Family-friendly things to do at Killerton

Children play in the gardens of sunny Killerton house, Devon — Enjoy a day out with the whole family at Killerton | © National Trust Images/Chris Lacey

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. Discover the Lady Cott (Bear’s hut) in the garden, let off some steam around the parkland or tick off some of your '50 things to do before you're 11¾'. For our intrepid explorers, pick up the Volcano Explorer Challenge or try orienteering, with courses for all abilities.

Planning your family visit

Baby-changing and feeding facilities
Children's play areas (for under 8s)
Highchairs available in all cafés
Walks suitable for big and little legs
Table tennis in the Old Apple Store
Off-road cycle path to Broadclyst.

May Half Term

Roundheads and Cavaliers: Family trail leading to an archaeological dig

Saturday 24th - Saturday 31st May

It is 1645. Armies are marching through Devon. Parliament's roundheads are chasing the King's cavaliers and you need to make a decision. Who will you support?
Follow this trail to the royalist outpost at Columbjohn. Spot clues along the way and carry out a mission to help your side. On weekdays meet an archaeologist at the dig site who will help you unearth the secrets of a hidden house with a big story to tell.
This is a walk up nearly 4km in total with no facilities en-route.

Summer of Play

19 July-7 September

Join us for a fun filled Summer of Play at Killerton! Discover the sights and sounds of the great outdoors, with games for all ages across the property.

With 6 different play areas to choose from every day. For those who want to burn off some steam, there’s frisbee golf, swingball and loose parts play to climb and build. Unleash your inner artist and get creative with arts equipment. What a performance - there’s even a mini theatre with dressing up. Head over to the nature zone to identify bugs and play in the mud kitchen. After all that there’s a quiet zone, time to relax with giant bean bags and even an outdoor library. There’s plenty of covered areas so play can continue no matter what the weather.

From 21 July-29 August take part in the mid-week drop-in sessions:

- Monday - sports activities (excluding Bank Holiday Monday)

- Tuesday - Nature-based activities

- Wednesday - Make and take art sessions

- Thursday - Circus Skills with Flotsam Circus

- Friday - Storytelling and parachute games

Members visit for free; normal admission fees apply for non-members. All play activities are included with entrance.

Family-friendly things to do in the garden

Fun for little legs

Keep your eyes open for the seasonal flowers, sweet chestnuts and pine cones on the buggy-friendly path around the garden. It's the perfect circular route for little legs to take at their own pace, or for longer legs that prefer a gentle stroll.

Take the path to the Lady Cott (Bear's hut), for an extra adventure of discovery.

Family-friendly things to do on the estate

Cycling at Killerton

Toddler balance bikes are welcome in the garden. For bigger wheels, the best place to cycle on the estate is on the cycle path from Killerton to Broadclyst. Take in the rural landscape as you pedal through farmland and Devonshire countryside. It's a leisurely six-mile round trip from Killerton to Broadclyst village.

Orienteering at Killerton

For our intrepid explorers, the Volcano Challenge activity has been designed in partnership with Devon Orienteering Club. It introduces children to orienteering and the four permanent courses in place at Killerton. The orienteering activity takes place on Front Park Bank and is suitable for over-eights who are happy to traverse steep and uneven ground. 

Children's Volcano Challenge (eight-plus years) is available at Visitor Reception for 50p.

Use the map to find eight orienteering plaques that spell the name of a creature lurking in the undergrowth. Once this challenge is complete, go on to find names of a tree, bird and an animal that lives at Killerton. Our budding explorers are then ready to undertake Killerton’s yellow orienteering course.

The orienteering courses

The orienteering courses at Killerton have had a huge overhaul, with thanks to the Devon Orienteering Club.

O utdoor activities at Killerton

Play areas

There's a small playground with a slide for younger children, just by the stable block, and another with swings in a leafy area of the overflow car park.

A child slides down the slide in the play area at Killerton, Devon — Exploring a play park at Killerton, Devon | © James Beck

'50 things to do before you're 11¾' fun

Killerton is the perfect place for getting closer to nature and ticking off some of your '50 things to do before you’re 11¾'. Here's a few of the activities you could complete during your visit:

No. 4 Build a den: Build a den out of sticks on a flat spot in the woods, cover it with leaves, and you've got a pirate hideout or a meeting place for spies
No. 31 Make friends with a bug: There's plenty of bugs to find around the parkland and woodlands. Head over to the old turkey oak tree to see the ultimate bug hotel
No. 44 Watch a bird: Killerton is home to many bird varieties. Listen out for the songbirds and the unmistakeable tap of the woodpecker. Can you spot the noisy rooks roosting in the chapel grounds?