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Family-friendly things to do at The Vyne

A family explores the gardens at The Vyne.
Plan family-friendly adventures for the diary. | © National Trust Images / Arnhel de Serra

From 11 Oct to 2 Nov, free trail ‘We’re Going on a Ghost Hunt’ Halloween Adventure offers family fun such as broomstick-racing and Halloween hoopla before collecting your sticker. Ideal for pre-schoolers and young children.

From 22 Nov to 5 Jan (closed 24 & 25 Dec), free trail 'A Fairytale Christmas at The Vyne' showcases sparkling trees and magical scenes in the house. Youngsters will love the hilarious games and activities indoors and out. 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐭 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. 𝐍𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭-𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞-𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭-𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞.

Click on 'Planning your family visit' below to get the best out of your day.

Family-friendly events

‘We’re Going on a Ghost Hunt’ Halloween Adventure

Sat 11 Oct - Sun 2 Nov | 10am-3pm

Broomstick racing at The Vyne.
Enjoy this riotously fun free family trail. | © National Trust / Arnhel de Serra

Join the fun

We're Going on a Ghost Hunt ™ this Halloween at The Vyne. Saturday 11 October - Sunday 2 November 2025 We’re going on a ghost hunt. Come and join the fun! Can we find them all? Yes! Run, run, run! Based on the bestselling children’s books, this Halloween the bunnies are setting off on an adventure to find the ghosts hidden around The Vyne with heaps of exciting things to see and do along the way. Pick your bunny name, play Halloween hoopla, race your broomstick and watch out for the warty toads as you cross the stepping stones, before joining the celebration party and collecting your sticker. This trail is ideal for preschoolers and young children. Trail free (with normal admission). Text by Martha Mumford. Illustrations by Cherie Zamazing, based on the original characters created by Laura Hughes, copyright © Bloomsbury Publishing 2023

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A mum and her young child enjoy twinkling festive lights.
Make treasured memories with plenty of festive magic. | © National Trust Images / James Dobson

A Fairytale Christmas at The Vyne

Sat 22 Nov - Mon 5 Jan (Closed 24 & 25 Dec) | House 11am-3pm | Gardens 10am-4pm

Step into a world of enchantment where treasured fairy tales sparkle to life. Aglow with dazzling trees and magical scenes, in the house discover The Snow Queen’s icy realm, Red Riding Hood’s cunning wolf, and Beauty and the Beast’s elegant tea set. A free family trail offers fun games and activities in the house and gardens. Collect your Christmas house timed tickets on arrival at Visitor Reception. No pre-booking, first-come-first-serve.

Find out more about this event

 

Play area 

Little ones can explore the outdoors in the natural play area created especially for very young children just off the Lime Avenue.

 

If it rains, you can head to the:

  • gift shop
  • Brewhouse tea-room (for a hot chocolate)
  • house

- and show the kids a secret Tudor peephole concealed in the panelling of The Study on the ground floor. 

- There's also a very young, slim Henry VIII depicted in the chapel stained-glass windows. 

- On the ground floor there's a second hand bookshop with a cushioned bay window where you can sit and read books.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Close up detail of the 16th-century stained glass window in the Chapel at the Vyne, Hampshire

Discover more at The Vyne

Find out when The Vyne is open, how to get here, the things to see and do and more.

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Christmas at The Vyne 

Open 22 Nov 2025 - 5 Jan 2026 inclusive (Closed 24 & 25 Dec) re-live the magic of best-loved fairy tales. In the house discover The Snow Queen’s icy realm, Red Riding Hood’s cunning wolf, and Beauty and the Beast’s elegant tea set. House open 11am-3pm, gardens 10am-4pm. 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐭 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. 𝐍𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭-𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞-𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭-𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞. New for 2025, book your Christmas lunch in the Brewhouse tea-room available on weekdays 24 Nov - 17 Dec at 12pm. Scroll down and click through for the Christmas Lunch Menu and to book your Christmas Lunch.

A rose sits inside a bell jar in front of twinkly lights

Visiting The Vyne with your dog 

The Vyne is a three pawprint rated place. Find out about bringing your dog to The Vyne where you can explore the gardens together.

A close up of a panting dog sat down and being stroked by its owners, taken in the garden at Hanbury Hall and Gardens, Worcestershire

Eating and shopping at The Vyne 

Enjoy a refreshment stop in the atmospheric tea-room at The Vyne, Christmas Lunch 2025 bookings are now open. Treat yourself to a gift in the shop or get comfy in the window seat while browsing pre-loved books.

A close up of a Victoria sponge cake on sale in a cafe

Exploring the estate at The Vyne 

Getting out in nature, discover the wildlife-rich estate at The Vyne and take a walk through ancient woodland.

Trees arc over a woodland path with leafy boughs just starting to turn yellow and copper with autumn colour.

Morgaston Woods green route 

This gentle family-friendly walk at Morgaston Woods, is shorter than the mile-long yellow route but will still give you a healthy dose of the outdoors.

Activities
Walking
DistanceMiles: 0.6 (km: 0.96) to miles: 0.6 (km: 0.96)
A woodland path leads through Morgaston Woods.

Family-friendly places in Hampshire 

Discover the top National Trust places for family days out around Hampshire, from Wild Play at Mottisfont to acres of parkland at Hinton Ampner.

Children on a Halloween trail at Mottisfont, Hampshire, in autumn