Beaulieu National Motor Museum 

At the heart of Beaulieu is the National Motor Museum, which as you’d expect is packed full of cars 

and some motorbikes.

But mainly there are cars –

old cars 

new cars 

record breaking cars 

and famous cars like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang 

Mr Bean’s mini 

and Del Boy’s three wheeler. 

There’s even a car shaped like an orange!

The Monorail 

Beaulieu is also home to the oldest monorail in England, 

which glides above the attractions 

and through the museum building!

Open-Topped Bus

This dates from 1912 and drives you gently around the grounds. 

Ride in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

At certain times of the year you can book a ride in a replica Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and also in Mr Toad’s car from the film The Wind in the Willows. 

Have a look at the Beaulieu website for full details. 

World of Top Gear 

There’s also an exhibition of the cars created on ‘Top Gear’.  

Little Beaulieu Adventure Play Area

Probably our favourite part of the visit was Little Beaulieu, the adventure play area, 

which is a labyrinth of secret passages and bridges, 

slides, and walkways. 

The Grounds and Cafe

On top of all that, there are gardens to explore

with Alice in Wonderland shaped bushes 

and a cafe.

Nearest Town: Hythe, near Southampton
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: SO42 7ZN

Adult Cost Range: Various – please see their website for details. 
Child Cost Range: Various – please see their website for details. 
Free if: Under 5 years

Opens: Daily

Where to Eat: Cafe and picnic areas.
Facilities: Ice creams, snacks, cafe, shop, picnic areas, toilets and accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: 4 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly.

Parking: There is a large car park.
Cost of Parking: Free

Information Written: January 2023

Our visit to Beaulieu National Motor Museum in the New Forest is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

The House and Lawn

The house is picture perfect 

with views over the surrounding hills, which you can enjoy from deckchairs. 

The Walks

There are various signposted walks around the gardens and wider estate.

Natural Play Areas

Scattered along the trails are natural play areas to enjoy with stumps, logs, dens 

and also a bird hide.

Kestrel Corner Play Area

Kestrel Corner Play Area is a wooden play area that is an easy ten minute walk from the house. 

It has equipment including a wooden multiplay with a slide and musical instruments, an obstacle course, swings and a tunnel.

Special Activities

As for many National Trust properties, Polesden Lacey runs activities for various age ranges throughout the year, which are listed on their website. 

When we visited there was a trail through the grounds with activities at each station, including hide and seek, cars to drive and lawn games. 

The Paths

There are various footpaths around the grounds – some are surfaced, some gravel and some earth and grass. We did not have any access problems and used an all-terrain buggy.

Nearest Town: Great Bookham, near Dorking
County: Berkshire
Nearest Postcode: RH5 6BD

Adult Cost Range: From £15
Child Cost Range: From £8
Free if: Under 5 or with National Trust membership

Opens: Daily (with some winter closures)

Where to Eat: There is a cafe, food vendors and you can bring a picnic.
Facilities: Snacks, ice cream, a shop, picnic areas toilets and accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: A full day.
Buggies: Buggy friendly.

Parking: There is a good sized car park.
Cost of Parking: £4 or free with National Trust membership

Wildlife You Might See: Butterflies, bees, insects and birds.

Information Written: April 2023

Our visit to Polesden Lacey in Great Bookham, near Dorking is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Longleat

Longleat can be divided into two main areas – the Safari and the Main Square.

The Safari 

This has an African Village to explore on foot and a Safari Drive-Through to explore from a vehicle – either your own or the Longleat bus. 

Safari On Foot – The African Village

Here you can see lemurs, wallabies and tortoises

zebra, warthogs and goats and hand feed giraffes.  

Safari By Car – The Drive-Through

The Drive-Through has a commentary app, which is a fab idea that turns your drive into a live action, Kate Humble guided documentary.

East African Reserve

In the first section you can see ostriches, giraffes and tapirs

zebra, flamingos, pelicans and vultures. 

Monkeys

Next up are the monkeys.  Signs warn that the monkeys may damage your car.

As the gates open, Kate Humble chirps, “You have been warned…”. 

The monkeys maraud along the lines of cars. We have seen them take cars apart. 

You can choose to skip this enclosure if you like. 

