Family things to do at Gibside
From school holiday events to adventure play, there's plenty of ways for kids (and big kids) to stay entertained all day at Gibside.
Pokémon joins Gibside’s Summer of Play
Calling Pokémon fans new and old! This Summer of Play, Pokémon are jumping into the great outdoors near you. Are you ready to share the magic with a new generation?
From Saturday 25 July, on top of an already jam-packed Summer of Play, discover all-new Pokémon zones. Get stuck into the Pokémon Trading Card Game, flex your skills and collect Mega Evolution stickers! Team up as a family to search the gardens for each Mega Evolution Pokémon, discover their powers, and complete your own challenges.
And for the rest of Summer of Play? From Saturday 4 July let imaginations soar, feet run wild, and creativity come to life with a whole festival of fun and imagination at Gibside. There’s something for every kind of child.
Summer of Play, supported by Pokémon, celebrating the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Series
Summer of Play activity zones
Families can enjoy free play activities every single day, all included with admission. Drop in anytime between 10am–5pm and discover a whole world of play.
Scheduled summer events
Alongside daily free play, we’ll be hosting a programme of guided sessions throughout the summer. Collect a Summer of Play planner from Visitor Reception or download it here, circle your favourites and pin it to the fridge!
Soft archery | © National Trust Images/Paul Harris 
Puppet theatre | © National Trust Images/Paul Harris
Outdoor theatre
There’s nothing quite like theatre under open skies. Bring a blanket, pack a picnic and settle in for an evening of music, laughter and storytelling as Illyria bring two magical outdoor performances.
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The Pirates of Penzance — A joyful, swashbuckling musical full of silliness, songs and pirate mischief. Tuesday 18 August, 7pm
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Shakespeare’s As You Like It — Shakespeare’s woodland comedy of love, disguise and playful chaos, brought to life in the Walled Garden. Tuesday 11 August, 7pm
Tickets: All ages welcome. Adults £21.68 (inc. booking fee) · Children 3–17yrs £13.01 (inc. booking fee) · Under 3s free.
As You Like It | © Illyria theatre 
Pirates of Penzance | © Illyria theatre
Play areas at Gibside
Toddlers, teens, grandparents and pooches will enjoy the Explorer Trail, a family-friendly (and buggy-friendly!) woodland trail. Walk the circular route to explore nature and adventure play. There's a den building area, sand and water play, a bucket swing, zip-line and more.
Red Kite adventure play area
Hide in the mushroom playhouse, crawl through the otter holt or make your own music on the giant guiros. There's so many ways to play! From bucket swings to a zip-wire, sand and water play and climbing fort.
Planning your visit
Here's some information about the facilities at Gibside, to make the most of your family day out:
- Balance bikes only, Gibside is a looked-after estate and the landscape is not suitable for bike rides.
- Children’s meals available to purchase or outdoor and indoor picnic areas for packed lunches.
- Bring reusable bottles; you’ll find refill taps across the estate.
- Baby-changing facilities and breast-feeding friendly.
- Gibside is an outdoor property. You’ll find covered areas along pushchair-friendly walking trails. We reccommend all-terrain pushchairs.
- Need something? Borrow all-terrain pushchairs, fiddle toys and umberellas from Visitor Reception.
- Explore after 3pm for a quieter experience when there are less visitors.
Birthdays
Celebrate your child's birthday with a party hosted by B Outdoors. Packed full of discovery and adventure, Gibside is the perfect venue for a nature filled day. A guided expert will teach the children exciting new skills, to make their special day a little different. Try archery, bush craft, axe throwing, orienteering and more. Contact Andy at info@boutdoors.co.uk for more information or visit the website.
Kindergarten
Stomping Grounds kindergarten, a fully outdoor play-based learning environment in the woodlands for children aged 2-7 years. Phone 0191 540 2680, email admin@stomping-grounds.org or visit the website to find out more.
You might also be interested in
Summer of Play planner
See what events are happening at Gibside, Crook Hall Gardens, Souter Lighthouse & Washington Old Hall this summer.
Explorer family-friendly trail at Gibside
Enjoy a circular walk in Gibside's 600-acre woodland that's fun for the whole family, getting active in natural play areas and exploring the best of the estate.
Family-friendly things to do at Souter Lighthouse
Discover how lighthouse keepers lived and helped keep ships at sea safe. Follow in their footsteps, climbing 76 steps to the top of the tower for a bird's eye view of the coast. Miles of open grassland and hidden rocky bays make Souter ideal for games, picnics, rock pooling and other outdoor adventures.
Things to do in Crook Hall Gardens
Explore a series of interlinked gardens, each with its own character and discover things to see and do for all ages. Find out more here.
Things to see and do at Washington Old Hall
Explore the manor house, home to the original Washington family, enjoy colourful nature-rich gardens and things to see and do for all ages. Find out more here.
Pokémon in Partnership with National Trust
Calling Pokémon fans new and old! Get outdoors with our Pokémon Trading Card Game Mega Evolution Trails. Complete the trails to find Mega Evolution Pokémon, discover their powers and complete fun challenges.
Adventure awaits: family fun in the North East
From wild woodland walks to castles and houses full of stories, the North East is bursting with family adventures. Whether you're climbing, exploring, or just enjoying nature, our places offer unforgettable days out for kids of all ages. Come and make memories together.
