Family-friendly things to do at Buckland Abbey

Your visit at a glance

-Free entry for under 5s
-Baby changing facilities
-Step free routes around the garden - please be aware that most paths are gravelled or slightly uneven with slopes
-Pocket money gifts in the shop
-Children's lunches available in the cafe
-High chairs available in the cafe
-Some parts of the yellow estate route are suitable for robust pushchairs

We welcome breastfeeding everywhere at Buckland Abbey. If there is anything you need such as a quiet space or hot water for bottle warming, please speak to a member of staff.

A summer of fun

A Summer of Play

20 July - 1 September, daily 10-4

Join us for a fun filled summer, where you can learn how to play, dance and sword fight like a medieval knight at Buckland Abbey's Knight Academy!

This summer visitors are invited to play games with medieval origins such as tennis, football and skittles. Learn all the key sword moves a Knight would need to know as well as all the dance moves! After that you can build your own castle in our loose parts play area - giving it the best defences.

After all this training you can relax in the Book Nook, reading or creating poems on the poetry board.

Storytelling will take place in the Abbey throughout the summer (please check back for times) and archery demonstrations will take place on the Abbey lawn on 30 July, 13 and 27 August.

Why not join Naturemake on 7, 11 and 14 August and make your own enchanting miniature summer camps, adventurous characters, or maybe even woodland animals and fairies (additional charge, from £5).

Normal admission fees apply.

To check opening times, please click here and scroll down to admissions.

What shall we do if it's raining?

With lots of indoor activities such as the Book Nook, dancing fun in the Barn, storytelling and crafts (selected dates), not to mention an amazing Abbey to explore, there's plenty to do even if the rain pays us a visit - or if it gets too hot and you need a bit of shade!

The cafe has lots of indoor seating. so you can still enjoy an ice cream no matter what the weather outside, and with a wide range of toys, books and games available in the shop, you'll be sure to find a great souvenir to take home too.

The garden looks beautiful in all weathers, and there are loads of puddles to splash in out on the walks, so why not pack your wellies just in case, and then you can have fun come rain or shine?

What's great for...

Toddlers and preschoolers:

Can you build the tallest tower or the strongest castle? How about a game of skittles, or just a good run around on the lawn? After that, why not have a well earned rest at one of the storytelling sessions in the Abbey - perfect for a nice cool down.

Primary aged kids:

There's lots to discover about medieval life this summer, with the chance to try your hand at some of the skills you need to be a knight. What are your favourites? If you still have some energy left after all of that training, don't forget to visit the natural play area too!

Older children:

Archery or arts and crafts? Discovering traditional cookery skills or simply enjoying a relaxing few minutes with a good book? Whatever activities take your fancy, there's something fun to try at Buckland Abbey this summer.

The Natural Play Area

The play area at the start of the red walk on Buckland's estate is a fantastic place for little adventurers to explore and let off steam.

Complete with stepping stones, balance beams, climbing logs and much more, all of the timber used in creating this playground was reclaimed from fallen trees on the estate, and crafted by the Ranger staff and volunteers.

Why not bring a picnic and enjoy the views across the Tavy Valley while you eat too?

The area can be used by children of all ages, although little ones might need a bit of help with some of the equipment and we would ask that children are never left unsupervised.

It's a bit tricky getting a buggy to the play area, so you might prefer to bring a baby carrier if you're planning to head up there on your visit, and please be aware that the nearest facilities are back at the main property.

50 Things to do before you're 11 3/4 at Buckland Abbey

With hundreds of acres of woodland to explore, there are so many activities to try out at Buckland. Here are a few of our favourite ideas:

No.1 Get to know a tree

There are thousands of trees on the estate, including some awesome oaks, beautiful beeches and fabulous firs. Can you guess how old some of them might be, and imagine what stories they could tell?

No.6 Go welly wandering

Raining? No problem. Grab your wellies and splash through some puddles, or listen to the raindrops on the leaves overhead.

No.34 Discover wild animal clues

The woodland at Buckland is home to all kinds of wonderful wildlife. Can you look for footprints and listen for calls? Maybe if you are very lucky you'll even spot some of the beautiful animals and birds yourself.

No.48 Keep a nature diary

Now you've had an adventure, why not record your discoveries in a special notebook? You could draw what you have seen and heard, maybe even find a special leaf or stick to remind yourself of your amazing day?