Rufford Abbey Country Park

Set in the beautiful Nottinghamshire countryside, Rufford Abbey is your ideal family day out with walks through the picturesque grounds, places to relax and eat, and fun seasonal activities all year round. There’s something in the air to put a smile on the face of every member of the family here at Rufford Abbey Country Park.

Set within the grounds is Rufford Abbey itself, the ruins of a Cistercian abbey dating back to 1170. It is the best preserved example of a Cistercian abbey left in England.

As one of the largest play areas in the area and open all year round, the Adventure Play Area at Rufford Abbey Country Park is the perfect spot for a family day out!

Keep the kids entertained with the opportunity to play, explore and enjoy their own mini adventures. With a variety of play equipment – including a wheelspin roundabout, balancing climbing frame, tunnels, slides, climbing areas, a zip line and more – the park offers something for all ages.

Sandpits, swings and a roundabout can keep younger children entertained while a double zip wire is perfect for the older children. The park offers play for all – even the grown-ups who want to play along with their little ones!

Need some fuel for all the fun? Visit the Play Shed – a takeaway café open from 10am to 4pm every Saturday and Sunday, and every day in the school holidays where parents and guardians can relax with hot and cold drinks and snacks.

The play area is accompanied by accessible footpaths, toilets nearby at the Abbey Courtyard, changing facilities and picnic benches to make your visit as comfortable as possible.

With stunning surroundings and a fascinating history for you to experience, there is plenty to explore and discover on a trip to Rufford Abbey.

Discover over 875 years of history with a short walk around the Abbey ruins. Or alternatively, take in our breathtaking surroundings and local nature and wildlife with a walk through our scenic grounds and woodland.

Our walks are also dog friendly, so you can bring your four-legged friends to discover the natural beauty and wildlife!

Rufford Abbey features the Abbey Meadow, Formal Gardens, Reg Hookway Arboretum and Lime Tree Avenue. There’s plenty to explore within the grounds.

One of the main attractions at Rufford for those with a love of the outdoors is our fantastic Wilderness Woodland. This forested area is crossed by a number of informal crushed limestone paths, allowing you to truly lose yourself in the peacefulness of the countryside. These woods have been known as the Wilderness since circa 1725, and today are a wildlife sanctuary and the home of most of our common woodland mammals, including foxes and squirrels, and a wide range of woodland birds.