Family-friendly things to do at Kingston Lacy

Published:: 25 January 2023

A father and son on wooden play equipment — The play area in the Woodland Trail | © National Trust / Katherine Watts

From natural play areas to family crafts, Kingston Lacy is a great day out for those with children. Whether you take your bike for a spin along the Woodland Trail or bring a frisbee for a game on South Lawn, plan your day spending time together.

We're buzzing with ideas in May and June

With summer on the horizon we're lining up fabulous family events to keep your little ones busy.

Family activity spotter cards

Get everyone involved with our free activity cards. There are prompts to help you notice nature and wildlife during your visit, ideas to engage your child's imagination and suggested activities when you get home. The cards are free, so pick one up from reception when you arrive.

Make a beeline for the Kitchen Garden

The play area in the Kitchen Garden (right next to the food and drink trailer, with its adjoining cafe tables) is best suited to younger children, but is a great starting point for your Kingston Lacy fun.

On 18 May join us for a buzz-tastic bee circus; you'll learn how to do a wiggle dance, meet the bees up close and join in a pollen demonstration. Come ready to buzz with the best at this musical show.

A man with a white painted face and a woman with a trumpet — The buzz-tastic bee circus comes to Kingston Lacy | © Sophie Fretwell

May half term

Saturdays in half term (25 May and 1 June) are for discovering what kinds of creepy-crawlies make their homes at Badbury Rings. Meet us between 11am and 1pm pick up a bug net and explore the world of tiny critters living among the orchids and wild flowers of the rings.

Then on weekdays in half term (Mon-Fri) you can get crafty making blooming beautiful paper flower garlands and crowns - it's a free activity (normal admission applies) but we'd welcome a small donation to help us put on more events like this in the future.

Tractor and trailer rides

Who doesn't love a tractor and trailer ride? These ticketed events (booking essential) will get you up close to Kingston Lacy's iconic Red Ruby Devon cows, so you can discover the part they play in conserving this beautiful place.

Planning for your summer

If you're looking further ahead, check out our plans for the summer - we'll be putting more details up soon, but prepare for a whole festival of fun with dancing, puppetry, activities and adventures galore from 20 July.

With storytelling, children's yoga and morning dance parties you'll want to spend the whole day here so round up friends and family for a summer sunshine play date to remember.

Outdoor theatre this summer at Kingston Lacy

Illyria is back! This August the award-winning company presents Doctor Dolittle, a timeless classic for the whole family. Pack a picnic and a chair or blanket, and come along to a magical evening of entertainment. Booking essential, tickets £11 for children and £18.50 for adults.

(Adults may want to check out our other summer theatre performances: Shakespeare's Hamlet on 12 Jul or 25 Jul, and As You Like It on 26 Jun).

Planning your family-friendly visit to Kingston Lacy

Free entry for under 5s.
Baby-changing facilities in access-friendly toilets.
Buggy-friendly route around the Woodland Trail.
Play areas on the Woodland Trail and in the Kitchen Garden.
Children’s menu available from the Stables Café.
Pocket money gifts and children's books available in the shop.
Buggy store near the second-hand bookshop (buggies are not allowed in the the house).

Play areas at Kingston Lacy

Set your little explorers free at our two play areas. Scramble, clamber and slide in the Woodland Trail play area, where the equipment might be a castle, a ship or a fort – let your imagination decide! You can build your own den or trace the finger maze or stroke the wooden animals; the equipment encourages children to connect with nature. Then hop over to the Kitchen Garden, where the play area takes inspiration from its surroundings for younger children; you can take a ride on a wooden cow, plant wooden veg in the mini greenhouse and relax on the buddy swing, suitable for even the smallest babies.

A child on wooden play equipment — The natural play area at Kingston Lacy, Dorset | © National Trust Images/Trevor Ray Hart

Things to do in the garden

Kingston Lacy's South Lawn is the perfect place to spread out a rug in the summer. Bring a picnic or pick up your favourite treats from the Stables cafe. Don't forget the frisbee or tennis ball – but take care, there could be other people snoozing in the deck chairs! We're sorry, but dogs are not allowed on South Lawn.

If you've brought your four-legged friend, head out on the Woodland Walk or into the parkland instead. There are picnic benches available at the play area in the Woodland Walk.

The woods are filled with wild flowers and birds, so you can check off a few of the '50 things to do before you're 11¾' (see below if you need some more inspiration).

Don't forget to go exploring on the Woodland trail round the parkland (see below) – it's perfect for a cycle ride as well as a longer walk.

Things to do in the house

Kingston Lacy is a very special family home, full of extraordinary stories and amazing things. Ask for the children's trail booklet at the entrance hall, which will help you spot some of the most interesting objects. How many different animals and birds will you be able to see in all the paintings?