21 July 2023 , 15:27
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There's a festival of family fun to be had at the National Trust’s historic houses and beautiful gardens during this summer holidays.
More than 170 of the trust’s properties across England, Wales and Northern Ireland are taking part in the Summer of Play, with music, performances and immersive storytelling, straw-bale mazes and castles, den building, pop-up sports days and special events.
It’s a whole new way to enjoy our magnificent heritage, cared for by the National Trust. There’s usually no need to book and most Summer of Play activities, sponsored by Starling Bank, are included within standard admission, which is free for National Trust members, NT holiday cottage guests, and all under-5s.
Pick up a copy of the Daily Mirror from Friday, July 21 until Sunday, July 30 to get a free family day pass to use at over 200 National Trust locations across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Scotland not included. Click for further details.
There are fun-filled activities for the whole family (¬©National Trust Images/John Millar)Jo Killeya of the Trust says: “National Trust houses and gardens are places that have inspired and sparked imaginations for centuries. We can’t wait to invite families to let their imaginations run wild.”
Beauty spot café perched by edge of cliff forced to move due to coastal erosion
Here’s a taste of what’s on offer for your family this summer:
SOUTH WEST
Buckland Abbey, Devon
There’s a Tudor theme to the Abbey’s Summer of Play, as befits the former home of Sir Francis Drake. There are Tudor sports, an opportunity to act and dance Elizabethan-style and to be inspired by Tudor cooking in the sand kitchen on the Abbey lawn, plus occasional falconry displays. Visitors can visit the 700-year-old Abbey’s “book nook” to read a story, create their own or listen to a storyteller.
Summer of Play attractions elsewhere:
Mottisfont, near Romsey - Happy Families: Adventures with the Ahlbergs exhibition and outdoor trail
Sandham Memorial Chapel, Burghclere - Life on Watership Down art display, and Morse Code trail (50p)
The Vyne, near Basingstoke - Traditional games and nature trails
Hinton Ampner, near Alresford - Tree-mendous Tree Trail (£2), The Wind In The Willows at Quantum Theatre (book online)
Uppark, near Petersfield - Nature Explorer Adventure. Also, Alice in Wonderland by Dot Productions theatre (book online)
Winchester City Mill, Winchester - Farm Fest – Summer Celebration of the harvest
Sunak's promotion of Lee Anderson shows the war on woke is alive and thriving
Stourhead, Warminster - Summer play meadow, puppet theatre.
Explore the Deep Bath at Bodnant Garden (©National Trust Images/John Mill)NORTH-EAST AND YORKSHIRE
Wentworth Castle Gardens, Barnsley, S. Yorks
Wentworth’s fairy-tale Gothic folly, Stainborough Castle, is a perfect place for visitors to become storytellers and weave magical tales of knights and dragons.
Pop-up sports days throughout the summer on the Play Field will include archery, athletics and football, and in the new natural play space there’s a chance to scramble, climb and balance, or smaller kids can become mini-gardeners in the messy area of the Union Jack Gardens.
Attractions elsewhere:
Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal, Ripon - Summer play trail and crafts
Beningbrough Hall, York - F amily nature trail
Nostell, Wakefield - Games, activities, zip-wire and cycle trails
Nunnington Hall, York - Let’s Draw with illustrator Georgia Cowley
East Riddlesden Hall, Keighley - Discovery Garden.
Ormesby Hall, near Middlesborough
Roll up, roll up! There’s circus-inspired fun to be had at Ormesby Hall, whether plate-spinning, stilt-walking, acrobatics or simply clowning around.
Other entertainment throughout the gardens includes tennis and cricket on the play field, arts and crafts in the orchard, and storytelling and performance in the stage area. There will also be archery and pond dipping.
Attractions elsewhere:
Seaton Delaval Hall, Seaton Sluice - Circus skills, puppet workshops and games
Wallington Hall, Cambo - Lawn games, cycle trails, play train and wooden fort
Cragside, Morpeth - Sports day games, den building, adventure play area and labyrinth
Souter Lighthouse, Sunderland - Sports activities and seashore safaris
Gibside, Tyne & Wear - Low ropes course, labyrinth, Georgian garden games and performance activities.
LAKE DISTRICT
Fell Foot, near Newby Bridge, Cumbria
Get active on the shore of Lake Windermere with badminton, archery, frisbee golf and other activities every weekday. Or hire a rowboat, kayak or paddleboard and take to the water.
There are guided canoe tours exploring Fell Foot’s history, and bat tours on the water led by a ranger. For younger kids there’s a play area and balance bikes to hire.
Attractions elsewhere:
Sizergh, near Kendal - Play trail, wildlife spotting and dressing up
Allan Bank, Grasmere - Coconut shy, sack races, pollinator trail and croquet
Wray Castle, Windermere - Stone skimming, lawn games and lake cruises
Acorn Bank, near Penrith - Woodland fairy trail, geocaching and working watermill
Whitehaven Coast - Play trail and picnics.
You can climb on the Old Castle ruins at Crom, County Fermanagh (©National Trust Images/Chris Lac)NORTH WEST
Quarry Bank Mill, Wilmslow, Cheshire
Mill Meadow is at the heart of the Summer of Play with a mini obstacle course, straw-bale maze, natural art and traditional garden games, plus the chance for visitors to build their own mill or find the secret music glade.
At Quarry Bank House they can discover favourite Georgian parlour games or watch movies or outdoor theatre in the gardens on selected days, or dig test pits in the Apprentice House Garden during the Festival of Archaeology.
Attractions elsewhere:
Speke Hall, Liverpool - Giant Childe of Hale trail, hedge maze, zip wire and occasional outdoor theatre
Lyme, Stockport - I ndoor games and dressing up, plus outdoor theatre and an archaeology weekend on select dates
Dunham Massey, Cheshire - Play hub, games in nature and deer-spotting
Rufford Old Hall, near Ormskirk - Sports day games, suits of armour and nature play
Hare Hill, near Macclesfield - Moon Hare adventure trail, tree swing and nature packs.
Children can play in the beautiful gardens at Nymans, West Sussex (©National Trust Images/John Millar)MIDLANDS AND EAST
Calke Abbey, Derbyshire
Kids can try traditional games in the stable yards or venture into the magical-sounding Garden of Imagination where a secret door leads to den building and music making.
Go wild in the Calke Explore natural play area, hire a bike for a bigger adventure on the Tramway Trail, or enter the seemingly abandoned Baroque house to discover a vast collection ranging from an elaborate state bed to a large crocodile skull, before leaving via the twisting, turning tunnels.
Attractions elsewhere:
Clumber Park, Worksop - Straw bale maze, mini stage and outdoor games
Croome, Worcestershire - Performance stage, craft activities and learning in nature
Attingham Park, near Shrewsbury - Family yoga, woodland hammocks, and a huge straw bale fort
Benthall Hall, near Broseley - C ompetitive games
Dudmaston, near Bridgnorth - Balance bikes and bug-hunting, plus sports and meadow maze in Comer Woods
Biddulph Grange Garden, near Stoke-on-Trent - Haw Haw Walk and tunnels to “China, Egypt and Italy”
Kinver Edge and the Rock Houses, near Stourbridge - Team games plus bookable bushcraft adventures (£12)
Moseley Old Hall, near Wolverhampton - Den building, tree house and mud kitchen
Shugborough Estate, near Stafford - Family trails and working farm
Wightwick Manor and Gardens, Wolverhampton - Traditional sports on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, plus dressing up and puppet theatre on selected dates
Hanbury Hall & Gardens, Worcestershire - Games, Georgian and modern, and costumed historic figures
Hanbury Hall & Gardens, Worcestershire - Games, Georgian and modern, and costumed historic figures
Greyfriars House & Garden, Worcester - Celebrate 500 years of history
Berrington Hall, near Leominster - Natural play area and pond dipping on selected dates
Brockhampton, near Bromyard - Medieval trail
Croft Castle and Parkland, Leominster - Natural play area, Snakes and Apples summer trail
The Weir Garden, Hereford - Summer nature trail
The Children’s Country House at Sudbury - Grass mazes, grasshopper trail and den building (pre-book online)
Ilam Park, Ashbourne, and the White Peak - Art In The Park, messy play and den-making
Kedleston Hall, Derby - Summer Scavenger Challenge and wednesday archery in August
Longshaw, Peak District - Bee trails, orienteering, lawn games and crafts
Stoneywell, Leicestershire - Wild art and bug hunting
Dunstable Downs, Bedfordshire - Football, table tennis, archery and more
Shaw’s Corner, Welwyn - Children’s bird trail and garden games
Paycockes House & Grange Barn, Coggeshall - Garden games
Hatfield Forest, Essex - Nature walks.
Make the most of the summer with the National Trust (©National Trust Images/Arnhel de Serra)Ickworth, near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
Visitors can celebrate the restoration of the 1st Earl’s Summer House by building their own summer house and performing on the summer house stage overlooking the stunning canal lake, or weave their way through wild mazes and immerse themselves in the sensory garden.
They will also find an adventure play area, cycle hub and multi-use trails through the ancient deer park, formal gardens, rolling Suffolk landscape and woodlands within which the Italianate Palace is set.
Attractions elsewhere:
Wimpole Estate, Cambs - Hay maze, puppet shows and farm trail
Wicken Fen, Cambs - Nature trails and pre-bookable activities
Houghton Mill, Huntingdon - Canoeing, pre-bookable tours
Anglesey Abbey, Cambs - Obstacle course, woodland gym, musical space and Magic of Books exhibition
Blakeney National Nature Reserve and Morston Quay, Norfolk - Wildlife watching
Blickling Estate, near Norwich - Five play areas, Sensational Portraits
Felbrigg Hall, Gardens and Estate, near Norwich - Sports activities, nature tracking and sensory packs
Horsey Windpump, Great Yarmouth - Wildlife spotting
Oxburgh Estate, King’s Lynn - Sports day races and lawn games
Sheringham Park, Sheringham - Sporting activities and nature tracking
Melford Hall, Sudbury - Family friendly trails, story bags and lawn games
Flatford, near Colchester - Family nature trails and rowing boats
Dunwich Heath and Beach, Suffolk - Wildlife-spotting, family trails, den-building and bookable nature events
Sutton Hoo, Suffolk - Dressing up, archaeology activities and open air theatre.
Enjoy a fun day at the gardens of Hidcote, Gloucestershire (©National Trust Images/James Dobson)LONDON AND SOUTH EAST
Polesden Lacey, Surrey
Follow in the footsteps of the King’s grandparents who spent part of their honeymoon at Polesden Lacey 100 years ago. Visitors can play tennis, try nature-inspired crafts or head to Crab Apple Orchard for a host of playful events and activities inspired by George VI and Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.
Attractions elsewhere:
Hatchlands Park, near Guildford - Straw-bale boat and maze, lawn games, donkey stables and outdoor theatre
Claremont Landscape Garden, Esher - Skittles, archery and boating
Dapdune Wharf and River Wey Navigations, Guildford - Pond dipping, bug hunting and den building plus hireable kayaks and paddleboards
Hindhead Commons and Devil’s Punch Bowl - Sports, natural play area, plus puppet theatre on select dates
Box Hill, Tadworth, Surrey - Nature trail, plus puppet theatre on select dates
Chartwell, Westerham - Dressing up, performing and two-storey treehouse
Ightham Mote, Sevenoaks - Costumed characters and history demonstrations, stocks and jousting
Knole, Sevenoaks - Family trail, dressing up
Nymans, West Sussex:
Comber’s Field will be the venue for a range of activities from running races and the obstacle course to the tug of war, while the grade II listed garden will host sports day activities. Visit The Play Glade for den building, stepping logs, natural art and the play stage.
Attractions elsewhere:
Petworth House and Park, Sussex - Elmer’s Art Parade, sculpture trail
Sheffield Park and Garden, near Uckfield - Family trail
Bodiam Castle, Robertsbridge - Mini jousting, soft-play archery and Medieval encampment
Bodiam Castle, Robertsbridge - Mini jousting, soft-play archery and Medieval encampment
Standen, East Grinstead - Sketchbook activities and family play
Bateman’s, Etchingham - Jungle Book trail.
Take a walk in the Herb Garden at the Vyne, Hampshire (©National Trust Images/John Mill)NORTHERN IRELAND
Castle Ward, County Down
A World of Exploration awaits across the drawbridge of Castle Ward, including surprises and challenges at every twist of the straw maze. Brave explorers can climb the wicker castle and all youngsters get to be king or queen for a moment.
The Barn is a historical hub of play and learning and there’s the Mud Kitchen, Music Area and den building, as well as dressing up, crafts and sports and games.
Attractions elsewhere:
Giant’s Causeway, Co. Antrim - Friday games on the visitor centre roof
Mount Stewart, Co. Down - Natural play area, croquet and nursery playtime
Mussenden Temple, Co. Londonderry - Bookable family events
The Argory, Co. Armagh - Garden tours on select dates
Rowallane, Co. Down - Lawn games, sports and live music
Springhill, Co. Armagh – Garden tours on select dates.
Visit the garden at Hill Top in the Lake District (©NTI/Paul Harris)WALES
Chirk Castle, Wrexham
A huge straw-bale castle contains four unique zones where youngsters can discover different ways to play, engage their senses and have fun. They can get close to nature as they build dens and tackle an obstacle course, then use their imaginations through costume and role play.
There are also archery and fencing events, plus all the history of the castle with dungeons, state rooms and an 18th- century model farm.
Attractions elsewhere:
Erddig, Wrexham - Weaving wheelbarrows, tricycle racing, art workshops and storytelling on selected dates
Plas Newydd House and Garden, Anglesey - Kite flying, garden games, adventure playground and archaeology on selected dates
Penrhyn Castle and Garden, Bangor - Woodland play area, games and pig-feeding
Bodnant Garden, Conwy - Woodland walks, willow maze and waterfall
Plas yn Rhiw, Llan Peninsula - Pollinator trail, nature-spotting
Powis Castle and Garden, Welshpool - Lawn games and sports
Llanerchaeron, Ceredigion - Woodland walks, balance bikes, lawn games and farm
Tredegar House, Newport - Lawn games, nature play and performance play
Dyffryn Gardens, Cardiff - Wild play, musical games and dressing up
Dinefwr, Carmarthenshire - Lawn games, tennis, White Park Cattle
Dolaucothi, Carmarthenshire - Gold panning, bookable mine tours and archaeology
Colby Woodland Garden, Pembrokeshire - Bug safaris, guided nature walks and archery
Stackpole, Pembrokeshire - Nature walks, orienteering trail, and bookable bat talks.
Try on medieval costumes at Chirk Castle in Wrexham (©National Trust Images/Trevor Ra)For more information, including ticket prices, parking, dates and timings, visit nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/family-friendly or individual websites