Family-friendly things to do at Staunton Harold

A family with a pushchair and a dog walking along a path through a section of green trees — A family day out at Staunton Harold | © National Trust/Annapurna Mellor

From adventures in the playground to walks through the wildflower meadows, there’s plenty of ways to enjoy a great family day out at Staunton Harold. Find out what family-friendly events are coming up and all the information you need to make the most of your visit.

Planning your family visit

If you're planning a day out at Staunton Harold with the family, here is some useful information at a glance:

Baby changing facilities are located in both the ladies and gents toilets.
A Changing Places facility is also available by the main visitor facilities.
The playground is a short walk away from the main car park down a tarmac slope.
Breastfeeding is welcome anywhere on site.

Family-friendly events

Summer of Play

Come and make the most of being outdoors this summer at Staunton Harold from 12 July – 7 September.

With plenty of open space, there’s lots of opportunities to play in the sunshine and create lasting family memories.

Summer of Play is sponsored by Starling Bank.

A boy and a girl building a den in woodland — Build your own hideout at Staunton Harold this summer | © National Trust Images/Antonia Gray

Den building

Let your imagination run wild in the den building area. Located in the woodland behind the café, enjoy creating your own den from the provided logs and then crawl inside and explore.

What will your den be – a secret storytelling hideout, a fairy castle, or something else?

Outdoor games

Choose from a selection of outdoor games and challenge your friends and family to giant Jenga, quoits or skittles.

Find out more

Bring a picnic

Staunton Harold is the perfect spot for a picnic in the sunshine. Lay down a blanket or secure a picnic bench with views overlooking the water.

Bring along your own or treat yourself to refreshments in the café. There’s also ice cream for the whole family, including bambino scoops for little ones, perfect for an Indian summer.

Image shows a family of three sat on a blanket in the grass enjoying a picnic, with views of the water behind them — Picnic in the sun | © National Trust/Annapurna Mellor

Get active

Get some fresh air and connect with nature on a walk through the countryside at Staunton Harold. With a range of waymarked walks to choose from, there’s something suitable for the whole family. The wildflower walk is perfect for little legs, wheelchairs, and buggies. Or take a stroll through the woods and enjoy crunching through the leaves.

Alternatively, bring along your bikes and enjoy a family ride. The tarmac path that runs parallel to the wildflower meadows is great for little legs to gain confidence. As you gain your footing, please be mindful of others as this is a multi-use path.

Plan your route

Come and play

With plenty of open space, load the car with your favourite games and enjoy an afternoon of family fun. What games will you bring?

For those seeking a bigger adventure, go wild in the playground and enjoy climbing, swinging, and spinning.

'50 things to do before you’re 11¾'

With plenty of open space, Staunton Harold is a great place to start your '50 things to do before you’re 11¾' adventure. If you’re new to ‘50 things’, pick up a wallchart and stickers from the café to begin your nature adventures.

Here’s a few ideas to get you started:

No.1 Get to know a tree: Discover Staunton Harold’s tree and see what creatures call it their home.

No.6 Splash about in the puddles: Don your wellies and head out on a walk around Staunton Harold. The wildflower walk is perfect for little legs looking for an adventure.

No. 7 Fly a kite: With plenty of open space, Staunton Harold is a great place for kite flying. Choose a patch of grass and hold on tight, as your kite soars into the sky. Remember to watch out for those around you.

No.9 Eat a picnic outdoors: Enjoy lunch with a view on one of Staunton Harold’s picnic benches or bring along your own blanket and spread out on the grass. Remember to pack up all your leftovers afterwards to take home.

No.31 Make friends with a bug: There lots of places to search for bugs at Staunton. See what you find in the grass, lurking under stones or hiding in tree bark.

Looking after Staunton Harold

You can help us look after Staunton Harold by:

Taking any litter home with you.

Staying out of the water – for your own safety, there’s no water access for you or your four-legged friends. Blue green algae is present at Staunton Harold, which can be fatal for dogs.

Keeping dogs on a lead around the car park , visitor facilities, playground, picnic benches, and inside the café.

Leaving BBQs at home – whether that’s with gas, coal, a camping stove or however you like to cook your burgers.