Family days out at Blickling

Visitors cycling at Blickling Estate, Norfolk | © National Trust Images/Chris Lacey

Keep your little explorers busy on a family day out at Blickling with activities across the estate. Enjoy everything from the impressive grandeur of the Hall to playing in the garden, or walks around the estate and den building in the woods.

Planning your family visit

Here's some information to help make your family day out at Blickling as easy to enjoy as possible:

There are plenty of buggy-friendly paths around the garden and parkland, just grab a map from visitor reception.
Baby changing can be found at the Estate Barn in the main car park, near East Wing visitor reception and in the Farmyard area.
Bottles and baby food can be warmed up in our cafés.
We welcome breastfeeding everywhere at Blickling.
High chairs, activity lunch boxes, cups and water jugs are available in the Stables café.
If you fancy a picnic, you'll find picnic benches under and around the parade in the garden, with a big grassy space for kids to play. More can be found in the Farmyard and near the Estate Barn visitor reception at the main car park. You're welcome to bring a picnic blanket and find a spot to eat surrounded by nature.
You'll find new family trails or fun things to look out for in the House throughout the year.
The cycle hire hub has a variety of bikes for all ages, including electric bikes, trailers and balance bikes so the whole family can explore the parkland.
In warmer months, enjoy a game of croquet out in the garden.

A child looks into a large bowl ion a table in the kitchen at Blickling Hall, Norfolk — Learn about the kitchen at Blickling Hall, Norfolk | © Arnhel de Serra

Be a 'Blickling Botanist' in the House

Head into the house between 11am - 4pm (last entry at 3.30pm) to be a Blickling Botanist and collect a notebook to use as you explore the flowers and insects throughout the house, and be inspired by Rebecca Stevenson's sculptures ‘Inspired by Nature: Mary, Maria, Marianne’, on display in the Upper Ante. Young visitors will also be given and can look out for Blickling Bulls hidden in each room.

The opening screen of the Stranger Folk app on a phone in a visitor's hand — The opening screen of the Stranger Folk app as it appears on a phone | © National Trust Images/Steve Sayers

Coming soon – Stranger Folk, Volume 1: Crone Calling

Friday 17 October – Sunday 9 November

Stranger Folk is a fun game of ancient folklore and real-world adventure for families to play together. Download the Stranger Folk app and begin an immersive adventure inspired by British folklore.

The adventure starts with a voice note from a mysterious Old Crone. Will you answer the call and close the rift before mischief turns to mayhem?!

As the spirit and human worlds collide, sneaky goblins, cunning boggarts and Stranger Folk are slipping through the crack to stir up trouble at Blickling! Gather your team, harness the elements and seal the rift before the creatures take hold.

Forget pumpkins and plastic fangs, this Halloween adventure crackles with old magic. Play for a fast-paced 20 minutes or make it a day-long adventure to pause for scones and pick up where you left off.

All you will need is one mobile phone to immerse yourselves in a rich story of physical play and strange goings-on. The app is designed for children aged 7+ and can be downloaded for free from the Apple and Google app stores. We'd recommend that you to download it ahead of your visit:

Alternatively, find our Welcome Team on arrival who will be able to point you to where the spirts are strongest (where the wifi is best) to download the app. But you will need to solve the puzzle to gain the secret password before your adventure can begin...

Garden open 10am – 5pm from 17 October until 2 November, and 10am – 4pm between 3 November – 9 November. Last garden entry is half an hour before closing, but we recommend starting the trail an hour before closing.

Discover events at Blickling