In partnership withNational Trust

Nature, beauty, history.
For everyone, forever.

Houses with history, castles inside fairy-tale gardens, clifftop walks and wild play. Find a National Trust day out that fits your family.

17 venues

Family-loved places to explore

Cliveden Maze and Gardens, BuckinghamshireBest in summer
Arnhel de Serra
National Trust oak leaf motifSouth East / Buckinghamshire

Cliveden Maze and Gardens

A grand riverside estate with impressive gardens

Set high above the Thames with far-reaching views, Cliveden’s impressive gardens and majestic woodlands allow acres of space to play. There is a series of formal gardens to explore, a maze to lose oneself in and a tots play area. A tree-lined avenue leads to woodland walks, secluded glades and a natural play trail. There are boats for hire on the river, or skippered cruises to enjoy.

  • Maze, parterre, Long Garden and Water Garden with stepping stones to explore
  • Riverside picnic spots and boats to hire on the Thames
  • Family play trail and woodland adventures
Great for
Under 5s5 to 11sTweens
Activities
Garden trailsBoating on the ThamesFamily eventsSeasonal trailsClifftop river views
Amenities
CafeRestaurantGift shopToiletsBaby changingParkingPushchair friendlyDogs on leads
Cliveden Road, Taplow, Maidenhead SL6 0JA
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Hatchlands Park, SurreyBest in spring (bluebells)
Arnhel de Serra
National Trust oak leaf motifSouth East / Surrey

Hatchlands Park

A red-brick Georgian house with wild woodland trails

Built by a sea captain and softened by Humphry Repton's parkland, Hatchlands is a relaxed Georgian house surrounded by 430 acres of waymarked walks, bluebell woods and wide open lawns built for picnics.

  • Bluebell woods in spring
  • Way-marked family walks
  • Fun activity trails during the school holidays
Great for
Under 5s5 to 11sTeens
Activities
Holiday craftsFamily activity trailsParkland walksPleasure grounds
Amenities
CafeGift shopToiletsParkingPushchair friendly (main routes)Dogs on leadsFamily map
East Clandon, Guildford GU4 7RT
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Mottisfont, Hampshire
Simon Newman
National Trust oak leaf motifSouth / Hampshire

Mottisfont

Trout streams, ancient trees and a rose garden in summer

A medieval priory turned country house, set in gardens and meadows with a sparkling river and space to run and play. There’s a famous walled rose garden, family art exhibitions and a Wild Play climbing area.

  • Paddock games and picnic area
  • Wild Play climbing apparatus
  • Walled rose garden
Great for
Under 5s5 to 11sTweens
Activities
Riverside walksSeasonal activity trailsBridges for Pooh SticksFamily cycle routes
Amenities
CafeRestaurantGift shopToiletsBaby changingParkingPushchair friendly
Mottisfont, near Romsey SO51 0LP
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Nymans, West SussexBest in spring & summer
Trevor Ray Hart
National Trust oak leaf motifSouth East / West Sussex

Nymans

Romantic ruined house with one of the great English gardens

A garden created by three generations of plant-hunting Messels, set around the dramatic ruins of a Gothic house. Sweeping borders, ancient woodland and the wildest tree-house playground for little explorers.

  • Wild Play natural play area
  • Ruins of the Gothic house
  • Magnolias and azaleas in season
Great for
Under 5s5 to 11s
Activities
Garden trailsNatural play areaWoodland walksFamily events
Amenities
CafeGift shopPlant salesToiletsBaby changingParkingPushchair friendly
Handcross, near Haywards Heath RH17 6EB
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Scotney Castle, KentBest in autumn
John Miller
National Trust oak leaf motifSouth East / Kent

Scotney Castle

A moated medieval castle inside a fairy-tale garden

A 14th century moated castle, a Victorian mansion above it, and 770 acres of parkland, hop gardens and oasthouses around them. The kind of place where children half expect a dragon.

  • Moated castle to explore
  • Picture-book autumn colour
  • Estate walks past hop gardens
Great for
5 to 11sTweens
Activities
Castle toursGarden trailsEstate walksSeasonal family trails
Amenities
CafeGift shopToiletsBaby changingParkingDogs on leads (estate)
Lamberhurst, Tunbridge Wells TN3 8JN
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Day out ideas

Themed weekends, ready to go

Three or four venues bundled into a single trip idea. Stack them for a half-term, or pick one for a Saturday.

Knights & adventure

Castles, spirals and storybook moats

Three days, three medieval days out for budding knights and dragon hunters.

Under 5s

Toddler friendly gardens and bluebells

Buggy friendly paths, soft lawns and wild play areas for the smallest explorers.

October half-term

Autumn colour weekend

Lakes, arboretums and parklands that turn copper, scarlet and gold every October.

9+ and up

Hidden history for curious kids

Prime Ministers, war rooms and film locations, perfect for inquisitive older children.

Sheffield Park and Gardens, East Sussex
Laurence Perry
National Trust oak leaf motifSouth East / East Sussex

Sheffield Park and Gardens

Four lakes, a painter's palette of trees, and the Bluebell Railway next door

Acres of Grade I listed landscaped garden and lakes, surrounded by historic parkland and woodland.

