Family-friendly things to do at Wentworth Castle Gardens

Boy wearing a crown in the garden at Wentworth Castle Gardens | © ©National Trust Images/Trevor Ray Hart

Wentworth Castle Gardens is the perfect place for a family adventure. Explore the gardens - from the turrets of Stainborough Castle to the hiding places in the Union Jack Gardens. Try out our Multisensory or Orienteering Trails, and don't forget to call into the adventure play area before you leave.

Planning your family visit

The main car park is around 200m from the adventure play area and the Long Barn Café
There are baby-changing facilities and toilets in the Café and in the Conservatory Building
High chairs are available in the Café
There is an incline throughout the garden on the way up to Stainborough Castle
Most paths in the garden are suitable for buggies, with a combination of hard-standing and grassy paths.
Small scooters and balance bikes can be taken into the gardens, but please don't bring bikes with pedals.
The parkland is a great place to explore for slightly older children, with den building in the woods. The paths can be wet and boggy outside of the summer months, so wellies are recommended.
Make the most of our picnic area. Bring your own lunch or purchase a children's picnic from the Café.
Find a great selection of children's books in the Reading Room, upstairs in the Long Barn.

May half term

Be an eco warrior

Find the butterflies that have settled in the garden. Can you become an eco warrior and solve the puzzle?

Free, pick up a trail sheet from visitor reception
From Saturday 24 May

Grasslands butterfly workshops

Be part of creating a kaleidoscope of butterflies for a brand new summer art installation.

Join a workshop with local artist Jo Veal where you will work together to craft beautiful butterflies using willow and a range of decorative techniques. Whilst you won't be able to take your butterfly home, you'll be part of an exicting piece of collaborative art, which you can come and see over the summer in the gardens.

Inspired by The HERDS project, a groundbreaking public art and climate initiative, and our grassland habitat restoration work on site, the butterflies will celebrate nature as well as sparking conversations about how to care for it.

Workshops run on 27, 28, 29 or 30 May, with two workshops a day: 10.30am-12.30pm and 2-4pm
Recommended for age 7+
£3 per participant - all adults and children encouraged to take part
Dress for messy creative activities
Spaces are limited. Book here.

These workshops will be delivered in partnership with Barnsley Museums and have been kindly supported by Art Fund.

Discover our sensory trails

Explore Wentworth Castle Gardens in a new way with our sensory trails.

We've now added a parkland trail to our exisiting garden trail so you can wander further as your explore with all your senses. Designed for all ages and abilities, why not try it once and then come back in a different seasons for a totally different experience?

Download before you visit or pick up at Visitor Reception when you arrive.

Sensory Trail preview — Preview of the Sensory trail | © Picture Windows design

Outdoor family theatre: Breadcrumbs by Wrongsemble

Saturday 5 July, 12 & 2pm

This new family show full of music, magic and puppetry from Wrongsemble celebrates how the simplest story can become the wildest fairytale in the hands of the right storyteller!

Set in our magical storytelling space at Stainborough Castle
Aimed at 3 to 10 year olds and their guardians.
Tickets: £10 for adults, £8 for children, free for under 3's.
Booking essential.

Things to do in the rain

Once you’ve finished splashing in puddles, you might find some of these activities a good option when the rain comes:

Visit our ‘Time to Play’ segment in the Union Jack gardens, just above the Azaela Garden. Take part in a giant family board game while the tall hedges provide you with some shelter.
During a shower, why not pop into the Conservatory to enjoy the sensory experience of encountering plants from around the world?
Have you discovered the Reading Room yet? Above the Long Barn Café, the extension to the Second-hand bookshop is the perfect spot to get lost in a story while cuddled up in a comfy chair. Access is via stairs to the left of the counter, or please ask if you’d like to use the lift.

Get moving in the Play Area

The Play Area is a favourite destination for families throughout the year. Conquer the castle, zoom down the zip-line, or try out our accessible see-saw.

Orienteering

Exercise your body and your mind with one of our Orienteering trails, designed for families. They make use of paths and trails around the gardens and can be accessed without using steps.

The short couse map is 1km and is suitable for all ages and fitness levels. There is a longer route too, for those who are ready for more of a challenge. Maps cost £1 and are available from visitor reception.