Family-friendly things to do at Osterley Park and House

Little People Big Dreams trail at Osterley books — Girls reading Greta Thunburg and David Attenborough books at Little People Big Dreams trail at Osterley | © Quarto Group, Sally Felton

Escape the hustle and bustle of the city and immerse yourself in nature by exploring Osterley’s backdrop of peaceful parkland, woodland and lakes. Whether it’s a family bike ride or den building, there’s something at Osterley to ensure everyone goes home happy.

May Half Term

Little People, BIG DREAMS® trail

Wednesday 1 May – Saturday 18 June, 10 am – 5 pm

This spring and summer inspire the whole family to believe BIG, think BIG and dream BIG with our exciting new trail featuring inspirational stories from the Little People Big Dreams biography series. Across the gardens and house stories of Malala Yousafzai, David Attenborough, Marcus Rashford and many more will be on display with stunning illustrations. There will be books to read, fun activities to do as a family and a free trail journal to complete.

£2 per trail, plus normal admission fee (Free for NT members and under 5s)

Little People, BIG DREAMS® | National Trust

Zoolab Animal Encounter

Tuesday 28 May – Friday 31 May, 12 pm – 2:45 pm

Discover the natural world with an encounter with real live exotic animals from snakes, snails to tarantulas. Brought to you by Zoolab, this ticketed session is an interactive experience for families to get up close with animals you don’t see every day and learn more about the animal enthusiast, Sir David Attenborough.

Booking required for a 45-minute session. Tickets cost £7.25 for adults, £5.25 for children, under 3s go free. Normal admission fee applies.

Zoolab Animal Encounter | National Trust

Drop-In Zoolab Animal Encounter

1 pm – 1:45 pm

This is a free drop-in session for all ages to come see some fascinating animals and ask our Zoolab animal experts questions.

Drop In Zoolab Animal Encounter | National Trust

Encountering animals with Zoolab at Osterley | © Zoolab

Planning your family visit

Baby changing facilities are available in the public toilets
Pushchairs and picnics are permitted in the gardens
The café is open with outdoor seating available. We are serving a range of takeaway hot and cold drinks, hot lunches, sandwiches, salads, cakes and ice cream
The Stables Shop is open every day of the week from 11 am to 4 pm

Join ParkPlay at Osterley

ParkPlay is a two-hour long play session for everyone, starting at 9.30am every Saturday morning. Join us on the front lawn for a warm up, and then some fun games. Please register for ParkPlay before joining and be aware that under-14s must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Here's a full list of our upcoming events

Visitors enjoying gardening activities in the kitchen garden at Osterley Park and House, London | © National Trust Images/Rob Stothard

Family-friendly things to do in the garden and park

Come out and play at Osterley. Whether you’re looking to dip your toe into the water and try kayaking, or picking up the paddle for a game of table tennis, we’ve got plenty of activities to keep the whole family entertained and help you create great memories together. What adventures will you have next?

Cycle hire

Explore the estate on two wheels and see what wildlife you can find with bikes available to hire for all ages. Remember to check the Cycle Hire hub for opening and closing times ahead of your visit.

Table tennis

If you want to try table tennis you can pop to the Cycle Hire Hub to borrow paddles and balls, or bring your own.

Walks at Osterley Park and House

Take a stroll around the estate and witness the garden at its best.

Grab a bite to eat

The Stables Café is open daily, serving a selection of hot and cold drinks as well as seasonal lunches, light bites, sandwiches and cakes, including a children’s menu.