Family fun at Kedleston

Published:: 10 July 2022

A family enjoying a picnic — Enjoy a walk at Kedleston Hall | © NTI/Darren Cresswell

It's the perfect time to spend time with family and enjoy a seasonal walk.

Planning your family visit

If you're planning a day out at Kedleston Hall with the family, here is some useful information:

Baby changing facilities are available within the main toilets.
Breastfeeding is welcome anywhere on site.
A wheelchair accessible Shuttle Bus is available between the Visitor Reception building to the Hall.
Don’t forget to visit the second-hand bookshop (located in the stableyard). We have a dedicated children’s section with plenty of books for all ages. It is open every day from 10am - 3pm.
The Hall is open from 11am - 4pm with last admission at 3.15pm.

Family friendly things to do

At Kedleston Hall, the great outdoors has plenty on offer for families, with lots of places to explore and spots for memorable picnics. Here is what’s on offer.

Spotting wildlife

Along the Short Walk, orchids are flowering and butterflies of all shapes and sizes including small white, green veined white and peacock can be spotted enjoying the summer sun.

Enjoy views across the parkland as you look out for kingfishers between the Adam Bridge and Splash Pool. The lake is the perfect location to look out for nesting birds as home to herons, coots and swans. Take a closer look and you might even see carp making their way up to the surface.

Orienteering

The permanent orienteering course in the parkland at Kedleston is ideal for beginners of all ages. You can buy a specially designed orienteering map at Visitor Reception for £1.50, it’s on waterproof paper too, so you don't need to worry about it getting wet. Find your way to marked points in the landscape, at whatever pace you choose. Along the way you could spot birds on the lake, wildflowers and butterflies in the woodland areas and of course the sheep and cattle.

Outdoor theatre and cinema at Kedleston

We are looking forward to summer days and behind the scenes are planning a variety of activities to entertain visitors of all ages.

The hugely popular Three Inch Fools theatre company are back as they celebrate their 10th anniversary. This year they will be performing 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' (5 August) against the backdrop of Kedleston Hall and Parkland. Bring a picnic and sit back to enjoy an evening performance in a magical setting. Book your tickets with them online.

A Midsummer Night's Dream

Enjoy an outdoor film experience on the big screen at Kedleston Hall this summer, brought to you in conjunction with Adventure Cinema. From Friday 27 June to Sunday 29 June, visitors can see a variety of showings. From The Gruffalo to Sing! (for young families in the day), to evening performances of Mamma Mia and Pretty Woman. For full details of what's on and how to book - visit the Upcoming events page.

Adventure Cinema

4 people with instruments perform on a stage — Three Inch Fools theatre company music-making - Credit Wilson Smith | © Three Inch Fools theatre/Wilson Smith

Summer holidays at Kedleston Hall

The summer holidays are almost upon us, and no doubt your charges will need entertaining! Visit, play and repeat at Kedleston where there are a host of activities for all the family to enjoy.

Derbyshire Archery club will be offering free ‘have a go’ sessions every Wednesday on the South Lawn in August. Suitable from ages 5 and up (you don’t have to be a child to take part!), it is ideal for complete beginners.
Summer of Play. Come and find the Secret Garden throughout the school summer holidays, where excitement and adventure awaits.
Wilderness Wednesday series. The Ranger team are providing a series of family events across the summer holiday. From building a bird box to going on a mini beast hunt (booking essential). Check back here for details coming soon and to book on the Upcoming events page.

The perfect picnic spot on your walk

With over 800 acres of parkland, Kedleston has plenty of great picnic places. The ongoing project to reawaken the garden within the Pleasure Grounds, provide a carpet of colour and a perfect setting for a picnic. For those that don’t mind walking a little further, you'll find benches along the short, long and wilderness walk routes, offering views of the parkland and beyond.

Forgotten your sarnies?

Not to worry! You can buy all your picnic essentials from the restaurant or kiosk at Kedleston. Sandwiches, lunch boxes for children, hot and cold drinks and snacks are all available in takeaway packaging. Ice creams are available from the shop, restaurant and kiosk too.

South Asian Heritage Month

South Asian Heritage Month (SAHM) runs from 18 July to 17 August each year. This month seeks to commemorate, mark and celebrate South Asian cultures, histories, and communities. SAHM is an opportunity to understand the diverse heritage and cultures that continue to link the UK with South Asia.

First celebrated in 2019, 2025 marks the six-year anniversary since it first began. The theme for 2025 is 'Roots to Routes' - a celebration of migration and movement. Sharing the stories of your family's journey from South Asia to the UK and reflecting on the challenges and triumphs that marked your paths. Whilst visiting Kedleston, you will have the opportunity to reflect on this theme and share your thoughts on your own journey.

Kedleston connections to India

George Nathaniel Curzon (1859–1925) of Kedleston Hall, commonly known as Lord Curzon was appointed Viceroy of India in 1899. The family moved to Calcutta (Kolkata) and lived at Government House, a palace coincidentally modelled after Kedleston, during this period. The Museum at Kedleston has many South Asian objects (owing to Lord Curzon’s travels) and there are several objects in the collection that reflect this history.

At Kedleston we recognise this South Asian connection and are running a series of events to commemorate SAHM.

Live Fusion Music featuring the Indian Tabla and flute, 18 July, 11am-3pm. Kedleston Hall presents the Indian tabla, with Mendi Mohinder Singh’s powerful tabla grooves and the hypnotic music of Shubham Tageja’s flute – a traditional instrument of India.

Roots to Routes Museum Trail, 8 July to 17 August, 11am-4pm Did you know Museum at Kedleston has a collection which come from multiple countries across Asia, in particular south Asia? The trail runs from in the Hall, highlighting seven objects as part of SAHM with an opportunity to learn more about them.

Marigold Potting, 23 July from 11am-3pm. Marigolds are a symbolic flower in Indian culture. Join us in the loggia to pot a Kedleston-grown marigold to take home.

The Extraordinary Story of an Ordinary Man, 25 July, 8 and 12 August at 11:30am and 2pm. Hear Sangita Dosanjh, author of ‘The Extraordinary Story of an Ordinary Man’, speak about the journey of her father who came to the UK at age 23 and carved a life for himself and his family in the 1950s. The session comprises a short film and a Q&A session.

Samuel Dalrymple Book reading, 12 August 11:30am to 1:30pm. Join us at Kedleston for a book reading and session from historian and filmmaker Sam Dalrymple on his latest work ‘The Shattered lands - Five partitions and the making of modern Asia’