Children playing on balance equipment at Killerton — Summer of Play at Killerton | © Steve Haywood

Family-friendly places around Devon and Exmoor

From rock pooling on beautiful beaches to exploring historic houses, there are plenty of places to enjoy a great family day out around Devon and Exmoor.

Family-friendly houses and gardens in Devon

Find all the best houses and gardens for your family to visit.

Saltram

Find family friendly activities at Saltram including exploring the estate, garden and house, and the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution trail.

A brightly coloured graphic split into four quadrants. The largest, righthand quadrant has a bright green background and an image of a male child in a red waterproof jacket is grinning at the camera. Each other quadrant contains a Pokémon from the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Series.

Knightshayes

Discover the house at Knightshayes. See the details behind architect William Burges's gothic façade and a portrait that may be by Rembrandt.

Killerton

Explore the garden, woods and parkland at Killerton. With an estate that covers 6,400 acres, you'll find fun and adventures for children of all ages.

There's lots of family fun to be had at Arlington Court. Discover a house full of treasures, an impressive collection of horse-drawn vehicles and over 20 miles of walkways, bridleways and cycle routes to explore.

Family walking in the grounds of Arlington Court with two dogs

Buckland Abbey

Whether it's a woodland adventure, an amazing story of life on the high seas or a tasty treat from the coffee shop, there's something for all the family to enjoy at Buckland Abbey this summer.

Greenway

From garden games to spotting wildlife on the river, there's an adventure for kids big and small.

Coleton Fishacre

Discover a host of activities at Coleton Fishacre to keep the whole family entertained and help you create memories together. What adventures will you have next?

Visitors walking by the stream at Bodnant Garden, North Wales

Castle Drogo

Visit this family home and castle on the edge of Dartmoor. It’s the last castle to be built in England and has views across the Teign Gorge in Devon.

Children looking through binoculars outside

Family friendly places on Exmoor

Family Fun at Dunster Castle and Watermill

Looking for a fun family day out this spring? As the days brighten and the gardens wake up, Dunster Castle is full of seasonal colour and fresh air adventures. Whether you’re wandering among blooming borders, spotting early wildlife, or uncovering fascinating castle stories, there’s something for everyone to get involved in.

A group of visitors walking past an archway entrance at Dunster Castle

Family-friendly things to do at Fyne Court

Fyne Court is a brilliant place for families to explore. Find out more about the activities you can enjoy together.

Things to do in Lorna Doone Valley

Discover this hidden valley in Exmoor, made famous by R.D. Blackmore in his novel Lorna Doone and home to a wide variety of wildlife such as red deer and Exmoor ponies.

What's on during the summer holidays in Devon?

Planning ahead for the school summer holidays? Unleash your energy with the National Trust’s Summer of Play supported by Pokémon.

Pokémon joins Killerton’s Summer of Play

Calling Pokémon fans new and old! This Summer of Play, Pokémon are jumping into the great outdoors near you. Are you ready to share the magic with a new generation? From 18 July-6 September, on top of an already jam-packed Summer of Play at Killerton, with 7 play areas across the site, you can discover an all new Pokémon zone. Get stuck into the Pokémon Trading Card Game, flex your skills and collect Mega Evolution stickers.

A cartoon of two children playing outside. One is juggling balls and the other is holding a pencil.

Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Trail and Summer of Play at Saltram

Unleash your energy on a Pokémon adventure this summer, celebrating the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Series. Team up as a family to search the gardens for each Mega Evolution Pokémon, discover their powers, and complete your own challenges. Are you ready for a mega adventure?

Summer of Play at Arlington Court

Summer of play is back! Get ready for a summer filled with fun at Arlington with our field of play. Enjoy circus challenges, hobby horse races, lawn games and quiet picnic spots among the gardens.

Two children running across a field of grass holding hands, one is wearing butterfly wings

A Swashbuckling Summer of Play at Buckland Abbey

There’s plenty of swashbuckling fun to be had this summer at Buckland. Join us for a summer of play inspired by daring explorers and high-seas adventure, with playful challenges, imaginative games, and outdoor activities for the whole family to enjoy. After your adventures, slow things down with a treat from the café, a walk around the estate, or relax in a shady spot within the garden.

