Can I take a buggy round The Gruffalo Trail?

Yes, the pathways are buggy friendly, so you can manage with a toddler and pushchair. This makes it manageable to visit with children of different ages at the same time.

Is there somewhere to eat, or should I bring a picnic?

There is a café at Thorndon Country Park where the trail is located. We haven't confirmed whether there's a dedicated picnic area, so it's worth checking what facilities are available on the day.

Do I need to book in advance?

No booking is required; the Gruffalo Trail is a self-led trail that you can turn up and do at any time.

The Gruffalo Trail

Outdoor Play & Adventure Playgrounds · Brentwood, Essex

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🌳 Outdoor🌲 Woodland🆓 Free entry

What’s there

Café on site
Paid parking
Buggy friendly

Car parking charges apply at Thorndon Country Park; several car parks including overflow areas.

Only facilities we’ve confirmed are listed — anything missing here we simply haven’t checked, rather than know to be absent.

The Gruffalo Trail is a self-led walk through the woodland at Thorndon Country Park, following hand-carved wooden sculptures of the characters from Julia Donaldson's Gruffalo books. Young children hunt for the mouse, fox, owl, snake, the Gruffalo's Child and the Gruffalo itself, placed among the trees in the order of the story. Families can read the book along the way, pick up a trail map from the visitor centre and rest on the benches beside the route. The walk is short and gentle, usually taking under an hour, and the paths suit pushchairs. Wellies are a good idea because the ground can be muddy after rain. The country park also has a cafe, a shop and toilets, so a visit can easily become a longer day of woodland play.

Questions parents ask

Can I take a buggy round The Gruffalo Trail?: Yes, the pathways are buggy friendly, so you can manage with a toddler and pushchair. This makes it manageable to visit with children of different ages at the same time.
Is there somewhere to eat, or should I bring a picnic?: There is a café at Thorndon Country Park where the trail is located. We haven't confirmed whether there's a dedicated picnic area, so it's worth checking what facilities are available on the day.
Do I need to book in advance?: No booking is required; the Gruffalo Trail is a self-led trail that you can turn up and do at any time.