Skip to content

Visiting Ightham Mote with the family

Walking in the gardens Ightham Mote
Walking in the gardens Ightham Mote | © Holly Halford

With walks, trails, a natural play area and acres of nature there is plenty to keep the family occupied on a visit to Ightham Mote. Read on to find out how to get the best out of your visit.

Family Fun at Ightham Mote this Christmas

Mice at the Mote Christmas Trail Ightham Mote
Mice at the Mote Christmas Trail Ightham Mote | © Holly Halford

Mice at the Mote! Christmas Trail at Ightham Mote

Get ready for some entertainment for the whole family at Ightham Mote this Christmas because there's a mouse in the house! See if the kids can spot all the Tudor Christmas mice hidden around the garden and house at Ightham Mote. Imaginations will run free as your little ones rummage through our dressing up box and transport themselves back to a time of kings, queens, knights and ladies. Whatever they decide to be it’ll be sure to be a great opportunity to capture that perfect Tudor Christmas snapshot.

Explore the garden

Explore our historic garden, with its ponds, stream and lake fed by natural springs. Our garden isn't suitable for bikes, scooters, frisbees and balls, so please leave them at home, but you don't need them as we have a natural play area at the end of the garden.

Discover the natural play area

We suggest you bring a change of shoes, clothes and even a towel, as our natural play area is there to get messy. Whether you want to practice your balancing skills, race through the living willow tunnel, create mud pies or make sweet music, come rain or shine just let your imaginations run wild.

Child playing Annapurna Mellor
Child playing | © Annapurna Mellor

Wander the estate

Why not extend your visit with a woodland wander or a hill climb on our estate, which is brimming with wildlife and the changing colours of the season. Our children's estate map shows the three way marked walks, from one to five miles.

Rather than just wandering around, why not set some challenges for everyone to complete such as:

  • Who can walk the quietest
  • Who can find all the colours of the rainbow
  • Who can spot the most different types of leafs

Planning your visit

  • Toilets - located beside the cafe, and also beside the shop (near the house), unisex changing facilities in both locations, steps to helps children reach the sinks
  • House - baby feeding room, children’s quizzes, baby hip-seats, buggy park
  • Cafe - high chairs, lunchboxes
  • Shop - pocket money toys
  • Garden - explorer map, natural play area, picnic area
Visitors on a garden tour at Ightham Mote in Kent

Plan your next visit today

You can find more information about what family-friendly events we have coming up at Ightham Mote here