Northamptonshire

North Northamptonshire

As the weather warms up, delight in Canons Ashby’s ‘Flutterby Butterfly’ summer trail, running from late May until early September.

As the weather warms up, delight in Canons Ashby’s ‘Flutterby Butterfly’ summer trail. Spot the butterfly’s favourite flowers, flap your wings and even dance like a butterfly (grown-ups too!) Bring the family and enjoy this free activity in our green spaces, as part of your visit to Canons Ashby. Pick up a free trail sheet at Visitor Reception when you come in. Normal admission prices apply

This event is free, but normal admission charges apply for the venue.

This is aimed at families

Pick up your free trail at Visitor Reception when you're scanning your membership cards or buying your admission tickets.

Please dress for the weather

There are no steps in this area, but there are uneven outdoor surfaces which can get muddy in wet weather. There are also some small slopes where the trail will be located.

This is an extra thing to do for families on their visit to Canons Ashby

Canons Ashby

Find out more about the medieval history of Canons Ashby with a guided visit to the church, and then to the recently restored medieval stew ponds: an area not accessible to the public without a guide.

From misty marshes to the streets of London; our new adaptation of Dickens’s popular and atmospheric novel, delivers high comedy and thrilling drama as we follow Pip’s journey to discover the true nature of his ‘great expectations’.

On the fourth Thursday of the month from May to October, come and explore our surrounding countryside on a 6-mile walk, enjoy the fantastic views and get out in the fresh air with our guides.

Eboracum Baroque are delighted to return to the beautiful gardens of Canons Ashby for a programme of music featuring works by Henry Purcell, using historic musical instruments.

Flutterby butterfly trail

Established in 2018 by Forestry England, the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) and Parker Harris, Earth Photo is a world-leading international programme dedicated to engaging with still and moving image makers. Its main objective is to reveal the narratives behind the pictures, encouraging conversations about our world, its inhabitants, environments, and the changing climate.

From 24 June to 27 July, Attingham will host this year's wonderful photographic entries and you can immerse yourself in stories about our Planet, told through photography.

Earth Photo 2024

Discover a jam-packed summer of play over the summer holiday. There will be some fun outdoorsy activities, such as a music wall and a mini stage to invent stories, as well as indoors activities with a dress-up station and games inside the House...

Pop back to enjoy new activities every week. Every Tuesday, we'll set up a new and exciting station for you to discover and enjoy on the Croquet Lawn – the weekly theme will invite you to explore a new variety of activities!

Bring a picnic and spend the days adventuring in the parkland and getting stuck into 'Play' themed games and activities.

BONUS: Collect a stamp for each activity every week to complete your 'Eight weeks of Play at Charlecote' leaflet – ask for one at the Visitor Reception or any retail or food outlet.

Additional: Get crafty in one of our paid workshops each Wednesday and Thursday.

Summer of Play is sponsored by Starling Bank.

A Summer Of Play At Charlecote Park

The Garden of Imagination is back and bigger than ever this summer, with 9 exciting zones to explore.

Get active in Adventure Avenue and take on the obstacle course, with giant objects, mazes and tunnels to navigate.

Take part in show jumping and races in the Hobby Horse Championships.

Channel your inner performer in The Musical Magic Theatre and put on a show, dress up or create your own music on the xylophones.

Visit The Beehive and help the bees pollinate flowers or play inside the giant beehive.

Get hands-on in Block Party and construct your own building out of giant building blocks.

Feeling a bit hot? Create your own den in Den Builders Base and cool off inside.

Challenge your friends and family in Fun and Games to life-size games, including hoopla, snakes and ladders and drafts.

Refuel in Snack and Relax and enjoy a well-deserved ice cream and other refreshments.

Take a time out in the Zen Zone and enjoy some quiet time, with cloud watching, yoga and a sensory barefoot walk.

Join us every Tuesday in the Garden of Imagination for led activities, including games, races and crafts.

Summer of Play is sponsored by Starling Bank.

Summer Of Play: The Garden Of Imagination At Calke Abbey

Take a magical journey through the grounds and gardens at Croft and discover the whimsical woodland creatures and features as you explore.

This trail will be running every day of the summer holidays, from 20 July to 1 September. Trail packs cost £3 and include an activity sheet, colouring pencils, and a prize.

The Whimsical Woods - Summer Holidays Trail

A collaboration between the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), Forestry England and Parker Harris, Earth Photo celebrates photographic and film work that conveys the world around us and makes us think differently, capturing nature, people, place and space, forests, the land and seascapes, and the varied impacts of, and adaptations to, climate change.

Royal Geographical Society: Earth Photo 24

There's something for all the family to enjoy at Kingston Lacy this summer.

Explore our festival field of fun, dance at the bug ball, put on a performance at the giant puppet theatre and find lots of games and activities and adventures. There are also two wonderful play areas to discover and explore.

