Discover more at Gibside
Find out when Gibside is open, how to get here, the things to see and do and more.
Family things to do at Gibside
From seasonal events to being king or queen of Strawberry Castle play area, there are plenty of ways for kids (and big kids) to stay entertained all day at Gibside.
Planning your family visit – in a nutshell
Here's some information about the facilities at Gibside, to make the most of your family day out:
- Outdoor adventure play area, low ropes course and den building area.
- Seasonal family events.
- Children’s meals available to purchase or outdoor picnic areas for packed lunches.
- Baby-changing facilities.
- Gibside is an outdoor property. You’ll find covered areas along pushchair-friendly walking trails.
- Visit before 11am or after 2pm for a quieter experience.
School holiday activities
Each school holiday brings new family adventures. Dive into scavenger hunts, explore seasonally themed trails and make the most of your time off with engaging, hands-on activites for all ages.
May half term
Grab your detective hat and set off on a scavenger hunt at Gibside! Uncover hidden facts, crack clever clues, and put your maths and history skills to the test. Can you count all the angels watching from the chapel ceiling? Or spot every golden pineapple tucked away in the garden? Race around, solve puzzles, and unlock Gibside’s best-kept secrets. It’s a fun-filled quest for adventurers of all ages—so get moving, stay sharp, and see how many mysteries you can unravel. Find out more.
Saturday 24 May - Sunday 1 June
Summer of Play
A Summer of adventure is waiting at Gibside! Let imaginations soar, feet run wild, and creativity come to life in an outdoor wonderland designed for all ages. From soft archery to racket sports, music making to nature creating, there's craft workshops and history facts, cricket skills and yoga hacks. Discover details here.
Saturday 5 July to Monday 1 September
Every way to play at Gibside
Explore nature, woodland trails and adventure play at Gibside. There's a den building area, sand and water play, a low ropes climbing challenge, bucket swing, zip-line and more. Toddlers, teens, grandparents and even your dog will enjoy the Explorer Trail, a family-friendly walk in ancient woodland on the Gateshead and Durham border. Along the trail enjoy ice-creams or stop at the cafe for a kid's meal, and read a book at the bookshop. There's plenty of family fun things to do every day of the year, including school holidays.
Strawberry Castle 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 at Stawberry Castle.
1 of 3
Into the West Wood
Fun starts in the forest, find activities for every age:
Birthdays at Gibside
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.
Kindergarten
Stomping Grounds kindergarten, a fully outdoor play-based learning environment for children aged 2-7 years. Phone 0191 540 2680 or email admin@stomping-grounds.org to find out more.
You might also be interested in
Article
Educational visits to Gibside
Gibside is the perfect place to bring a group of young people from schools, universities, Brownies and Scouts. Spark their creativity, build confidence, develop problem solving skills and enjoy nature.
Trail
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.