Visiting Springhill with Family

Child visitor in the natural play area at Springhill, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland — Enjoy the great outdoors with family at Springhill | © National Trust Images/Oskar Proctor

Find out everything you need to know about visiting Springhill with kids. From playing in the natural play area to borrowing balance bikes and essential information on where you'll find baby-changing facilities, bringing a picnic and more.

Easter adventure Trail

Friday 29 March – 2 April

Let an interactive map lead you through the magnificent Springhill estate, featuring engaging activities inspired by nature and local history. Along your journey, immerse yourself in the lush beauty of our surroundings as you create unforgettable memories with loved ones.

Take part in target practice, wheelbarrow races and fill your senses on a sniffing out spring mission. Head over to the giant bird nest and snap a family photo at the giant butterfly selfie station.

A food vendor will be onsite from Good Friday to Easter Monday.

Children must be supervised at all times as there are water features 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 located in disability access toilets near Visitor Reception and the Courtyard.

Play areas

Playground

The natural playarea is located near the main visitor car park. The natural play environment that feels like part of the landscape, allowing kids to enjoy adventures in nature while their imaginations run wild. We hope it encourages your little ones to look up and around, admire the views, engage with their senses and appreciate being outdoors.

A family exploring and looking through windows into the house at Springhill — Explore the gardens at Springhill | © National Trust Images/Arnhel de Serra

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.

Ballance bikes are not available throughout the winter months.

The Barn

This interactive space allows families to enjoy a coffee from the Coffee shop while kids can play with some toys or read a book. Located in the courtyard The Barn is where visitor reception and the coffee shop is located is a great indoor space for kids to enjoy come rain or shine.

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. 4 - Build a den
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

The Well Read bookshop

You'll find the second-hand bookshop at Springhill is a great place to steal away some quiet time during a visit.

We have a large selection of fiction and a wide variety of non-fiction including cookery, gardening, history, travel and much more. We also have a lovely children’s corner.

The bookshop at Springhill has been in operation since the 1980’s. The shop is run and cared for entirely by volunteers. A large group of regular customers and contributors have been established. The money raised is used for various projects across the property. Most recently the rejuvenation of the shell house wall in the Dutch Garden, as well as the restoration of dining room chairs in the main house.

Funding conservation

The books are simply priced and generally our suggested donation is £1 for paperback and £2 for hardbacks. All profits from the sale of books go towards our conservation projects across the Springhill estate.

Donate your old books

Without the donation of books; paperbacks, hardbacks, fiction, non-fiction and children's books, we wouldn't be able to keep the shelves stacked and shop going.

If you'd like to donate some books, please give our main office a call on 028 86 748 210 or email springhill@nationaltrust.org.uk to arrange to drop them off, or simply bring them with you on your next visit to Springhill and our welcome staff in Visitor Reception will be happy to help.

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Discover the best family-friendly places to visit in Northern Ireland with a day out at the places in our care. With outdoor trails for inquisitive minds and natural play areas to let off steam, family adventures await all year round. If rain descends on your outdoor playground, take shelter in our family-friendly cafés for some well-deserved treats. Check property websites for specific opening times and events.