When Tom's brother Peter gets measles, he is sent to stay with his Uncle Alan and Aunt Gwen in a flat with no garden and an elderly landlady, Mrs Bartholomew, living upstairs. Because he may be infectious, he is not allowed to play outside and feels lonely. Without exercise he is less sleepy at night and when he hears the communal grandfather clock strangely strike 13, he investigates and finds the small back yard is now a large sunlit garden.

Anthony Way
as Tom Long

Nigel Le Vaillant
as Thomas Long (Adult)

Marlene Sidaway
as Doris Schuster

Serena Gordon
as Melody Long

Greta Scacchi
as Aunt Gwen Kitson

James Wilby
as Uncle Alan Kitson

Alfie Lawrence
as Harriet Long

Mel Martin
as Alice Long

Nick Robinson
as Peter Long

Liz Smith
as Mrs Willows