Family-friendly things to do at Charlecote Park

Two children playing on a large log in the parkland at Charlecote — Explore the parkland and enjoy adventures with your family at Charlecote Park. | © Shaun Fellows

Discover all the things to do on a family day out at Charlecote Park. From exploring the Service Courtyard and imagining life in the Victorian era to watching deer in the parkland, there's plenty to keep little ones entertained. Find out what family-friendly events are coming up and how best to plan your day out at Charlecote Park with children in mind.

Planning your family visit

Toilets and baby-changing facilities can be found beside the Gatehouse and at the Orangery.
Pushchairs and buggies are welcome outside.
Small children's balance bikes are welcome but unfortunately scooters and pedal bikes are not permitted on the grounds.
Depending on the weather, you may want to bring:
- Sun cream, a hat, and a water bottle (that you can refill on site) when the weather is hot.
- Wellies are recommended when the weather is wet.
Watch your little ones.
- Please take extra care around the riverbanks, lake and ha-ha as they are unfenced and the large stones of the ha-ha can become loose
- Deer and sheep roam freely – please don't get too close or try to touch them.

Vile Vegetables in front of the Pumpkin display in Charlecote's Victorian Kitchen — The 'Vile Vegetables' are roaming loose this October half-term! | © Camille Francois

Join in the fun with the Vile Veg trail!

Have lots of fun this October half-term at Charlecote Park! Discover fun activities around the estate by following the Vile Veg trail.

Dates: Saturday 25 October – Sunday 2 November 2025
Time: 9am – 5pm until 27 October, 9am - 4 pm from 28 October onwards (last entry to the site one hour before closing time)
Price: Free, admission prices still apply (free for NT members)
Booking: Booking is not available or needed.

Family-friendly things to do in the house

Take a look around the outbuildings and the Victorian Kitchen and imagine what it would have been like for the Lucy family’s servants to work in all weathers.

The five downstairs rooms of the house and four upstairs rooms are open every day by timed tickets during weekends and holidays, and open tickets on week days. These can be collected on a first come first served basis at the Visitor Reception. Children booklets are available upstairs so young visitors can discover the Library of Memories display at their own pace.

Useful things to know when visiting the house

Due to the fragile objects inside the house, pushchairs and large rucksacks will need to be left outside.
Hip straps are available to borrow.

Mother and her children look at a collection display — Stimulate your imagination in the house | © National Trust/Shaun Fellows

Family-friendly things to do on the estate

Whether you're getting closer to nature or running off some energy, the parkland is a great space for families. There’s plenty of space to run round and play games, whatever the weather. On your adventures through the parkland, there’s also lots of wildlife to spot.

Useful things to know when visiting the parkland

There are grassy and uneven pathways in the parkland, and gravel and cobbled floors to navigate.
The grassy parkland paths are flat enough for chunky-wheeled buggies when it's not muddy.

Adventure awaits at Charlecote Park

Explore the parkland, visit the historic house and discover Charlecote's secrets with your family.

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Go birdwatching

Pop into the bird hide in the spinney (behind the Wood Yard) and see what's on the feeders there. Look out for the friendly robins and watch the ducks, swans and herons on the river, but remember that feeding them bread can harm them – use wild bird seeds instead.

Look for bugs

Hunt for bugs when you wander along the grassy paths. Count butterflies, bees, dragonflies and ladybirds too. The long grass and knobbly tree bark provide perfect habitats for all sorts of creatures.

Look out for deer

In late spring, bucks lose their antlers. The deer might look a little lopsided, but casting off their antlers is completely natural and harmless. If you want to know more, just ask one of our park roamers when you visit. 

'50 things to do before you're 11¾'

Are you ready to tick some activities off your list of '50 things to do before you're 11¾'? There are plenty of things to try at Charlecote Park, whatever the weather. Here are just a few to get you started:

No. 1 Get to know a tree: Find a tree and see what creatures make it their home. The ancient standing trees at Charlecote Park are fragile, so enjoy climbing the huge felled trees in the parkland instead
No. 7 Fly a kite: It doesn’t have to be blowing a gale – a simple box kite will take off in a breeze. Bring your own or choose your favourite colour from the shop. Run around the Paddock and watch it fly
No. 9 Eat a picnic in the wild: With benches in the Paddock and loads of grassy spaces to spread out your blanket, Charlecote Park is the perfect place for a picnic. Watch the wildlife while you enjoy your sandwiches but remember that the ducks shouldn't eat your leftovers.

No. 19 Play Pooh sticks: Stand on the bridge by the entrance to West Park and see whose stick comes out on the other side first
No. 31 Make friends with a bug: Look in the grass, check tree bark and look under stones to see what bugs you can find
No. 34 Discover wild animal clues: Can you see the tracks made by the deer and sheep? They make flattened grass paths to get to their favourite spots and you might see their hoof prints if it's muddy in the parkland
No. 44 Watch a bird: Bring your binoculars and see what you can spot, from friendly robins and blackbirds in the gardens to swans and herons on the river. Look out for a woodpecker’s rising and falling flight in the park. Can you hear a buzzard mewing overhead?