Family visitors flying kites by the South Foreland Lighthouse, Kent, on a sunny day in August — Family visitors flying kites by the South Foreland Lighthouse | © National Trust Images/Solent News and Photography Agency

Family-friendly places in Kent

Let little explorers loose in the outdoors. They'll love squelching in mud kitchens, scrambling across natural play areas and running free across open meadows, whatever the weather. When it's time to refuel, grab a coffee and kids lunchbox from the café or pitch up a picnic blanket on the lawn. There's no need to book in advance, and with wide parking spaces, baby changing facilities, picnic benches and buggy-friendly paths our places are ready to welcome you.

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).

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Ightham Mote

Take on code-breaking challenges and follow new spy-themed trails indoors and through the gardens with ‘A Summer of Selby Spies’. Plus historical reenactments and crafts reveal more about Ightham’s Tudor legacy. Special themed weeks run 22 to 24 August (Royal Intrigues Unveiled: Tudor Power Plays ) and 29 to 31 August (Forging Tudor Legacies: Rebellion, Pretenders, and Tournament Triumphs). Free with admission (suggested donation for crafts).

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Scotney Castle

Step into the ring this summer with Big Top-themed games and activities at Scotney Castle. Test your stilt-walking skills, try your hand at plate-spinning and diablo or conquer the ring of fire. Clown around with the juggling balls and balance your way to safety across the tight rope (27 July to 2 Sept, free with admission). Leave time to explore the Badger and Pepper play area, find a shady spot for a picnic or treat the family to a delicious ice-cream. Meet family-favourite Jemima Puddle-Duck at a Quantum Theatre adaptation of Beatrix Potter’s much-loved tale (booking essential, fee applies).

Children playing summer sports at Nostell Priory, Yorkshire

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Knole

There’s family fun in the parkland all summer at Knole with cricket, boules and croquet. On breezy days, borrow a kite and take to the skies. Budding explorers can grab a parkland adventure pack from the Visitor Centre. Get ready to meet mini-beasts and discover more about Knole’s beautiful birds (22 July to 1 Sept, free with admission). Become a king or queen for the day during a special week of activities inspired by Knole’s former royal residents. Join in crown face painting, bean bag target practice and dress-up selfies throughout Royal Tudor week (5 to 11 August). Pre-book admission to Knole to guarantee entry.

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Chartwell

Follow the Adventures of Jock the Cat family trail, inspired by Chartwell's famous marmalade feline. Kids will love the two-storey treehouse, swings and Canadian Camp too.

Children in a sack race in summer in a National Trust garden

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Emmetts Garden

Get active with hoola hoops, sack races and more on the meadow with Summer of Play at Emmetts Garden. Challenge family and friends to a game of cricket overlooking stunning Wealden views (20 July to 1 Sept, free with admission). Little ones can let loose in the Wild Play area near the café. Scamper over the climbing frame, venture through the willow tunnels and hop across the fairy toadstools. Book your tickets and pack a picnic for a family-friendly outdoor performance. Escape to the magical land of Peter Pan with Immersion Theatre, or settle in for music on the meadow (booking essential, fee applies).

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Sissinghurst Castle Garden

Are you ready for a play-filled summer at Sissinghurst Castle Garden? Help our vegetable gardeners bring in pollinators with the companion plant matchup game or explore the main garden with our new family colour trail. Build a den in our natural play area or spend time playing the lawn games in the Elizabethan tent on the Plain. There’s archery in the tent on select dates too. Creative workshops and activities will be running in the Oast Exhibition Space. Runs 22 July to 1 Sept.

Girls playing outdoor giant jenga during the Wey River Festival at River Wey and Godalming Navigations and Dapdune Wharf, Surrey

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Quebec House

Spend quality time with the family in Quebec’s beautiful garden in the heart of Westerham. Play giant Jenga, dash around with hobby horses, challenge each other to a game of quoits and more. Back by popular demand, there will be family yoga sessions on selected Fridays and archery on Wednesdays in August (booking essential). Runs 20 July to 1 Sept.

