and I did expect it to be bigger - especially, with all the lovely photos on the website. We did find it a bit cramped, and felt like we’d experienced the whole farm in two hours.
As well as this, while Fairytale Farm is marketed as fully accessible, we did encounter some challenges with our pushchair in certain areas. Navigating in and out of smaller, "shed-like" spaces, such as Mouse Town and Mother Goose’s Garden Party, proved tricky especially as it was busy too.
Creepy or Characterful?
The first thing that struck me about Fairytale Farm was its resemblance to Wonderland in Telford. The moment you walk in, you're greeted by fairytale characters and other sculptures scattered throughout the farm, bringing to life classic stories.
While Gloucestershire Live previously branded the farm as "creepy," we personally found it quite quirky and sort of old-worlde. I think some visitors to the farm expect modern fairytale characters, but this farm is more traditional.
However, I can see why some younger children may find the interactive fairytale creatures a little scary - but this really depends on your child and if they like things like that. And, although the farm suggests they have experiences for visitors of all ages, I personally think the farm is aimed at younger children under 8.
Final Thoughts: Would I recommend Fairytale Farm?
My views on Fairytale Farm are a little mixed. While it offers some fantastic activities like the alpaca meet-and-greet (they're such amazing animals), the new wooden play area, fun rubber duck racing (such a great idea), and interactive features in the Enchanted Walk, there are also drawbacks.
With little shelter for rainy days and general peak farm admission tickets currently priced at £10.84 per person (under 2s go free), I feel it's not quite worth the full price as we only spent just two hours there in total, including a lunch break. I'd be more inclined to visit again during one of their seasonal events (I've heard great things!), if I was already in the area or using it as a pit stop when travelling down south, or if the admission price was lowered slightly. Fairytale Farm is continuously updating the farm and adding new elements, so I can’t wait to see the improvements they make in the coming months!
Questions & Answers
What is Fairytale Farm?
Fairytale Farm is a family-friendly attraction, blending animals, play areas, and interactive displays based on classic fairy tales. It's designed to engage children of all abilities through a variety of experiences, from animal encounters to sensory play zones.
Where is Fairytale Farm located?
Fairytale Farm is located near Chipping Norton, in Oxfordshire. The full address is Fairytale Farm, Southcombe, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, OX7 5QH.
What can children do at Fairytale Farm?
Children can explore various themed areas like the Enchanted Walk, featuring displays, water play, and interactive exhibits. There are also farm animals to meet, adventure play areas, and seasonal activities. Highlights include Alfie and Friends (the animal zone), the Fairy Dell adventure playground, and Dino Valley.
Is Fairytale Farm wheelchair accessible?
Fairytale Farm is designed to be accessible for children and adults of all abilities. However, some areas, such as the small "shed-like" spaces in Mouse Town and Mother Goose’s Garden Party, we found difficult to navigate with a pushchair when it was busy.
How long does a visit to Fairytale Farm typically last?
Fairytale Farm suggests that a typical visit should last around three to four hours. We spent just over two hours at the attraction. I wouldn't say it's necessarily a full-day attraction.
What is the admission price for Fairytale Farm?
Ticket prices depend on whether you're planning to visit on-peak or off-peak dates. General farm admission tickets for weekends and school term dates are currently priced at £10.84 per person, with free entry for children under 2. Carers go free (maximum one carer per disabled visitor, evidence of disability required). If you book online you receive a 10% discount which makes the cost £10.84pp plus booking fee, compared to the on-the-gate prices.
Is Fairytale Farm a full day out?
Fairytale Farm isn’t necessarily a full-day attraction. Most families spend around two to three hours there. However, seasonal events and special activities might extend your visit.
Are there any seasonal events at Fairytale Farm?
Yes! Fairytale Farm hosts various seasonal events, such as Halloween, Christmas, and Easter-themed activities, which add extra magic to your visit and may be worth planning around.
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