Family-friendly things to do at Calke Abbey

A father on a bicycle with two children on scooters on a trail through autumnal woods — A family bike and scooter ride in autumn at Calke Abbey, Derbyshire | © National Trust Images/Chris Lacey

From wild adventures in the woods to family bike rides around the estate, there are lots of ways to make great memories as a family at Calke Abbey. Find out what family-friendly events are coming up and all the information you need to plan your day out.

Planning your family visit

If you're planning a family day out at Calke Abbey, here is some useful information at a glance:

There are two car parks at Calke:

Parking in the main car park offers access to the House, Gardens, Stableyards, Restaurant, Café, Shop, Second-hand Bookshop, and many of the waymarked walks around the park.

Car parking is also available at Calke Explore (look out for signs for a right turn after passing the admission hut), where you'll find the natural play area, cycle hire, the Tramway Trail, kiosk and toilets (including a Changing Places facility).

If the Calke Explore car park is full, it's a 10-minute walk from the main car park. Accessible routes are available.
Lockers are available through the west door of the house to store large bags as you explore the House. Small shoulder bags are available to borrow, so that you can carry your essential belongings with you.

Hip carriers are available to borrow for use around the House (subject to availability) – just pick one up from inside the Entrance Hall.
The multi-use Tramway Trail provides a level, buggy-friendly route around the parkland. With hard paths and the choice between a shorter or longer route, it's perfect for a family walk all year round.

Admire colourful displays in the Gardens, with wide paths and step free access. There is a slope on the walk up to the Gardens and a few narrow paths in the Physic Garden you may wish to avoid.

There’s space to leave pushchairs outside the House and Tunnels if you’re going inside, but this is not undercover.

We reccomend visiting the Café with a buggy when it's busy, as there's more space between tables.
Enjoy a range of drinks and refreshments in the Restaurant, Café and at the Calke Explore kiosk.

Grab a children's ‘pick and mix’ style picnic box from the restaurant. Choose a sandwich, drink and a selection of three snacks for £5.25.

Highchairs are available to borrow in the Restaurant, Café and at Calke Explore.
Baby changing facilities are available near the Restaurant, and in the accessible toilet at Calke Explore.
Breastfeeding is welcoming anywhere at Calke.

For those that would prefer some privacy, there is a chair within the baby changing facilities.

Very enjoyable day out with my four year old and her grandparents. Loved seeing all the pumpkins growing ready for Halloween and the scarecrows were fab in the walled garden!

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Visitors in the Flower Garden at Calke Abbey, Derbyshire | © National Trust / Paul Harris

Family friendly events

October half term, 18 October to 2 November

From crunching through fallen leaves to exploring hidden corners of the parkland, there's plenty to enjoy on a crisp autumn day out with the family.

During half term, take on the new 'Bat Discovery' trail and use your echolocation skills to track down ten cheeky bats hiding around the Stableyards and Pleasure Grounds. Brave explorers can then venture into the Spooky Tunnel, now transformed into a hidden forest full of curious creatures.

Don't miss the dazzling display of pumpkins and gourds in the auricula theatre - the perfect backdrop for seasonal photos and autumn memories.

Find out more

Useful things to know

Calke Map

Download the property map to find your way around Calke.

Property map

Accessiblity

To help you plan your visit this autumn, take a look at our accessibility article below.

Accessibility at Calke

Keep flying objects away from historic buildings

Help us look after Calke by not playing with footballs, frisbees or other flying play equipment near the House, Stableyards or Garden buildings. If you’re looking for a kick about, there’s lots of open space at Calke Explore or at nearby Foremark.

Families look over the deer park at Calke Abbey in autumn — Visitors near the deer park at Calke Abbey, Derbyshire | © National Trust / Paul Harris

Weather-proof activites at Calke

We know that the weather can be a little unpredicatable but you shouldn't let that spoil the fun! Here's a roundup of our top activites you can enjoy at Calke, no matter the weather.

What to do when it's raining

When it's pouring with rain, what could be better than chucking on your wellies and waterproofs and splashing around in the puddles? See how many you can jump across, as you splish around the gardens or splosh around the park.

Take refuge in the bird hides in the main car park and at Calke Explore, and get up-close to our feathery friends.

Enjoy colouring in the Restaurant and board games in the Café.

What to do when it's windy

Blow away the cobwebs with a blustery walk through the parkland, where you might spot deer grazing in the wider estate.

Step inside the historic House to explore hundreds of treasures and discover stories of Calke's past - a welcome break from the autumn breeze. Little explorers can also enjoy dressing up, jigsaws and reading in the Nurseries.

Seek out sheltered spots in the Pleasure Grounds or Kitchen Garden to enjoy the colours of the season without the full force of the wind.

Head to Calke Explore for outdoor fun - little ones can run, climb and play in the woodland, with plenty of trees offering protection from the gusts.

Children balancing on a big tree trunk in the woods — The natural play area at Calke Abbey, Derbyshire | © National Trust/James Dobson

Top things to look out for across the estate

There's lots of family-friendly things to see and do in the House, Gardens and across the Park at Calke Abbey. Whether you're short of time or staying for the day, add these highlights to your family adventure list.

Wrap up warm and bring along your favourite picnic treats, then top up with a hot chocolate or a warm snack from the café. Settle into sheltered outdoor seating at Calke Explore, find a quiet corner of the park, or spread out in the Kitchen Garden to soak up the autumn colours. Just remember to take your rubbish home with you.

Bring a bike and cruise along the multi-use Tramway Trail. With a relatively flat terrain and minimal road crossings, it’s the perfect route for a family bike ride. You can also hire a bike from Calke Explore, including trailers for little explorers and any dogs in the family.

Make treasured family memories at the auricula theatre in the Flower Garden. Come back to see the display change each season, and snap an annual photo to record the moment. Share your fun with us on social media by tagging @NTCalkeAbbey on Facebook and Instagram.
Look out for ducks, rabbits and other animals in the natural history collection, as you explore the House.

In the Gardens, you can smell the sweet peas and roses, spot “dragons” (newts) in the Flower Garden pond, and shout into the Icehouse and hear it bounce back.

Spot the colours in the parkland, from wildflowers in the spring and summer, to autumnal leaves. Listen to the bird song in the hedgerows and woodland.

Say ‘hello’ to the sheep, longhorn cattle and deer in the parkland.
Use the handheld mirrors to look up at the ceiling in the Saloon, and look out for the dolls’ house and rocking horse in the Schoolroom.

Have running races in the Kitchen Garden, and make spooky sounds as you explore the Tunnels.

At Calke Explore, balance on big tree trunks and explore inside the human-sized badger sett in the natural play area.

Practice your cartwheels on the meadow, count the different leaf shapes on a walk in the park and spot lots of birds in one of the bird hides.
Follow the pink arrows on a parkland adventure to spot the deer herd, and don’t miss the Old Man of Calke, a mighty oak that’s stood for 1,200 years.

Spot small, mummified crocs in the Egyptian case in the Saloon, and check out posters with a difference in the Caricature Room.

Venture underground on a Garden stoke holes tunnels tour and explore these hidden spaces with a torch. Tours are available every Friday and Saturday between April and October from 12pm to 3pm.

Three generations of our family love to meet up at Calke because there is something for all of us to enjoy. Calke Explore for the little ones and snacks and drinks when we arrive. Then, when the children have climbed enough, we drive off to the Abbey for more drinks and snacks and then have a wander up to the gardens and, the highlight for us all, the fabulous tunnels. Then, just before closing time, we buy some plants and visit the shop and second hand bookshop. We then say our goodbyes until next time we all meet at Calke.

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