Family fun at Nostell
Discover a world of adventure and imagination at Nostell — from exploring beautiful gardens and wild woodlands to uncovering secrets in the historic house, there's something to spark every child's curiosity.
Planning your family visit
- The main car park is 800 metres from the entrance, with accessible blue badge parking spaces conveniently located nearby. The walk to the entrance takes around 10 minutes, but little ones will love scooting along the path.
- On busier days, we offer a buggy service to make your journey to and from the car park easier if little legs are tired.
- You’ll find baby-changing facilities the toilets in the Stables courtyard.
- Most of the gardens feature accessible paths with mostly even terrain, but please note that some parkland paths can be uneven and muddy in wet weather, which might make them challenging for pushchairs.
- Feel free to bring bikes and scooters to explore the parkland. However, we ask that you leave all bikes, trikes, balls, and scooters at the garden entrance.
- Whether you're after a full meal or a light snack, the café offers a selection of family-friendly options, from hot meals to quick bites and lunch boxes or pack a picnic and find the perfect spot in the gardens or parkland.
- The Grab and Go takeaway is open at weekends selling drinks, icecreams and snacks
- If you're bringing your dog along, you might find this information useful.
What's on
Easter egg trail at Nostell
Saturday 5 - Monday 21 April 2025 11am – 5pm (last chance to start the trail at 4pm)
This spring, treat your little ones to a world of adventure at Nostell on the Easter adventures in nature trails. Make your way along the trail and find nature-inspired activities for the whole family. There are 10 fun trail points to discover as you make your way around the garden including an egg and spoon race, easter egg toss, hula hoop challenge and matching egg pairs game.
Prices are £3.50 per trail which includes an Easter trail sheet, bunny ears and dairy or vegan and Free From* chocolate egg. Both eggs are made using Rainforest Alliance certified cocoa, Find out more at www.ra.org. Normal admission does apply.
*Suitable for people with milk, egg, gluten, peanut and tree nut allergies
Easter in the house
Don’t miss the house's Easter Egg hunt. Explore the rooms to find beautifully painted Easter Eggs hidden throughout. For an extra challenge, see if you can spot the tiny Easter Eggs tucked away in the Dolls’ House — it’s trickier than you might think.
Easter Rocks
Our beautiful parkland is free to explore, and this Easter, it’s hiding a special surprise. Pick up a free spotter sheet from the ticket office and head into Joiners Wood to hunt for 25 hidden painted Easter rocks. Keep your eyes peeled — they’re cleverly tucked away, just waiting to be discovered.
Family fun in the gardens
Our gardens aren’t just a beautiful backdrop — they’re bursting with opportunities for families to explore, play, and make lasting memories. Whether you’re hunting for bugs, enjoying a picnic, or soaking up the scenery, there’s something for everyone.
Accessible and gentle paths: Perfect for prams and little legs, with sensory-friendly spots with colourful flowers, butterflies and buzzing bees. A relaxing, easy stroll leads you to the middle lake, with accessible route markers for mobility scooters, wheelchairs, and pushchairs.
Time to chill: Take a moment to relax on one of the benches while your kids run off some energy, or snap some family photos in the stunning floral settings.
Kitchen garden:The Kitchen Garden is a fantastic place for kids to see how fruits, vegetables, and herbs grow. Little ones can explore rows of colourful crops, from juicy strawberries to giant cabbages.
Orchard: The Orchard offers a peaceful, nature-filled space where kids can wander through the meadow beneath the apple trees.
Down by the lake: Spot the resident wildlife including swans, herons, and geese – the babies arrive in the spring and they’re adorable to watch.
The Menagerie Garden is a bit of a longer walk around the far side of the lake, but it’s well worth the journey. It’s the perfect place for kids to feel like they’ve stepped into a fairytale. Explore the enchanting garden, keep an eye out for the quirky lion statues. It’s also the perfect quiet spot to pause for a picnic.
Sensory backpacks Make your visit more comfortable with one of our sensory backpacks which include handy items like fidget toys, sunglasses, and ear defenders. Pick one up from the ticket office to borrow for your visit.
