Family fun at East Riddlesden Hall

From helping build a bug hotel to making the messiest mud pie ever, here are some ideas for families to enjoy at East Riddlesden Hall.

The Discovery Garden

Tucked away within the trees, this natural play area has lots for little ones to discover. Find the hidden entrance and follow the path to start your adventure.

Cook up a messy delight in the mud pie kitchen, make some music with the chimes. Practise balancing on the rope bridge or use the wheelbarrows to make a hedgehog house with leaves. Why not put on a show in the East Riddlesden puppet theatre, or try to make the giant scales balance?

The newly refubished area is the perfect place for little ones to play! With a shop, castle and ship, imaginations can run wild in the outdoors.

Trim Trail

Can you balance along the beam to the bridge? Can you make it to the end of the trail? Practise your balancing and climbing on the trim trail, tucked away behind the tearoom.

Two children playing in the mud pie kitchen at East Riddlesden Hall, West Yorkshire — Children playing in the mud pie kitchen at East Riddlesden Hall, West Yorkshire | © National Trust Images/Trevor Ray Hart

The East Riddlesden Hall bug hotel

Hidden amongst the yew trees in the Discovery Garden, we’re building up this special home for our littlest residents. Grab some sticks, leaves and moss and help add to the many floors of the hotel. See if you can spot any of its guests making themselves at home – but be careful, we need to take care of these lovely little critters.

The lower fields

There’s lots of open space on the lower fields, perfect for running off some steam, playing games or flying a kite. Follow the trail alongside the river and pass through our wonderful willow tunnel. The riverside path is also a great place to go on a scavenger hunt – look for leaves, sticks and other natural treasures to use in a fantastic wild art creation.

Two children in coats and wellies walk along the path with umbrellas up towards East Riddlesden Hall, Yorkshire — Visitors with umbrellas, East Riddlesden Hall | © National Trust Images / Chris Lacey

Planning for a rainy day?

With indoor crafting available all day and a new craft each week. The Discovery Room makes the perfect place to hide away from the British summer weather. While you're in there you can browse our second-hand children's books for sale or take a tour around the Hall and see if you can spot the mice hidden in the rooms.

Things to do this spring

There's lots happening at East Riddlesden hall for the whole family to enjoy.

Small tortoiseshell butterfly sitting white blossom — Every blossom holds a drop of nectar for pollinators in spring | © Martin Freeman

Blossom Bathing

Watch the blossom float to the ground whilst practicing mindfulness around the gardens. Suitable for all ages. Collect a sheet from visitor reception and follow the prompts around the gardens, calming the mind and body whilst enjoying nature.

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