Family-friendly things to do at Canons Ashby

Planning your family visit

Here's the information you need at a glance to make the most of your family day out at Canons Ashby:

• There are baby-changing facilities in the area outside the unisex accessible toilet and the ladies toilet. These are available to all.
• High chairs available - Please ask the team for help with your baby food if it needs to be heated.
• Pocket money books and games are available in the Coach House shop
• You're welcome to picnic in the Paddock and Parkland, but not the formal gardens
• Family trails can be picked up from visitor reception
• The grass can be uneven and boggy in some areas of the wider parkland and may not be suitable for pushchairs
• The garden has loose gravel paths that may not be suitable for some pushchairs and there are steps and slopes throughout.

Family-friendly events

Plant a Pumpkin

4 - 6 May, 10am - 4pm. Normal admission applies, and £1 per pumpkin.

Plant a pumpkin seedling in a compostable pot to take home and grow. Keep in touch with us online and let us know how big it grows. You can plant your pumpkin outside in the ground, or in a bigger pot. Come back in late summer to see how our pumpkins are getting on in the garden.

Canons Ashby Book Fair

27 May - 4 June, 10am until 4pm. Normal admission applies.

Come to the medieval Priory Church and browse a wide selection of books which have been donated by our supporters, all different genres from crime to cakes, new and old. Stock up for your summer holidays whilst raising funds for our special place.

We recommend bringing cash to make it easier to buy books.

Great Expectations by Quantum Theatre

22 June, 6pm - 8.30pm. Booking in advance required. Adult £16, Child (5 - 17) £10, Family £46. For more information & booking see here.

From misty marshes to the streets of London; our new adaptation of Dickens’s popular and atmospheric novel, delivers high comedy and thrilling drama as we follow Pip’s journey to discover the true nature of his ‘great expectations’.

This is outdoor theatre at its best in the Paddock of Canons Ashby – bring a picnic, rugs or picnic chairs and dress for the weather.

Nature Explorer Activities

6, 13, 20 & 27 August. Normal admission applies, (there may be small fees to cover the costs of some activities). No booking needed.

Bring the kids and enjoy activities connected with nature and the great outdoors. Whether it’s wild art, or wildlife spotting, there’s something to try every Tuesday of August.

Peter Pan by Immersion Theatre

25 August. Booking in advance required. Adult £15, Child (3 - 17) £11. For more information & booking see here.

Following the success of “The Wizard of Oz,” multi-award nominated Immersion Theatre invite you to soar away to Neverland as they proudly bring their trademark energy to their most magical musical to date, Peter Pan.

Filled with catchy music, heaps of audience interaction, and a laugh-a-minute script, this hilarious and exciting musical of the boy who never grew up promises to have every member of the family entertained throughout…You’ll be HOOKED!

This is outdoor theatre at its best in the Paddock of Canons Ashby – bring a picnic, rugs or picnic chairs and wrap up warm!

Apple Harvest Weekend

Sat 28 & Sun 29 September, 10.30am - 4pm. Normal admission prices apply, with small additional charges for some activities. No pre-booking needed.

Celebrate the annual apple harvest with beautiful decorations, Morris Dancing and traditional seasonal fun.

There will be family craft activities, games for old and young, a tombola, and a select group of stall holders selling their wares. Spot the harvest mice in the house and enjoy beautiful decorations in the church.

Creepy Creatures Trail

26 Oct - 3 Nov, 10am - 3pm. No booking needed. Normal admission and £4 per trail.

Pick up a Creepy Creature Trail and have a hoot with your herd. Find out more about the amazing local creatures that you might see in these colder months, and let your little cubs explore the green space and fresh air, looking for pumpkins, owls, bats and more. (And don’t be the silly goose who forgets their wellies!)