Family-friendly things to do at Kingston Lacy

Published:: 25 January 2023

A mother pushing a buggy with a small child alongside walk along a path lined with bluebells — Kingston Lacy's garden has wide paths, suitable for buggies | © National Trust Images / James Dobson

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

May half term (26-30 May)

Join us for a wild May this half term, with nature-inspired adventures for the whole family. From exciting scavenger hunts to bug hotels and free eco-crafts, we're inviting little explorers and nature enthusiasts to take part in a range of exciting, hands-on activities designed to connect children with the natural world.

Summer of Play (19 July-3 September)

Thinking ahead to the summer? There'll be a return of the popular festival of play, but we've moved it to the Kitchen Garden so you'll have easier access to toilets and much-needed coffee and light refreshments.

We're planning all the details now but book in for a summer play date between 19 July and 3 September.

Planning your family-friendly visit to Kingston Lacy

Free entry for under 5s.
Baby-changing facilities in access-friendly toilets.
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-friendly route around the Woodland Trail.
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.

Looking for quiet spaces?

If you and your little ones need a moment of calm, there are lots of corners at Kingston Lacy to chill out. The Fernery is usually a good bet, and there are benches where you can sit and listen to the sound of the fountain. Every Wednesday during the warmer months (usually April till the end of October), the Acer Glade is a dedicated Silent Space from 2pm, where both adults and children have the chance to stop and connect with the nature around them.

Afternoons are normally less busy than mornings at Kingston Lacy, so if you prefer fewer people around, try and visit after 2pm.

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

Coming with a buggy?

Most of Kingston Lacy's paths are easily navigated with a buggy, even the trail that runs right round the parkland. Many of the paths are wide enough for you and a friend as well.

If you'd prefer to leave your buggy while you visit, there is a buggy store near the second-hand bookshop in Laundry Courtyard. There are free lockers there as well, if you want to leave a picnic or anything else bulky while you explore. Ask at reception when you arrive and our staff will direct you to the right place; it's also shown on the Welcome leaflet, which you can pick up at reception.

We're sorry, but buggies are not allowed in the house. The buggy store is close to the entrance so there's not far for little legs to travel.

Food and drink

You'll find lots of options for children at the Stables cafe, where there's a special children's lunch box, as well as other treats. Highchairs are available, which you can usually find in a corner of the cafe but please ask our staff if you don't see one.

You can also find a drinks and snacks trailer in the Kitchen Garden; we sometimes have to close this due to staffing pressures, so check at reception whether it is open on the day you visit.

Breastfeeding?

We welcome breastfeeding everywhere at Kingston Lacy, including the Stables cafe. Please ask if you would like hot water to make up a bottle. Our planned infrastructure changes will soon provide a quiet room for those that would prefer some privacy or a quiet space.

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.

See if you can find the owls in the Fernery, the sundial on the path to Lime Avenue and the obelisk hidden in Blind Walk.

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). Head to the Kitchen Garden to find a bird-feeder station, where there's a bench for you to sit quietly and watch blue tits, finches and robins.

Don't forget to go exploring on the Woodland trail round the parkland – 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?

What if it's raining?

There's still plenty to do at Kingston Lacy, even in the rain. If you're short of ideas, check out our list of '50 Things to do before you're 11¾' – lots of them are just as good if the weather's not what you planned.

Paths throughout the garden and parkland are hard surfaces so you'll still be able to run and cycle (but look out for a puddle to jump in if you're wearing wellies).

Inside the house

There's so much for children to see, from a footstool shaped like a tortoise to a bed decorated with bats. The room guides have lots of stories to share, from Brave Dame Mary's spirited defence of Corfe Castle to Henrietta Bankes' parties for royalty. Ask in the hall for a booklet that will help you spot some of the fascinating objects and stories in this family home.

Out in the garden

The Fernery and the Woodland provide some shelter from the rain in summer, when the trees are in leaf. Find a seat and listen to the rain pattering through the leaves; if you sit quietly you may or see hear birds – they often sing in the rain.

There are two shelters in the Japanese Garden that will give you some cover and enough space to eat your picnic, or if you're in the Kitchen Garden head for the bothies, where you can discover what it was like to be a Victorian gardener at Kingston Lacy.

Don't forget the cafe, shop and bookshop

The Stables cafe has lots of indoor seating, as well as plenty of yummy food and drink for adults and children alike; it's a great place to dry out.

You can while away a brief shower in the shop or second-hand bookshop, both found in Laundry Courtyard. The bookshop also sells jigsaws, if the weather looks like it's set in and you'll need something to entertain you once you get home.