Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting Discovery Village
Everything You Need to Know Before Your Visit
Planning your first visit to Discovery Village? Below you’ll find answers to the questions families most often ask about tickets, age suitability, play session times, free parking, socks, food and drink, accessibility and children’s birthday parties.
Discovery Village is an indoor role play centre in Christchurch, Dorset, close to Bournemouth. Designed for children aged 1 to 8, our two-hour sessions combine imaginative free play with optional performer-led activities in a calm, limited-capacity setting. Every booking has a reserved table in our woodland café, and our venue offers air conditioning, accessible facilities and free on-site parking.
Quick Facts
Before You Book
Each two-hour Discovery Village session combines imaginative free play with an optional adventure led by one of our live performers.
Children can explore all nine role play areas throughout their visit, dressing up, creating their own games and playing at their own pace. At different points during the session, our performer invites children to join songs, searches, stories and teamwork activities based on our current role play adventure.
Taking part is always optional. Children are welcome to join every activity, watch from the side or continue exploring the village independently.
Discovery Village is an indoor role play centre in Christchurch, Dorset, close to Bournemouth. Children can explore nine imaginative role play areas, including a fire station, veterinary surgery, theatre, beauty salon, restaurant, farm shop and building site.
Each two-hour play session also features an optional adventure led by one of our live performers. Children can join songs, games, searches and teamwork activities, or simply explore the village through free play at their own pace.
Designed for children aged 1 to 8, Discovery Village offers a calmer, limited-capacity alternative to traditional indoor play centres.
Discovery Village is not a traditional soft play centre. You will not find large climbing frames, slides or ball pits inside our village.
Instead, children can dress up, explore nine detailed role play areas and use their imaginations to create their own games. Our live performers also guide children through optional stories, songs and activities during each session.
Our limited capacity, calm environment and reserved café seating make Discovery Village a relaxed alternative to soft play in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Dorset.
Discovery Village has been designed primarily for children aged 1 to 8.
Toddlers can explore the toys, costumes and role play areas at their own pace, while older children can become more involved in imaginative games and our performer-led adventure.
Babies in arms are also welcome and can attend free of charge when accompanying a paying child. Please see our latest ticket information for current age categories and prices.
Yes. Discovery Village is a toddler-friendly indoor play centre designed to encourage imaginative, screen-free play.
The village has flat-level play areas, calm colours, wooden toys, costumes and activities that younger children can explore at their own pace. Participation in our live performer’s adventure is always optional, so toddlers are free to watch, join in or continue playing.
Parents and carers remain responsible for supervising their children throughout the visit.
Pre-booking is strongly recommended because we limit the number of children in each play session to maintain a calmer and more enjoyable environment.
Sessions during weekends, school holidays and wet-weather days can sell out in advance. Booking online is the best way to secure your preferred date and session time.
A small number of same-day spaces may occasionally be available, but entry cannot be guaranteed without a booking.
Standard Discovery Village play sessions last for two hours.
During the session, children can explore all nine role play areas and optionally join our live performer for songs, searches, games and teamwork activities based on our current story.
Each booking also receives a reserved table in our woodland café for the duration of the session.
Yes. Adults attending Discovery Village need to be included when making a booking.
Our standard booking system allows you to add accompanying adults, with a separate rate applying to additional adults. Babies in arms can attend free of charge when accompanying a paying child.
Please check our current play session prices before booking, as ticket prices can vary between term-time weekdays, weekends and school holidays.
Planning Your Visit
Discovery Village is located at Adventure Wonderland on Merritown Lane in Christchurch, Dorset.
You will find us inside the Theatre building at the Adventure Wonderland site, close to Bournemouth Airport and within easy reach of Bournemouth, Poole, Ferndown, Ringwood and the surrounding Dorset and Hampshire areas.
Our postcode is BH23 6BA. Please follow the signs for Discovery Village after entering the site.
Yes. Free on-site parking is available for Discovery Village customers.
You must register your vehicle when you arrive, so please have your registration number available. Instructions will be provided inside the venue.
Discovery Village cannot accept responsibility for parking charges caused by vehicles that have not been registered correctly.
Please bring socks for every child and adult entering the role play village, as shoes must be removed before going into the play areas.
You may also wish to bring:
- Any essential baby items
- A spare change of clothes for younger children
- Details of your vehicle registration
- Any medication your child may require
Food, drinks and refreshments are available to purchase from our woodland café. Food and drink from outside (with the exception of baby food) is not permitted inside Discovery Village.
Yes. Socks must be worn inside the role play village for hygiene and safety reasons.
Shoes must be removed before entering the play areas, and this rule applies to both children and adults. Please bring socks with you for everyone who intends to enter the village.
Socks may be available to purchase from our cafe if anyone forgets to bring a pair.
You can still join your booked play session if you arrive late, but your session will finish at the original scheduled time.
