Top spots to find champion conkers

A child's hands holding several conkers — Collecting conkers from the park at Felbrigg Hall, Gardens and Estate, Norfolk | © National Trust Images/Rob Coleman

If you want to win at conkers, the most important thing you'll need is a champion collection. Look out for conkers that are firm and uncracked. Place these in water when you get home – any that are damaged will float to the surface, so choose those that sink to the bottom.

To make your conkers even stronger, try baking them in the oven for a couple of minutes, then pierce them with a pair of scissors or a screwdriver – an adult will need to help with this. Thread a piece of string about 20–30cm long through the hole and tie it at one end. Now you're ready to play! You'll also be ticking off No. 10 of our '50 things to do before you're 11¾'.

Anglesey Abbey, Cambridgeshire: Known as one of the great 20th-century gardens, you'll find an avenue of horse chestnut trees planted by Lord Fairhaven at Anglesey Abbey. Stretching for just over half a mile, you won’t have to look far in your hunt for the perfect conker.Visit Anglesey Abbey
Basildon Park, Berkshire: Wander through the fiery shades of Basildon Park's leafy landscapes and search for fallen chestnuts and conkers, then venture into the pleasure grounds and seek out new opponents to challenge.Visit Basildon Park
Belton House, Lincolnshire: Belton is an ideal place to collect conkers. There are hundreds of horse chestnut trees scattered across its estate, so there are plenty of shiny conkers to find. You won’t need to look far to fill your pockets.Visit Belton House
Blickling, Norfolk: Hunt for the perfect conker on your walk around the garden at Blickling and challenge a friend or sibling to a conker match. With more than 50 acres of garden and 4,000 acres of parkland, you're sure to find the perfect specimen.Visit Blickling
Brownsea Island, Dorset: With horse chestnut trees dotted around the island, Brownsea is the ideal place to discover how to identify horse chestnut trees (top tip: look for big leaves with five leaflets radiating out from a single point like the palm of a hand) before collecting your competition-winning conker.Visit Brownsea Island

Children collecting conkers in the garden at Mottisfont, Hampshire, in autumn — Children collecting conkers in the garden at Mottisfont, Hampshire | © National Trust Images/Arnhel de Serra

Castle Coole, County Fermanagh: There are many horse chestnuts dotted around Castle Coole. Take in the Castle Coole mansion before following the path down towards the woods where you're sure to find a champion conker or two.Visit Castle Coole
Charlecote Park, Warwickshire: Kick through fallen leaves in the tranquil parkland at Charlecote Park, look out for our deer and wildlife, and find the best spots to forage for fallen chestnuts.Visit Charlecote Park
Clumber Park, Nottinghamshire: Clumber Park is a well-known spot for gathering conkers – generations of children have searched in the ancient woods since the park was carved out of the ancient Forest of Sherwood. You can hunt for conkers by foot or cycle around the park on bikes.Visit Clumber Park
Crom, County Fermanagh: Forage for fallen conkers at Crom as you go in search of the biggest and best that you can find. There are lots of horse chestnuts dotted around the estate – keep your eyes peeled on your walk.Visit Crom
Croome, Worcestershire: Take a stroll near the lakeside at Croome, where there are lots of horse chestnut trees. You can find plenty of conkers on the ground, so gather as many as you can to find the best one.Visit Croome

Conkers emerging on a horse chestnut tree at Lytes Cary Manor, Somerset — Conkers emerging on a horse chestnut tree in Somerset | © National Trust Images/James Dobson

Dyrham Park, Gloucestershire: Autumn at Dyrham Park is filled with interest for nature lovers; a park awash with colour, conkers falling from the trees and a bountiful pear harvest are just some of the delights on offer.Visit Dyrham Park
Emmetts Garden, Kent: Comb the woods and gardens at Emmetts in search of the ultimate conker, and challenge friends and foes against the stunning backdrop of the Weald of Kent.Visit Emmetts Garden
Florence Court, County Fermanagh: Hunt for that champion conker at Florence Court as you rummage through the leaves around the main house. A big horse chestnut tree towers over the second-hand bookshop, which is a good place to start.Visit Florence Court
Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire: You'll be able to find conkers all over the park at Hardwick. Take an autumnal walk to find a winner – the best ones will be lying ready and waiting on the ground for you to scoop up.Visit Hardwick Hall
Hughenden Manor, Buckinghamshire: There are plenty of conkers in Hughenden's surrounding park and woodland, so see if you can seek out the biggest one. Hughenden's champion horse chestnut tree is sadly nearing the end of its long life, but we're doing all we can to keep it going.Visit Hughenden Manor

Three young girls sitting on a bench outside holding conkers on strings — Children playing conkers, Stourhead, Wiltshire | © National Trust Images/Ian Shaw

Ickworth, Suffolk: With 18,000 acres of parkland at Ickworth, there are plenty of conkers to find. The avenues on the Albana walk are a good place to start your hunt – it's an easy circular walk that's suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs.Visit Ickworth
Morden Hall Park, London: At Morden Hall Park, stroll through the avenue of lime and chestnut trees in suburban London and keep your eyes peeled for the perfect tournament conker.Visit Morden Hall Park
Mottisfont, Hampshire: Mottisfont is home to many trees, including grand horse chestnuts and stately oaks. There's ample opportunity here for aspiring conker champions to win their laurels.Visit Mottisfont
Mottistone Estate, Isle of Wight: The estate is home to a healthy population of red squirrels at Mottistone, so you may face some feisty competition with some furry friends in your hunt for fallen chestnuts.Visit Mottistone Estate

Child collecting conkers at Mottisfont, Hampshire, in autumn | © National Trust Images/Arnhel de Serra

Packwood House, Warwickshire: You can’t miss the avenue of horse chestnut trees right opposite Packwood House. Or if you’re feeling more adventurous, call into reception for directions for the woodland walk.Visit Packwood House
Rowallane Garden, County Down: See if you can spot all the different colours of autumn and add to your conker collection as you make your way through Rowallane Garden. Head for the woodland walk to hunt out some champion specimens.Visit Rowallane Garden
Sheringham Park, Norfolk: If you walk along Sheringham's main drive, you're sure to find plenty of conkers. Make sure you visit in September and October, which are the best months to spot them.Visit Sheringham Park
Wimpole Estate, Cambridgeshire: Horse chestnut leaves look particularly stunning during the autumn colour change spectacle at Wimpole. As well as collecting conkers, why not collect some of their fallen leaves too, for a spot of wild art?Visit Wimpole Estate