Come and celebrate the Gruffalo’s 20th birthday with us!

We will be marking the occasion with A World Inside a Book: Gruffalos, Dragons and Other Creatures as well as a very special visit from Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.

Julia and Axel will be here on the day to sign books, answer some questions and share some birthday cake with the Gruffalo – who will also be here in person.

A special 20th edition of The Gruffalo will be included in the price of a child’s ticket.

The day will be split into two. You can either join us in the morning or you can join us in the afternoon.

When you book tickets, the time on your ticket will be the time that you will go into A World Inside a Book – but there are plenty of activities happening all day.

These activities include:
9.45am – arts activities or your ticketed exhibition time
10.45am – arts activities or your ticketed exhibition time
11.45am – Book signing by Julia and Axel
12.30pm – Gruffalo birthday party – cake cutting and Q&A with Julia & Axel
1.00pm – Film screening of The Gruffalo
1.30pm – Book signing by Julia and Axel
2.25pm – arts activities or your ticketed exhibition time
3.25pm – arts activities or your ticketed exhibition time

Your arts activities will be taking place before or after the time you go into the A World Inside a Book exhibition.

Extra books can be bought on the day. There is a maximum of 2 books per signing.

For example, if you book tickets to see A World Inside a Book at 10.45am, then you will come to do arts activities at 9.45am. If you book tickets to see A World Inside a Book at 9.45am, then you will come to do arts activities at 10.45am.

If you are unsure about what time you will be doing these things, we will send you a reminder email but you can also call our friendly box office team on 0161 232 6089.

If you’re unsure if you require a babes in arms ticket rather than a child’s ticket, please see our ticket page for more info.