Magic Alley

We visited the Crystal Kingdom yesterday with our 3 children, ages 7, 8 and 10. All 3 children were given age appropriate quests which is such a good idea, keeps them entertained moving through the attraction whilst waiting to meet Father Christmas. Plenty of characters in the attraction too to help them complete their quests. My children were so quiet meeting Father Christmas which means he is suitably impressive, I think he is the real deal! Everyone received a gift and all were very pleased with their selections. Throughout the attraction, it was so beautifully decorated, we can see the team have worked so incredibly hard to put this together. Thank you from The Dowlers for such a lovely time.

We took our 10, 8 and 5 year olds to do the Pirate puzzle adventure, we booked online for later that day. The kids and adults had a great time, and the puzzles were aimed well for the older 2, we spent just over an hour there. Highly recommended. Our youngest has additional needs and the lady who ran the shop was brilliant with him 😀

Last Friday (22nd December, 2023), we had the absolute pleasure of fulfilling a long-held dream by visiting the enchanting Magic Alley in Stratford upon Avon for their 'Christmas in the Crystal Kingdom' extravaganza. Describing the sheer wonder of our journey from start to finish is a challenge, but it was nothing short of extraordinary. It was a truly enchanting experience for the children, and the interactivity throughout was a delight. To preserve the surprises that make this adventure special, I won't divulge all the enchanting details in this review, but I can assure you it was nothing less than awe-inspiring. The experience offers three distinct 'quests' tailored to different age groups of children. Our eldest, Max (8), was in his element, exploring meticulously decorated rooms, solving puzzles, cracking riddles, decoding pictures, and discovering hidden letters. It's a unique experience unlike anything we've encountered before, and Max has already insisted that it must become a yearly tradition! I would recommend that children are proficient in reading and writing to fully enjoy this interactive adventure. Max felt so grown-up, tackling each puzzle independently, while Mia (7), who faces several hidden disabilities (she's non-verbal, severely autistic, has sensory processing disorder, hypermobility, and more), excelled with my assistance, and Holly (3) simply reveled in every room ️. Every character we encountered along the way was a delight - friendly, astonishingly helpful, and deeply engaged with the children. Their costumes were utterly charming, and there were endless opportunities for capturing precious family photos. And then, the pinnacle of our journey, meeting Santa and his elf helper, was an experience beyond words. Undoubtedly one of the most remarkable grottos with the most realistic Santas we've ever had the privilege of encountering. The children were utterly captivated. To Sam Jenkins and the entire team at Magic Alley, you are all truly exceptional. Your unwavering dedication transformed this into a magical experience, and every detail left us in sheer amazement. 'Christmas In The Crystal Kingdom' was a masterpiece, from the very beginning to the grand finale. I can't recommend it highly enough. I also thoroughly enjoyed perusing the charming shop both before and after our adventure. If you haven't had the chance to visit this year, make sure to mark your calendars for Christmas 2024 when tickets become available. It's an absolute must! We had an absolute blast!

We went to the After Dark adults murder mystery event last night. Our first time attending. Magic alley itself is a lovely shop with all sorts of different wonderful delights. We had a fantastic time, the staff are all so lovely and friendly. I don’t want to spoil it or give too much away but the whole experience was great fun. I highly recommend it and we are looking forward to the next one. Thank you 😊

One of my young 'uns has just got into Harry Potter, and we noticed this place when flicking through Google. Place feels nice and magical when you enter and the shop itself was nice, but that's about it... unfortunately, we didn't experience their current event as it starts the week after we were there. (Different term dates in the area it appears!)

What a 'Magical' family time.! From the very start we were greeted by the most happy Eleves and then assisted by the Fantastic Derek, whom was amazing with the children but yet had time for us adults (putting me on the naughty list🤣) the snow ball fight was brilliant as were the challenges set in the rooms. They went out of their way to help with my disabilities.....thank you all so much for the support. Highly recommended 👌

This place is AMAZING. The staff are awesome (and I mean ALL of them) we were made welcome from the second we got in and we really had a fabulous experience. By far THE BEST Christmas/Santa experience we have ever. My husband (good old Ebenezer) even said book that again as soon as it comes out next year. So so magical. Thank you all for giving us the best memories ever, such a special experience 💖