Discover more at Emmetts Garden
Find out when Emmetts Garden is open, how to get here, the things to see and do and more.
Family days out at Emmetts Garden
Enjoy the ever-changing beauty of the gardens, fresh air and wide-open views at Emmetts Garden. Check out the Wild play area for some imaginative outdoor fun and head to the Old Stables Tearoom for a drink or something to eat.
Current and upcoming events
Easter Adventures at Emmetts Garden 2026
Saturday 21 March–Sunday 19 April 2026
This Easter, we are bringing back our popular Edwardian theme to Emmetts Garden. Follow the trail and join in with eggciting games and activities for all the family.
Trail takes place Saturday 21 March–Sunday 19 April 2026, from 10am to 5pm with last entry at 4pm. Price is £3.50 which includes an Easter trail sheet, bunny ears and dairy or vegan and Free From* chocolate egg. (Whilst stocks last.) Normal admission also applies.
*Suitable for people with milk, egg, gluten, peanut and tree nut allergies.
Easter Adventures at Emmetts Garden 2026
Easter Fairground
Friday 3 April–Sunday 12 April 2026
Enjoy children's rides from local fairground operator, Lee Sherwood. We will have a traditional carousel, swing boats and chair planes. Purchase a wristband from the Visitor Centre for £10 to enjoy rides throughout the day. Rides will be open from 10am with the last ride starting at 4.30pm. Maximum 10 children per ride.
Please note that normal admission or National Trust membership also applies.
If you would also like to take part in the Easter Adventures family activity trail, you will need to purchase a trail sheet.
Punch and Judy on the Meadow
Back by popular demand! Punch and Judy shows return to Emmetts Garden on selected dates during the Easter school holidays as part of our Edwardian style celebrations.
Pauline’s Puppets and mini-magic show performances will take place in the meadow on 14 and 16 April 2026. Showtimes are at 11am, 2pm and 3pm. These shows are free with admission or National Trust membership
Outdoor Theatre at Emmetts Garden
Our summer season of open-air performances return to the meadow at Emmetts Garden. Please bring chairs, blankets and picnics to enjoy whilst watching. Performances will continue in wet weather so please come prepared! Please note, dogs are not permitted at outdoor theatre events.
Outdoor Theatre: Macbeth by The HandleBards
Sunday 12 July 2026
Join the troupe at Emmetts Garden for a hilariously high-octane production of Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’ like you’ve never seen before. Forget the tears and tragedy, our Macbeth is chock full of mishaps, mayhem and mirth.
Doors open at 4.00pm for a 5.00pm start, with the performance lasting two hours including an intermission.
Find out more and check availability for tickets.
Outdoor Theatre: Romeo and Juliet by Immersion Theatre
Thursday 30 July 2026
Moving, funny, and tragic in equal measure, this beautiful production will see Immersion Theatre continue to build on their reputation for producing Shakespeare for all, be it the seasoned theatre-goer or budding literary enthusiast. This is Shakespeare as it’s meant to be: interactive, fun, and highly accessible! Suitable for ages 10+.
Doors open at 6:00pm for a 6:30pm start. Performance lasts approximately 110 minutes including interval.
Find out more and check availability for tickets.
Outdoor Theatre: Othello by The Lord Chamberlain's Men
Sunday 9 August 2026
Othello–a stunning story of deception, jealousy and a man that loved not wisely but too well.
“O beware, my lord, of jealousy. It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock. The meat it feeds on.”
With a history stretching back to William Shakespeare’s original company, The Lord Chamberlain’s Men present this play as he first encountered it–in the open air, with an all male cast and Elizabethan costumes, music and dance.
Doors open at 5.00pm, for the performance to start at 6.00pm. Performance lasts approximately 2 hours and 5 minutes, including a 15 minute interval.
Find out more and check availability for tickets.
Outdoor Theatre: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by This Is My Theatre
Sunday 16 August 2026
Step through the looking glass and into a world where nothing is quite as it seems. Perfect for dreamers of all ages, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland invites you to lose yourself in the magic of one of literature’s most beloved journeys!
Doors open at 3.30pm, for the performance to start at 4pm. This performance will last approximately eighty-five minutes, with a 20min interval.
Please note, if you wish to explore the garden before the performance, you will have to purchase a general admissions ticket or scan your National Trust membership card.
Find out more and check availabilty for tickets.
Outdoor Theatre: The Jungle Book by Immersion Theatre
Thursday 20 August 2026
Filled with original music, audience interaction, and a host of larger-than-life characters, you are invited to join Mowgli and his friends, Baloo the bear and Bagheera the panther, on a madcap jungle adventure as they meet and attempt to outwit a slithering snake, some cheeky monkeys, and the fierce tiger, Shere Khan! Recommended age: 4+.
Doors open at 2:30pm for a 3:00pm start. Performances last approximately 90 minutes including interval.
Please note, if you wish to explore the garden before the performance, you will have to purchase a general admissions ticket or scan your National Trust membership card.
Find out more and check availability for tickets.
Family facilities
There are baby-changing facilities at the entrance to the site, next to the Visitor Centre, as well as at the Old Stables Tearoom. Please note that bikes and scooters are not suitable for the pathways at Emmetts Garden.
Please help us to protect the delicate plants and paths at Emmetts Garden.
Leave footballs and similar toys and sporting equipment at home. Bikes and scooters are not suitable for the paths at Emmetts Garden.
Wild play area
Get stuck into energetic adventures in the wild play area located just past the Old Stables Tearoom. Kids will love scrambling over the climbing frame and play net, walking across the balance beams and crawling through the tunnels. Don’t miss the fairy ring of toadstools. Visit us for unforgettable outdoor fun.
Games shed
Take a look in our games shed for games to play in the meadow. Have a go at giant Jenga, hula-hoops, skittles and more. Remember to return the items when you’ve finished so others can have a turn. Please note that these items are for use in the play meadow, but not in the wildflower meadow or other areas of the garden.
Picnics
The meadow makes the perfect spot for a picnic with glorious views over Ide Hill. Bring a blanket, or sit at one of the picnic tables, and relax with delicious food under sunny skies.
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