  • Four interconnected, tranquil lakes
  • Play Glade and woodland adventures
  • Parkland walks
Great for
Under 5s5 to 11sTweensTeens
Activities
Garden trailsLake circuit walksWider estate walksFamily trails
Amenities
CafeGift shopToiletsBaby changingParkingPushchair friendly (main routes)Family map
Sheffield Park, Uckfield TN22 3QX
View Full Details Directions
Stowe Gardens, BuckinghamshireYear-round wander
John Millar
National Trust oak leaf motifSouth East / Buckinghamshire

Stowe Gardens

Britain's biggest historic landscape garden, built for grandeur

Sweeping lawns, serene lakes, temples, statues and monuments to discover. Stowe Gardens is an 18th century landscape garden built to wow. Bring balls, kites and picnics and prepare for a proper family wander. Choose one of three family trails to guide your route around Stowe Gardens, with puzzles and activities along the way.

  • 40+ historic temples and monuments
  • Octagon, Eleven Acre and Copper Bottom Lakes
  • Wide open lawns for kite-flying and ball games
Great for
Under 5s5 to 11sTweensTeens
Activities
Landscape garden walksMonument trailsFamily trails
Amenities
CafeGift shopToiletsBaby changingParkingPushchair friendly (main routes)Dogs on leads
Buckingham MK18 5EQ
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The Vyne, Hampshire
National Trust Images
National Trust oak leaf motifSouth / Hampshire

The Vyne

A Tudor manor with a wetlands boardwalk for budding wildlife spotters

A former Tudor manor visited by Henry VIII, now an 18th-century home. Outside there are acres of wildlife-rich gardens, meadows and woods. Discover a wetlands bird hide, circular trails and a magnificent lake.

  • Wetland bird hide for wildlife spotting
  • Nearby woodland walks
  • Lake-side lawn for picnics
Great for
Under 5s5 to 11sTweens
Activities
House toursWetland walksFamily trailsBird hides
Amenities
CafeGift shopToiletsBaby changingParkingPushchair friendly
Sherborne St John, Basingstoke RG24 9HL
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Chartwell, KentBest in spring & summer
Laurence Perry
National Trust oak leaf motifSouth East / Kent

Chartwell

Winston Churchill's family home in the Weald of Kent

The home Winston Churchill loved best, with the rooms left as he and Clementine knew them. Outside, kitchen gardens, lakes and the famous brick wall the great man built himself.

  • Family rooms preserved as they were
  • Studio packed with Churchill's paintings
  • Hillside garden and lakes
Great for
5 to 11sTweensTeens
Activities
House tourGarden walksFamily trailsStudio visit
Amenities
CafeRestaurantGift shopToiletsBaby changingParkingPushchair friendly (limited indoors)
Mapleton Road, Westerham TN16 1PS
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Hughenden, BuckinghamshireYear-round, indoor exhibits for rain
Hugh Mothersole
National Trust oak leaf motifSouth East / Buckinghamshire

Hughenden

Victorian mansion with a secret Second World War history

Set in an unspoiled Chiltern valley with views of ancient woodlands and rolling hills, Hughenden has it all. There's a walled garden with willow tunnel for children to find their way through, a parterre with big lawn to play on and a natural play area for climbing and jumping. The orchard picnic area is right next door. In the house, you can dress as a Victorian, or discover the top-secret Second World War operation codenamed 'Hillside'.

  • Woodland trails and natural play area
  • Dressing up room in the house
  • Perfect picnic orchard
Great for
5 to 11sTweensTeens
Activities
House tourWWII exhibitionWoodland walksFamily play area
Amenities
CafeGift shopToiletsBaby changingParkingDogs on leads (parkland)
Hughenden, High Wycombe HP14 4LA
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Polesden Lacey, SurreyBest in spring & summer
Arnhel de Serra
National Trust oak leaf motifSouth East / Surrey

Polesden Lacey

An Edwardian party house with 1,400 acres of rolling Surrey hills

The country party house in the stunning Surrey Hills, where royals loved to visit. Edwardian glamour inside, beautiful gardens, woodland and family-friendly activities outside.

  • Edwardian rooms set for a party
  • Walled rose garden
  • Open downland walks
Great for
Under 5s5 to 11sTweensTeens
Activities
House toursGarden trailsEstate walksWild play and trailsFamily events
Amenities
CafeRestaurantGift shopToiletsBaby changingParkingPushchair friendly (main routes)
Great Bookham, near Dorking RH5 6BD
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Winkworth Arboretum, SurreyBest in autumn & spring
Hannah Elliott
National Trust oak leaf motifSouth East / Surrey

Winkworth Arboretum

A hillside arboretum with fiery autumn colours

Tucked into the Surrey Hills, this hillside garden is famous for its dazzling autumn colour, bluebells and boathouse on the lake. With new visitor centre, café and all-weather paths.

