Our places have acres of space with fun quizzes and activities laid on for your little ones, plus family-friendly eating places and facilities for when you need a quick pit stop.

The new playground at The Vyne © Helen Sanderson

The new playground at The Vyne

© Helen Sanderson

Places to play

‘It’s a great place to play - and so good for confidence building - all in a safe environment.’
- Jennifer Stokes, mum

From woodland obstacle courses to secret hideouts, pick your picnic spot and let your young explorers go wild while you enjoy the view.

Find a place to visit

Special Places Project

The Fabulous Baker Brothers taking in the spectacular views at Dyrham Park

Celebrities, including The Fabulous Baker Brothers, Kim Cattrall and Jude Law, step behind the camera for us as we encourage the country to share their special places.

Activity 32: find some frogspawn

Looking into a pond at Acorn Bank

Did you know that a frog can lay around 5,000 eggs at once? Spring is the best time of year to find some frogspawn and get your 50 things challenge started.

Ideas for family exploring

  • 50 Things: build a den 

    Den building

    'Build a den' is number 4 on our 50 things challenge and branches, twigs and leaves make surprisingly cosy shelters, especially when it’s cold and wet. Our places have lots of natural materials to help you get creative with your den building and hide out in our huge woodlands.

  • 50 Things: The best tree to climb  

    Climb a tree

    'When I climbed up and looked down, everyone else looked like mice they were so small! I liked the fact that you could hide and see the house from inside the tree.’
    - Jessica Swales, Kids’ Council, aged 8

    Release your inner monkey and climb to the top of a giant tree.

  • Family day out on bikes © David Levenson

    Family bike rides

    Choose one of our family oriented bike rides for an fantastic day out. What could be better than setting off to explore the countryside on two wheels.

  • Bluebells carpet the woods in spring © National Trust

    Signs of Spring

    'I love the magic of spring, when you can stop and appreciate the beauty of nature all around you. Find a spot to yourself and breathe in the space, sights and sounds of the world waking up.'

    - Drew Marsh, Ranger, Hardcastle Crags

  • A family walking through the woods at Cotehele, Cornwall © National Trust

    Family walks

    Enjoy a wander around some of our most family-friendly trails and enjoy spotting some fantastic wildlife, followed by hot chocolates in one of our cafes or tea-rooms.

  • See who can make the biggest splash! © Kirsty Boyes

    Rainy days

    Don't let soggy days stop you having a brilliant day out. We have tons of ideas on how to have a great day out to remember. From embracing the bad weather and making the most of the puddles to games to play indoors.

Family friendly places

  • Baby feeding & changing areas at most places
  • High chairs, kids menu & colouring sheets
  • Baby slings and hip-carrying seats often available on loan
  • Space for picnics
  • Fun activities, trails and play areas

Become a member

Enjoy a year full of adventure. Join today, and your family can explore hundreds of houses, gardens, parks, castles, lighthouses, grottos, mills and much more without having to pay a penny to get in.

Family events

Enjoy events to suit everybody

We love families, and many of our places hold special events for visiting children to join in with. Ranging from craft activities to nature trails, we've got something going on near you.