The Magic Burrow
WHERE
Manchester
What it’s like
A calm, low-sensory play space with fairy lights, a fairy village and dressing up, built with SEN families in mind.
This isn't a soft play barn with kids bouncing off the walls. The Magic Burrow is a quieter set-up, a sensory room with fairy lights, a fairy village where the wands come out, and dressing up boxes for whoever fancies being someone else for the afternoon. They say there's no age limit and no judgement, so a baby, a teenager or a child who needs extra support are all meant to feel equally at home here.
The whole place has clearly been thought through for SEN visits rather than bolted on as an afterthought. The entrance and an internal gate stay locked for safety, capacity is kept low, and the lighting is deliberately warm and calm rather than the usual soft play glare. It's not wheelchair accessible everywhere though, they're upfront that the building's size means some bits are out of reach, and there's no hoist or Changing Places facility, just a cushioned changing mat in the bathroom.
Shoes come off and socks stay on throughout, and you can't bring your own food or drinks in, though there's a café for snacks once you're there. Pram storage is limited, which is worth bearing in mind if you're arriving with a buggy and no spare hands. Parking is the other faff: the pub car park across the road is out of use with uneven ground, so it's really the shopping centre car park near JD Gym, a five-minute walk, or the back streets for Blue Badge holders.
Birthday parties run here too, from a bring-your-own-food DIY slot up to a fully catered VIP package with pass the parcel and party bags.
Facilities
Need to know
- Parking
- Pay car parks: Lazy Toad Pub Car Park across road (no longer in use
- Food
- Café snacks and drinks available
- Wheelchairs
- Ramped entrance and ramped access to sensory room
- Getting there by bus or train
- Droylsden Metrolink 1-minute walk
- Parties
- Three party packages: DIY Mini (£150, 1.5 hours, up to 10 kids & 10 adults, bring your own food)
- Shoes off, socks on for the whole visit, no exceptions mentioned
- Pram storage is limited, so don't count on stashing a big buggy easily
- The entrance and an internal gate are kept locked as a safety measure
- There's no Changing Places facility or hoist, just a cushioned changing mat
Plan your visit
Is there an age limit?
No set age. They say it's for any child or young person who'll enjoy it, from babies to teenagers, including those who need extra support.
Is it good for children with SEN?
It's been designed with SEN in mind, with a locked entrance, warm lighting and a deliberately lower capacity. Staff are described as experienced with SEN support, and they suggest contacting them ahead if you've got specific concerns.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
There's a ramped entrance, ramped access to the sensory room and an accessible toilet, and the main play space is generally easy to get around. Some areas aren't reachable by wheelchair though, and it's not a Changing Places facility, so no hoist, just a cushioned changing mat in the bathroom.
Can we bring our own food?
No outside food or drinks are allowed inside. There's a café on site for snacks and drinks.
Where do we park?
The pub car park across the road is no longer usable and has uneven ground, so head for the Droylsden Shopping Centre car park near JD Gym instead, about five minutes on foot. Blue Badge holders can try the quiet back streets behind the centre near Giovanni's.
Do you do birthday parties?
Three packages: a DIY one at £150 where you bring your own food, a Magic Birthday at £225 with snack boxes and a host, and an Ultimate VIP at £380 with a catered buffet and party bags.
Can we get there without a car?
Droylsden Metrolink stop is a minute's walk, and buses 7, 216, 230 and 231 stop within two minutes of the door.
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