Please make sure you have read/understand all the information below and agree to the booking terms and conditions before placing any bookings.
Experiences & Events
What time do events start?
Our events start at different times depending on the time of year, as we schedule them around darkness falling. Start times can be found in your booking confirmation or on our
event booking pages.
Do you hold events during the summer?
The skies in the middle of summer, never truly become dark enough to offer clear views of most deep sky objects and the skies throughout mid-summer do not become dark until very late at night. Due to these reasons we currently do not hold our standard stargazing events in the mid-summer months, but we are still available for private hire should you wish to arrange a late night stargazing session with us at this time.
We do however also host other events and activities during the summer, please visit our all events page to see all our scheduled events.
When are your next public stargazing events?
Our standard schedule for public stargazing events dates starts from October and runs through to April. Our scheduled public stargazing events are usually released and uploaded to our website towards the end of summer.
What should I wear to an event?
Stargazing is an outdoor activity that takes place at night, so temperatures can get very cold. We recommend dressing warmly in layers and wearing sensible outdoor footwear. A hat and gloves are a must — most body heat is lost through your head and hands, so these can make a big difference to your comfort on the night.
Is there somewhere to warm up?
Yes! We have warm heated indoor areas at all our event venues, so if you get a little too cold during the event you're welcome to head inside. Hot drinks are also available to help warm you up.
Do I need to bring a torch?
Yes — our venues are very dark at night and you'll need a torch to safely light your way, particularly from the car park. During the event itself, please use small torches only as bright lights affect everyone's night vision. A red-light torch is ideal if you have one, as red light has the least impact on night vision.
Transport, Arrival & Parking
Where do I go to attend an event?
Full directions and location details for all our venues can be found on our Where to Find Us page
Please make sure you check the correct venue for the event you've booked — our events take place across multiple locations, so it's worth double-checking before you set off!
When should I arrive?
The arrival time shown on your booking is a recommended guide —
activities usually begin around 15 minutes after this, giving all guests
time to arrive, get settled, and soak up the atmosphere before we get
started!
Is there public transport available to stargazing events?
Unfortunately, public transport to our event venues is generally limited or unavailable at the times our stargazing events take place. We'd recommend checking local taxi services in the area as an alternative option.
If you're unsure about getting to a specific venue, feel free to get in touch and we'll do our best to help with any information we have.
Do I have to pay for parking?
Due to changes introduced by Forestry England, all visitors to Dalby Forest are required to pay a £3 parking fee when using the Dalby Forest car park. This applies to all our events held at this venue.
Before you leave the event, you'll be issued a unique code to use at the parking pay station. This entitles you to the reduced £3 rate (compared to the standard daytime charge), which goes directly to Forestry England.
If you hold a Dalby Forest Membership or a Forestry England National Membership, you won't need to pay for parking.
Please note: parking is free at all our other event venues, regardless of any signage you may see on arrival.
Accessibility
Are stargazing events accessible for all?
We believe our events should be accessible to everyone, and we've welcomed guests with a wide range of accessibility needs to our stargazing events — including wheelchair users and guests with visual and hearing difficulties.
Most of our venues have wheelchair-friendly toilet facilities, and we can arrange parking right next to the event area. We're also experienced in accommodating guests with visual and hearing impairments, and are happy to discuss what we can do to make your visit as comfortable as possible.
Our events take place in calm, quiet, dark-sky environments which many guests find peaceful and restorative. If you have any specific concerns or requirements — including around mental health or sensory sensitivities — please don't hesitate to get in touch and we'll do our best to help.
Please get in touch for accessibility details specific to a venue or event activity.
Weather & Tickets
What happens if the weather is bad?
Don't worry if the forecast isn't looking great, there's still plenty to enjoy even on cloudy or overcast nights. We always have someone keeping an eye on the skies, and we make the most of any clear spells that come our way.
Our indoor programme includes a planetarium experience, fascinating demonstrations of astronomy software, hints and tips to help you with your own stargazing at home, and a colourful presentation on astrophotography — exploring what you can capture in the night sky and the incredible things visible above us.
We only cancel if a venue is forced to close due to dangerous weather conditions, or if a key speaker is unavailable.
Weather forecasts are never 100% accurate, and we've had many nights where the forecast has looked bad, but we ended up enjoying beautifully clear skies.
In the unlikely event of a cancellation, we'll offer you three options: rearrange your booking to another available date, receive a gift card for the full value of your booking to use on a future event or in our store, or receive a full refund.
You can read our full refund policy here: https://astro-dog.co.uk/policies/refund-policy
For more information on what to expect at our events, visit our About Events page.
Can I rearrange my booking if the forecast looks cloudy?
Our events are designed to go ahead whatever the weather — that's part of what makes them such a unique experience! As much as we would like to, we're unable to offer rearrangements or refunds due to weather conditions, as each event requires considerable time, planning and cost to put on regardless of the forecast. Please understand that when you place a booking, you are reserving a place that another guest could have taken — and if we cancelled every time the sky looked cloudy, we simply wouldn't be able to keep running events for everyone to enjoy.
That said, if we ever need to cancel an event — which is very rare — we'll always give you the choice to rearrange your booking, receive a gift card for the full value, or get a full refund. You're always in safe hands with us.