A small child in a blue sunhat playing with a twig, surrounded by green trees

Place

Smallhythe Place

All the world’s a stage, and this summer is your chance to be in the spotlight! Dress-up back stage in the green room and choose a story to perform (or write your own!) ready for the stage. Perform yourself in the rose arbour, or choose some puppets in our puppet theatre to put on a show. Play games from Ellen Terry’s time with Victorian games on the tennis lawn. Join Garlic Theatre for their family puppet show ‘Jack and the Beans Talk’ in the historic Barn Theatre on 7 August (booking essential, fee applies). Have a closer look at the puppets and sets at the end of the show.

Child having a go at soft play archery with an adult demonstrating the technique

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Bodiam Castle

Roll up, roll up! The Medieval Fair is back at Bodiam Castle for Summer of Play, packed with family games and activities. Try mini jousting, hobby horses, straw bale hurdles and quoits (24 July to 2 Sept, free with admission). Drop in to Knight School and train up as a brave defender of the realm. Experience action-packed tournament duels, arming the knight and get involved with storytelling shows and armour handling (18 to 26 August, free with admission). Plus storytelling and medieval armour displays throughout the holidays, longbow archery (throughout August, fee applies) and a chance to solve puzzles along ‘The Castle the King Built’ trail (daily, £3 plus admission).

Illustration of two children looking at a bear

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Bateman's

Will you succeed in The Jungle Book Games? Have a go at Mowgli’s rhythmic ribbons, keep your balance in the Kaa sack race, score high in the Hathi hoopla and create your own games’ opening song on Baloo’s music station. There’s plenty to keep the whole family busy on this action-packed trail (13 July to 1 Sept, free with admission). Discover new adventures with free, drop-in storytelling sessions in the gardens on select dates too. Or decorate your own ceramic animal plant pot, treasure chest or wooden snake (select dates, fee applies).

Children playing in the garden and jumping off a tree stump at Chartwell, Kent

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Family-friendly things to do at Chartwell

Meet the royal residents of Chickenham Palace, or pop into the enchanting ‘Marycot’, a little brick house built by Sir Winston Churchill for his daughter Mary. Climb the two-storey treehouse and reach the sky on the swings in the Old Quarry. Chartwell is a great place to play and let imaginations run wild.

Picnic area with wooden tables, benches and chairs, with historic building, grass and green trees in the background.

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Family-friendly visits to Knole

Book into the Knole Fawns toddler group on Friday mornings. There's babyccino coffee mornings and stories on Mondays too. Discover the royal treasures in the showrooms using the new children's spotter trail. Go deer spotting on a stroll around the parkland.

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Family days out at Scotney Castle

Swing, climb and squelch in the Badger & Pepper play area. Peer into the moat to spot the swish of a fishy tail. Can you find the dinosaur footprint in the rocks of the Old Quarry, a relic from when iguanodons roamed?

A woman and a child enjoy looking at daffodils in springtime.

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Emmetts Garden

Guard the fort and hop into the enchanted fairy ring in the new natural play area, located just past the Old Stables Tearoom. Can you walk across the balance beams without falling off? Why not challenge each other to see who can build the biggest den? Play the giant wind chimes and clamber to the top of the climbing frame – the fun is never ending.

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Family activities at Sissinghurst Castle Garden

Head to the natural play area down by the lakes for den building. Meet the resident dragon and find the fairy door hidden in the trees. Pick up a free seasonal spotter sheet from visitor reception.

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Visiting Ightham Mote with the family

Celebrate the season with autumn eye spy. Race through the living willow tunnel, practice your balancing skills and make mud pies in the natural play area. Change of clothing advised!

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

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Family-friendly things to do at Bodiam Castle

Experience the feeling of walking over the bridge, through the gatehouse and stepping back into Medieval times. Spy the original portcullis, ancient stone unicorn, murder holes, gun loops and medieval bread oven. Pick up a new illustrated autumn spotter sheet or try the castle trail with Nosy Crow.

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Family-friendly things to do at Bateman's

Drop in for story time in the garden, with short sessions perfect for little imaginations. Run free in the natural play area with swings, see-saw and climbing frames. Look out for the wise old owl perched atop the carved oak tree. Inside, meet the 120-year-old doll 'Crocus', who was given to Rudyard Kipling’s little girl, Elsie. She was so well loved; her nose has rubbed off with kisses.