Make like Alice and discover your very own wonderland right here in the UK
FANS of Disney’s Alice through the Looking Glass don’t need to fall through a a rabbit hole to stumble upon wonderland.
Discover the weird and wonderful places the UK has to offer
The UK has some of its very own weird and wonderful places to be found this summer - and you never know, you might meet the Mad Hatter along the way.
From exploring the Lost Gardens of Heligan in Cornwall to discovering Margate’s enchanting underground Shell Grotto, you don’t have to travel far to find hidden worlds on your doorstep.
Visit England has compiled a list which they hope will encourage Alice through the Looking Glass to create their own fairy-tale experience this summer.
Take in the wonder-land of Shanklin Chine, Isle of Wight
Explore the route from Shanklin Old Village to the sandy beach and esplanade far below, and see The Isle of Wight’s oldest attraction Shanklin Chine carved over the course of 10,000 years. For a truly magical experience see Chine Lumiere at night across the summer where hundreds of lights will illuminate the narrow paths, streams and waterfalls of the gorge making a spectacular for all those who visit.
Shanklin Cine and Puzzlewood
The dramatic quarry at Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens, Northumberland
The beautiful Belay Hall holds hidden secrets in its dramatic quarry garden, complete with ravines, pinnacles and exotic plants. Seasonal trees, shrubs and flowers ensure brilliant colour throughout the year.
Discover the magic of Puzzlewood in the enchanting Forest of Dean
Get lost in the unique and enchanting 14 acre ancient wonderland of Puzzle Wood in the Forest of Dean - a maze of meandering pathways, galleys of mossy rocks, twisted roots of yew trees and fantastic rock formations. Reputed to have inspired JRE Tolkien’s fabled forests of Middle Earth and used as a location for Dr Who, Merlin and Atlantis, it’s a wood unlike any other.
A garden delight, Acorn Bank, Cumbria
Best known for its incredible herb garden with more than 250 varieties of herbs, vegetable patches and traditional fruit orchards, Acorn Bank would make the perfect setting for a Mad Hatters Tea Party. Wander along the Crowdundle Beck to the partially restored watermill, enjoying wildlife in the woods on the way, and discover more about the history of gypsum mining on the estate. Enjoy the views across the Eden Valley to the Lake District from the magnificent backdrop of the sandstone house.
Belsay Hall and the Lost Gardens of Heligan
‘Lost’ village of Wiltshire, Salisbury Plain
Located in the heart of Wiltshire in the Salisbury Plains is the ‘lostw’village of ‘Imber’. It’s perfect for idyllic walks, spotting wildlife and seeing the almost forgotten buildings, such as St Giles Church.
A tropical garden paradise, The Isle of Scilly - Tresco Abbey Gardens
One of England’s most outstanding sights and one of the world’s most remarkable sub-tropical gardens, Tresco Abbey Gardens contains a unique collection of plants, many of which are too tender for outdoor cultivation on the British mainland.
Immerse yourselves in myths and legends, Tintagel, Cornwall
The stunning coastline and dramatic castle has fired the imaginations of writers and artists for centuries. While exploring the castle ruins, you can imagine a time of chivalrous knights or the Red Queens’ playing card armies and heroic bottles upon the windswept Cornish cliff.
The Lost Gardens of Heligan, Cornwall
Marvel at the mini jungle, with its banana plantations, towering bamboo and giant rhubarbs and meander across the ancient woodland and lost valley. Come spring, you’ll be surrounded by a carpet of bluebells.
Tresco Abbey Gardens and Malham Cove
Explore the winding passages of the Shell Grotto, Margate
In this remarkable subterranean enclave, winding tunnels snake beside 2,000 sq ft of magnificent symbol mosaics, made out of cockle, whelk, mussel and oyster shells. Nobody can explain who built this amazing place, or why, but since its accidental discovery visitors from all over the world have been intrigues by the beautiful mosaic and the unsolved mystery.
A natural amphitheatre, Malham Cove, Yorkshire Dales
The white-walled limestone amphitheatre of Malham Cove rises 300ft above its surroundings int he Southern part of the Yorkshire Dales. The Cove was formed at the end of the last ice age, when temperatures warmed the ice melted and a large river and waterfall began to flow over the cove. Once dried up, the combination of erosion, limestone rock and acid rain formed chunks of rock, known as slabs or ‘clients’ and deep cracks between them known as ‘grykes’. This feature of the cove is very rare in the UK, which makes Malham a magnet for both geologists and tourists alike.
Mythical Glastonbury - more than a festival
On the southern edge of the Mendips, Glastonbury is built around the evocative set of ruins belonging to its former abbey. Famed for the world-renowned music festival, the town of Glastonbury lie at the heart of the so-called Isle of Avalon, a region rich with mystical associations.
Alice through the Looking Glass is in cinemas now