You can read our full refund policy here: https://astro-dog.co.uk/policies/refund-policy
Where are my tickets?
We run a ticketless system, so there's no need to print or download anything. When you book, you'll receive a confirmation email with your event date and venue details — give it a quick check before you set off, then simply give your name when you arrive and we'll take care of the rest!
If you can't find your confirmation email, please check your junk or spam folder as some email services may send it there automatically.
Gift Cards
How long are gift cards valid?
Our gift cards have no expiry date.
Where do I enter my gift card code?
To redeem your gift card, please enter the gift card code into the "discount" box at checkout.
What can I use my gift card for?
Our giftcards can be used towards bookings for any of our experience events/workshops or towards purchases of items from our gift store.
How do I give my gift card to someone else?
Once your order is processed, a confirmation e-mail will be sent to you with your gift card code. If you are buying as a gift for another person, you can forward them the confirmation e-mail or send them the code.
Important Information
Before You Book
By making a booking you are agreeing to our Terms of Service, Returns, Refunds & Cancellation Policy, and Booking & Cancellation Policy. Please make sure you have read all the information provided on the event booking page and that you are happy with these before proceeding.
- For answers to common questions about our events, please visit our FAQ page.
- Please fill in your contact details in full when booking, including a telephone number in case we need to reach you about any last-minute changes.
- Some email services (such as Outlook) may send your confirmation to your junk folder — worth a quick check if you can't find it!
- Dogs are not recommended at our events out of consideration for other guests. If you have a specific situation you'd like to discuss, please contact us before booking. Guide dogs and support dogs are always welcome.
Tickets & Age Policy
- We have limited capacity at all our events and pre-booking is essential. Every person attending must have a booking in order to be added to the guest list.
- Children's tickets cover ages 6–15. Guests aged 16 and over require an adult ticket.
- Children under 6 may attend free of charge when accompanied by at least one paying adult.
- All children must be accompanied by at least one paying adult.
- We welcome guests of all ages! Our events include educational elements and can run late into the evening, so for younger children it's worth considering whether they'll stay engaged and comfortable for the full duration. We find events are particularly enjoyed by children aged 6 and above with a curiosity about space and the night sky — we have welcomed many budding young astronomers and scientists over the years, helping to fuel their enthusiasm for learning about the universe around them.
Preparing for Your Visit
- Dress warmly and be prepared for all weather — it can get chilly on stargazing nights.
- Wear suitable outdoor footwear and bring a hat and gloves — most body heat is lost through your head and hands, so these can make a big difference to your comfort on the night.
- Bring a torch — our venues are very dark at night and you'll need one to light your way from the car park. During the event, please use small torches only as bright lights affect everyone's night vision. Red-light torches are ideal if you have one, as red light has the least impact on night vision.
- Make sure to check how to get to your event venue and plan your journey in advance — visit our Where to Find Us page for directions and location details for all our venues, and make sure you have the correct venue for your event as we hold events across multiple locations.
- Please take care when travelling to and from our venues. The roads in the area are dark and rural, and wildlife may be on or around the road, particularly at night — including larger animals such as deer, and smaller animals that can be hard to spot such as rabbits and hedgehogs.
On the Night
- Please note that mobile signal may be very poor at our venues.
- If you expect to arrive late, please text or WhatsApp us on 07540 131077 or email contact@astro-dog.co.uk — we may not be able to take calls due to poor signal.
- Please listen carefully to the safety briefing at the start of the event and follow any instructions given by our team throughout the evening.
- Hot drinks are available and we have an indoor heated space should you need to warm up.
- Our public events run for approximately 2–2½ hours.
Respecting the Venue & Environment
- Please help us look after our venues and the surrounding countryside. Take any rubbish home with you or use the bins provided.
- Please stay on designated paths and be mindful of the natural environment around you.
- Respect the peace and quiet of the area — our venues are in rural locations and noise carries at night. Please be considerate of the local community when arriving and departing.
- Children must be supervised by a responsible adult at all times during the event.
Booking & Cancellation Policy
Our stargazing events go ahead whatever the weather — even on cloudy nights, there's still plenty for guests to enjoy!
Please note that all bookings are non-refundable and non-transferable once placed.
By completing your booking you are agreeing to our terms and conditions.
We are unable to offer refunds or rearrangements due to weather conditions or personal circumstances outside of our control. Please understand that each event requires considerable time, planning and cost to put on — and when you place a booking, you are reserving a place that another guest could have taken. If we cancelled or rearranged bookings for every request, we simply wouldn't be able to keep running events for everyone to enjoy. We strongly recommend taking out appropriate personal event insurance to cover circumstances such as illness, travel disruption, or other emergencies that may prevent attendance.
We only cancel events in exceptional circumstances, such as weather conditions deemed dangerous enough to cause the event venue to close to the public, a venue emergency, or other force majeure events (unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control, such as extreme weather, natural disasters, or government restrictions). In the rare event of a cancellation, we will always offer you the choice of:
- Rearranging your booking to another available event date
- A gift card equal to your booking total, redeemable for any future event or in our store
- A full refund
For full details, please see our Returns, Refunds & Cancellation Policy.