Family-friendly things to do at Cotehele

Family within the glass house completing an activity at Cotehele, Cornwall — Family sowing seeds in the glass house at Cotehele, Cornwall | © National Trust Images / James Dobson

Discover all the things to do on a family day out to Cotehele. Explore the garden and orchards and head out on an adventure around the estate. Find out what family-friendly events are coming up and how best to plan your day out at Cotehele with children in mind.

Partial closure of the Cherry Orchard Play Area

Due to essential maintenance, some of the platforms within the Cherry Orchard Play Area are currently closed to allow us to complete this work. We hope to reopen the play area fully soon.

Planning your family visit to Cotehele

Free entry for under 5s
Baby-changing facilities in most toilets
Buggy-friendly route around the garden, quay and towards Cotehele Mill
Play area by the Cherry Orchard and at Cotehele Quay
Children’s menu available within the Barn Cafe
Pocket money gifts and children’s books available in the shop
Resource station within Visitor Welcome with fidget toys, ear defenders, sunglasses, and colour sheets available to borrow.
Please take extra care around Cotehele Quay, the pond dipping area at the quay and the ponds within the Upper Garden and Valley Garden.

Easter at Cotehele

Take part in an Easter trail at Cotehele

5 - 21 April 2025, 10am - 4pm

Join us for an Easter adventure at Cotehele. Discover our family-friendly trail with fun activities for across the ten activity stations dotted around the garden. Complete the trail and earn your chocolate reward at the end (both dairy and vegan and Free From options available).

Normal admission charges apply, plus £3.50 per trail.

A family enjoying an Easter trail | © James Dobson

What to look out for soon

50 things to do before you’re 11¾

Cotehele is the perfect place for ticking off some of your ’50 things to do before you’re 11 ¾.’ There are plenty of things to try at Cotehele, whatever the weather. Here are just a few:

No. 4 Build a den

Gather large sticks and create a secret hideaway. Our favourite spot for building dens is by the Cherry Orchard play area.

No. 33 Go cloud watching

With imagination you can create whole worlds from the shapes you see in the sky. Any spot at Cotehele is great for doing this, we like lying on the grass slopes by the bowling green.

No. 48 Keep a nature diary

Bring along some scrap paper and colouring pencils and keep a diary of the things you have discovered. What did you touch? What can you hear? Draw the wildlife you spotted on your adventures around Cotehele.