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family sitting on the grass reading the Very Hungry Caterpillar book in front of a giant butterfly board
Very Hungry Caterpillar trail at Cliveden in Buckinghamshire | © NTI / Arnhel de Serra

Family-friendly places to visit in Surrey

Discover the best places to visit with your family around Surrey, including Polesden Lacey, Hatchlands Park, Claremont Landscape Garden, Winkworth Arboretum and the Surrey Hills. Find the best family trails, natural play areas and café stops, to make the most of the season.

Top family trails in Surrey in May and June

These activity‑packed trails deliver plenty of fun and adventure.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar™ at Polesden Lacey 

1 May to 5 July. Join us for one of nature’s greatest transformations as you become the world’s most famous caterpillar from Eric Carle’s best-selling book The Very Hungry Caterpillar™. All within the beautiful setting of the grounds at Polesden Lacey. Free trail with usual entry.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar™

Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Trail at Winkworth Arboretum 

Calling Pokémon fans new and old! From 23 May, get active outdoors on our Pokémon Trading Card Game Mega Evolution Trail. Team up as a family to search the gardens for each Mega Evolution Pokémon, discover their powers, and complete your own challenges.​ Are you ready for a mega adventure?​ Trail sheets will be available to collect on the day. Normal admission applies (free for National Trust members). 23 May - 5 July.

Child jumping on a green background with the words “Unleash your Energy”

Moomins at Hatchlands Park 

9 May to 5 July. Hatchlands Park invites you to take a magical wander inspired by Moominvalley, with a family trail around the garden, meeting characters from the Moomin stories. Free with usual entry.

Moomin family

The Tiger Who Came to Tea at Claremont Landscape Garden 

2 May to 7 June. Explore this very special teatime through extracts and illustrations from Judith Kerr's classic story on a family trail around the garden at Claremont Landscape Garden. Free with usual entry.

Illustration from The Tiger Who Came to Tea

Places to play in Surrey

Polesden Lacey's play area 

Kestrel Corner is a natural play area made using wood from the Polesden Lacey estate. Enjoy the swings, tunnels and giant nests as you embrace your inner animal and get closer to nature.

A child playing on a rope at the 'Kestrel Corner' play area at Polesden Lacey, Surrey

Hatchlands Park 

The parkland at Hatchlands is perfect for family walks. Visit the natural adventure area in Great Wix Wood and get to grips with the balance beams, tree house and bug burrow. Plus the Kitchen cafe is the perfect stop off for hot chocolate and cake.

Visitors walking dogs in the grounds at Hatchlands Park, Surrey

Winkworth Arboretum 

The Tree Adventure is a wonderful wooden structure at Winkworth Arboretum. It takes its inspiration from the natural environment, fitting into the woodland in an organic way. Come and have a clamber and stop for a hot chocolate at the cafe.

Children climbling on robe bridge with parent and sibling looking on

Claremont Landscape Garden 

Queen Victoria used to play at Claremont as a child and now so can you. The play area has scaled-down versions of Claremont’s garden features - explore the pavilion, glide down the slide and scale the ladders and climbing wall. Badger’s Basecamp is a hidden woodland area that’s perfect for older children to explore, with tunnels and hidden holes to discover and crawl through.

A family walking through the garden at Claremont Landscape Garden in Surrey surrounded by purple rhododendron flowers

Box Hill 

Enjoy the Natural Play Trail: a two-mile level walk with a chance to play in the woods, with lots of trees and structures to climb on.

Tadworth, Surrey

Fully open today
A family playing outside at Claremont Landscape Garden, Surrey

Hindhead Commons and the Devil's Punch Bowl 

Along the Hindhead trail you and the kids can try birdwatching, catching falling leaves, den building, bug hunting, climbing a big hill and creating some impressive wild art. Then warm up with a hot chocolate in the cafe after your walk.

Hindhead, Surrey

Partially open today
A girl sits on a tree trunk writing in her notebook at Lyme Park, Cheshire
A group of visitors walking along a path between trees at Winkworth Arboretum, Surrey

Discover more in Surrey

The home of an Edwardian party house, the Surrey Hills and a classic landscape garden.