Check out our other summer events (crafts such as making an Egyptian clay tablet or Flower windmill, activities such as Morning Dance Party or Children’s Yoga, and events such as Storytelling and Bubble play) on the Upcoming Events section of our website.

Pack a picnic to enjoy, or pop into the café for lunch, hot and cold drinks or ice creams.

Summer Of Play

Embark on a journey through time at Wimpole Estate during the Festival of Archaeology, running from July 13 to 28. Enjoy a free family archaeology trail and watch the experts from the Cambridge Archaeology Field Group (CAFG) unearth history with on-site excavations throughout the week. On the weekend of July 21 and 22 be sure to join us for our Festival of Archaeology celebration, where CAFG will have some of their discoveries for you to take a closer look at. There will also be a fascinating 'Have-A-Go' excavating family activity, as well as the opportunity to go beneath the surface in the archaeology store in the house's basement. Usually closed to the public, this is the perfect place to delve deeper into the different archaeological methods used to discover Wimpole’s past.

Festival Of Archaeology At Wimpole Estate

Come out and play this summer holiday at Oxburgh Estate. We have an activity packed offer suitable for the whole family, with some new additions this year such as Kick croquet and Hook-a-swan.

Ready, get set, go! With our sports day races who will be the winning champion?

Test out your badminton skills before a traditional lawn game.

Maybe try out the natural obstacle course, or some creative nature-based activities in the den-building area.

Restore all that energy with a refreshing scooped ice cream and relax on a deck chair in the beautiful gardens.

Summer Of Play At Oxburgh Estate

Choose from a selection of outdoor games and challenge your friends and family to badminton, giant jenga, skittles, swing ball or traditional sports day races.

Summer of Play is sponsored by Starling Bank and supported by Sport England.

Summer Of Play: Outdoor Games At Staunton Harold

Coming to the Fox Talbot Museum on June 29, a diverse selection of contemporary photographs from across the globe.

For the past 170 years, the RPS's International Photography Exhibition has reflected how people see and think about things. The artworks selected for the Fox Talbot Museum exhibit a wide range of themes, subjects, techniques and aesthetics from 37 different photographers.

The International Photography Exhibition encourages photographers and image-makers of all ages, new, emerging and established photographers worldwide to submit work to the open call. For each edition of the exhibition the RPS invites a panel of leading voices in photography to bring an exciting mix of expertise to the final exhibition selection. The exhibition at the Fox Talbot Museum represents a selection from the last three years’ editions of RPS exhibitions.

International Photography Exhibition

Join us throughout the summer holidays for a festival of fun in the play meadow, with games, crafts, music and workshops.

Divided into distinct and interesting activity zones, this wide outdoor space contains something for everyone and for budding artists, the craft tent always has something to do, with volunteers on hand to lead you through an exciting new craft at weekly sessions. Construct impressive structures from wooden blocks or build a giant marble run.

The picnic hub will be a shady area with lawn games and tables where you can enjoy a well-earned rest. And if, after all that, you’ve still got some energy, enjoy climbing obstacles or why not explore the maze to find the hidden camp and scale the mighty straw bale fort?

Bring the whole family to Green Close Field for a day of adventure at the Play Labyrinth. Wander around a maze of grassy paths to find different play zones, including summer sports, Georgian garden games, and musical activities.

Little legs won’t need to travel far to encounter a world of sensory play around the Walled Garden. Even grown-ups can put on a show in the puppet theatre.

There's even more fun this summer with:

Nature crafts (Tuesdays and Thursdays)

Summer story time (Wednesdays)

Outdoor games for families with SEND (check our events page to book)

Summer of Play is sponsored by Starling Bank and supported by Sport England.

Summer Of Play At Gibside

From 20 July - 31 August Dyffryn will once again become home to the Dyffryn Garden Games.

There'll be several games and sports dotted around the gardens to help families get outdoors and play together this summer. Who will win the hurdles? Who will be the family table tennis champion? And who will take the prize at archery? Who will stand in first place on our special Dyffryn Garden Games podium?

Part of the National Trust's Summer of Play initiative, there's no need to book and no extra charge to play the Dyffryn Garden Games (normal admission applies - admission is free to National Trust members).

Dyffryn Garden Games At Dyffryn Gardens

Brought to you by the National Trust and Stoked Watersports, an opportunity to get out on the lake and maybe try something new.

At Stoked Watersports there is something for everyone. We run regular kayak, paddleboard and row boat hourly hire sessions throughout the day perfect for beginners.

For more experienced paddlers we have our SUP pick up and go service giving you the freedom to explore Lake Windermere at your own pace.