Big Game Park

This has animals including Anne the elephant

a caravan of camels, a herd of Ankole cattle with horns of up to 2m long

a crash of rhinos and the Deer Park, where you can feed deer from your car.

The Carnivores

When we visited the big carnivore enclosures – tigers, lions, cheetahs and wolves – the tension from the back seat was palpable. 

The Main Square

The second part of Longleat is the Main Square, which has the house, cafes and refreshments and more animals. 

The Bat Cave

This is a bat roost and the bats fly freely around your head. 

Jungle Cruise

On the Jungle Cruise, you take a large boat that wouldn’t have been out of place in The African Queen – a sort of jungle steamer. 

We sailed past gorillas, colobus monkeys, lots of birds 

and two hippos, who were being used as an island by some cheeky ducks.

But our favourite part of the cruise is feeding the sea lions. 

They splash around the boat and make a lot of noise, jumping up out of the water to catch the fish you throw them (which you must buy).

Animal Adventure

This is home to animals like meerkats, anteaters and porcupines

binturong, fennec fox and a sloth

lorikeets you can hand feed 

crocodiles, giant otters and koalas. 

There is also a farmyard with animals including reindeer, wallabies and goats. 

Adventure Castle Play Area

Adventure Castle is a fantastic, castle-themed adventure play area. 

The play area’s centrepiece is a huge wooden castle with ramparts, walkways, nets and slides galore.

There is also an indoor soft play area for small children.

It has almost everything you can imagine for children of all ages – huge slides, climbing frames, swings and an obstacle course.

The Splash Pad

Jets of water activate when you press discs in the floor – some sprayed up, some sprayed down and some formed tunnels to run through. 

The perfect end to an adventure-filled day.

Nearest Town: Warminster
County: Wiltshire
Nearest Postcode: BA12 7NW

Adult Cost Range: Various – please see their website for details.
Child Cost Range: Various – please see their website for details.
Free if: Under 3

Opens: Daily during the summer but with seasonal closures.

Where to Eat: There are various cafes and you can bring a picnic.
Facilities: Snacks, ice cream, cafes, picnic areas, toilets and accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: A full day.
Buggies: Buggy friendly.

Parking: Large car park.
Cost of Parking: Free.

Wildlife You Might See: Zoo and safari park animals, including zebra, giraffes, camels, vultures, monkeys, an elephant, rhinos, deer, lions, tigers, cheetahs, wolves, insects and spiders, hippos, seals, gorillas, bats, anteaters, giant otters, meerkats and wallabies.

Information Written: July 2017
Information Checked: January 2024

Our visit to Longleat is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Tumblestone Hollow Adventure Play Area

The equipment is said to be for children up to around 12 years old that includes:

• a huge, two-storey wooden village with climbing walls, nets, tunnels, ladders, rope bridges, wobbly bridges, balancing logs and a fireman’s pole
• two tube slides 
• a wooden climbing frame with nets and a balancing rope course
• toddler swings 
• swings 

• a treehouse with a slide, rope ladder and rope course 
• a zip wire
• animal springers 
• a spinning bowl 
• a tunnel through a hill
• a wide slide with a hut, net and ladder 

• a sand play area with chutes and pulleys 
• a water play area with a water pump, channels you can direct and a waterwheel
• a basket swing 
• picnic tables
• a covered seating area.

The Legend of Tumblestone Hollow

The adventure play area has been designed around a story book called The Legend of Tumblestone Hollow written by Amy Sparkes and illustrated by Steve Pearce. This book is available to buy at the Visitors’ Centre and will eventually be sold on Amazon so you can read it before you visit. 

The story is about a magical rock called the Glimmerstone and how it came to be at Tumblestone Hollow. 

Stonor Park

Tumblestone Hollow is in the grounds of Stonor Park, an old family house in the Chiltern Hills. 

The surrounding parkland has manicured gardens, woodland, a view point, an ancient stone circle and a herd of deer we encountered on the drive in. 

The Cafes

There are two cafes – one in the Visitors’ Centre and another in the adventure play area that is called The Rumble Hut and offers pizzas cooked in a wood fired pizza oven (but is only open on busy days).

Nearest Town: Henley-on-Thames
County: Oxfordshire
Nearest Postcode: RG9 6HF

Opens: Various times throughout the year – please check their website. 

Adult Cost Range: Various depending on when you go but generally between £5 to £9.99 
Child Cost Range: Various depending on when you go but generally between £5 to £9.99 
Free if: Under 92 cm tall

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic or eat at one of the cafes. 
Facilities: Cafes, snacks, ice cream, picnic area, toilets, accessible toilets. 

How Long We Spent There: 4 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly. 

Parking: There is a car with lots of spaces.
Cost of Parking: Free with an entry ticket.

Wildlife You Might See: Deer, insects and red kites.

Information Written: June 2022

Our visit to Tumblestone Hollow at Stonor Park, near Henley, is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Waverley Abbey

Founded by the Bishop of Winchester in 1128, Waverley Abbey was a Cistercian abbey until it was dissolved in 1536 by Henry VIII.  

Some of the buildings are remarkably well preserved. 

One has columns and vaulted ceilings that are still intact. 

The grass is mown to give an idea of the floor plan.

The Paths

Waverley Abbey is about a five to ten minute walk from the car park. 

The ruins are in a grassy field, which can be uneven in places. 

Nearest Town: near Farnham
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcode: GU9 8EP

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic. 
Facilities: None

How Long We Spent There: 1 hour
Buggies: Choose a buggy that can handle grass.

Parking: There is a small car park that can be busy.
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Herons, ducks, swans and butterflies.

Information Written: August 2016
Information Checked: November 2021

Our visit to Waverley Abbey in Farnham is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII

The story of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn is brought to life by costumed Tudor characters, panelled rooms, 

banquet halls and even a potential candidate for Henry VIII’s bed chamber.

The Grounds

The grounds boast several formal gardens, statues,

waterfalls, a lake 

and bushes shaped like chess pieces and animals. 

The Ducks

There are also plenty of marauding ducks to feed.

Two Mazes

There are two mazes to pit your wits against – a hedge maze and a water maze.

The Hedge Maze

The hedge maze is lots of fun and took us about ten minutes of wandering around to solve.

The Water Maze

The water maze is ingenious. 

Your task is to reach the centre whilst dodging the jets of water that suddenly erupt if you step on the wrong stone.

The Adventure Play Area

The fantastic Hever Castle Adventure Play Area centres around a castle called Tudor Towers. 

It has tube slides, turrets, bridges and poles. 

It also has a secret passage, maze and musical instruments.

The castle is surrounded by more play equipment, including slides, swings, tunnels and an obstacle course. 

Nearest Town: Hever, near Tonbridge
County: Kent
Nearest Postcode: TN8 7NG

Adult Cost Range: Various 
Child Cost Range: Various
Free if: Under 5 years or entry to the gardens can be free with RHS membership at set times.

Opens: Daily from March to December.

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic or eat at the cafe.
Facilities: Picnic area, cafe, snacks, barbecues, toilets and accessible toilets. 

How Long We Spent There: 4 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: The castle is a short walk from the car park, which has lots of spaces.
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Ducks and swans.

Information Written: May 2016
Information Checked: September 2021

Our visit to Hever Castle in Hever, near Tonbridge, is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

The Old Palace

The Old Palace was originally called the Royal Palace of Hatfield and was used by Henry VIII as a nursery for his children.

The Royal Palace was originally a quadrangle built around a central courtyard. 

The building you see today is one wing of the quadrangle. The courtyard is now a manicured garden.  

The rest of the Royal Palace was demolished after Elizabeth I died and the bricks used to build Hatfield House.

Hatfield House 

This was closed when I visited because of Covid restrictions but I was reliably informed that it has secret doors used by the servants to disappear when necessary! 

As well as the Tudor connection, Hatfield House has rolling parkland, ancient trees, 

and little robots that mow the lawns! 

Elizabeth Oak 

This is said to be the spot where Princess Elizabeth was told she had become Queen in 1558. The original oak tree she was sitting under died about 100 years ago. Elizabeth II planted this replacement tree in 1985.

The Grounds

The grounds of Hatfield House roll down to the River Lea and include parkland and woodland to explore. Everywhere you look there are twisted trees that look like they are about to stand up and walk away. 

Some areas are busy and others feel isolated. I had a picnic in a spot that was so peaceful a deer walked right past me.

The Trails

There are a few marked trails to choose from. I tried the Red Walk, which is a little over 3 miles and takes you into the woodland, along the River Lea, past Elizabeth Oak and then back through the parkland. 

The paths were easy to walk on, with some hills. Lots of families were using buggies without any trouble.

The Guides

I visited in connection with another project and would like to say a huge thank you to Dermot and Alan, two of the guides who made my visit extra special. They were both very knowledgeable and helpful and went out of their way to explain the history of the Old Palace.

Nearest Town: Hatfield, near Watford
County: Hertfordshire
Nearest Postcode: AL9 5NQ

Adult Cost Range: Various depending on where you want to go.
Child Cost Range: Various depending on where you want to go.
Free if: Under 3 years old. 

Opens: Various depending on which parts you want to visit.

Where to Eat: A shop, a cafe or bring a picnic.
Facilities: Snacks, cafe, ice cream, picnic area, toilets and accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: 4 hours.
Buggies: Buggy friendly.

Parking: There is a large car park.
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Insects, ducks and other birds and deer.

Information Written: July 2020

Our visit to Hatfield House in Hatfield, near St Albans, is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Stansted Park 

Stansted Park has about 1,200 acres of parkland, with ancient woodland and an arboretum of beautiful, mature trees for you to explore.  

We didn’t visit the house but understand it has state rooms and servants’ quarters laid out as if they were still in use.

You only pay for the attractions you actually use. 

The play area, arboretum and parkland are all free but the house, the maze and the railway all have individual costs. 

Stansted Park Miniature Railway

The miniature railway rumbles around the gardens

past engine sheds and back to the cute little station, complete with signals, water tower and platform. 

The trains only run at certain times and on certain days so be sure to check the website before you go. 

Stansted Park Play Area

Inside the Walled Garden is The Stansted Park Play Area, a well equipped play area where the children can play while you eat. It has swings, slides, rope bridges and a multiplay. 

The Hedge Maze

The circular, hedge maze is a family attraction. It opens at various times of the year, weather permitting, so double-check before you visit. 

Nearest Town: Havant, near Portsmouth
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: PO9 6DX

Adult Cost Range: £10 to £14.99
Child Cost Range: £5 to £9.99
Free if: Parkland – free. Railway – free if under 2. House – under 2s are free at all times; under 16s are free when visiting during the holidays.

Opens: Various – the parkland is open daily; the railway and the house only open at certain times. Please check their website for details.

Where to Eat: A shop, a tearoom or bring a picnic.
Facilities: Snacks, ice cream, toilets and accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: 3 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly.

Parking: There is a large car park.
Cost of Parking: Free

Information Written: October 2018

Our visit to Stansted Park, the Stansted Park Miniature Railway and the Stansted Park Play Area in Havant, near Portsmouth, is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Stourhead

In Stourhead’s gardens, you find your eyes skipping between the sweeping lawns, contrasting trees, beautiful blue-green lake and unusual stone features. It’s a spectacular combination. 

The gardens are punctuated by stone features, including bridges, temples, a rock arch, a dam and a grotto.

You may recognise The Temple of Apollo as the location for Mr Darcy’s first proposal to Lizzie in the 2005 film of Pride and Prejudice.

The Grotto

My children loved exploring the Grotto. 

We discovered two statues, one of which is said to be the source of the River Stour. 

Nearest Town: Wincanton, near Yeovil
County: Wiltshire
Nearest Postcode: BA12 6QD

Adult Cost Range: £15 to £19.99
Child Cost Range: £5 to £9.99
Free if: Under 5 years or for National Trust members.

Opens: Daily but check before you go to make sure everything you want to visit is open.

Where to Eat: The restaurant, the Spread Eagle pub or bring a picnic.
Facilities: Snacks, ice cream, shop, cafe, toilets and accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: A full day.
Buggies: Buggy friendly but some of the paths are steep.

Parking: There is a large car park.
Cost of Parking: £4 per day but free for National Trust members. 

Wildlife You Might See: Ducks, swans, birds and insects.

Information Written: May 2018

Our visit to Stourhead in Wincanton, near Yeovil, is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Basildon Park House and Grounds

The house is surrounded by formal gardens and 400 acres of parkland and woods where you can build dens, have a picnic,

fly kites or even look for the remains of Nissen huts used during the Second World War for tank training.

The Walks

There are various signposted walks around the parkland. These routes are marked on the Basildon Park Map, which is on the National Trust’s website. 

