The Gruffalo & Friends Clubhouse
- Jennifer Kozyra
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 12 hours ago
If your little ones are fans of The Gruffalo and Julia Donaldson’s other beloved stories, then The Gruffalo & Friends Clubhouse in Blackpool is a must-visit. This indoor play attraction right on the seafront brings your favourite storybook characters to life in an imaginative play setting, but be warned it can get busy.
Top Info
📅 Open daily
⏰ 9:30 am – 5:30 pm (last entry 3:30 pm)
⏰ Each play session lasts 90 minutes
☕ Woodland Cafe on site
🐻 Meet and Greet characters
📚 Shows and story time
🎟 General admission tickets start from £4.50 per adult & £13.50 per child.
💰 Free entry for carers
🧒 Recommended for children under 10
⚠ Gets busy during school holidays
💰 Cashless attraction
🪑 Plenty of seating
♿ Some of the facilities and play structures have been designed to be accessible for guests with reduced mobility
😃 The Gruffalo's Child Sensory Room is available upon request
♿ Accessible bathroom with changing facilities
👶 Baby changing facilities
🌎 Promenade, Blackpool, FY1 5AA (Next to SEA LIFE)
🌟 Merlin Annual Passholders can buy tickets at a reduced rate of £4.50 per adult and £4.50 per child
Book Here
Getting there
🚉 Via Train
The nearest train station to the centre is Blackpool North located on Talbot Road, approximately 0.8 miles away.
🚗 Parking
I used South King Car Park which is only a 5-7 mins walk to Blackpool Tower
70 Charnley Rd, Blackpool FY1 4AX
Step inside
As soon as you step inside, you’re transported to the Deep Dark Wood, filled with climbing frames, rope bridges, and colourful slides. In the wood, you’ll spot familiar faces: Snake, Owl, Fox, Mouse and of course, the Gruffalo himself.
But it isn’t just the Gruffalo! The Clubhouse also features themed play zones inspired by other Julia Donaldson favourites:
Room on the Broom Toddler Play: is for younger visitors (under 0.9m) and is a gated and padded area with soft play elements.
The Snail and the Whale: A huge ball pit that feels like diving into the ocean.
Zog’s Castle: A multi-level castle-themed soft play with tunnels and slides for bigger kids.
The Deep Dark Wood (Gruffalo Zone): The main event! A climbing, sliding, exploring paradise with bridges and multi-level soft play that kids could easily spend the whole 90 minutes in.
Shows & Storytime
Round a corner from the play areas you’ll find a small theatre space with a stage and seating. Throughout the day, families can enjoy:
• The Gruffalo’s Dance Party
• Storytime Sessions
• Zog’s Show
These interactive performances run every 30 minutes, breaking up the playtime with a little magic and entertainment. The Gruffalo Dance party is very lively, with the children getting up the dance to loud pop songs, with the finale being the Gruffalo coming out to join them on the stage. The story time is much more relaxed and quiet, with a member of staff reading a giant Gruffalo story book.
Meet & Greets
Another highlight is the chance to meet the characters. During your session, the Gruffalo, Zog, and the Witch from Room on the Broom appear for photo opportunities. Do note that photos must be purchased from the venue’s professional photographers, personal photos aren’t allowed during meet & greets so these can soon add up especially at £13 a photo.
Woodland Cafe
The Woodland Cafe serves hot and cold drinks along with sandwiches, cakes and snacks. It’s a handy spot to grab a coffee while the kids play but i would suggest not stopping for lunch simply as this would eat into your limited 90 minutes of play time.
⭐ Final Thoughts
It is a well designed, fun, themed attraction that’s perfect for Gruffalo fans and younger adventurers, especially on a rainy Blackpool day! The play areas are actually really good with a choice of both soft play and adventure play. Even with out the Gruffalo theming it would still be a good place to visit for an indoor play area. My daughter is 10 so at the very top age when we visiting and she still found the equipment fun, i just wish i had visited when she was smaller.
The price is quiet reasonable too from £4.50, on quiet days you aren't restricted to 90 minutes so if visiting during term time it's even better.
Visit August 2025