Family-friendly things to do at Cotehele

Family within the glass house completing an activity at Cotehele, Cornwall — Family sowing seeds in the glass house at Cotehele, Cornwall | © National Trust Images / James Dobson

Discover all the things to do on a family day out to Cotehele. Explore the garden and orchards and head out on an adventure around the estate. Find out what family-friendly events are coming up and how best to plan your day out at Cotehele with children in mind.

Planning your family visit to Cotehele

Free entry for under 5s
Baby-changing facilities in most toilets
Buggy-friendly route around the garden, quay and towards Cotehele Mill
Play area by the Cherry Orchard and at Cotehele Quay
Children’s menu available within the Barn Cafe
Pocket money gifts and children’s books available in the shop
Please take extra care around Cotehele Quay, the pond dipping area at the quay and the ponds within the Upper Garden and Valley Garden.

Family fun at Cotehele this winter

Grab-and-go art bags at Cotehele

Available daily from 6 January - 7 February

As the garden at Cotehele comes back to life and ready for spring, use the materials in the bag to try your hand at sketching and colouring the early flowers and stunning views from the gardens.

Head to Visitor Reception when you arrive and pick up a bag and either some sketching paper or colouring-in sheets.

Little Gardeners' Family Trail

Available daily from 8 - 23 February

It's time for the family to get out in the garden! From 8 - 23 February, come and try out the Little Gardener's trail. Even in the winter there are so many things to do to keep the gardens looking tidy and the Cotehele gardeners need your help.

Become a Little Gardener and complete activities such as sowing seeds, flower counts, smelling herbs and using wheelbarrows to help the garden get ready for spring.

The trail comes at no extra cost, normal admission applies.

Family walking along a gravel path in the Upper Garden at Cotehele, Cornwall — Children playing in the autumn leaves | © National Trust Images / James Dobson

What to look out for soon

Take part in an Easter trail at Cotehele

5 - 21 April 2025, 10am - 4pm. Normal admission charges apply, plus £3.50 per trail.

Join us for an Easter adventure at Cotehele. Discover our family-friendly trail with fun activities for across the ten activity stations dotted around the garden. Complete the trail and earn your chocolate reward at the end (both dairy and vegan and Free From options available).

50 things to do before you’re 11¾

Cotehele is the perfect place for ticking off some of your ’50 things to do before you’re 11 ¾.’ There are plenty of things to try at Cotehele, whatever the weather. Here are just a few:

No. 4 Build a den

Gather large sticks and create a secret hideaway. Our favourite spot for building dens is by the Cherry Orchard play area.

No. 33 Go cloud watching

With imagination you can create whole worlds from the shapes you see in the sky. Any spot at Cotehele is great for doing this, we like lying on the grass slopes by the bowling green.

No. 48 Keep a nature diary

Bring along some scrap paper and colouring pencils and keep a diary of the things you have discovered. What did you touch? What can you hear? Draw the wildlife you spotted on your adventures around Cotehele.