The Trust is committed to providing a welcoming, worthwhile and
enjoyable visit for families with children.
Family tickets are offered in every region, although not necessarily at every property,
and in general will admit two adults and up to three children.
Facilities for children
Many properties provide baby-feeding areas and baby-changing facilities, often combined
in a purpose-designed parent and baby room.
In restaurants there are high-chairs, together with children's menus, colouring
sheets and, at some properties, play areas.
There are children's guides, trails or quiz sheets, and Trust shops stock a wide
range of interesting and inexpensive items for children.
Individual property information for families can be found on the 'What to see and
do' and 'Facilities' pages on property sites. Further information is also available in the 'Families
& children' section of the 'Learning & discovery' pages.
Trusty the Hedgehog
Trusty the Hedgehog, the children's character, has been created especially for young
members and visitors.
As well as featuring on Trust Tracks, the newsletter for young members, Trusty appears
at many events at Trust properties across the country and is proving immensely popular in helping to
develop children's interest in the Trust's vital conservation work.
Trusty has his own webpages, specifically for young visitors. Children can view
the special art gallery showing their own paintings, email reports about their favourite places and
discover more about wildlife. Visit Trusty the Hedgehog's website
If you would like a free list of events for children and families, please call our
membership department on 0844 800 1895 or search our events online.
Visit the learning pages for more information on facilities available
for families at National Trust properties or find out more about family membership.
Polite note
One note of caution on visiting historic houses: we ask parents to recognise the
challenges which the Trust faces in preserving fragile interiors and delicate contents.
Architecture, interior decoration and furnishings differ at every house, and therefore
access arrangements for visitors vary too.
We regret that at the majority of historic houses it is not possible to admit prams,
pushchairs or baby back carriers, because of the considerable risk of accidents to babies and young
children, damage to historic contents and inconvenience to other visitors on busy days.
However, some houses are able to admit baby back carriers at all times; others may
admit back carriers on quiet days mid-week, at the discretion of the staff on duty at the time - please
telephone in advance to check.
For visitors with smaller babies, front slings are admitted and are usually available
on loan, as are reins for toddlers at a few properties. Prams can be stored at the entrance at the staff's
discretion.
We regret that the restriction on back carriers, prams and pushchairs can cause
particular difficulties for parents with older and/or heavier babies. If you are unsure about restrictions,
do please telephone the property in advance of your visit to check.
Once at a property, please ask staff for help and advice, and do bear in mind that
there is often plenty for children to see and do outdoors, whether on an estate with a garden and park,
or at nearby countryside or coastal sites.
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