Upcoming family activities and events

Summer of Play

Come and take part in the Summer of Play at Hidcote, every day from 3 August - 1 September.

Pick up a map from Visitor Reception and follow the dotted line to find the different activities. What will you do first? Maybe you’ll have a game of tennis with your family? Or perhaps you’ll pick up a mallet to try your skills with croquet? How about seeing how good your aim is with a game of ring toss. With so much to do for all the family, make sure to visit Hidcote this summer.

While you're here why not treat yourself to an ice cream or relax at a shady picnic spot in the dedicated picnic area by the car park. Put your sun hat on and come and make the most of being outdoors this summer.

Summer of Play activities are free (normal admission applies) so you can try them all and come back again and again.

Family Crafts

Come and take part in some family fun in the potting shed on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons in August. There will be a different craft activity each week, so pop in any time from 1pm - 3pm and get stuck in with a nature themed craft.

Planning your family visit

• Free entry for under 5s.
• Baby-changing facilities, located in the Gardener's Courtyard.
• Limited access for pushchairs, prams and wheelchairs, due to small and uneven pathways. Please ask for a copy of our map at Visitor Welcome which includes the accessible route which takes in a third of the garden.
• Please note that there is no play area or play facilities located at Hidcote and that in the winter the lawns are closed for key lawncare to take place. Children's scooters, balls and bikes are not allowed in the garden.
• The wider estate at Hidcote is an active sheep farm, with livestock in the fields and working farm dogs, please keep dogs on leads when walking through the fields and car park.

Notice Nature

Underwater world

The pools are teeming with an abundance of underwater creatures that can be seen swimming around. Protected species like great crested newts and the more common frogs and toads enjoy the quiet pools for feeding, breeding and raising their young. It's great to look out for these amphibious species but please refrain from throwing stones and pennies into the water as it's damaging to their habitat.

Nature spotting

The orchards and Wilderness at Hidcote are great places to spot the wildlife at Hidcote. But signs of our local nature can find found around every corner!

Sit and watch the birds in the New Orchard as they feed on our birdfeeders or on the windfall apples.

Listen to the Red kites flying high above the garden in the Beech Allee.

In the spring and summer months watch the newts in the Lily Pond before they move on to dry land for the winter. If you are lucky you may even spot our resident grass snakes taking a swim.

Look out for badge footprints or signs of squirrels hiding their nuts.

Take a moment in our Silent Space

We have partnered with Silent Spaces to provide a dedicated silent space in the garden, this is located in the Italian Shelter - please note that this space is located off of the accessible visitor route and has steps leading to it. Other quieter areas of the garden to enjoy are the Wilderness, Beech Allee, the Nuttery Orchard and the Old Orchard.

Local Walks

We have a selection of local walks which take in the wider Hidcote farm estate, or local villages and viewpoints. These walks cover a mixture of terrain, abilities and length. Please ask at the Visitor Welcome for a copy, or for advice on which would be the best fit. All walks start from our car park, we advise parking in the top car park (to the left as you come up the drive).

Picnic in nature

Pack a picnic and enjoy the lunch al fresco at the designated picnic area which has wonderful views out over Gloucester and Oxfordshire. You can always find a quiet corner in the garden to relax and unwind. Why not bring a book or newspaper, and while away the afternoon?

Free Wi-Fi is available in Winthrop's Café. Give surfing the web a whirl while enjoying a cuppa and slice of home-made cake.