Family-friendly things to do at Godolphin

A young visitor enjoying Christmas in Wimpole Hall, Cambridgeshire — A young visitor enjoying Christmas | © Tom Soper

From getting mucky in the mud-pie kitchen to getting creative with arts and crafts in the Cider House, there is plenty going on for all to get involved with and make memories at Godolphin. Find out what's on offer and plan your next visit.

Planning your family visit

Free entry for under 5s.
Baby changing facilities & toddler toilet seat available in the Piggery toilets.
Toilets in the garden.
Three quarters of the garden is accessible to pushchairs/wheelchairs, but they may encounter steps at points.
Seasonal activities during school holidays throughout the year.
All activites are free (unless otherwise stated) but normal admission applies. Booking not needed.
Please note that scooters and cycles are not permitted in the garden, these can be left safely with the Welcome Team when you arrive.

Christmas at Godolphin

Enjoy the festive season with us at Godolphin.

Come and explore Godolphin house traditionally decorated for the festive season, and enjoy the sounds of local choirs as they fill Godolphin with festive song, on these weekend days. Have a go at making your own pomander decoration in the dining room to take home with you or gift to a loved one, and enjoy festive hot drinks, mulled wine and mince pies.

Godolphin House is open from 10.30am - 4pm (final entry 3pm) on the following weekends:

Saturday 30 November and Sunday 1 December.
Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 December.
Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 December.

Explore the Godolphin gardens by taking part in the hibernation trail, and discover more about how some of our favourite wildlife gets ready for the winter, with activities, games and quizes.

Close up image of a family having a go at making clay crafts in the Cider House at Godolphin — Visitors enjoying a clay craft workshop at Godolphin, Cornwall | © National Trust Images/Arnhel de Serra

Places to Play

Mud-Pie Kitchen

Tucked away in Mary's Wood you will find the Godolphin Mud-Pie Kitchen. Get mucky and let your imagination take over as you create something amazing out of mud! Why not have a go a making some nature art or creating a muddy bee bole and making a new home for the bees at Godolphin.

Taps for handwashing can be found in the nearby orchard.

Barefoot Trail

Kick off your socks and shoes and feel the different textures of nature beneath your feet by exploring our barefoot trail! Follow the orange footprints to find your way there!

Polly the Milkable Cow

Make sure you meet Polly, Godolphin's cow who lives in the Shippons barn. Grab a stool and the bucket and have a go at milking just as generations of farmers at Godolphin have done for hundreds of years.

The Cider House

On the first floor of the Cider House you can find different arts and crafts activities to match the season. Plus this is a great escape if it is raining.

family enjoying a picnic in the garden at Godolphin — A family relaxing in the garden at Godolphin | © National Trust Images/Arnhel de Serra

Places to Picnic

Godolphin is a perfect spot to bring the family for a picinic to enjoy the beautiful surroundings of nature. Grab a spare picninc blanket from the Piggery tea-room and settle on the grass in the Orchard to enjoy lunch, or on one of the benches dotted around Godolphin. Or take a tour up to the peak of Godolphin Hill and enjoy a picnic over-looking the spectacular views across Mount's Bay, where you may be able to see two coasts at once.

Children's sandwiches, snacks, drinks and ice-creams are avaliable from the Piggery tea-room.

'50 things to do before you're 11 3/4'

No.13 Make a Mud Creation -wander down to Mary's Wood and get mucky in our very own mud-pie kitchen.
No.28 Climb a Huge Hill - climb to the top of Godolphin Hill and see how far you can see into the distance.
No.48 Keep a Nature Diary - record the nature that you spot here at Godolphin from birds, bees, butterflies and much more. How many different species will you spot?