Family activities at Wallington

Mrs Christmas Storytelling

Mrs Christmas is back! With her sparkly shoes and books galore, pick your beanbag and snuggle in for storytime.

Walkaround Father Christmas

On your weekend visits in December, keep your eyes out for a special guest as you tour the House.

Weekends from Sunday 1 December plus Monday 23 December, 11.30am - 3pm.

Take a seat in the reading room, complete with children’s book nook, and get lost in an adventure of the fictional kind.

Head to the kitchen and imagine all the hustle and bustle there must have been preparing for parties back in the day.

Meet the teeny-tiny residents of the many grand houses on display and see the hundreds of toy soldiers all lined up ready for action. We bet you can't count how many there are!

The river walk will take you alongside the banks of the river Wansbeck through the woods. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife – birds, otters and native white-clawed crayfish all call the Wansbeck valley home. You can meet some captive crayfish in the visitor welcome building too and find out more about this fascinating species. 

Take in the fresh air and farmland views on the relatively flat circular farm walk around the Broom House and Prior Hall Farm fields, two of 15 tenanted farms on the Wallington estate.

INSTAR, artist duo Trish Evans and Nick Humphreys from Nottingham, unveiled their new sculpture, Nothing Exists Alone at Wallington in March 2022. The piece was developed in response to the surrounding habitat, resident wildlife and the threats and challenges faced by the natural world. It involved workshops with staff and volunteers, visitors and the local school, Cambo First School.

This project is part of Trust New Art, the National Trust’s programme of Contemporary Arts, which is supported by partnerships with Arts Council England and Arts Council of Wales.

Head to Trout Bridge on the River Walk and discover this lenticular artwork of 7 running wolves inspired by the Trevelyan children and the beauty of the woods at Wallington. Maybe it will inspire you to make a nature-themed sculpture of your own.

From the iconic nookta cypress in front of the house to the impressive giant sequoia in the East Wood, Wallington is home to some splendid trees. Look out for colours and textures changing with every season. You might even spot some of the wildlife that makes its home in the branches.

There are plenty of building materials for your den in the West Wood. Just make sure it’s not living before you take it.

Stop on the bridge on the River Walk for a game of Pooh sticks. Pick up your stick on the way – will yours be the fastest?

Enjoy a stroll along the Farm Walk or River Walk, looking out for some of Wallington’s resident wildlife as you go. Deer, buzzards and a variety of birds can all be found here. Who will you spot on your welly wander?

No. 44 Go birdwatching

The Little Acorns nature play space and the family-friendly wildlife hide in the West Wood are great places to try birdwatching. With lots of tempting feeders, it won't be long before you spy a chaffinch, blue tit or even a woodpecker.