Enchanted Park LewesOk it was the evening, not a night (a night sounded better). This week I had one of the most surreal experiences I think I’ve ever had when we were invited to visit an enchanted park by the people who transformed Buckingham Palace during the Diamond Jubilee by projecting terraced housing onto it.

This time they’ve worked their magic on Southover Grange Gardens in Lewes, East Sussex, where the 16th Century manor house is the focus of a series of weird and wacky light shows and projections as part of a magical after-dark festive tale.

In one of the displays a huge frog appears on the front of the house (pictured), and then literally hops towards the viewer as though jumping from an upstairs window. In another the house appears to fill with water from the inside and becomes an aquarium, mermaid and all.

Needless to say BB and Little B were transfixed, and I have to say Misery Guts and I were pretty spellbound too. I took a little video so you can see…

In the grounds of the park there were children swimming in the stream, eyes in the garden wall and the plants were lit up with a colourful display of lights which BB couldn’t resist running up and touching. We hadn’t done anything to mark the start of the festive season yet and this was a great way to get into the Christmas spirit as a family.

Tickets (£27 for us as a family of four, which I have to say I think was a bit pricey for the hour we spent there, but then I have no idea how much it costs to stage something like this) are booked in 15 minute slots but once inside the park you’re free to roam around at will for as long as you like.

We went back and forth (the house was our favourite bit) while BB loved making a Christmas wish by sticking a coin to a tree trunk with the help of lantern-clad actors who stage a silent display. Little B just loved everything.

The only annoying thing about the trip was that I found out afterwards I could have had a mug of mulled wine from the cafe’s serving hatch – that would have been just the job as we made our way around the park. Serves me right for not paying attention…

Enchanted Lewes: A Christmas Wish runs from Wednesday December 2 – Sunday December 13 2015 (with the exception of December 7 & 8) between 4.30pm and 8.30pm on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays and 4.30pm and 8.30pm on Fridays and Saturdays.
Tickets are £10 for adults, £7 for children (4-16) and children under four are free.
For full details including how to get there click here.

We were sent tickets to Southover Grange free of charge in exchange for this review. As always all opinions are my own and based on my own honest experience.

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