Natural Play Areas

Along the routes are natural play areas to enjoy with stumps, logs and dens.

Special Activities

Basildon Park runs activities for various age ranges throughout the year, which are listed on their the Basildon Park website. 

The Ball Runs

During our visit there were two activity trails on. The first led you to ball runs hidden throughout the woods as well as a game where you knock over skittles with a ball on a string.  It was fantastic fun and we used the ball runs over and over again.

Art Boxes

The second was a trail of Art Boxes hidden around the grounds that were full of art equipment you can use to create pictures for entry into an exhibition in September. 

The Paths

There are various footpaths around the grounds – some are surfaced, some gravel and some earth and grass. We did not have any access problems and used an all-terrain buggy.

To reach the house from the car park, we walked for about 10 minutes through a small wooded area with a gravel path and up the driveway. 

There was a gentle flight of stairs on the way into the woods but I was able to bump the buggy up. We did not go inside the house.

Nearest Town: Pangbourne, near Reading
County: Berkshire
Nearest Postcode: RG8 9NR

Adult Cost Range: £15 to £19.99
Child Cost Range: £5 to £9.99
Free if: Under 5 or with National Trust membership

Opens: Daily.

Where to Eat: There is a cafe and you can bring a picnic.
Facilities: Snacks, ice cream, toilets and accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: A full day.
Buggies: Buggy friendly.

Parking: There is a good sized car park.
Cost of Parking: Free with entry or with National Trust membership

Wildlife You Might See: Cattle, butterflies, bees, insects and birds.

Information Written: July 2017

Our visit to Basildon Park in Pangbourne, near Reading, is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Standen House and Gardens

Standen House is very unusual to look at.

We enjoyed exploring the gardens – every twist and turn of the paths revealed beautiful plants, hidden ponds and secret stairs, not to mention tulips bursting from every flower bed.

The Little Room Playroom

At the back of the house is an indoor playroom called the Little Room, which was designed by one of the original owners.

It is tucked away at the top of a steep and not very child-friendly staircase.

Inside the Little Room are fancy dress clothes and old-fashioned games, including a tea set, a Noah’s Ark, and puzzles.

The children loved this secret room and we stayed much longer than we had planned.

The Grounds

There are about 100 acres of grounds with woodlands and meadows that can be explored on several different walks.

The Natural Play Area

There is a natural play area called The Plantation, which has a small maze and mud hills to conquer,

a fort made of piled logs, tree stumps to jump on and wooden platforms to climb to.

The Paths

I visited with a buggy without any real problems but the gardens are built into a hillside and have slopes and steps to negotiate.

On several occasions, my path was blocked by a flight of steps but I often found stair-free access was available if you approached from another direction. 

Be sure to have a good look at the map before deciding which way to walk through the grounds.

Nearest Town: East Grinstead, near Crawley
County: West Sussex
Nearest Postcode: RH19 4NE

Adult Cost Range: £10 to £14.99
Child Cost Range: £5 to £9.99
Free if: Under 5 or with National Trust membership

Opens: Daily

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic or buy food from the cafe.
Facilities: Cafe, toilets, accessible toilets, picnic area, snacks, ice creams.

How Long We Spent There: 2 hours
Buggies: I used a buggy without any real problems but keep an eye on the map to choose a route without stairs  etc.

Parking: Large car park.
Cost of Parking: Free with entry or with National Trust membership.

Information Written: April 2017

Our visit to Standen House and Gardens in East Grinstead, near Crawley, is summarised below on the basis of free entry with National trust membership. You can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Natural Play Area

This natural play area has:

• a zip wire
• balance course
• basket swing
• tyre swings
• platforms
• willow tunnels.

The Storyboat

The other is the Storyboat – a wooden boat surrounded by wooden sculptures of an eel, a beetle, a vole, a trout and a dragonfly. 

It can be used for free play or a chasing game suggested on one of the boards called ‘Eels Out’.

Morden Hall Park

There is plenty of nature to see too – a pinetum, a meadow, an arboretum, and the wetlands, which you can see from a boardwalk.

The Boardwalk

The children loved the boardwalk as we were within inches of two groups of ducks and their tiny ducklings as well as tadpoles and swimming insects. 

There is also a pond dipping platform halfway along the boardwalk.

