Family-friendly things to do at Clumber Park

Visitors enjoying the flowers in the Glasshouse | © Annapurna Mellor

Clumber Park is an ideal spot for families on a spring day. With 3,800 acres of parkland and the Discovery Centre for some indoor respite, there is an endless amount of fun to be had and plenty for kids to explore.

Planning your family visit

The Woodland Play Park is open every day from 10.00 - 17.00
The Cycle Hub is open from 10.00 - 17.00 at weekends, bank holidays and every day during Nottinghamshire school holidays. Last hire is at 14.30.
The den building area in Leaping Bar is just at the top of the accessible car park
Baby changing facilities are available in the Turning Yard and Discovery Centre in the main visitor facilities, as well as next to Central Bark and in the walled kitchen garden
A Changing Places toilet can be found in the Turning Yard within the main visitor facilities. It is accessible with the users radar key and users are asked to bring their own strap for the hoist
Powered mobility vehicles are available to hire free of charge from the Information Point, subject to availability. Booking is advisable. Monday - Friday, please call 01909 476592. During weekends, please call 01909 511039, or speak to a member of the team.

May Half Term

From 25 May - 2 June, head to the Front Field for active play and get involved in lots of different sports.

Connect with nature by starting a 50 Things to do before you're 11 3/4 adventure. Whether it's playing pooh sticks on Clumber Bridge, building dens in Leaping Bar or discovering wild animal clues in the woodland, there is a lot of fun to be had around the park. Visit the 50 Things room in the Discovery Centre for inspiration and to pick up an activities sheet.

To see what activities and events are happening during your visit, head to our upcoming events page here

Natural Play

As you explore Clumber Park, you'll discover lots of natural play areas to keep children entertained. Whether it's den building in the woods, discovering mini beasts in the leaf litter, coming across a fallen tree or splashing in a muddy puddle, wrap up against the elements and enjoy nature at its best.

Boy adding a branch to a den he has built in the woodland — Den building | © James Dobson

Cycling at Clumber

Getting out on two wheels is the perfect way to explore the parkland, woods and lakeside views of Clumber Park. Accessible routes and woodland paths cover over 20 miles of beautiful trails through a variety of landscapes, offering routes for all ages and abilities to enjoy.

Our Cycle Hub has a large selection of bikes for adults and children as well as accessible cycle equipment, including a side by side bike and a wheelchair platform bike. Hire is available on a first come, first served basis, pre-booking is not available. For opening times and prices, click here

Ready to ride? Balance bikes are a great way for children to find their feet before progressing to a pedal bike. Let your little ones keep up with you on family outings by hiring one from the Cycle Hub.

Discovery Centre

Take a break and head inside to the Discovery Centre. It's a great place to learn more about Clumber Park's amazing array of wildlife and get involved in fun, seasonal activities. The Discovery Centre is also home to our pondlife exploration tank, where you can spot water beetles, water snails and try and spot the stick insect.

Head into the '50 things' room which celebrates all the fun that can be had whilst connecting with nature. With everything from creating wild art and making friends with a bug, to playing pooh sticks and keeping a nature diary. Collect a '50 things' sheet, head outside and cross some activities off your list.

Wildlife at Clumber

The parkland, heath and woodland are home to an abundance of wildlife for you to discover, observe and enjoy in spring. Our circular lakeside walk is the most popular visitor route and looks especially stunning on a bright, sunny morning.

Bring your camera if you're a keen photographer and keep a look out for birds such as buzzards, great spotted woodpeckers, jays and woodlarks. Find squirrels and deer in the quieter parts of the park, and longhorn cattle in the heathlands.

Don't miss the busy Bird Hide, off the beaten track by Cow Pastures, where you can enjoy some quiet time in nature.

A great spotted woodpecker on the branch of a tree — Great spotted woodpecker | © Steve Bradley

50 things to do before you're 11¾ activities

The National Trust's ‘50 things’ list was created to encourage families to play in nature together and build a connection with the natural world. It's a lot of fun too! Below is some of the activities you can enjoy at Clumber. Find out more and see the full list here

No. 4 - Build a den
What will your den be? A meeting place for spies, a pirate hideout or maybe a fairy castle for the night? Start by looking for a sturdy tree with lots of nooks and nobbles, or a low branch. This will help keep your sticks in place when you start building.

No. 11 - Explore on wheels
Whether you’ve got a bike, scooter, wheelchair or skateboard – you’ll explore further and faster on your wheels at Clumber Park, and it’s also a fun way to exercise.

No. 18 - Create some wild art
When it comes to creating wild art, the only limit is your imagination. Try and find things that vary in colour and texture so that you had even more choice and can pull together something really wild.

No. 31 - Make friends with a bug
Ladybirds, spiders, caterpillars, woodlice – there are all kinds of minibeasts hiding at Clumber Park. Great spots for searching include under stones and wood, the branches, bark and leaves of trees and in long grass.

No. 33 - Go cloud watching
On a dry day, find a patch of grass, lie back and watch the clouds go by. With a little imagination you can create whole worlds from the shapes you see in the clouds. Imagine being a bird and flying through the clouds - what do you think it would feel like?

No. 44 - Watch a bird
Our feathered friends can be found anywhere and everywhere, but to see something a little out of the ordinary, head to the Bird Hide by Cow Pastures. Be as quiet as you can, sit tight and record what you can see.

Looking ahead to the summer holidays

Summer of Play is back for 2024!

From 27 July - 8 September, the whole family will want to spend the day on the Front Field with our Summer of Play; 6 exciting play zones, jam-packed with activities to suit every age and every interest.

Burn off some energy in the Active Zone with football, badminton, hockey, tennis, rounders, and a run track.

If creativity is your thing, head to the Creative Zone with opportunities to do chalk art, paint a pebble, tell stories and engage in imaginative games.

Are you a nature-lover? Get hands on in the Nature Zone, where you can explore with our accessible dig beds and mud kitchen and have fun in the sand pit. Or, for some quiet time, head into the sensory tent to wind down.

Filled with dramatic flair? The Performance Zone is calling you to the stage! Dress up and put on a play in the theatre area, or how about pretending to be a member of Clumber Park's staff or run your own store?

If it's all about play, the Loose Parts Zone is a treasure trove for the imagination. From building blocks to pipe play, and fossil digging to den building.

New for 2024, is our Toddler Zone, providing endless fun for little ones.

There’ll also be a straw bale fort to explore and a programme of activities to take part in (details to follow). With refreshments and snacks on hand, and shaded areas to relax in, Clumber Park’s Summer of Play is one that you won't want to miss!

Free event, no booking required, admission into the park applies.