Things to do

Spring is a great time to run wild in the fresh air and try some of our top family-friendly adventures. From racing snails to bringing up butterflies, there’s a lot to discover at this time of year with '50 things to do before you're 11¾'.

From gambolling lambs to fields of dancing daffodils and the sound of birdsong, there are so many things to love about spring. If you've been waiting eagerly for the season to start, then look out for these signs from nature.

Take a spring wildlife walk at one of the places in our care and look out for birds nesting in hedgerows, newly emerging butterflies, frogspawn and a whole host of insect life.

'Go on a really long bike ride’ is one of the most popular activities of our 50 things challenge, so we’ve come up with the best family bike rides to explore the great outdoors on two wheels.

Find out which places you still need to book in advance, and learn how you can join one of our new guided tour experiences.

A great family day out doesn't have to be expensive or complicated. We’ve picked some of our favourite family trails for you to explore.

Roll up your sleeves and get stuck into some of our top recipes to try with the kids. Quick, easy and delicious, these cakes, biscuits and savoury snacks will be sure to keep hands busy and tummies happy.

With their towering turrets and fairy-tale towers, have fun exploring some of the most interesting and enchanting ruins, encountering characters from the past and stepping back in time.

We've asked our gardeners to share their top tips on how you can look after your garden during all seasons. Whether you want to know more about pruning, weeding, harvesting veg or replanting, you'll find all the answers here.

At this time of year, gardeners are sowing a variety of different veg outside, including beetroot, broad beans, carrots, chard, fennel, kale, lettuce, parsnips, peas, spinach and rocket. You can also look forward to harvesting tasty produce such as asparagus, which is one of our favourites. We're sharing gardening tips and recipes to help you make the most of the season.

Did you know that we produce podcasts? You can download episodes for free on a variety of subjects, from the stories behind our gardens, collections and outdoor places, to the houses that helped shape and influence the work of great writers.

Our cobbled streets, rolling hills and Tudor mansions have been the backdrop to countless film and TV shows. Discover how places in our care proved the perfect settings for stories from The Secret Garden and Bridgerton to George Clarke’s National Trust Unlocked and Poldark.