Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest — Attraction in Tunbridge Wells

An amazing place. Very magical at Christmas for kids but also adults without children too! Myself and fiancé went together. Travelled from Margate to Tonbridge which was a way but was deffo worth it. Being disabled and in a wheelchair I had pre-booked my disabled parking bay and was directed straight to it. The car park staff were placed everywhere making sure you were pointed into the right area. Very efficient!

The disability aspect of the whole place was just as well catered for. I first visited the disabled toilets in the cafe. Being in a powered wheelchair I was able to enter and turn round fully to exit once ready. Clean and tidy. The trail states on the site that it is suitable for wheelchairs but has some inclines to go up but if needed you can ask staff to help you up these. I obviously didn't worry about this as my chair is very capable but for people in normal push wheelchairs I can honestly say if you may need help to get up such paths and not sure whether to go, please don't worry. I saw a member of staff at each point of the trail that had a small incline. So if needed they actually are really there!! The trail was so easy to follow and not as bumpy as I thought it would be. It runs well around the park so there is no way of getting lost.

My fiance and I stopped off at the little stalls along the way and truly did enjoy every moment of our trip.

The lights were amazing and one thing I did enjoy was that a song would play to go with what scene was being portrayed. Hardly any bulbs were blown which was impressive considering how many hundreds of thousands must be used. Staff are happy to take photos of you if want a photo with everybody in it. I also saw a few couples or small families where one person was out the picture or trying to do a selfie together so I offered to take for them. They often asked if we both wanted one too so worked both ways which was nice. The amount of people walking around was perfect too. Just right to give it that excited feel but not crowded that you got pushed along when trying to view something. Food and drinks...there is plenty to choose from around the park but prices are my only down point to our visit. They are really dear so save your pennies before going to get the full visit or take a small picnic but put your rubbish in the bins provided or take your rubbish home! The toasted marshmallows went down a treat and was lovely toasting them on the fire pits provided near the stall you buy them from. These I found to be the only thing reasonably priced and children and adults all enjoyed it as did we.

All in all a great evening that ended with me feeling a kid again, I even had a photo with father Christmas who is there for you to stand with to take your own photos.

Recommended for anybody who wants to feel the magic of...

Attended the light show which was spectacular BUT...

What made the experience disappointing was that my wife got separated from us and had walked ahead from our main group. We had stopped at the refreshment area about mid way. When my wife tried to return back to us she was stopped from joining us by an usher saying she was forbidden to walk back to us. The usher told my wife "Oh they'll catch up with you". Not quite the attitude the usher should have! (It was a lady by the fire lights. Tut tut!)

When I later confronted this usher they stated due to health and safety she was not allowed to walk back due to an expected crowd of 3000 people. However we booked an early slot and the crowds were sparse when we arrived. No risk whatsoever and frankly a nonsensical rule.

I asked the usher if this was in the T&Cs, she replied "Yes". I have looked at the T&Cs and they are sadly not!

If my wife had returned back to the refreshment area then we would have spent some more cash on a snack and a drink for her. (Flawed business opportunity to make some more money Bedgebury...hmm?)

This is Bedgebury not Disneyland guys!

The idea of forcibly separating families in this way is disgusting when many are enjoying the last of the holidays. This has left a sour taste for the evening.

So be warned, don't walk yourself too far ahead as you will be prevented from walking back to where your loved ones may be if you...

Oh, what an epic adventure we had at Bedgebury National Pinetum! The Zog trail was an absolute blast for the little ones – we had dragons and princesses galore! 🐉👸 The kids were thrilled, and honestly, we grown-ups had a sneaky good time too, pretending to be mystical creatures in the enchanted forest.

And don't even get us started on the cafe – it was a savior! Delicious treats and coffee that kept us going through our wild escapades. 😋 We may have had to bribe the kids with some extra chocolate brownies to keep them energized for the whole trek!

But oh, those views! 😍 Bedgebury's scenery was breathtaking – like being in a fairytale world. The lush greenery, towering pines, and shimmering lakes made us feel like we were on a quest with Zog himself! The kids were busy hunting for trolls, and we were just in awe of the picturesque surroundings.

Now, here's the plan: we'll definitely be back, but sans the little adventurers. 😂 A hike with them was unforgettable, but next time, we're taking on that 9km trail! It's the grown-up challenge, and we'll prove to ourselves that we can conquer it, just like Zog conquered the high-flying challenges.

So, if you're up for a day full of giggles, enchanted forests, divine snacks, and majestic vistas, Bedgebury National Pinetum is the place to be! We couldn't recommend it more – a family paradise with a sprinkle of grown-up...