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Family days out in London and the South East
Looking for something to do with the kids? Discover the best family-friendly places to visit in London and the South East and enjoy great days out all year round.
Plan your next family adventure and discover special places across the South East, from fairy-tale castles to medieval deer parks and even a lighthouse. Families can play in thousands of acres of woodland and parkland or let off steam in natural play areas. There’s buggy friendly routes, tree houses, story trails and children’s menus to fuel fun-filled days out, and on rainy days you can step inside sprawling mansion houses and explore famous homes to uncover secrets and stories from long, long ago. We've got brand new family-friendly maps at Nymans, Hatchlands Park and Sheffield Park and Garden to help you create your family's own unique adventure.
New family-friendly maps
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Nymans, West Sussex
With natural play in the Play Glade, activities and events in the school holidays and an ancient woodland and garden to discover, there's lots of fun for families at Nymans. Picnic anywhere in the garden, or pick up a snack from the cafe or kiosk. Baby change available by the house and in the cafe and car park.
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Hatchlands, Surrey
Stuck for something to do outdoors with the family? Look no further. With a fantastic children’s adventure area and loads of space to run around in, Hatchlands Park is the perfect spot to get some fresh air.
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Sheffield Park and Garden, East Sussex
Whether you are visiting with friends or family, there are plenty of new things to discover and fun ways to get active in nature at Sheffield Park and Garden.
Top picks for summer holiday activities in London and the South East
Find non-stop family adventures and fun throughout the school holidays as part of the National Trust’s Summer of Play (sponsored by Starling Bank)
Cliveden, Buckinghamshire
Explore Cliveden your own way this summer, with activities to do whether you want a short stroll or a longer adventure.
Knole, Kent
Play games, fly kites and explore the parkland at Knole this summer.
Polesden Lacey, Surrey
This summer we’re creating a hub of play in Crab Apple Orchard, inspired by the fantastical world of Grizwald and Griffins, so there’s bound to be something fun available for the whole family.
Nymans, West Sussex
Comber’s Field is once again home to a number of fun and active challenges. Explore the Play Glade, Nymans’ natural play space and look out for the play points around the garden, each with a different activity to try.
Hatchlands, Surrey
This summer, try your hand at volleyball, badminton, football or tennis on the lawn at Hatchlands Park. Or challenge friends and family space hopper race or a game of frisbee.
Scotney Castle, Kent
Get ready for fun family days out this summer with great Big Top-themed games and activities which are included in your entry. Little ones and big ones alike can test their stilt-walking skills, try their hand at juggling, plate-spinning and diablo, conquer the ring of fire and balance your way safely across the tight rope. Whatever the ages there'll be lots of activities to enjoy.
The Vyne, Hampshire
For an energetic day out, all ages can enjoy bean bag shot put, an obstacle course, long jump, high jump, triple jump, relay race, hurdles and ribbon gymnastics in the gardens at The Vyne.
Family days out in London and the South East
Hampshire
Treat the whole family to a fun-filled day out at our places in Hampshire. Discover a mansion house surrounded by babbling brooks perfect for playing pooh sticks at Mottisfont, or explore a Tudor house turned family home at The Vyne where your little ones can explore the outdoors in a natural play area created especially for younger children. If you're feeling adventurous, pull on your wellies and head out for a walk on the Hinton Ampner estate.
Kent
Explore a medieval deer park, moated manor house, fairy-tale castle and more on a family day out in Kent. There’s all sorts of fun to be had, from playing in acres of gardens and parkland to spotting fish at Ightham Mote and deer at Knole. Children can climb the two-storey treehouse and enjoy the brick built play house at Chartwell, reach new heights on the swings at Emmetts Garden and have fun in the Badger and Pepper play area at Scotney Castle, complete with mud kitchen, play house, toddler swing and a natural drum kit
Surrey
Discover the best places to visit with your family around Surrey, home to an Edwardian party house, the Surrey Hills and a classic landscape garden. Children can enjoy the new adventure playground at Polesden Lacey or the natural play areas at Hatchlands Park.
Sussex
Enjoy a family day out this winter in Sussex. You can stroll along buggy friendly paths at Nymans to discover a Play Glade complete with mud kitchens, games and even a mini stage to let children's imaginations run wild. Wander through the Capability Brown designed landscape at Petworth, or step back to medieval times at Bodiam Castle where families can climb the steep towers, walk across the battlements, find the gun loops and spot 50-year old carp swimming in the castle moat.
Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire
Explore a world of lakes, hidden woods, enormous temples and twisted trees as you play and have fun on a family adventure at Stowe. Or head to the wild play trail at Basildon Park where little explorers can get adventurous on the balance beam, jump on the hopscotch and play with the ball run - there’s also plenty of space for some den building too. There's a natural play area at Hughenden and a woodland playground at Waddesdon, as well as plenty of opportunities to get closer to nature on a family walk at Cliveden and Grey's Court.
London
Escape the hustle and bustle of the city, and make memories to treasure on a family day out to National Trust places in and around London. There’s plenty to do, from a family bike ride and den building at Osterley, to a game of hide and seek at Ham House where over a mile of hornbeam hedge swirls around in an intricate geometric pattern.
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Family-friendly places to visit
Find the best family-friendly places to visit and discover the fun-filled activities on offer as part of our Summer of Play, sponsored by Starling Bank.