Family-friendly things to do at Lacock

A family walking with pushchairs surrounded by autumnal trees — A family walking in the grounds at Lacock Abbey, Wiltshire | © National Trust Images/James Dobson

There are lots of things at Lacock for families to enjoy all year round. With a busy programme of activities from family crafts to the magic of live theatre, find out more about what you could discover on your next visit.

Autumn and Winter at Lacock Abbey

Start your visit with the story of Lacock's photographic history. The Fox Talbot Museum is dedicated to the inventions and discoveries of Henry Fox Talbot, Lacock's 19th century resident who invented the photographic negative at the abbey. Feel inspired by the new exhibition in the gallery space upstairs, showcasing pieces from the Royal Photographic Society's International Photography Exhibition (open until 27 April 2024). The house is closed for winter until March 2025, but stand on the South Lawn and see if you can spot the window made famous by Fox Talbot's invention.

Watch the woodland change with the season as autumn colour pops up among the evergreens. Follow the paths to the Orchard and pause among the fruit trees there, and take a nature walk and spot funghi and wildlife preparing for the season ahead.

Finally don't forget to visit the Cloister, not only famous for its cameos in film and tv productions, but an almost 800 year old medieval marvel.

Christmas at Lacock

Christmas begins on the 23 November in the abbey, with the Great Hall re-open from the annual deep clean decorated in traditional style. The Community Christmas Tree Festival returns to the Cloister, which will be sparkling with the lights and handmade decorations from the trees decorated by local community groups. Children are invited to write their letters to Father Christmas in the pop-up postroom, and join in a Storytime with Mother Christmas in the Lacock Christmas grotto. Booking essential for Mother Christmas.

Storytime with Mother Christmas
Todder Time with Mother Christmas

Planning your family visit

Here's all the information you need at a glance to help plan your next day out to Lacock Abbey:

Baby-changing facilities are available in access-friendly toilets in the courtyard at the Abbey and in the Red Lion car park toilets
A children's menu is available in the Stables Café, including ice creams
We welcome breastfeeding everywhere at Lacock, including in our cafe and we can provide hot water for making up baby bottles.
Picnics are allowed in the grounds (the orchard is a great place for a picnic) and there are picnic benches in the Pound by the play area in the village
Pushchairs are admitted in the garden, but not in the Abbey or cloister
Children’s scooters and bikes (including self-propelled or balance bikes) are not permitted in the garden.

Close-up of the feet of a child wearing green wellies and red waterproof trousers, amid leaves, at Colby Woodland Garden, Pembrokeshire — Welly boots crunching autumn leaves | © National Trust Images/James Dobson

Family-friendly things to do in the village

Lacock is a beautiful village with plenty to see and do (how many locations will you recognise from the Harry Potter films?). You might want to marvel at the majesty of the Tithe Barn, or head over to the children's play area in the village playing field, which is perfect for ball games.

There's a range of great village shops, including a National Trust shop in the High Street ,where there are family gifts and pocket-money toys available to take home and treasure.

If you’ve got the energy to stretch your legs a bit further, explore the countryside around and see the Abbey from a different angle on one of the walks.

‘50 things to do before you're 11¾’

Lacock Abbey is also a great place to tick off some of the National Trust's ‘50 things to do before you're 11¾’. Here's some of the top activities to tick off your list: