Family days out at Chirk Castle

Summer of Play at Chirk Castle

Saturday 18 July - Monday 31 August

Experience a tropical getaway at Chirk Castle this summer as you step into a family-friendly paradise filled with exciting adventures, hands-on activities and plenty of opportunities for fun, play and discovery.

Explore a series of exciting sandpit zones nestled among tropical plants and lush grasses and see if you can build a sandcastle to rival Chirk.  With sand funnels, sieves and scales at your fingertips, little imaginations can run wild as they experiment, explore and enjoy hours of hands-on fun. 

There are plenty of challenges to tackle as you journey between the zones too - hop across stepping stones, test your balance on beams and wind through weave poles as fast as you can.

Still got energy to burn?  Challenge friends and family to a game of volleyball, throw a frisbee across the lawn or join in with colourful parachute play. You can even create your own summer soundtrack with a collection of musical instruments.

When it’s time to relax, stretch out in a hammock or recline in a deck chair and soak up the tropical atmosphere. Get creative with nature-inspired art using shells and stones, or try a few gentle yoga poses before continuing your adventure around the castle grounds.

The trail is free, but normal admission prices apply. Free to National Trust members.

Travel through time at Chirk Castle

Journey through time in the courtyard at Chirk Castle with Time-Travel Gardens: From Ancient Earth to Life on Mars - a brand-new pop-up garden installation inspired by 314 million years of climate history.

Travel into the past, long before dinosaurs, with prehistoric fossils and lush ferns bringing Earth’s distant past to life. Explore vibrant herbaceous borders and sweeping grasses that celebrate today’s conservation work and highlight the delicate balance that sustains life on Earth. Then venture forward into an imagined future on Mars with planet stepping stones and a hydroponic wall, as you consider how humans might adapt to life beyond Earth.

Created in collaboration with Stori Brymbo and Xplore! Science Discovery Center, this unique installation brings together science, creativity and hands-on discovery for families, garden lovers and explorers alike.

Things to see and do at Chirk Castle

Adam Tower

We recommend your visit starts at the medieval Adam Tower, where signs of the castle's medieval past can be seen. Have fun dressing up in armour, go on the hunt for the medieval garderobes (toilets to you and me) and murderholes, and venture down into the two-level dungeons... if you're brave enough!

Wild play area

Our outdoor play area at Home Farm is great to keep little ones entertained. It is conveniently located next to the Kiosk which serves hot and cold drinks and snacks, with ample outdoor seating. So, it's a great place to stop to run off some energy, or for a rest before tackling the hill up to the castle.

Children must be supervised at all times. Kiosk opening times vary.

50 things to do before you’re 11¾

Bring your family closer to nature with 50 ideas designed to help us play and explore. There’s plenty of outdoor activities to do all year round, here's some that you can do at Chirk Castle:

No. 1 Get to know a tree

Every tree has something special about it. Search for clues in its roots, bark and branches to uncover its story. Measure how wide its trunk is with your arms and use your hands to feel the texture of its bark – is it bumpy, rough or smooth? Are there any flowers or seeds growing there? You could make a rubbing with paper and a crayon to reveal the lines and patterns. 

No. 9 Eat a picnic in the wild

You're welcome to picnic in our gardens and on the estate. There are some picnic tables located in front of the castle, benches dotted around the garden and shadey spot next to hedges and under trees. Before you set off, it’s time to raid the fridge but if you fancy an extrra treat or two, our courtyard tearoom has takeaway hot and cold food, snacks and cakes.

No. 33 Go cloud watching

Pick your spot in the garden on a dry day, lie back on the grass and look up. What can you see? Use your imagination to pick out shapes and pictures in the clouds as they drift by. Do they resemble anything, like animals, trees or cartoon characters?

If the sky is bright, make sure to wear sunglasses to protect your eyes and remember, don't look directly at the sun.

Planning your family visit

Here is the information you need at a glance to make the most of your next family day out to Chirk Castle:

• Children under 5 visit for free
• Baby changing facilities are located in the toilets at Home Farm and the castle's courtyard
• Our tea room serves children's lunch boxes and a range of hot meals, sandwiches, ice cream and cakes
• Picnics welcome
• There is no access for prams into the castle's rooms. A parking area is available. There is ramp access to the Library and Reading Room in the castle's East Wing. 
• Our shuttlebus takes visitors up and down the hill to the castle and runs throughout the day
• Board games including Snakes and Ladders and Chess are available to play in the Reading Room, where you can also sit and read a book together.