Three young teenage children are dancing in a circle with colourful ribbons.

Summer of Play at Knightshayes

Step into our bright new play hub - where big imaginations shine, crazy golf awaits and messy masterpieces are made. With daily summer activities and cosy shelters for English weather, it’s the perfect spot for family fun all season long.

Visitors playing on the grass with butercups in the foreground

Join in with the Summer of Play at Castle Drogo

From the 1920's to the present day, the gardens will be filled with nostalgia with toys and games through the decades. Alternatively, head to the Orchard for nature and sensory play, explore the beautiful wildflower meadow with your little ones, spot wildlife or simply have a picnic and enjoy the views.

A close-up of a family sitting at a picnic bench wearing sunglasses at Mottisfont

Summer of Play at Coleton Fishacre

Ahoy, explorers - its time to set sail and navigate your way through sunny adventures in the garden by the sea. Explore sensory moments, get creative with building or spend lazy summer days in the hammocks and on the swing with a view at the sailors hangout on the coast. By the house, there's 1920's vintage games, from Battle Ships to Ludo and a giant version of Peggity - ideal for all the family.

Children running in the garden at Coleton Fishacre, Devon

Summer of play at Greenway

Discover every flavour of play at Greenway- create, explore, move, wonder, make-believe. Inspired by the garden party in Agatha Christie's novel Dead Man's Folly, have some good old fashioned fun with traditional games, and on selected dates join in with circus skills workshops. Try it all, find your favourite, come back again and again.

Summer of Play at A la Ronde

Play all day as you explore exciting mazes around the grounds, inspired by Mary and Jane’s daring Grand Tour. Think you can out explore Jane and Mary? Dive into our twisty mazes, follow curious clues, and see if you can complete your own mini–Grand Tour around A la Ronde. All with the Exe Estuary sparkling below you the whole way.

3 boys walking on a woodland path on an Easter Trail

Find more things to do this summer near you

See all places with Summer of Play

Make the most of the school holidays with the National Trust Summer of Play. We're welcoming families of every shape and size to slow down, reconnect and enjoy time together outside. Held in historic gardens across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, Summer of Play offers games, activities and trails to keep young and old entertained.

Kids enjoying Summer of Play activities at Fountains Abbey, Yorkshire

Find more places with Pokémon activities

Calling Pokémon fans new and old! Get outdoors with our Pokémon Trading Card Game Mega Evolution Trails. Complete the trails to find Mega Evolution Pokémon, discover their powers and complete fun challenges.

Outdoor entertainment in Devon

Find family-friendly outdoor theatre, cinema and music performances across Devon and Exmoor this summer.

Performers from Immersion Theatre presenting Peter Pan on the stage outdoors

Family-friendly countryside and beaches

Discover places to explore in the fresh air with all the family.

Wembury

From water sports on the beach to rock-pooling with the family, discover the adventures to be had when you visit Wembury and the surrounding areas.

Parke

Explore the historic estate of Parke on the edge of Dartmoor, with its walled garden and mixed orchard plus abundant wildlife along the river.

A family of four are strolling through woodland at Rowallane Garden, County Down, where the leaves on the trees have turned yellow. The family is looking at something out of the shot.

Lydford Gorge

This summer find a prehistoric world full of crashing water and lush green growth with plenty of outdoor fun and adventure for all the family at Lydford Gorge.

Plymbridge Woods

Discover what you can do when visiting Plymbridge Woods, a 'bridge' between rugged open, windswept moorland and the city of Plymouth and the coast.

Heddon Valley

Explore the wooded river valley reaching inland down to the sea at Heddon's Mouth. Heddon Valley's walking routes include two accessible routes for all-terrain mobility scooters with Tramper.

South Milton Sands

Follow the coast path to the pretty village of Hope Cove, enjoy some water sports or stay longer and enjoy some stargazing – there's something for everyone at South Milton Sands.

Things to see and do at Woolacombe

From its ideal surfing conditions to its array of rock pools, Woolacombe remains one of North Devon’s best-loved beaches. Find out more about what you can see and do here.