Posted: 12 February 2026
City of Doncaster Council’s Tourism Team, Visit Doncaster has partnered with High Street Safari, specialists in transforming high streets into immersive story‑driven experiences, to bring this innovative Augmented Reality (AR) trail to the city centre and Lakeside Village.
The official event supports the World Book Day charity’s mission to improve lives by inspiring a love of reading and helping children see stories in a whole new light. Families will be challenged to track down 10 Book Zones hidden in shop windows around the city centre and Lakeside Village. Using only a smartphone, trail‑goers can scan each marker to reveal 3D characters — including explorers, mythical creatures, and out‑of‑this‑world heroes — who magically appear within the real environment. Each zone also contains a secret letter, unlocked by taking a selfie with the character. After collecting all ten letters, families can solve the final mystery word to complete the trail.
Children and adults alike can also capture digital souvenir selfies with each character as they journey through the adventure.
Cllr James Church, Portfolio Holder said “This is a great initiative for Doncaster. It aligns perfectly with our goals to create a welcoming, vibrant city centre that residents and visitors can enjoy. The trail encourages families to get involved, explore the city, and embrace the fun of reading together. We’re delighted to support an activity that brings our community to life in such an exciting way all while supporting our local businesses and celebrating the joy of reading during the National Year of Reading.”
Stephen Blackwell, Project Director at High Street Safari, added: “By bringing these characters to life in 3D, we're helping children engage with reading in a way that feels modern and exciting. We’re proud to work alongside World Book Day® to put books at the heart of the community.”
The Doncaster World Book Day® Treasure Hunt is completely free for families and requires no app download. Anyone can take part using a smartphone with a camera.
To begin the adventure from the 12th February, families can start at any of the Book Zones across Doncaster by signing up to the trail here or collect a map from The Tourist Information Centre.
