Family days out at Chirk Castle

Planning your family visit

Here is the information you need at a glance to make the most of your next family day out to Chirk Castle:

• Children under 5 visit for free
• Baby changing facilities are located in the toilets at Home Farm and the castle's courtyard
• Our tea room serves children's lunch boxes and a range of hot meals, sandwiches, ice cream and cakes
• Picnics welcome
• There is no access for prams into the castle's rooms. A parking area is available
• Our shuttlebus takes visitors up and down the hill to the castle and runs throughout the day

Summer of Play

Join us from 19 July until 31 August for a Summer of Play, sponsored by Starling Bank. Unleash your creativity with Chirk Castle’s Big Play Adventure - an exciting outdoor experience for young adventurers. Explore four themed zones inspired by the Chirk Castle estate: Forest, Meadow, Stream and Kitchen Garden. Each zone is packed with interactive activities designed to spark imagination and encourage active play.

From den building and designing your own obstacle course to relaxing in the mindfulness zone and engaging in imaginative play, there’s hands-on fun for everyone. Finish your adventure by climbing the straw bale lookout posts to admire your creative efforts from above.

On Monday, 21 and 28 July and 4 August Jake the Storyteller will be returning with more of his fantastic tales that will keep your little ones entertained and gripped to their seats. Sessions take place in the Field of Play and last approximately 30 minutes each and take place at 11am, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm.

Normal admission charges apply. National Trust members and under 5s can enter for free.

Have a go at archery

Put your bow and arrow skills to the test as we welcome Blaidd Field Archery Wrexham back to Chirk Castle. Sessions take place on 23, 24 and 25 August, in the meadow in front of the castle between 10am and 3pm and cost £1 for five arrows - cash payments only please on the day. No booking required.

 

Things to see and do at Chirk Castle

Adam Tower

We recommend your visit starts at the medieval Adam Tower, where signs of the castle's medieval past can be seen. Have fun dressing up in armour, go on the hunt for the medieval garderobes (toilets to you and me) and murderholes, and venture down into the two-level dungeons... if you're brave enough!

Wild play area

Our outdoor play area at Home Farm is great to keep little ones entertained. It is conveniently located next to the Kiosk which serves hot and cold drinks and snacks, with ample outdoor seating. So, it's a great place to stop to run off some energy, or for a rest before tackling the hill up to the castle.

Children must be supervised at all times. Kiosk opening times vary.

50 things to do before you’re 11¾

Bring your family closer to nature with 50 ideas designed to help us play and explore. There’s plenty of outdoor activities to do all year round, here's some that you can do at Chirk Castle:

No. 1 Get to know a tree

Every tree has something special about it. Search for clues in its roots, bark and branches to uncover its story. Measure how wide its trunk is with your arms and use your hands to feel the texture of its bark – is it bumpy, rough or smooth? Are there any flowers or seeds growing there? You could make a rubbing with paper and a crayon to reveal the lines and patterns. 

No. 9 Eat a picnic in the wild

You're welcome to picnic in our gardens and on the estate. There are some picnic tables located in front of the castle, benches dotted around the garden and shadey spot next to hedges and under trees. Before you set off, it’s time to raid the fridge but if you fancy an extrra treat or two, our courtyard tearoom has takeaway hot and cold food, snacks and cakes.

No. 33 Go cloud watching

Pick your spot in the garden on a dry day, lie back on the grass and look up. What can you see? Use your imagination to pick out shapes and pictures in the clouds as they drift by. Do they resemble anything, like animals, trees or cartoon characters?

If the sky is bright, make sure to wear sunglasses to protect your eyes and remember, don't look directly at the sun.