Top spots to find champion conkers

Child with a handful of conkers at Castle Coole, County Fermanagh

If you want to win at conkers this autumn the most important thing you'll need is a champion collection. Our top tip for picking the best conkers is to put all the ones you've gathered in a bucket of water. Any that sink to the bottom are winners, those that float are losers. You'll also be ticking off No. 10 play conkers of our '50 things to do before you're 11¾'.

Here are some of the best spots to find winning conkers:

Boy putting conkers into a jar

Places to find conkers in the East of England 

Do you want to become a conker champion this autumn? If you do, you’ll need some winning conkers, so here are some of the best places in the East of England to find them.

Top 5 places to find conkers in the East of England
Ancient sweet chestnut trees at Ashridge

Top spots to find conkers in the South East 

Hunt for conkers among red squirrels at Mottisfont Estate on the Isle of Wight. Or search below the UK's largest horse-chestnut tree at Hughenden Manor in Buckinghamshire. All over the South East we've got loads of places for a great game.

Go conker hunting in the South East
" Drill your conkers very carefully with a sharp bit to avoid splitting the outer shell and then leave them in the airing cupboard or on top of a radiator for a week or so"
- Doug Munford, ranger at Lyme Park
Children playing conkers in autumn at Stourhead

Places to find conkers in the South West 

Head to our leafy places in the South West to find the conkers of your dreams. From Dyrham Park near Bath to Coleton Fishacre in Devon, we've got loads of places you can get out for an autumn walk and a cracking game of conkers.

Find conkers in the South West
" A great conker is one that has been stored in a dry place for at least a year. This matures it and makes it rock hard and therefore formidable."
- Roald Dahl
The 'Colours, Conkers and Collage' family learning weekend at Attingham Park

Top spots to find conkers in the Midlands 

It's not hard to find great conkers in the Midlands. From Clumber Park in Nottinghamshire to Packwood House in Warwickshire we've got loads of top conker sites just waiting to be explored.

Find winning conkers in the Midlands