Family-friendly things to do at Calke Abbey

Family playing on a giant pop-up bed in a field of long grass. — Make the most of the long days this summer | © National Trust/Rod Kirkpatrick

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.

Download the property map to find your way around Calke.

Property map

Our three year old grandson loved the tunnel from the House to the Brewery so much that we had to go through seven times, which we were told was almost the record! We'll try to beat it next time!

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Family sat in long green grass enjoying a picnic — Family enjoying a picnic at Calke Explore | © National Trust/Rod Kirkpatrick

Family friendly events

Summer of Play

Enjoy a jampacked summer of play at Calke Abbey from 12 July – 3 September.

With plenty to see and do all summer long, discover fun family days out, go on exciting adventures, and make lasting memories together.

The Garden of Imagination returns to the Kitchen Garden with endless opportunities of play. Over at Calke Explore, you can build your confidence on two wheels on a balance bike course or in a private lesson.

Summer of Play is sponsored by Starling Bank.

Find out more

Child looking up at a colourful obstacle course. — Discover The Garden of Imagination at Calke Abbey | © National Trust/Sue Richardson

Things to do at Calke over summer for...

Solve riddles and play games as you journey through the Stableyards towards The Garden of Imagination.

Then race around the hobby horse course, put on a performance for friends and family, and tackle the giant obstacle course in The Garden of Imagination.

Book a private lesson with the cycle hire team and learn to ride or brush up on your cycling skills. Available every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 24 July – 30 August.
Get competitive with the family in the Garden of Imagination and challenge them to giant games and adventure golf.

Come along to our family-friendly Meet the Taxidermist sessions in the Saloon on 18 July and 22 August. Watch Sarah Burhouse's taxidermy skils in action and get hands-on with fun activites, inclduing matching acrylic eyes to the right animal.

Enjoy a family film night in Calke's picturesque Pleasure Grounds, with screenings of The Greatest Showman Sing-A-Long, Bridget Jones' Diary, Queen Spectacular or Wicked Sing-A-Long. Booking is essential.

Book a lesson or cinema

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.

Useful things to know

Accessiblity

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

Accessibility at Calke

Cool down with Mr. Whippy ice cream, Ben and Jerry tubs or coffee from the Storm Scooper van in the Garden of Imagination.

Refuel with lunch in the Café or Restaurant before starting your next adventure.

At Calke Explore, you can enjoy soft serve from the hut or other refreshments from the kiosk.

Or treat yourself to a tasy burger from the barbecue near the Ticket Office, available on weekends only.

Children standing on a colourful stage in fancy dress putting on a performance — Children putting on a performance in The Garden of Imagination at Calke | © National Trust/Steve Franklin

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 board games in the Restaurant and colouring in the Café.

What to do when it's hot

Stay cool in the historic House with hundreds of treasures to discover inside. Little ones can also enjoy dressing up, jigsaws and reading in the Nurseries.

Step through the west door of the House and venture underground to explore the twisting tunnels that linked the brewhouse and the cellar.

Enjoy natural play in the woodland at Calke Explore, with shade amongst the trees.

Children balancing on a big tree trunk in the woods — The natural play area at Calke Explore | © 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.

Pack your favourite food and enjoy a family picnic in Calke's picturesque surroundings. Lay down a blanket in the open meadow at Calke Explore, find a quiet spot in the park, set up on a picnic bench overlooking the Deer Park or spread out in the Kitchen Garden. Just remember to take any rubbish 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 a power shower with a difference on the second floor.

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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