Discover more at Saltram
Find out when Saltram is open, how to get here, the things to see and do and more.
Family-friendly things to do at Saltram
Discover all the things to do with the family on a day out at Saltram. Explore the garden, house or head out on a family adventure around the estate on a walk or cycle ride. Find out what events are coming up that have children in mind.
Planning your family visit to Saltram
- Free entry for under 5s
- Baby-changing facilities in most toilets
- Buggy-friendly routes and paths around the garden and estate walks.
- Play area next to the car park and cafe
- Children’s menu available at the cafe
- Pocket money gifts and children’s books available in the shop
Summer Late Nights
Every Friday from 19 July to 30 August
Bring a picnic, some friends, or simply your sense of wonder to enjoy Saltram’s lush gardens under the setting sun. Whether you're unwinding after work or letting the kids romp on the lawn until bedtime, it's the perfect way to extend your day in Saltram's idyllic setting. Gates will remain open until 7pm with last entry at 6:20 pm, ensuring you have plenty of time to relax and explore. Please note, while the garden and welcome centre will extend their hours, the house and park café will maintain their usual closing times.
Summer of Play at Saltram
Saturday 20th July - Sunday 1st September 2024
Enjoy time together over the school holidays and become a ‘marvellous maker’ in a Summer of Play at Saltram, featuring a programme of activities there is something fun for all the family.
Join in a variety of games available every day by the play tent. Or can you and your family top the leaderboard in a game on tournament on Tuesdays?
Pick up your Summer booklet from Visitor Welcome and complete all the activities and challenges across the summer to become a Marvellous Maker!
Activities include becoming a music maker and finding all the instruments around the garden and completing lots of sports, games and activities. There are also craft activities every Thursday of the Summer holidays.
Once you have completed as many activities as you can, collect your Marvellous Maker medal from the Bookshop at the end of your visit.
Booklets cost £1 each.
What shall we do if it's raining?
If the rain clouds descend, don't worry - the fun doesn't end here!
Why not head indoors and discover the amazing collection we have here at Saltram? Be careful though, as we have 'Mischief Makers' causing havoc in the house. Can you find all the creepy crawlies around the house and discover what damage these beasties are up to? Psst! Remember, this is an activity to complete in your summer booklet.
Every Thursday, we are running different craft activities inside the shelter of the Summer of Play tent in the garden. Get creative with portrait painting or completing a summer scrapbook; there is something every week for everyone to enjoy.
If it is raining on a Wild Wednesday session, please do not worry as we have wet weather alternatives planned in Stable 6.
And of course, the café and tea room are open throughout the summer for indoor ice creams and various sweet and savoury treats.
Whats great for...
Toddlers and Pre-schoolers
We have a variety of games at the Summer of Play tent such as racetrack running races or practicing those throwing skills with family dodgeball on Tournament Tuesday. Wear sticky velcro vests and can your little one throw the ball to stick on the vests, or can they chase after you to remove your tail (tag rugby style).
Toddlers will also enjoy playing the musical instruments around the garden and listening to the sounds they create.
Primary Schoolers
Join in some family games from tennis on selected Tournament Tuesday days or can your little on re-create a favourite tune using our musical instuments around the garden?
Have fun every Thursday and create some arts and crafts from the Summer of Play tent in the garden with painting and scapbooking. Take home these marvellous creations and display them for all to see.
Older children
Wild Wednesday activities are perfect for children of any age over 5. From bug hunting to pond dipping, there if something for everyone.
Tournament Tuesdays are designed for families to take part in activities together from tennis, to colour jumping and dodgeball tag. It is a great opportunity to ge the whole family together, whatever the age bracket.
Wild Wednesdays
These popular sessions are back for the summer. Join us as we explore the amazing world around us with some fun nature based activities for the whole family to enjoy.
- Wednesday 24th July - Bug Hunting
- Wednesday 31st July - Seed Planting
- Wednesday 7th August - Seed Planting
- Wednesday 14th August - Bug Hunting
- Wednesday 21st August - Bug Hunting
- Wednesday 28th August - Pond Dipping
Sessions take place at 11am - 12pm and 2pm - 3pm. Booking is essential for these events.
Wet weather alternative in Stable 6.
Drop-in art workshops
Feeling crafty? These drop in sessions will take place every Thursday, 11am-3pm, with a different art activity theme each week from portrait painting, scrap book making and more (no booking required).
Sessions will take place in the Summer of Play tent in the garden.
From Monday 26 – Friday 31 August, come and add your own creation to the big ‘Saltram summer scrapbook’ giant artwork. Drop-in between 11am – 3pm.
And finally, complete your very own activity scrap book to become a ‘marvellous maker’, featuring activities and trails to keep you busy all summer. Available from the Welcome Centre for £1.
Admission charges apply if visiting the garden, free for NT members. Parking charges apply, free for NT members.
Top things to do in the house
Can buggies go into the house?
You can measure the width of your buggy at Visitor Welcome to see if you can bring your buggy into the ground floor of the house. There are some steps leading out through the kitchen, so the volunteers will direct you back along the route to the front door.
Alternatively, you can leave your buggy at the front of the house undercover.
What can we see?
Discover the history of the Parker family and the amazing collection of items and paintings adorning Saltram's show rooms.
Things to do in the Garden and Estate
Family friendly estate walks and cycling
Saltram's estate boundary walk is a great way to stretch your legs and walk along our buggy friendly paths towards the woods with views of the estuary.
Why not explore the quieter 'Dell walk' if you would like to venture into the estate a bit further on your adventures.
Its also a great place to bring the bikes and explore! The paths are generally level with some hilly areas for those up for a challenge. There are also dedicated cycle paths and a pump track dedicated to those littler bikers.
A garden for all seasons
The garden is a great place for the family to create lasting memories. Free seasonal garden trails throughout the year get children to connect with nature and the history of Saltram.
The paths are buggy and wheelchair friendly and the borders are bursting with interest and colour all year round.
The garden is the best place to have a picnic and the lawns make a great snack spot but also the perfect place to fly a kite, play and let off some steam.
Eating and Drinking at Saltram
The Stables cafe is the perfect place to sit and have some lunch as a family. There is indoor and outdoor seating available, as well as lots of highchairs to use and a baby change within the cafe. The Stables is a perfect family friendly place to visit.
For those who want to continue to explore, there is the option of take away drinks from the trailer cafe in the car park.
In the Spring and Summer, Saltram is perfect for family picnics to. Our favourite spots around the garden include the serpentine lawn or castle folly area.