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Family-friendly things to do at Woodchester Park

Visitors exploring Tinkley Gate at Woodchester Park
Visitors exploring Tinkley Gate at Woodchester Park | © National Trust / Jay Williams

Get outdoors with the whole family at Woodchester Park. Whether you're discovering trails at Tinkley Gate, exploring the play trail or taking a walk in Woodchester Park itself, there's plenty to enjoy for the whole family. And this Easter, why not join us for Easter Adventure trails.

Planning your family visit

  • Baby changing facilities are available in the cafe at Tinkley Gate
  • Kids menu and highchairs available in the cafe
  • Toys and colouring-in sheets free to enjoy in the cafe 
  • Accessibility - the area around Tinkley Gate is flat and grassy. The main paths in the park are hard surfaces, and there are several slopes
  • Dogs - Please keep dogs on leads across the whole park

Family-friendly events at Tinkley Gate

Throughout the year, we host a range of family-friendly events at Tinkley Gate. We run kid's craft events, artist workshops and nature walks, and seasonal trails such as Easter Adventures and Summer of Play.


February half-term bird box making

Tuesday 17 and Thursday 19 February, £15 per birdbox

Do something for the birds in your garden by making a birdbox to take home. Perfect for children, all tools and materials will be provided.

More details, and how to book

 

Take part in an Easter trail

Every day 28 March - 12 April, 11am - 3pm, £3.50 per trail 

At the start of your Easter trail, pick up your activity pack to find information about your trail. Find and complete the activities that are hiding along the way. Den-building, welly-wanging, and egg and spoon race are just some of the activities you can experience at Tinkley Gate. Finish the trail and collect your chocolate egg (both dairy and vegan and Free From options available).
 

More information about Easter

 

Outdoor Theatre

Peter Rabbit : 19 July, 16:30 – 18:00
Join Peter and his naughty cousin Benjamin at Tinkley Gate on their hair-raising adventures in Quantum Theatre's delightful adaptation of Beatrix Potter's much-loved Tales  

More details and how to book

 

Treasure Island : 07 August, 16:30 – 18:00 

Join plucky Jim Hawkins and his crew of salty old sea dogs on their search for buried treasure in Quantum Theatre's exciting adaptation of the pirate adventure classic, Treasure Island. An action packed show for all the family!

More details and how to book

Image of two children completing an egg and spoon activity in the sunshine
Having fun with the egg and spoon race! | © National Trust/Chris Tapley

Family-friendly things to do in the outdoors

Adventure play trail

Discover the adventure play trail that leads around the Mansion and Italian gardens. The shapes of the play equipment are influenced by the Gothic Woodchester Mansion! Park at Buckholt car park for the closest access to the play trail, or walk there from Tinkley Gate.

Outdoor games at Tinkley Gate

There are plenty of games and activities to play with outside the cafe, from swingball to jenga. We have a large grassy area to run around in, and a restful zone in the orchard with hammocks to relax in through the summer season.

Children playing lawn games in the garden at East Riddlesden Hall
Children playing lawn games | © National Trust Images/James Dobson

'50 Things to do before you're 11¾' 

Take part in the ‘50 things to do before you're 11¾’ challenge to connect with nature through play. Many of the activities can be completed at Woodchester Park, here are some of our favourites:

No. 1 Get to know a tree

There are lots of trees in Woodchester Park - can you find your favourite?

No. 4 Build a den

Get stuck in to the den-building area at Tinkley Gate

No. 22 Hunt for mushrooms

Take a close look at the trunks of the elderflower orchard trees to find some funky mushrooms (that look a bit like ears!)

No. 33 Go cloud watching 

You can watch the weather rolling in from the comfort of the cafe, or lie back in a hammock to stare at the sky

Find out more about '50 Things'

Children playing in the den building area
Children playing in the den building area | © Oskar Proctor

Eating and drinking at Tinkley Gate

Tinkley Gate cafe

Enjoy everything from hot and cold drinks, ice cream, cakes, sandwiches, pizza and focaccia at the Tinkley Gate cafe. Indoor and outdoor seating is available, with large tables, as well as plenty of picnic spots across the site. For more information on our food, drink and shopping offer at Tinkley, visit this page.

Picnics 

You are very welcome to bring your own food and drink to Woodchester Park, to enjoy outside. We have a number of benches outside the cafe and dotted around the Park for you to use, and you can also borrow blankets from our second-hand book shop. Setting up a picnic spot for the day at Tinkley Gate is the perfect way to enjoy a summer day out as a family.

A lady with a baby eating in the cafe at Tinkley Gate
Eating in the cafe area at Tinkley Gate, Woodchester Park | © National Trust Images/James Beck
A view of Woodchester Mansion on a sunny day in Woodchester Park, surrounded by green and brown trees in autumn

Discover more at Woodchester Park

Find out when Woodchester Park is open, how to get here, the things to see and do and more.

Our work at Woodchester Park 

On the surface all may appear calm and tranquil, but behind the scenes we’ve been beavering away to return the park to its 19th century glory.

The woodland in spring at Woodchester Park, Gloucestershire

History of Woodchester Park 

Discover why an unfinished Gothic mansion stands on what was once the epitome of a country gentleman’s playground and the treasures that lay hidden in the garden for years.

The parkland in spring at Woodchester Park, Gloucestershire