Family-friendly things to do at Canons Ashby

Planning your family visit

Here's the information you need at a glance to make the most of your family day out at Canons Ashby:

• There are baby-changing facilities in the area outside the unisex accessible toilet and the ladies toilet. These are available to all.
• High chairs available - Please ask the team for help with your baby food if it needs to be heated.
• Pocket money books and games are available in the Coach House shop
• You're welcome to picnic in the Paddock and Parkland, but not the formal gardens
• Family trails can be picked up from visitor reception
• The grass can be uneven and boggy in some areas of the wider parkland and may not be suitable for pushchairs
• The garden has loose gravel paths that may not be suitable for some pushchairs and there are steps and slopes throughout.

Family-friendly events

Wonderful Wildflowers Trail

24 May - 5 September. Normal admisssion applies and no booking needed. 

Explore the paddock and learn fun facts, and flower folklore!  As the weather warms up, learn something new on our flower-themed summer trail. Spot the wildflower trail points and learn some fun facts.

 

The Tempest by Immersion Theatre

Saturday 5 July, 6pm - 8pm. Pre booking essential.  £16 adults (18+), £12 children (3-17), young children 0-2 years free. Family ticket £48 (two adults and two children). Best for ages 8+

Shakespeare’s most magical play bursting with mayhem, comedy, romance, and surprises!

Having developed a reputation for producing first-rate, critically-acclaimed, and highly accessible adaptations of Shakespeare’s work, Immersion Theatre – the multi-award nominated company behind last year’s smash hit “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, proudly presents The Tempest; Shakespeare’s unforgettable tale of magic, romance, comedy, and revenge! With heaps of audience participation, this mesmerising show will be brought to life in unforgettable style, perfect for both seasoned theatre-goers and newcomers to Shakespeare’s work. 

This is outdoor theatre at its best in the Paddock of Canons Ashby – bring a picnic, rugs or picnic chairs and wrap up warm!

 

Baroque Classics in the Garden performed by Eboracum Baroque

Saturday 19 July, 6pm - 7.45pm, adults £18, children £11. Pre booking essential. 

Fancy a serene summer treat? Come and listen to some baroque classics in the middle of Canons Ashby's gardens. Eboracum Baroque are delighted to return to Canons Ashby to perform a range of baroque classics in the formal garden.

Relax in the picturesque surroundings of the formal garden, with plenty of space in the open air. Bring a picnic, or buy yourself something from the tea-room. 

 

Festival of Archaeology- Craft Session

Wednesday 30 July, 11am - 2pm. Normal admission applies and £2 per person, no pre booking needed.

Try your hand at the ancient craft of weaving during the Festival of Archaeology at Canons Ashby. Weaving is one of the oldest crafts in the world, with the tradition being traceable to over 12,000 years ago! Weaving can be done with lots of different materials, and was used to make fabrics. In this workshop we will be having a go at basic weaving technique. Volunteers will be on hand to help!

 

Explorer Tuesdays at Canons Ashby

5, 12, 19 and 26 August, 11am - 2pm. Normal admission applies and no booking needed. 

Bring the kids and enjoy activities connected with nature and the great outdoors. There’s something different to try every Tuesday of August. Each week's activity will be different; try a photography challenge one week, and nature crafting the next!

 

The Wind in the Willows by Illyria

Saturday 16 August, 5.30pm - 7.30pm. Pre booking essential. £18 adults (18+), £10 children (3-17), under 2s years free.

Join Mole, Rat, Badger, and Toad on a whimsical journey through the English countryside, where friendship and mischief lead to unexpected adventures!

Mole yearns to explore the wide world. Gruff old Badger enjoys peace and quiet. And Rat likes picnics and just messing about in boats. Their idyllic lives on the Riverbank are turned upside down when Toad, bewitched by the roar of an engine and the screech of burning tyres, pursues his latest in a long line of extravagant obsessions: a fast, red motor-car. Multiple award-winning Illyria celebrates Kenneth Grahame’s timeless tale of friendship, laughter, the longing for home and the lure of adventure.

This is outdoor theatre at its best in the Paddock of Canons Ashby – bring a picnic, rugs or picnic chairs and wrap up warm!

Apple Harvest Weekend

Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 September, 10am - 4pm. Normal admission applies and no booking needed.

Join us this autumn for a delightful weekend in the countryside as we celebrate the humble British apple. From orchard to table, it’s a seasonal tradition the whole family will love.

Celebrate the annual apple harvest with beautiful decorations, Morris Dancing and traditional seasonal fun. How many types of apples can you name? Have a look at our apple display made by our garden team, and the strange old names for our historic apples.

There will be family craft activities, games for old and young, a tombola, and a select group of stall holders selling their wares. The Morris Dancing displays are at 11.30, 12.30 and 14.00.

Try your hand at the coconut shie, or for younger visitors, try the Apple Lucky Dip - there's a prize every time!

Spot the harvest mice in the house and enjoy beautiful decorations in the church.

 

Pumpkin Candle Holder Decorating Workshop

Wednesday 29 October, 11am - 2pm. Normal admission applies and £3.50 per candle holder. 

Come get crafty with us this spooky season and decorate your own candle holder! Decorate a ceramic tea-light holder with our team at Canons Ashby- the perfect seasonal touch for your home! All are welcome to join in for this activity. 

 

Festive Handbell Ringing in the Church

Saturday 6 December, 11.30am - 12.30pm. Normal admission applies and no booking needed. 

Fancy some festive cheer? Come and listen to the Launton Handbell Ringers in the Priory Church!

Enjoy the festive sounds of the Launton Handbell Ringers in the beautiful acoustics of the Priory Church between 11.30am and 12.15pm. Wrap up warm and take a pew to enjoy their beautiful music. Don’t miss the house - which will be all dressed up for an Arthurian Christmas - before or afterwards.