Family-friendly Mottisfont

Easter Adventures: 21 March-12 April

Join us at Mottisfont for a Topsy-Turvy tea party: tea time-inspired games that will have the whole family laughing. Compete in the scone and spoon race, test your aim with toss the teabag and try a spot of plate spinning. There’s a biscuit rolling station too, and a chance to design your own fun sandwich – slug and cress anyone?  Why not join us for giant sandwich jenga and little ones can draw their sandwiches for display in the stableyard.

So pop on your bunny ears, grab your activity sheet to guide the way, and follow the trail around Mottisfont's grounds to discover the 10 awesome activity stations. At the finish line, a yummy Easter egg (choose dairy chocolate, or vegan and Free From*) is waiting for you.

The full trail costs £3.50 per person. (If you prefer, you can simply enjoy the trail activities without the extras as part of your standard admission.) 

*Vegan and Free From egg suitable for people with milk, egg, gluten, peanut and tree nut allergies.

Blossom at Mottisfont: 20 March - 10 May

Spring is on the way, and blossom is beginning to bring a splash of colour to the garden.

Join us and celebrate blossom at Mottisfont.  Look out for information about our blossom dotted around the garden,  Pick up a free, highlights map to help you find our blossoming trees and discover backdrops all around the garden for mindful moments in beauty and birdsong.  

On your visit, explore the cherry orchard behind the house, where cloud-like clusters of delicate pink blooms cascade from ornamental trees creating a beautiful display. Discover more blossom in the kitchen garden, with heritage apple and pear trees producing a beautiful variety of blossom colours.

Keep an eye out for blossom signs with fascinating information about our ‘blossoming’ trees, encouraging visitors to pause and connect with nature. Throughout the gardens, you’ll find moments of blossom inspiration—from mindful spaces where you can read poetry by Poet Laureate Simon Armitage. 

Free family fun

Free activities for families include spotting felt ladybirds hidden around the house and creating an origami flower in the Lower Corridor by the Old Kitchen Cafe.  Help yourself to free 'Blossomise' poetry postcards and make a simple paper blossom badge craft to take home.

Share your blossom memores

Jot your memories of blossom at Mottisfont on a petal shaped piece of card and hand to a member of the shop team to hang from our memories tree.

Family-friendly ideas for older children

Wild play

Our Wild Play area includes three large wooden structures built for climbing, balancing and exploring. Have fun ducking and diving through different entry and exit points. The play area gets very muddy during periods of wet weather, so come dressed for mess.

Playing in the gardens

Wooden bridges and a rushing river make Mottisfont one of the country's top destinations for playing Pooh sticks – challenge your family to a game when you visit. Ball games and frisbees are welcome in the paddock areas.

'50 things' activities

Why not try some of the '50 things to do before you're 11¾' challenges? From rolling down a hill to cloud watching, there's something for every young explorer. Check out the full list here: 50 things to do before you're 11¾

Planning your family visit

Here's all the information you need at a glance, to make the most of your family day out at Mottisfont:

• Baby-changing facilities in access-friendly toilets are located at the Welcome Centre, stables, lower corridor in the house and the kitchen garden
• Pushchairs are welcome everywhere except inside the house. There are gently-sloping areas and wide pathways around much of the grounds. Pathways are uneven in some places so sturdy, all-terrain tyres are recommended
• Drinks, snacks and light lunches with family-friendly options are available from the café and additional outlets, with indoor and outdoor seating areas and picnic benches around the grounds
• Breastfeeding is welcome anywhere around the property.

There's no need to book, but Mottisfont can get very busy during school holidays and bank holidays. Mornings tend to be busier than afternoons. If you have the flexibility, a midweek 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.

What do you need to know when visiting the garden?

• Toddler push-along bikes operated by a parent/guardian are welcome, but please be aware that bikes, balance bikes, trikes and scooters are not allowed
• There are areas of open water around the garden and grounds so close supervision is strongly advised
• Please don't bring windbreakers, gazebos, pop-up tents, parasols or barbecues.