Play area
For younger adventurers: Let little ones explore the woodland adventure play area in the gardens. They can climb, hide out in the wendy house, slide down, swing in the bucket swing, or play on the wobble boards.
For the older ones: Test their bravery with a tower climb and abseil, traverse rope bridges, conquer wobble paths, or zip through the trees on the thrilling 30-meter zip wire.
Design your own adventure
There's plenty of room to roam and burn off some energy
Down at the bottom of the Kitchen Garden, amongst the shoots and the leaves.
Step into Nostell’s Kitchen Garden and discover a world of wonder. With giant rhubarb leaves and a towering ornamental banana palm reaching for the sky, it’s the perfect spot for families to explore and learn together. See cabbages, onions, berries, apples, pears, and more growing in the vibrant garden beds, and find out how fresh produce is nurtured from seed to harvest.
Adventures in the house
Step into a world of stories and secrets. Our historic house isn’t just for grown-ups — it’s a place where imaginations run wild, and families can explore together. Discover hidden treasures, unravel fascinating tales, and make memories as a family. Its also a great option for a rainy afternoon.
Ready to explore?
- Follow our new family trail to discover more about Nostell’s stories and secrets. Join Simon the Dolls’ House Footman as he shows you around the house, introducing you to the people who called Nostell home and sharing some surprising stories! Look out for the pick-up trail boards as you explore.
- Step into a world of dreams where every bed is fit for royalty. Imagine drifting off to sleep surrounded by grand canopies, luxurious linens, and stories of old whispered through the walls. Whether your little one dreams of being a princess, a daring knight, or a bold adventurer, our historic bedrooms are the perfect place to let their imaginations soar.
- Come and look at Nostell’s amazing Dolls’ House. Full of tiny furniture and beautifully dressed dolls, it is also home to a tiny glass mouse. He likes to move around so see where you can spot him.
- Lay back on the benches in the Top Hall and look up to discover the intricate ceiling patterns.
- Stop off in the Housekeeper’s Room to try hands-on activities. There are puzzles to complete, or you can try your hand at designing your own Georgian-inspired room with our magnetic Dolls’ House.
- Watch out for craft activities in the house around school holiday time.
Explore the parkland
Our beautiful parkland is always free to explore, offering plenty of space to unwind, picnic, and connect with nature.
Wild play in Joiner’s Wood: Head into Joiner's Wood in the parkland and discover the new wild play area in the clearing in the heart of the woodland. This area has been created by Nostell rangers using natural materials. Test out your balance on the log walks, leap from stump to stump, weave though the maze and climb on the back of the wooden horses. Take your picnic down and spend time relaxing under the trees whilst young adventurers get creative with den building.
Lakes: Head down to the lower lake to watch the ducks and swans gliding across the water. If you’d like to feed them, please stick to duck food, oats, or peas — bread isn’t good for them.
Orienteering: If your family is up for an adventure, older kids will love trying their hand at orienteering! Grab a map from the Ticket Office and set off to find the hidden markers around the parkland.
Cycle trails: Bring your bikes and enjoy a traffic-free adventure on one of our family-friendly woodland cycle trails. Head out into the parkland along the Carriageway path and up to Obelisk Lodge. You can turn left for the green trail, which is great for little legs, or right to whizz around a few more twists and turns on the blue trail. Both sections are for bikes only and are approximately 1km long. Find out more.
Planning for a rainy day?
Avoid a passing shower with a swift retreat into the second-hand book shop or cosy up with a hot drink or sweet treat in the cafe.
The playground is under the woodland canopy which offers some shelter but, of couse, you can just bring your wellies and enjoy a good old splash in the puddles and stomp in the mud.
You might also be interested in
Things to see in the gardens at Nostell
Discover edible delights in the kitchen garden, unwind beside the orangery or escape to the menagerie garden before exploring the winding paths of the pleasure grounds.
Visiting Nostell with your dog
Nostell is a two pawprint rated place. Find out how to make the most of your visit to Nostell with your dog and why you and your canine friend will enjoy taking in the Yorkshire air here.
Eating and shopping at Nostell
Visit the Courtyard Café with its range of seasonal treats, then head to the National Trust shop, where there’s a range of products inspired by the places we care for.