Our watersports base at Fell Foot on the southern tip of Lake Windermere is set within the National Trust’s Fell Foot park - a very special place which never fails to impress. It is quite simply the best place to experience watersports hires on Lake Windermere.

Call 02393 593939 Book direct with our activity provider Stoked Watersports.

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Please take a look at the joining instruction PDF you receive when you make a booking as it contains useful information including a site map.

Recommend wearing quick drying clothes, wetsuit shoes or lightweight trainers. Bring a full change of clothes and towel. Sunglasses, suncream, hat and waterbottle are advisable.

Speak to the team at Stoked Watersports about access requirements.

It is normally adverse weather (heavy rain and/or strong winds) which limits us from operating due to your and our team’s safety. We are always checking the weather and our team is pro-active with this and so if the weather is looking iffy Stoked Watersports will contact you to discuss all the options.

Stoked Watersports

Join us every Thursday in May and June for a story and nature walk around the park.

A simple way to get fit, with a great community at its heart.

Get involved with Great Big Green Week at Fell Foot

Guided Nature and Environment Walks with the NT team. Learn more about the hidden natural gems around Fell Foot and take away ideas and inspiration for what you can do at home. Meet at the tea room at 11am.

Paddleboard, kayak and row boat sessions

Discover over 60 original illustrations in our family-friendly exhibition, including favourite stories and characters such as Mr Gumpy, Avocado Baby, and Oi! Get Off Our Train!

There are comfy reading zones for kids to snuggle into with a book, colourful blown-up scenes for family photos, and dressing up inspiration. Look out for the life-size ‘magic’ bed that transports young imaginations to far away worlds, inspired by Burningham’s classic story The Magic Bed.

Sketches and personal items, including the artist’s paint palette, reveal how Burningham created his much-loved stories.

Outside, an energetic activity trail weaves through Mottisfont’s spacious gardens, introducing families to more characters, with games and challenges to complete. £3 per trail.

Art gallery open 11am-4.30pm daily, gardens open 10am-5pm daily. Last entry into the property, house and gallery is 30 minutes before closing.

Property admission applies (free entry for National Trust members, Art Fund members and under 5s).

There's no need to book, but we may get very busy, particularly on weekends. We open at 10am, and mornings tend to be busier than afternoons - most of our visitors arrive before 2pm, which can cause congestion in the car park. If you have the flexibility, a weekday visit is generally quieter than a weekend, even during school holidays. If you can only visit over the weekend, Saturdays are usually less busy than Sundays.

John Burningham's Bedtime Stories: Exhibition And Activity Trail

Fun has no age limit and there's play activities for all. Get ready for an action-packed summer of fun at Killerton. Take part in the mid-week drop-in sessions: nature-based activities on Tuesdays, team games on Wednesdays, and circus skills on Thursdays.

With 6 different play areas to choose from every day. For those who want to burn off some steam, there’s frisbee golf and loose parts play to climb and build. Unleash your inner artist and get creative with arts and crafts equipment. What a performance - there’s even a mini theatre with dressing up. Head over to the nature zone to identify bugs and look for fairy houses. After all that there’s a quiet zone, time to relax with sensory light bubbles and even an outdoor library. There’s plenty of covered areas so play can continue no matter what the weather.

Members visit for free; normal admission fees apply for non-members. All play activities are included with entrance.

Sponsored by Starling Bank.

Inspired by the landscapes of Cornwall and it's ever changing moods, an exhibition by Rosie Mack is now showing at Botallack Count House.

A graduate of Canterbury University, Rosie Mack studied classical oil painting with Robert Greenham and lives and works in North Cornwall.

This exhibition, inspired by the landscapes of Cornwall, draws from many sources "imprinting a memory of light, colour, place and shape".

"The landscape of Cornwall has long been my inspiration, it's ephemeral light qualities and ever changing moods fascinate me. One of my ongoing themes is the exploration of the rich local landscape with its range of industrial architecture, which acts as man-made geological layers. The remains of the old tin and copper mines both blend into and form the existing geography, the previously bruised landscape being absorbed back into nature."

There is accessible parking and ramped access to Botallack Count House, and accessible toilet facilities on site. For any further information please call 01736 786934.

The exhibition will run during Botallack Count House opening hours, please see the website for times. Botallack and Botallack Count House are free to visit. The Count House Cafe (not National Trust) will be open, serving tasty snacks and drinks. There is plenty of parking available, charges apply (free for National Trust members).

Botallack Count House Workshop

Rosie Mack Exhibition

The visitors will start their journey by entering through a Fantasy Castle Archway, before they step into a large castle made out of straw. Inside the castle they can find a variety of play items suitable for creative, active, and performance activities. Following on from this, they can find a maze with a podium and additional play equipment.

Booking is not required and the games are free.

