Summer of Play at Scotney Castle, Kent: 19 July to 31 August
Enjoy playful family days out this summer at Scotney Castle from Saturday 19 July to Sunday 31 August. Normal admission applies.
- Booking not needed
- Free event (admission applies)
This summer, Scotney Castle invites families to dive into a season of fun, imagination, and adventure with our festival-themed Summer of Play! Set in a beautiful meadow surrounded by historic gardens, woodland, and castle grounds, this event offers a vibrant mix of activity zones designed to spark creativity, movement, and connection with nature.
The festival meadow is bigger and better than ever, featuring five themed zones that offer something for everyone:
Performance Zone: Take centre stage with costumes and props, perform a Punch & Judy puppet show, make music at the instrument wall, or dance with the party machine.
Sports Zone: Run wild in the open meadow with football, badminton, Twister, crazy golf, an obstacle course, and a space hopper race track.
Creative Zone: Let your imagination soar—draw on the walls, tell wild stories, and get messy in a space where creativity knows no bounds.
Nature Zone: Explore the sensory walkway, discover your animal twin, and spin the wheel for fun outdoor challenges in this hands-on nature adventure.
Games Zone: Enjoy classic board games in giant form and test your circus skills with juggling, plate spinning, and stilt-walking.
Summer of Play is sponsored by Starling Bank.
(We highly recommend booking parking in advance during school holidays and weekends.)
Times
Prices
Event ticket prices
This event is free, but normal admission charges apply for the venue.
Check admission pricesThe basics
- Meeting point
In the meadow behind the Mansion House.
- What to bring and wear
Wear clothes and shoes for an outdoor adventure in the meadow. Bring a pack lunch or you can buy food and drink here.
- Accessibility
Summer of Fun takes place on grass, with no ramps or steps.
- Other
Toilets and baby-changing available in the meadow and near the tearoonm.
Upcoming events
Islandness- A visual storytelling exhibition
This year's exhibition at Scotney focuses on the work of Kent based visual storyteller, Rebecca Douglas, translating nature's stories into compelling visual narratives through photography, video, drone speaking and writing.
A Century of Costume at Scotney Castle
Scotney Castle is proud to present a captivating new exhibition 'A Century of Costume at Scotney Castle' from 1st September to 2nd November
Jackson's plein air day - SOLD OUT
A plein air event for artists of all ages and skill levels, working in any medium, to connect and respond to the landscape together.
Guided Hop Walks at Scotney Castle - September 2025
Join our estate guides for a 2 hour guided walk to Scotney’s hop gardens to view the hops ready for harvesting. Learn about how hops are grown, picked and dried and see how the hop pickers lived and worked. Returning to Scotney to sample beer...