Family-friendly things to do at Belton

A child smiles over a hedge in the maze at Belton House, Lincolnshire. — Children in the maze at Belton House, Lincolnshire. | © National Trust Images/Megan Taylor

Explore our fun family day out ideas, including our indoor play area and outdoor adventure playground. Make the most of your day out with the kids at Belton and plan ahead for Summer of Play.

Planning your family visit

Booking your visit is no longer required.
The Outdoor Adventure Playground is open daily, and the train is operating Thursday - Sunday, 11am - 4.30pm, weather permitting. Daily service operates during school holidays.
The Ride indoor play area is open daily, 9.30am - 5.30pm. No pre-booking required. Please note that at busy times, families will be given one hour of timed play.
Baby-changing facilities are available in the parkland, Stables Café, Muddy Hands, and the Ride toilets.
Sensory bags: we have three new sensory bags available to loan at the Information and Accessibility Hub (previously visitor reception). The bags contain ear defenders, a fidget spinner, sunglasses, and other sensory items, which we hope will help create a more comfortable environment.

Summer of Play

Running 20 July – 1 September

Summer of Play, sponsored by Starling Bank, is returning to Belton, bigger and better than ever before!

Avenue of Adventure

Discover Belton’s Avenue of Adventure this summer on the East Lawn and set off on a journey to explore some of the countries the Brownlow’s visited. Enjoy playful and interactive activities, from designing your own Chinese Wallpaper and competing in a hobby-horse race, to dressing up and strutting your stuff on a catwalk.

Under-the-Sea Sensory Area

Offering a calm space, head inside our under-the-sea inspired sensory tent in the garden to enjoy some sensory play.

Estate Yard

We’re bringing the seaside to the Estate Yard, with ‘Belton-on-Sea’, next to the ice-cream parlour! After building sandcastles, head to the work zone to build miniature versions of the mansion with ‘Building Belton’.

And more!

Inspire+ will be returning on Fridays throughout the school holidays to run sport sessions on the oval. There will also be a programme of crafts, yoga, Belton Boogie, and pop-up sessions held by our knowledgeable garden, ranger, and house teams.

We’ll be releasing a calendar in July to help you see what’s running when! Keep an eye on our social media for more details to be released throughout the run-up.

Two children on the rope and plank bridge in the play area at Belton House, Lincolnshire — Children exploring the play area at Belton House, Lincolnshire | © National Trust Images/Chris Lacey

Belton’s outdoor adventure playground

Swing, dangle, wobble, climb and jump your way through, across and over the National Trust’s largest outdoor adventure playground, set within an ancient wilderness.

Play opportunities at Belton encourage challenging playful experiences in a safe environment to facilitate child development at all stages. The equipment’s designed to be challenging.

Only you know the abilities and limitations of the children in your care, so please keep a careful watch on them and make sure they’re playing safely. You’re also encouraged to play in the spaces provided so that everyone can enjoy the play experience.

The equipment is designed to be challenging

As a result, some equipment may not be suitable for all children.

Visitors enjoying a ride on the miniature railway, with a girl waving, at Belton House, Lincolnshire — Visitors enjoying a ride on the miniature railway at Belton House | © National Trust Images/Chris Lacey

Take a train ride

Thursday - Sunday, 11am - 4.30pm, weather permitting. Daily service operates during Lincolnshire school holidays.

An adult ticket costs £2 per seat, and a child ticket is £1.50. The money raised from the train is used to help us maintain and keep the train running for future generations to enjoy. Thank you for your continued support.

Attention all passengers, journeys on Belton’s miniature train are now running. Take a train ride through the adventure playground, up to the woods and back again. The train driver writes the time of the last journey of the day on the station board.

Indoor play café

Here grown-ups get the opportunity to enjoy a refreshment or two, while the kids enjoy the indoor play area. Full of challenging fun for younger children, this is adventure play, not soft play. Find us in the stable yard. No pre-booking required. Please note that at busy times, families will be given one hour of timed play.

Offering a beehive, Bellmount Tower and the Fishing Lodge, joined together with hanging walkways, cargo nets, slides and tunnels – there’s hours of fun to be had. During term times, there will be early years and sensory play equipment for younger visitors.

Belton’s favourite summer challenges

No. 50 Take a friend on a nature adventure

It’s great to investigate nature, but you can double the fun when you share your wildlife adventures with a friend. Summer's a great time to get outdoors at Belton, but no visit is complete without having some fun in the outdoor adventure playground.

No. 2 Roll down a really big hill

Rolling down a giant hill is perhaps the best way ever invented to get to the bottom. It's also the most fun, so get out there, climb up to Belton’s ‘Old Wood’ in the parkland and have a go.

No. 24 Go barefoot

Belton is carpeted lovely grassy areas for freeing your feet. With over 1,300 acres of parkland and gardens, you won't be short of places to explore.

No. 31 Make friends with a bug

Ladybirds, caterpillars, butterflies - what will you find hiding at Belton? Great spots for searching include under stones and wood, the branches, bark and leaves of trees and in long grass.