Family-friendly things to do at Cotehele

An adult and two children explore the garden surrounded by daffodils in spring at Cotehele, Cornwall — Exploring Cotehele's garden in spring | © National Trust Images / John Millar

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.

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 and second-hand bookshop
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.

May Half Term at Cotehele

23 May - 1 June, 10am-4pm

Discover activities inspired by Cornish Heritage and Language around the garden at Cotehele.

Take on activites such as Cornwall-hole (cornhole), Cornish Quoits, and much more.

Keep an eye out around the house and garden for slates with Cornish words and phrases. Why not challenge your friends and family to pronounce the words, and have a go at forming some Cornish sentences.

Head to Visitor Reception when you arrive and pick up a trail sheet

This activity comes at no extra cost. Normal admission applies.

A Very Royal Summer of Play at Cotehele

11 July - 6 September, 10am-4pm

Enjoy a very royal summer of play at Cotehele. Discover courtly games and outdoor fun for playful family days out.

Inspired by Queen Charlotte’s visit in the summer of 1789, visitors can join in with royal-inspired games, imaginative play and challenges around for the garden fit for kings and queens.

This activity comes at no extra cost. Normal admission applies.

An adult and child playing with autumn leaves on a path — Family playing outdoors | © National Trust Images/John Miller

What else to look out for at Cotehele

Hidden creatures within the house at Cotehele

Available daily from 7 March - 22 May, 11am-4pm

Explore the house and see if you can discover the animals hiding amongst the tapestries, wood carvings and windows. Pick up your trail sheet from the hall within the house when you enter.

This activity comes at no extra cost. Normal admission applies.

Terrific Textiles spotters trail at Cotehele

Available daily from 23 May - 1 November, 11am-4pm

Explore the house and see if you can find the objects, animals and figures hidden within the tapestries and textiles at Cotehele. Pick up your trail sheet from the hall within the house when you enter and hand it back to the volunteer for a sticker prize.

This activity comes at no extra cost. Normal admission applies.

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.