Family-friendly things to do at Mottisfont

Grow, Explore, Play! May Half-Term trail

Saturday 24th May to Sunday 1st June

Get ready for a fun-filled adventure this May half-term! From planting sunflowers to building dens, tackling garden-themed obstacle courses to discovering minibeasts, there’s plenty for little explorers to enjoy. Follow our activity trail, test your skills in the Bug Olympics and see what wildlife you can spot along the way.

Plant potting station – Inspired by Mottisfont’s Kitchen Garden, children can plant sunflower seeds in ‘make your own’ biodegradable pots to take home and grow.  Keep us updated with how tall your sunflower grows!

Little Gardeners' obstacle course – A playful course with mini wheelbarrows, watering cans and balance beams made of logs. Can you make it to the finish line?

Bug Olympics – Take part in our wildlife-inspired events! Can you jump high like a grasshopper, wriggle like a worm or barrel-roll like a beetle? Test your minibeast skills in our fun and interactive Bug Olympics arena!

Den building – Let your imagination run wild, using sticks, leaves and natural materials to create your own secret hideout. 

Who lives in a house like this? – Can you solve the mystery of who lives in this house along the trail? On the river walk, you'll find a different home – who lives in this one? Guess the animals from the clues. Good luck!

Mini Beast Safari – A bug-hunting activity with magnifying glasses to help you discover what’s living in the garden beds and under logs.

More family-friendly things to do in the garden

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.

Den building

The den building area from February half-term is staying up a little longer. Using the branches and leaves provided, families can build their own amazing den and create the perfect space. It could be a hidden fortress, a secret hideout or something entirely unique. 

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 on 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.

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 may get very busy during school holidays and bank holidays. Mornings tend to be busier than afternoons. 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.

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, 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.