It is about a magical picture-book place that exists between waking and sleeping in a child's imagination. It is filmed in live action and features a mix of actors in costume, stop motion, puppetry and CGI animation. As the day fades and the stars come out, visit the magical Night Garden and spend time with a lovely group of toys who are learning all about sharing, caring and having fun.

Until 1 April 2008, the show aired on the CBeebies channel every day, including weekends, at 6:25 PM in the "Bedtime Hour" slot after The Story Makers Series 2-4 episodes, in addition to earlier daytime showings on weekdays (like every other show on CBeebies, the same episodes are shown all day). Andrew Davenport stated in an interview with the Guardian that the key inspiration for the series was his own dream world as a child. It, and the Stepping Stone Path, Makka Pakka's Cave and the Pontipines/Wottingers' House, were first featured in the episode "Makka Pakka Washes Faces". Meet your favourite characters, Igglepiggle, Upsy Daisy, Makka Pakka, the Tombliboos and many more in The Night Garden: a magical nursery rhyme picture-book place that exists between waking and sleeping in a child's imagination.

From 3 January until 4 September 2009, the show was moved to a 6:00 pm transmission time but was still retained in the “Bedtime Hour” slot. Then, we see all the characters except for Igglepiggle going to sleep while Igglepiggle delivers his goodbye sequence. Igglepiggle's blanket blows on to Upsy Daisy's head and the wind blows the Tombliboo's trousers on to the roof of the Tombliboo's bush.

Hasbro won the 2008 "Best Licensed Toy or Game range" Licensing Award for their In The Night Garden.Inevitably his tummy is too full so Tombliboo Unn and Tombliboo Eee help him to bed and play music to make him feel better.