Family-friendly things to do at Killerton

Image of a child wearing bunny ears looking intently at her Easter trail sheet — Searching for the next stage in the Easter trail | © National Trust / Chris Tapley

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.

Half Term Welly Wander

14 - 22 February

Spot the early signs of spring and be the first to shout ‘bingo!’ This time of year, Killerton is full of the signs of spring, and across the estate we're working to help nature thrive.

Pick up a bingo sheet from Visitor Reception and follow the yellow wellies around the garden and Chapel grounds. Which creatures call this place home? What habitats can you spot? Can you identify the different plants blooming all around?

Easter Adventures at Killerton

27 March - 19 April

Follow the interactive play trail through the grounds and gardens to 'find' Killerton’s Rangers and discover how they make a home for creatures across the estate.

Why is Anna counting butterflies? Why does Steve have a chainsaw? Who are Jack’s friends down at the pond? Build a gate, plant a ‘tree’, pollinate an orchard, and follow in the footsteps of Killerton’s Rangers with mix of active, sensory, and creative activities.

Follow the trail route around the garden and chapel grounds and complete each fun-filled activity. Don't forget to collect your chocolate egg at the end!

Easter Adventures will run from Friday 27 March-Sunday 19 April, 10am - 5pm, with last entry at 4.30pm, so come along and explore the beautiful grounds of Killerton.

The price for each trail is £3.50 per child and includes a trail map and a chocolate egg.

Visitors inside the Bear Hut, looking out of the window at Killerton, Devon — Find the Bear's hut in the garden at Killerton | © National Trust Images/John Millar

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, click here.

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.

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?