Family days out in London and the South East

A family looking at flowers in October at Morden Hall Park, London. — A family looking at flowers in early autumn at Morden Hall Park, London | © National Trust Images/Arnhel de Serra

Looking for something to do with the kids? Discover the best family-friendly places to visit in London and the South East and enjoy great days out all year round.

Plan your next family adventure and discover special places across the South East, from fairy-tale castles to medieval deer parks and more. Families can play in thousands of acres of woodland and parkland or let off steam in natural play areas.

There’s buggy friendly routes, tree houses, story trails and children’s menus to fuel fun-filled days out, and on rainy days you can step inside sprawling mansion houses and explore famous homes to uncover secrets and stories from long, long ago.

Join us this spring for a jam-packed programme of family friendly events, trails and May half-term fun.

Family days out over May half-term

May half-term events and activities

There are loads of activities and family-friendly trails to enjoy this May half-term across London and the South East. From story character–themed adventures to outdoor challenges and hands-on creative fun, there’s something to spark every child’s imagination.

Discover trails featuring your favourite storybook characters

Three Cheers for Pooh! Centenary Exhibition and Story Trail at Nymans

Extracts from A.A. Milne's much loved Winnie-the-Pooh stories are paired with E.H. Shepard's iconic illustrations in a fun, family friendly story trail in the garden, together with a gallery exhibition that spotlights some of Pooh's best- known adventures. Until 28 June 2026.

Winnie the Pooh illustration by E.H. Shepard.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar at Polesden Lacey, Surrey

Join us at Polesden Lacey for one of nature's greatest transformations as you become the world's most famous caterpillar from Eric Carle's best-selling book The Very Hungry Caterpillar™. 1 May to 5 July 2026.

Moomins at Hatchlands Park, Surrey

Explore Hatchlands Park on a magical Moomin-inspired adventure. This family trail winds through the garden, inviting children and grown-ups alike to meet familiar characters from the Moomin stories as they journey through a world inspired by Moominvalley. 9 May to 5 July 2025.

Four cartoon Moomin line drawing characters walking to wards the left of the picture on a yellow and blue background.

Find your local family days out in London and the South East

Hampshire: Treat the whole family to a fun-filled day out at our places in Hampshire. Discover a mansion house surrounded by babbling brooks perfect for playing pooh sticks at Mottisfont, or explore a Tudor house turned family home at The Vyne where your little ones can explore the outdoors in a natural play area created especially for younger children. If you're feeling adventurous, pull on your wellies and head out for a walk on the Hinton Ampner estate.Enjoy a family day out in Hampshire
Kent: Explore a medieval deer park, moated manor house, fairy-tale castle and more on a family day out in Kent. There’s all sorts of fun to be had, from playing in acres of gardens and parkland to spotting fish at Ightham Mote. Children can climb the two-storey treehouse and enjoy the brick built play house at Chartwell, reach new heights on the swings at Emmetts Garden and have fun in the Badger and Pepper play area at Scotney Castle, complete with mud kitchen, play house, toddler swing and a natural drum kit.Plan your visit
Surrey: Discover the best places to visit with your family around Surrey, home to an Edwardian party house, the Surrey Hills and a classic landscape garden. Children can enjoy the adventure playground at Polesden Lacey or the natural play areas at Hatchlands Park this spring.Enjoy a family day out in Surrey
Sussex: Enjoy a family day out this autumn in Sussex. You can stroll along buggy friendly paths at Nymans to discover a Play Glade complete with mud kitchens, games and even a mini stage to let children's imaginations run wild. Wander through the Capability Brown designed landscape at Petworth, or step back to medieval times at Bodiam Castle where families can climb the steep towers, walk across the battlements, find the gun loops and spot 50-year old carp swimming in the castle moat.Plan your visit
Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire: Explore a world of lakes, hidden woods, enormous temples and twisted trees as you play and have fun on a family adventure at Stowe. Or head to the wild play trail at Basildon Park where little explorers can get adventurous on the balance beam, jump on the hopscotch and play with the ball run - there’s also plenty of space for some den building too. There's a natural play area at Hughenden and a woodland playground at Waddesdon, as well as plenty of opportunities to get closer to nature on a family walk at Cliveden and Grey's Court.Find out more
London: Escape the hustle and bustle of the city, and make memories to treasure on a family day out to National Trust places in and around London. There’s plenty to do, from a family bike ride and den building at Osterley, to a game of hide and seek at Ham House where over a mile of hornbeam hedge swirls around in an intricate geometric pattern.Plan your family day out in London