We recommend arriving a few minutes before the session begins so you have time to check in, register your vehicle, remove shoes and get settled at your reserved café table.
The performer-led story begins near the start of the session, although children can join the activities at any point.
Your booking covers the advertised two-hour play session.
At the end of the session, the play village and café seating need to be cleared so our team can clean, reset the role play areas and prepare for the next group of visitors.
Please collect your belongings and be ready to leave when the session finishes. Our team will give families a reminder as the end of the session approaches.
Leaving and returning during the same play session is not normally recommended, as sessions only last for two hours and our team needs to manage access to the venue.
Please bring everything you are likely to need into the building when you arrive. Speak to a member of the team if you need to leave because of an emergency or an exceptional circumstance.
Re-entry cannot be transferred to a different session later in the day.
Food, Facilities and Accessibility
Outside food and drink cannot normally be consumed at Discovery Village. Exceptions are made for baby formula, baby food and items required for specific medical or dietary needs.
Our woodland café serves food, snacks, children’s meals and a range of hot and cold drinks throughout each play session.
Please contact us before your visit if a member of your group has a serious allergy or a dietary requirement that you would like to discuss.
Yes. Discovery Village has a woodland-themed café overlooking the role play village.
Every booking receives a reserved table, allowing adults to relax while maintaining a clear view of their children. The café serves barista-made Jurassic Roast coffee, breakfasts, lunches, children’s meals, cakes, snacks, smoothies and cold drinks.
We focus on good, honest food rather than fried food, with vegan and dairy-free choices available.
Yes. A designated area is available for pushchairs and buggies during your play session.
Please remove valuables and essential items before leaving your buggy, as belongings are stored at the owner’s risk.
Discovery Village has flat-level access to the role play areas, café and accessible toilet facilities.
The layout has been designed to make it easier for families using wheelchairs, mobility aids and pushchairs to move around the venue.
Please contact our team before booking if you have a specific accessibility requirement. We will be happy to explain the layout and help you plan your visit.
Yes. Baby-changing facilities are available inside Discovery Village.
We also provide high chairs, lowered sinks and accessible toilet facilities. Our team can help with bottle warming when required.
Please speak to a member of staff during your visit if you need assistance locating any of the facilities.
Yes. Discovery Village holds monthly SEND-friendly play sessions with reduced capacity and lower sound levels.
These sessions provide a calmer environment for children who may benefit from fewer visitors and reduced volume. Siblings are also welcome to attend.
Participation in the performer-led activities remains optional, and children can explore the village at their own pace. Please check our booking calendar for the next SEND-friendly session.
Yes. Discovery Village is fully air conditioned, helping to keep the role play village and woodland café comfortable throughout the year.
This makes us a great indoor activity for families during hot weather, as well as on rainy or colder days. Children can enjoy their two-hour play session in a comfortable environment while adults relax at their reserved café table.
Parties and Group Visits
Yes. Discovery Village offers indoor children’s birthday parties for children aged 1 to 8.
Our party options range from smaller Mini Celebrations for 3 to 8 children to Gold Parties for up to 15 children and exclusive venue hire for larger groups.
Depending on the package selected, your celebration can include a two-hour play session, live performer, children’s food, drinks, a dedicated host, birthday gift, invitations and birthday activities.
A birthday cake can be brought as part of our Mini Celebration Package, which includes cakeage, plates, napkins and use of a cake knife.
Our Gold and Exclusive party packages include a cupcake tower with candles, but you are also welcome to bring your own birthday cake. Please let our party team know in advance so we can prepare the appropriate space and serving items.
Due to food safety and allergy procedures, cakes must remain within the designated café or party area and cannot be taken into the role play village.
Yes. Any sibling who will be entering and playing in Discovery Village must have a valid child ticket and must be included in your booking.
Children attending a birthday party will also count towards the maximum number included in the chosen party package.
Babies in arms can attend free of charge when accompanying a paying child.
Yes. Discovery Village welcomes schools, preschools, nurseries, childminders and other organised children’s groups.
Our two-hour group visits combine imaginative free play with optional activities led by a live performer. Visits can support learning through play and can be adapted around suitable Early Years Foundation Stage or Key Stage 1 topics.
Smaller groups can join selected public sessions, while exclusive sessions are available for larger school and nursery visits.
Yes. Discovery Village can be hired exclusively for birthday parties, schools, nurseries and organised group visits.
Our Exclusive Hire party package includes private use of the role play village for up to 30 children, with the possibility of increasing the number by prior agreement.
Exclusive sessions provide greater flexibility and are particularly suitable for larger celebrations, school groups, nursery visits and organisations that would benefit from having the venue to themselves.
Still Have a Question?
Can’t find the information you need? Contact our friendly team and we’ll be happy to help you plan your visit. Ready to join us? View our play session times and prices or book your tickets online.