When Gene Wilder said “come with me and you’ll see a world of pure imagination”, he wasn’t just talking about Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory. In our eyes, he was referring to the utterly bonkers place that we all know as The Forbidden Corner.
Lovingly self-referred to as ‘the strangest place in the world’, the unusual garden – which can only be described as a labyrinth – boasts surprises at every turn, and as a result, is most definitely one of the best family attractions in the region.
Filled with secret tunnels, follies, mystical statues, fun hiding places and endless surprises, the four-acre walled garden can be find tucked away in the heart of Tupgill Park – making the attraction all the more like a Lewis Carroll-style mash-up of The Secret Garden.
Surrender yourself to the park’s endless wonders and allow yourself to get lost in the temple of the underworld – before discovering the ‘eye of the needle’, maze-like paths and passageways (some of which lead to no where!) and castle-like follies that’ll have you feeling like the King of the World when you finally stumble upon them.
Beginning life as a private folly, before expanding out into a walled garden, a grotto, and later, the curious park that we all know it as today, The Forbidden Corner has grown exponentially over the years, with one of their most recent additions including a brand new adventure park themed around the magical wonders that guests uncover as they potter through the site.
Suitable for all ages, the park has quite the child-like effect on everyone, bringing out the inner kid in anyone who sets foot through its big-mouthed entrance. From there on out, guests are transported into a world full of sheer oddities, with what can only be described as impeccable attention to detail taken at every turn.
Located on the very edge of the Yorkshire Dales, the park can be found lurking in Leyburn, with a restaurant and cafe on site and a number of great pubs in a nearby radius. Find out more and book here.
The Forbidden Corner, Tupgill Park Estate, Middleham, Leyburn, North Yorkshire, DL8 4TJ.
[Featured image: The Forbidden Corner]
Read more: 12 Of The Best Places To Visit For A Day Trip In Yorkshire
