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Family-friendly things to do at Canons Ashby

Published:
26 December 2022
Visitors walking through the church doors at Canons Ashby, Northamptonshire
Enjoy seasonal activities this winter Canons Ashby | © National Trust Images/Annapurna Mellor

Come out and play at Canons Ashby. There are lots of activities to keep the whole family entertained and help you create great memories together. What adventures will you have next?

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

The Magical Forest Trail

27 November - 24 December, 10am - 3.30pm. Normal admission applies and £3.50 per trail. 

Can you help Merlin the Wizard find his way through the magical forest?

Come to Canons Ashby this festive season for our Magical Forest Trail! Help Merlin the Wizard find his way through the forest using your trail clues, and don't forget to pick up your festive prize at the end!

This will be great for those who appreciate audio sensory experiences, as there will be noisy things to interact with.

A Christmas Quest

29 November - 24 December, 11am - 3.30pm. Normal admission applies. 

Experience a magical Christmas visit at Canons Ashby with festive decorations inspired by Arthurian wizards, knights, dragons and the wonderful myths that surround them. 

This year our Christmas displays will be inspired by the legends that sparked the imagination of John Dryden, who was a member the Canons Ashby family and the first poet laureate. King Arthur, the semi-opera written by John Dryden and Henry Purcell, has been delighting audiences since 1691.

For little adventurers, pick up the Christmas Quest children’s trail, find all the ingredients on the list, and help Merlin the Wizard complete his spell to make a magical Christmas.

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.

Decorate a Christmas Crown

Sunday 14 December, 11am - 2pm. Normal admission applies and £1.50 per crown. 

Decorate a gold crown with festive stickers and gems and then go to see the decorations based on the legends of King Arthur.

Bring your little princes and princesses to decorate a gold crown with festive stickers and gems and then go to see the decorations based on the legends of King Arthur. This activity will be taking place in the church, where there is a beautiful Christmas tree to see too.

Visitors walking along a grass path through the garden at Canons Ashby, Northamptonshire. There are summer flowers in bloom on the right and neatly clipper topiary can be seen in the background with the house behind.

Discover more at Canons Ashby

Find out when Canons Ashby is open, how to get here, the things to see and do and more.

Plan your visit

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Grab a bite to eat in the tea-room, and find a souvenir to remember your visit in the Coach House shop. Head to the old brewhouse where you will now find a second-hand bookshop.

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The garden provides plenty of space for the family to have a great day out and enjoy the fresh air. You can also stretch your legs with one of the walks in the wider grounds.

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