Family days out in London and the South East

A family on a winter walk along a path with lights at Chartwell, Kent — A family on a winter walk at Chartwell, Kent | © National Trust Images/Megan Taylor

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 this winter and discover special places across the South East, from fairy-tale castles to medieval deer parks and more. 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 also 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. This February half-term, there's a jam-packed programme of events happening at our places too!

Family walking through a gate, on an autumn walk on the Osterley estate in London

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Osterley, London

17 Feb - 31 Aug 2025. Join us for a Horrible Histories adventure at Osterley Park and House with plenty of splats, hats, and lots of rats! Uncover the fascinating and gruesome history of Georgians from the 18th century with our new original trail inspired by the 'Gorgeous Georgians' children's book written by Terry Deary. As you wander across the gardens and house, transform into a royal Georgian Queen or King in the Temple of Pan as you try on enormous wigs and hats. Spin the ‘Wheel of Misfortune’ on the Long Walk to see what cheerless childhood job you would have done in the Georgian era. On the way, keep your eyes peeled for some greedy Pirates and dangerous Highwayman hiding within the bushes.

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Polesden Lacey, Surrey

8 - 23 Feb 2025. Join us for a game of Polesdenopoly! Follow a family trail around the grounds, inspired by a well-known board game. Collect land and money to become as rich as Mrs Greville, the millionaire heiress who left Polesden Lacey to the National Trust. Who will be the winner? Come along to Polesden Lacey over half term and find out

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Chartwell, Kent

15 - 28 Feb 2025. This February half-term, go on a winter wander with Jock, Chartwell’s famous cat. When the 1927 blizzard transformed Chartwell into a winter wonderland, the Churchill family and their guests made the most of the freezing temperatures. Step back in time with Jock to join in the winter fun and games. Purchase a trail sheet at the Visitor Centre and follow the map to find the activity stations. Return to the Visitor Centre to claim your prize.

Family playing on thrones in the courtyard at Bodiam Castle, East Sussex

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Bodiam, East Sussex

15 - 23 Feb 2025. From fiery depths to watery heights, eight dragons have made their home around the castle this half-term. From fire to water, there are eight to find. As you explore the castle in search of these dragons, you can take part in dragon-themed games and activities. Each activity will help you uncover letters that spell a secret word. Find all the letters, unscramble the word, and claim your prize.

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Sheffield Park and Garden, East Sussex

15 - 23 Feb 2025. Get outdoors in nature this February half term with a week packed full of activities. Join in with a variety of crafty activities to get your children's imaginations running wild.

Play area at Hughenden in Autumn, Buckinghamshire

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Hughenden, Buckinghamshire

15 - 23 February 2025. Discover the magic of the snowdrop flower! Bring the family for an enchanting adventure with interactive displays, perfect for curious minds and little explorers. Dive into the story and let the beauty of nature inspire you!

Visitors on a winter dog walk at Stowe, Buckinghamshire

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Stowe, Buckinghamshire

15 - 23 Feb 2025. Solve puzzles and discover Stowe's history on a fun-filled family trail. Uncover the locations of lost temples by solving riddles and learn more about why and when existing monuments were moved!

A child in wellies jumps in a muddy puddle.

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The Vyne, Hampshire

15 - 23 Feb 2025. This February half-term, young families can keep their eyes peeled for nature-themed trail points in The Vyne's gardens.

Discover natural play areas and woodland play trails, perfect for children to let their imaginations run wild and spend time playing outdoors in nature. Here’s some of our top picks below.

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Family-friendly things to do at Hughenden

With plenty of space to run, jump and play there's lots to keep children of all ages busy at Hughenden, including a 'Wild Play' area and activity trails in school holidays. Explore on your own, across acres of parkland and woodland, or keep a look out on our events page for seasonal activities, crafting or workshops.

Children enjoying the natural woodland play trail at Sheffield Park and Garden, East Sussex

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Family-friendly things to do at Sheffield Park

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.

Child enjoying the Badger and Pepper play area at Scotney Castle, Kent

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Family days out at Scotney Castle

Discover your very own fairy-tale castle tucked away amongst acres of park and woodland, or get involved with some of the family-friendly events and activities running all year round at Scotney Castle and start making memories.

Two children climb up the steps of a wooden tree house in the adventure play area

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Family-friendly things to do at Hatchlands Park

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.

Children in the natural play area at Winkworth Arboretum, Surrey: one walks across a bridge made of rope netting, while others watch from both sides

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Family-friendly things to do at Winkworth Arboretum

Come out and play at Winkworth Arboretum. Whether you’re joining in with outdoor activities, walking the dog or creating some wild art there’s plenty of fun to be had.

A mother and child in the play area at Cliveden, Buckinghamshire

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Family-friendly things to do at Cliveden

From fun walking trails to boating on the Thames this autumn, this is your one-stop shop to help you get the most out of your family visit to Cliveden.

Families in the 'Play Glade' at Nymans, West Sussex

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Things to do with the kids at Nymans

Discover 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.

Exploring the 'Wild Play' area at Mottisfont, Hampshire

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Family-friendly things to do at Mottisfont

Discover Mottisfont’s Wild Play area, river and meadow. There are activities every school holiday, plus lots of places to picnic, plus snacks in our cafes. Baby changing facilities available.

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

Four children wearing woolly hats and winter coats walking along a leafy path through the parkland,

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 autumn 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.

Family visitors enjoying a woodland walk

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.

We know dogs are part of the family too. Find out more about our Pooch Passports and top dog friendly places to visit.

Visitors in the autumn garden at Kedleston Hall, Derbyshire

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Pooch Passports

Find out more about the Pooch Passport scheme and discover dog-friendly places to explore together. Collect stamps from participating places on your days out and your dog(s) will receive a special treat from our partners at Forthglade.

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Nymans, West Sussex

Discover 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.