Visiting Ardress House with Family

C:\Users\beth.mcclenahan1\AppData\Local\Temp\Temp1_portfolio (45).zip\51459.jpg — Enjoy the great outdoors with family at Ardress House | © National Trust Images/Matthew Antrobus

Find out everything you need to know about visiting Ardress House with kids. From feeding the chickens in the farmyard to borrowing balance bikes and essential information on where you'll find baby-changing facilities, bringing a picnic and more.

Find out whats on at Ardress House

Winter at Ardress House.

Enjoy crisp winter walks at Ardress House. Its golden hues and warm colours mark the transition between summer and winter. The beauty of changing season's can be seen all around Ardress House.

Planning your family visit

Children must be supervised at all times as there are old farm machinery and uneven surfaces on site.
Balance bikes can be borrowed free of charge during the summer months, just ask at Visitor Reception when you arrive.
Baby changing facilities are located in disability access toilets in visitor reception.

Apples in the orchard at tenant farmer Mac Ivors Cider Co. at Ardress House, County Armagh — Apple Tree at Ardress House | © National Trust Images/Trevor Ray Hart

Balance bikes

Balance Bikes are the perfect way to help your future cyclists learn how to ride in the safety of the great outdoors. Cycling is an important life skill and a healthy way to explore outdoors. We want to help the next generation’s cyclists learn to ride, starting their lifelong love of cycling in beautiful natural surroundings. That's why we are delighted to offer free-to-hire balance bikes to our visitors.

The balance bikes and helmets are available to hire from visitor reception. You don’t need to book anything, and the balance bikes are free to use - just turn up and get going.

Farmyard

Have a go on our ride on tractors in the farmyard. Meet our resident chickens, goats and donkey on your visit. The farmyard is accessed through visitor reception and you can get up close with our chickens when feeding them, please wash your hands when leaving the farmyard.

50 things to do before you’re 11¾

Are you ready for your next wild adventure? Springhill is the perfect place to explore outdoors and tick some fun activities off the National Trust’s '50 things to do before you’re 11¾’ list.

Here are just some of the activities you can conquer with family and friends at Springhill. How many can you do on your next visit?

No. 1 - Get to know a tree
No. 18 - Create some wild art
No. 34 - Discover wild animal clues
No. 44 - Watch a bird
No. 50 - Take a friend on a nature adventure

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Things to do at Ardress House

Step back in time and visit a 17th-century house with a traditional farmyard, fruitful orchard and farm animals to meet.

A dog on lead is sitting on the grass beside its owners

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Visiting Ardress House with your dog

Your dog will love Ardress House with plenty of sights and smells to explore around the estate. Ardress House is a one pawprint rated place.

Visitors playing table tennis at Osterley Park and House, London

Family-friendly places to visit

Find the best family-friendly places to visit and discover the fun-filled activities on offer at the places in our care.

Family-friendly places in Northern Ireland

Discover the best family-friendly places to visit in Northern Ireland this summer with a day out at the places in our care. Enjoy sunny outdoor trails that ignite inquisitive minds and natural play areas perfect for letting off steam. When the summer sun shines, family adventures are boundless. If a sudden summer shower appears, take refuge in our family-friendly cafés for some well-deserved treats. Remember to check property websites for specific opening times and events.