At Dunham Massey, families and friends are encouraged to harness the vibrancy and joy of longer warmer days, with a playful, three-month celebration of summer

The North Park Play Hub, brimming with colour and activity, brings an opportunity to share games and challenges amongst ancient trees and nature. Catch special events like crafts and storytelling, and bring a picnic to enjoy under dappled shade or at one of our accessible picnic benches.

Clamber and climbing are a must at the natural play Log Pile. Balance on fallen trees, hop across stumps, and let their imaginations run wild in the great outdoors.

In the gardens, the thousands of summer bulbs create beautiful displays that change weekly. Across the wider land of walking paths and veteran trees, deer spotting is always a family favourite.

With snacks, meals and beverages on hand from the numerus outlets, and a trip to the treasure trove shop enroute home, Dunham Massey is the ideal place to enjoy a celebratory summer day.

This event is free, but normal admission charges apply for the venue.

Suitable for all ages

Stop by the Visitor Centre for direction to Summer of Play top spots and activities.

Weather appropriate clothing and footwear.

The North Park, where the Play Hub is located, is accessed via both cement and natural paths, both of which are relatively flat and accessible.

Dunham Massey

Who lives here? From hedgehogs in their houses to worms tunnelling underground, discover the gardens brimming with life. For under 5s and their grownups.

Make music in the formal gardens and discover big, bright and bold musical installations.

All aboard! Pack your bags and giddy up for Speechly’s ‘Grand Tour’ of the historic house.

Throughout the school summer holidays, Dunham Massey is hosting a collection of playful happenings, with different family-friendly events every day. How will you play today?

Summer of Play

Summer of Play returns to Knightshayes this summer holiday. Get ready for an adventure in the gardens - are you willing to take on the maze challenges?

Find your way to the centre of the grass maze and work together to solve the maze puzzle mats – but do try not to tangle yourself up in the rope maze!

Summer Of Play At Knightshayes

Festival of Archaeology returns this year to coincide with the 80th anniversary of The Council of British Archaeology and this year’s theme is community. Creating the perfect opportunity to celebrate all those who share a passion for archaeology across the UK and at Hinton Ampner.

Join us and the HART team to explore this what community meant in the past, what is means now and how this might shape our future. There will be finds handling, excavation activities, tours, geophysics demos and much more!

Festival Of Archaeology

A snapshot of the Rawnsley's private lives and holidays in Europe displayed in the house where they lived.

Displayed for the first time, this collection of watercolours and small black and white photographs will give you a glimpse into the the private lives of the Rawnsleys.

Discover a snapshot of genteel tourism in the mountain resorts of the Alps and the Dolomites, while the shadow of the first world war loomed over Europe.

This event is free, but normal admission charges apply for the venue.

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

On private road about 300metres (0.2miles) uphill from Inn at Grasmere / Emma's Dell in village centre. Blue Badge parking. Not accessible by mobility scooter. Accessible toilet on ground floor. Induction loop. Steps to upper floor of house.

Allan Bank

Fun things to do with kids this May half term at Allan Bank.

Get involved with Great Big Green Week.

Get involved with Great Big Green Week

Chat to our outdoors team about how we manage the woodland at Allan Bank and get hands on if you fancy it.

Flower time in the Oberland: The holiday watercolours of Eleanor Rawnsley

Come and grab a sport kit and continue the tradition of games at Knole this summer. Take your pick from cricket, boules or croquet. If there's a bit of a breeze then we have kites for you to borrow. Or why not become a summer explorer and pick up an adventure pack? You can use it to explore the parkland, find mini-beasts and see which birds you can spot around Knole.

Games, kites and packs are available to borrow from the Visitor Centre (subject to availability). They are free to borrow. Normal admission to Knole applies. Please pre-book at least an Outdoor and Tower ticket per person. Car parking is included in all admission tickets.

Summer of Play is sponsored by Starling Bank and supported by Sport England.

Summer Of Play At Knole

Polish your armour and grab your shields as you take on the ultimate challenge at Chirk Castle’s Medieval knights' training camp this summer. Dress up like a warrior and enjoy constructing your own castle playing before climbing, balancing and weaving your way through obstacles made from straw in the field of play. Fun for all ages, there will be plenty to explore and discover, including knight’s challenges hidden throughout the bales and mini-maze. Then recharge your batteries at the rest station where you can lie back on a deck chair and get creative on our storytelling boards. On selected dates there will be led archery and fencing sessions. Fully trained knights can also look forward to returning to the castle in autumn where they will have the chance to put these new-found skills to the test in the ultimate medieval monster challenge. No visit would be complete without an exploration of the 700-year-old Medieval castle itself, with stunning gardens, preserved dungeons and state rooms fit for a king. Summer of Play is sponsored by Starling Bank.

Summer Of Play Of Chirk Castle

National Trust

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Flutterby butterfly trail

National Trust

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