  • Bluebells in spring
  • World famous autumn colour
  • Boathouse and lake walk
Great for
5 to 11sTweens
Activities
Arboretum walksLakeside trailSeasonal family trails
Amenities
CafeGift shopToiletsParkingDogs welcome
Hascombe Road, Godalming GU8 4AD
View Full Details Directions
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Petworth House, West Sussex
Arnhel de Serra
National Trust oak leaf motifSouth East / West Sussex

Petworth House

A Capability Brown deer park around a treasure-house of art

A grand 17th century mansion holding one of the National Trust's finest art collections, set in a 700-acre Capability Brown deer park where fallow deer roam free.

  • Family map
  • Acres of garden and parkland
  • Roaming fallow deer
Great for
Under 5s5 to 11sTweensTeens
Activities
Holiday craftsFamily activity trailsParkland walksPleasure grounds
Amenities
CafeGift shopToiletsBaby changingParkingPushchair friendly (park)Family map
Church Street, Petworth GU28 0AE
View Full Details Directions
Ightham Mote, KentYear-round wander
Laurence Perry
National Trust oak leaf motifSouth East / Kent

Ightham Mote

A medieval moated manor that looks straight out of a storybook

Nearly 700 years of family stories layered into a half-timbered moated manor, ringed by gardens and 14 miles of woodland walks across the Greensand Ridge.

  • Moat and Tudor chapel
  • Woodland and orchard walks
  • Year-round family events
Great for
5 to 11sTweens
Activities
House tourWoodland walksGarden trailsFamily trails
Amenities
CafeGift shopToiletsBaby changingParkingDogs on leads
Mote Road, Ivy Hatch, Sevenoaks TN15 0NT
View Full Details Directions
Emmetts Garden, KentBest in May (bluebells)
Marathon
National Trust oak leaf motifSouth East / Kent

Emmetts Garden

A hillside garden with one of the highest tree-tops in Kent

An informal Edwardian plantsman's garden perched on top of the Kentish Weald. Rare trees, a bluebell wood and views that go on for miles.

  • Bluebell wood in spring
  • Far-reaching Weald views
  • Rare plantsman's garden
Great for
Under 5s5 to 11s
Activities
Garden trailsWoodland walksFamily trailsPicnicking
Amenities
CafePlant salesToiletsParkingDogs welcome (woodland)
Ide Hill, Sevenoaks TN14 6BA
View Full Details Directions
Basildon Park, BerkshireBest in spring & autumn
Sophie Bolesworth
National Trust oak leaf motifSouth East / Berkshire

Basildon Park

Stately Georgian mansion in rolling parkland

Sitting elegantly in acres of historic parkland and gardens, this 18th-century mansion is the quintessential country house and has featured on screen in period dramas from Pride & Prejudice to Bridgerton. The wooded parkland offers wonderful views, peaceful trails and picnic places, with areas for children to run and play. Den-building and Basildon Park's famous ball runs keep families coming back.

  • Famous TV and film location
  • Woodland adventures and ball runs
  • Perfect picnic lawn
Great for
5 to 11sTweensTeens
Activities
House tourParkland walksWoodland trailsFamily trails
Amenities
CafeGift shopToiletsBaby changingParkingPushchair friendly
Lower Basildon, Reading RG8 9NR
View Full Details Directions
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Bodiam Castle, East SussexYear-round adventure
Ellis Briley
National Trust oak leaf motifSouth East / East Sussex

Bodiam Castle

A near-perfect medieval castle, complete with moat and spiral stairs

Step into history at Bodiam Castle. This 14th-century moated castle with a ruined interior features spiral staircases, battlements and a portcullis. Bodiam Castle offers seasonal history and nature themed family friendly activities such as crafts, trails, quests, Medieval costumed characters, storytelling and armour demonstrations.

  • Moated castle to explore
  • Fun activity trails during the school holidays
  • Family map
Great for
5 to 11sTweens
Activities
Castle tourTower climbRiverside walksFamily trailsSeasonal events
Amenities
CafeGift shopToiletsBaby changingParkingDogs on leads (outside)
Bodiam, Robertsbridge TN32 5UA
View Full Details Directions
Loved by DOWTK families

What parents are saying

The maze had our two in fits of giggles for an hour. Picnic by the Thames after, magic day.
Sarah, mum of two
on Cliveden
Wild Play kept our four year old busy until her legs gave out. Cafe was lovely too.
Tom, dad of one
on Nymans
Autumn at Sheffield Park looks like a painting. The kids ran the lake circuit twice.
Priya, mum of three
on Sheffield Park
Climbing the spiral stairs at Bodiam felt like a proper adventure. They want to go back already.
Mark, dad of two
on Bodiam Castle
The secret WWII map room blew our 9 year old's mind. Great mix of history and woodland.
Emily, mum of one
on Hughenden
Bluebell woods at Hatchlands in May, completely free for members and just stunning.
Jess, mum of two
on Hatchlands Park
Plan your visit

Family questions, answered

No, but members get free entry and parking at every place featured here. A family membership often pays for itself in a few visits.