May half term at Mottisfont
Saturday 25 May - Sunday 2 June: choose from one of three themed activity packs to help you explore Mottisfont at your own pace.
- Booking not needed
- Admission applies
Find creative inspiration as you discover different artworks in the house and gallery, explore the gardens to find out what's growing at this time of year, or take a walk for a closer look at the natural world.
Each activity booklet includes puzzles and challenges to complete while you explore, as well as a themed scene to cut out, decorate and keep.
May half term activities run from Saturday 25 May - Sunday 2 June, 10am-5pm (last entry 4.30pm).
Property admission applies (free for National Trust members and under 5s), plus £2 per pack. Packs include activity booklets and coloured pencils.
Please note that Mottisfont's famous rose season takes place in early summer, so peak admission prices apply between 10am and 3pm from 27 May.
Rose season and bank holidays can be very busy times at Mottisfont. We open at 10am, and mornings tend to be busier than afternoons - most of our visitors arrive before 2pm, which can cause congestion in the car park. If you arrive after 2pm, there's still plenty of time to enjoy the trail.
If you have the flexibility, a weekday visit is generally quieter than a weekend, even during school holidays. If you can only visit over the weekend, Saturdays are usually less busy than Sundays.
Times
The basics
- Suitability
Activities aimed at ages 3 - 12 years
- Meeting point
Pick up an activity pack at Visitor Reception.
- What to bring and wear
Activities takes place outside, so dress appropriately for the weather. Pathways are uneven in places, so sturdy footwear is recommended.
- Accessibility
Free parking adjacent to welcome centre, including accessible spaces. Toilet & changing facilities around the grounds. Pushchairs welcome in the gardens. Gently-sloping areas and wide pathways around much of the grounds. Ground can be uneven and muddy in wet weather. Volunteer-driven mobility buggy service available.
- Other
Drinks, snacks and light lunches with family-friendly options are available from the café and additional outlets.
Upcoming events
Guided walks along the River Test at Mottisfont
Tuesdays and Wednesdays until 25 September, 11.30am and 2pm: a rare chance to walk along the banks the River Test, to find out more about the importance of chalk steams and the work we do to protect them.
Rose season at Mottisfont
Our walled gardens are home to the extraordinary National Plant Collection of pre-1900 shrub roses, which creates an annual spectacle in early summer. We open our gardens until 8pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 30 May - 29 June.
Rose garden celebration evenings at Mottisfont
On Fridays 7, 14 and 21 June: join us for evenings of jazz and wine to celebrate the 50th anniversary of our rose gardens.
John Burningham's Bedtime Stories: exhibition and activity trail
Saturday 20 July – Sunday 29 September: a family-friendly exhibition and activity trail celebrating the wild and wonderful world of award-winning children's author and illustrator John Burningham.