Enjoy a relaxing visit to Hinton Ampner with lots of activities throughout the seasons, a safe space to run around and facilities close by.
'I Spot a Cow' family trail
Saturday 2nd May - Sunday 28th June
To celebrate the launch of the new book I Spot a Cow by Kay Vincent, published by Nosy Crow in collaboration with the National Trust, we've created a brand new family trail. Join us for this fun filled family trail and explore the gardens to find all of the farm animals - perfect for May half term. They've also left lots of fun games for you to do along the way.
Get ready for a swashbuckling Summer holiday full of fun! With the beautiful backdrop of the South Downs our gardens are hosting Pirate Adventures. With different areas to discover there is fun for all the family. From Pirate training to Octopus ring toss, we're the perfect place to enjoy the sunshine and run off some energy.
Suitable for ages 4-6.
There will be sensory games on the Tennis Lawn suitable for pre schoolers play.
Festival of Archaeology
Saturday 25th July - Sunday 2nd August
Join us for an inspiring day out with all the family, celebrating the Festival of Archaeology. Rest easy, you can depend upon the passion, skills and knowledge of the Hinton Ampner Heritage Archaeology Ranger Team (HART). Discover the underground history of the site, marvel at some of the finds the team have come across and join them on an archaeology themed tour of the gardens and grounds.
Summer Outdoor Theatre
Don't miss your chance this summer holiday to enjoy some brilliant theatre with the beautiful backdrop of Hinton Ampner's gardens.
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!
Join Peter and his naughty cousin Benjamin at Hinton Ampner on their hair-raising adventures in Quantum Theatre's delightful adaptation of Beatrix Potter's much-loved Tales.
Gates open at 5.30pm for picnics. The performances will start at 6.30pm and last for approximately 1.5 hours. Booking is essential, simply click the dates above to be taken to the bookings page.
Find the perfect spot to picnic and the best place to zoom around with our family map. With lots of things to do, places to see and handy information - our map will tell you everything you need to know for the best day out. Pick up a free map from Visitor Reception when you arrive.
If you're planning a visit to Hinton Ampner with the family, here is some useful information.
Buggies and pushchairs are welcome throughout the whole property including house, gardens and cafe. For ease whilst exploring the house we recommend brinigng along a front facing baby carrier. Pushchairs are welcome, we may ask for the wheels to be cleaned off in wet weather.
Hinton Ampner is part of the Breastfeeding Welcome Scheme and breastfeeding is welcome everywhere on property. For those that would prefer some privacy or a quiet space, a baby-feeding space is available, please just ask a member of staff to direct you.
Baby-changing facilities are located in the ladies and accessible toilet by the mansion in the courtyard.
Family walks on the Hinton Ampner estate
Stewkeley walk
The Stewkeley walk takes you across the Hinton Ampner estate towards the village of Kilmeston, before looping back to the entry of the estate. This moderately strenuous walk is perfect for walkers of any age and skill level. It's just under two miles and takes around an hour to complete.
The parkland at Hinton Ampner is home to many ancient trees, some with rather quirky characteristics. You can find out more about spotting the ancient trees by downloading the guide.
There are lots of ’50 things' challenges you can complete with the whole family at Hinton Ampner. Here's a few recommendations:
No. 1 Get to know a tree: If trees could talk, what stories would they tell? Get up close to a tree and feel the texture of its bark and leaves and notice all the different colours and smells. If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be?
No. 12 Have fun with sticks: When it comes to sticks, the possibilities are endless. Use them to become a gallant warrior, make a magic wand, create a home for a small animal or insect or create some wild art. There are lots of interesting sticks to find in the Hinton Ampner estate and parkland
No. 33 Go cloud watching: With a little imagination you can create whole worlds from the shapes you see in the clouds. Do they resemble anything, like animals, trees or cartoon characters? Invent a story using the characters you see in the clouds. Try writing your story down or drawing it on a sketchpad
No. 44 Watch a bird: There are many different birds that can be spotted in the gardens and woodland at Hinton Ampner. Birds get frightened off easily, so you'll need to be as quiet as you can, and not make any loud noises or sudden movements to stand the best chance of seeing lots.
Discover more at Hinton Ampner
Find out when Hinton Ampner is open, how to get here, the things to see and do and more.
This is a house that has sprung up from the ashes. With lavish interiors and beautiful collections, you’ll go on a journey through centuries of design influences.
Our estate is the perfect place to get some air and be inspired by the landscape around you. Nestled in the South Downs National Park, Hinton Ampner estate holds some breath-taking views and is home to an abundance of wildlife.
The delightful garden sit within the South Downs National Park, creating a stunning backdrop. With changing seasonal borders bringing together vibrant planting and modern gardening methods, there is always something to delight and inspire. Whether you’re a garden enthusiast, looking for a tranquil space or a backdrop for making family memories – the garden is ready to welcome you.
Discover a menu using freshly grown ingredients from the Walled Garden, hot meals and drinks. Pick up unique items from our delightful shop and find your next page turner in our Second-hand bookshop.
If you’re bringing your dog(s) to the places we care for, you'll find information on our Canine Code and pawprint rating system, created in partnership with Forthglade, to help plan your visit.
