Lilidorei Play Village

on this page

Markets

Buildings & places
Location

Alnwick Gardens, Alnwick Northumberland, UK
Client

Alnwick Garden trust
Collaborators

Ryder, Galliford Try, Cundall, Sustain Landscapes, AXOIM, Southby Productions
Completion date

May 2023

Charlie Aviston

Senior Quantity Surveyor, Newcastle, UK contact form

Creating the world’s biggest timber play structure.

How do you create a magical children’s adventure attraction, set it in a forest of 1,507 Nordic Christmas trees and incorporate the world’s largest timber play structure? That was the challenge facing AtkinsRéalis and the rest of the talented project team for the Lilidorei play village.

Lilidorei is set in several acres of the Alnwick Garden, adjacent to Alnwick Castle in Northumberland. Jane Percy, Duchess of Northumberland, had already spearheaded the garden renovation but she also had a long-held ambition for a unique children’s project.

A very diverse team of experts was needed to turn this vision into reality, crafting a £16.5m highly customized project. AtkinsRéalis provided project and cost management, guiding Lilidorei play village toward its May 2023 launch.

A practical yet inventive approach was needed to ensure Lilidorei's timely and cost-effective completion. Facing financial constraints, our project and cost management team had to innovate and think creatively to devise solutions that maintained the quality of the visitor experience.

The continually evolving brief meant that the client, Alnwick Garden Trust, needed maximum control and flexibility. We supported them with the selection of a construction management procurement route, helping them understand and mitigate the levels of risk involved with such an unprecedented project.

Further complexities included the integration of non-construction-related organizations, such as the multiple specialist contractors for the lighting, sound, feature building and playground, as well as the broadcast company who filmed the creation of Lilidorei.

Lilidorei has a story arc centered on nine clans and their Christmas adventures. The themed attraction features towers, adventure pathways, tunnel slides, and roofed and elevated structures. The site is set within a newly-planted forest and is designed to inspire children’s imagination, enhancing their play experience via immersive soundscapes, feature lighting and interactive storytelling. The project was partially funded by the UK and Scottish governments’ Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal, has created 50 new jobs and will be a year-round destination for the region. In its first six months, Lilidorei welcomed over 160,000 visitors, catalyzing a significant transformation in Alnwick’s winter visitor economy.

To foster social inclusion by giving every local child a chance to experience Lilidorei, a 'Free Friday' program offers complimentary access for Northumberland primary schools.

The world's tallest play structure with a timber frame

Watch the construction of Lilidorei, a magical play and adventure village located within the stunning Alnwick Gardens

jobs created in Alnwick Gardens

local contractors used

1,507

Nordic Christmas trees planted

£ 500 k

of scope enhancements achieved within original budget

160 k

visitors in first 6 months

Lilidorei Play Village

The magical children’s adventure attraction is set it in a forest of 1,507 Nordic Christmas trees.

Lilidorei is set in several acres of the Alnwick Garden, adjacent to Alnwick Castle in Northumberland.

The world’s biggest timber play structure.

“AtkinsRéalis joined our project at the very outset and has been with us through to the very end. Their cost and project management experience and skills have been critical to the successful completion of the project.

“Lilidorei is the vision of The Duchess of Northumberland and, being a unique development within The Alnwick Garden, was always going to be a complex project. During this time, we met unforeseen difficulties in the form of Covid, soaring inflation and higher interest rates. Each one of these factors proved to be a significant challenge to each and every one of us, but the negative impact on the project was massive.

“The AtkinsRéalis team played a critical role in ensuring we reached completion, allowing the attraction to open to the public at the earliest opportunity. Visitor numbers and feedback have been tremendous. Immediately after opening, a significant increase in the activity of the hospitality sector was noticed and this is a welcomed benefit to the wider economy.”