Family-friendly things to do at Belton

Image showing the interactive Christmas space within the Saloon, there are costumes for children and a twinkling display in front of the fireplace for families to take a picture. — Enjoy an interactive festive experience within the Saloon at Belton | © National Trust / Instinctive Photography

Explore our fun family day out ideas, including our indoor play area and outdoor adventure playground. Make the most of your day out with the kids at Belton.

Planning your family visit

Booking your visit is no longer required.
The Outdoor Adventure Playground is open daily, and the train is operating Thursday - Sunday, 11am - 3.30pm, weather permitting. Daily service operates during school holidays.
The Ride indoor play area is open daily, 9.30am - 4pm. No pre-booking required. Please note that at busy times, families will be given one hour of timed play.
Baby-changing facilities are available in the parkland, Stables Café, Muddy Hands, and the Ride toilets.
Sensory bags: we have three new sensory bags available to loan at Visitor Reception. The bags contain ear defenders, a fidget spinner, sunglasses, and other sensory items, which we hope will help create a more comfortable environment.

Festive Family Fun

Add a little sparkle to your visit this festive season and wander through the spectacularly decorated mansion! Discover a star trail along the way, and take part in a star-themed activity, before heading out to admire the community art installation along the cobbled drive.

Step inside the Saloon and get hands-on with some interactive experiences! Make some lasting memories and dress up in Victorian style costumes to create your own framed portraits. Why not look at the ones on the walls for some inspiration. Add your own personalised touch to the Christmas trees in this space, and help us decorate it in time for Christmas! Pick your favourite bauble and hang it in pride of place.

Plan your Christmas visit here.

A young man and woman performing in the Saloon in the mansion, wearing costumes and swinging their arms mid-song. — Under The Bed Theatre are returning to Belton House this Christmas! | © Under The Bed Theatre

The Christmas Adventures of Stanley Squirrel, by Under The Bed Theatre

Come and join Stanley Squirrel and his forest friends, as he gets ready for Christmas Day. Running 20 - 23 December.

Stanley Squirrel needs your help as he prepares his Christmas dinner, searches for presents, and learns about the true meaning of Christmas.

Filled with Christmas magic, this storytelling session will include live music, lots of interaction, and fun toe-tapping songs!

Book your tickets!

Two children on the rope and plank bridge in the play area at Belton House, Lincolnshire — Children exploring the play area at Belton House, Lincolnshire | © National Trust Images/Chris Lacey

Belton’s outdoor adventure playground

Swing, dangle, wobble, climb and jump your way through, across and over the National Trust’s largest outdoor adventure playground, set within an ancient wilderness.

Play opportunities at Belton encourage challenging playful experiences in a safe environment to facilitate child development at all stages. The equipment’s designed to be challenging.

Only you know the abilities and limitations of the children in your care, so please keep a careful watch on them and make sure they’re playing safely. You’re also encouraged to play in the spaces provided so that everyone can enjoy the play experience.

The equipment is designed to be challenging

As a result, some equipment may not be suitable for all children.

Visitors enjoying a ride on the miniature railway, with a girl waving, at Belton House, Lincolnshire — Visitors enjoying a ride on the miniature railway at Belton House | © National Trust Images/Chris Lacey

Take a train ride

Thursday - Sunday, 11am - 3.30pm, weather permitting. Daily service operates during Lincolnshire school holidays.

An adult ticket costs £2 per seat, and a child ticket is £1.50. The money raised from the train is used to help us maintain and keep the train running for future generations to enjoy. Thank you for your continued support.

Attention all passengers, journeys on Belton’s miniature train are now running. Take a train ride through the adventure playground, up to the woods and back again. The train driver writes the time of the last journey of the day on the station board.

Indoor play café

Here grown-ups get the opportunity to enjoy a refreshment or two, while the kids enjoy the indoor play area. Full of challenging fun for younger children, this is adventure play, not soft play. Find us in the stable yard. No pre-booking required. Please note that at busy times, families will be given one hour of timed play.

Offering a beehive, Bellmount Tower and the Fishing Lodge, joined together with hanging walkways, cargo nets, slides and tunnels – there’s hours of fun to be had. During term times, there will be early years and sensory play equipment for younger visitors.

Winter ‘50 things to do before you're 11¾’ activities

No. 13 Make a mud creation

There are three essential ingredients needed to make a mud creation: a lot of mud, a selection of natural ingredients and a big mixing stick. Through winter the best place to find the ingredients for your creation is in the playground. Be careful not to get stuck in the mud.

No. 44 Watch a bird

To be a successful bird watcher, you'll need to be as quiet as a mouse as you lookout for feathered friends.

No. 6 Go welly wandering

When it's pouring with rain, what could be better than chucking on your wellies and waterproofs and splashing in puddles, soaking up all the fun? You don't need any instructions for this challenge; it's exactly what it says on the tin!

No. 34 Discover wild animal clues

With deer, squirrels, rabbits and more, there are lots of different things that you can search for when you're on the trail of an animal at Belton. Look out for footprints, fur and poo, and you might find something sooner than you think.

No. 49 Watch the sunset

After a visit to Belton, what better way to end the day than by watching the sunset over the estate. Belton House closes at 4pm over winter, so why not head up to Bellmount Tower in time to watch the sunset? Reach the tower from the car park on Five Gates Road.