The Cafes

Morden Hall Park has two cafes – one in the Potting Shed and another in the Stableyard.

Orienteering

There is also a permanent orienteering course. You can download the map before you go from the Mole Valley Orienteering Club’s website.

Deen City Farm

At the end of the wetland boardwalk is a path that leads out of the park, over the tramlines, and on to Deen City Farm, a free entry, urban farm.

Nearest Town: Morden, near Epsom and Wimbledon
County: London
Nearest Postcode: SM4 5JD

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic or buy food from the cafe.
Facilities: Cafe, toilets, accessible toilets, picnic area, snacks, ice creams.

How Long We Spent There: 4 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: Car park that has lots of spaces but was very busy when we visited at the start of the Easter holidays.
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Birds, kingfishers, ducks and Canada geese.

Information Written: April 2017

Our visit to the National Trust’s Morden Hall Park in Morden, near Epsom and Wimbledon is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

The House and Gardens

Around the house are some old stables, a cafe, a picnic area and a shop.

The more formal gardens have a temple and an ice house to visit and space hoppers to bounce around on. These gardens are only open on certain days so be sure to check their website before you go. 

The Parkland

There are 400 acres of parkland and woods to explore. Cattle roam freely so watch where you step!

Wizard Wix’s Willow Warren

This is a cross between an adventure play area and a natural play area and has a wooden tree house, den building area, fairy doors

and a play area of logs, tree stumps, wooden sculptures and tunnels.

The Geocaches

Hatchlands Park has 11 geocaches to track down. We had lots of fun hunting for one near the house. It had a log book to sign and little treasures, including an interesting looking football figure, which we swapped for one of our treasures. 

The Paths

There are marked trails around the parkland of varying lengths. The red route has a hard surface but I have managed each trail with an all terrain buggy without any problems. The parkland can be very muddy in wet weather.

Nearest Town: East Clandon, near Guildford
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcode: GU4 7RT

Adult Cost Range: £5 to £14.99
Child Cost Range: £1 to £9.99
Free if: Under 5 or with National Trust membership

Opens: Daily

Where to Eat: There is a cafe and you can bring a picnic.
Facilities: Snacks, cafe, picnic area, ice cream, toilets and accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: A full day.
Buggies: Buggy friendly but the fields become very muddy in the colder months.

Parking: There is a good sized car park.
Cost of Parking: Free with entry or with National Trust membership.

Wildlife You Might See: Cattle, donkeys, birds and lots of insects.

Information Written: March 2017

Our visit to Hatchlands Park in East Clandon, near Guildford, is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Nymans’ Gardens

The colourful gardens have some magical touches – sculpted bushes children can slip in and out of…

and a Pinetum full of huge pine trees you can play hide and seek amongst and then make hidden dens under.

Others are littered with flowers, have picturesque views or have that secret garden feel!

The Balance Course

Near to the Pinetum is a natural play area with a balance course made of tree stumps. 

The Woodland

We did not have time to walk through any of the woodlands but there is an Arboretum walk, a lake, cascades, a meadow and a 50 metre tall giant redwood.

These woodland walks appear to be on different levels, connected by slopes and in some cases stairs.

The Paths

The majority of the paths around the house are easy to walk on and I used an ordinary buggy without any problems. 

Nearest Town: Handcross, near Crawley
County: West Sussex
Nearest Postcode: RH17 6EB

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Adult Cost Range: From £15
Child Cost Range: From £7.50
Free if: Under 5 or with National Trust membership

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic or eat at the cafe. 
Facilities: Cafe, snacks, ice creams, picnic area, toilets and accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: About three hours.
Buggies: Buggy friendly.

Parking: There is a car park that can be very busy. 
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Insects and birds.

Information Written: March 2017

Our visit to Nymans in Handcross, near Crawley, is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Uppark’s Woodland Walk

The staff at reception felt the Woodland Walk would be difficult with a buggy and, as it appeared to be on a steep-looking hillside, I tended to agree. 

Toy Chest

There is an outdoor toy chest in the South Meadow, which is a great idea.

Nearest Town: Petersfield
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: GU31 5QR

Opens: Various – please see their website.

Adult Cost Range: From £11
Child Cost Range: From £5.50
Free if: Under 5 or with National Trust membership

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic. 
Facilities: Picnic tables, cafe, ice creams, snacks, drinks, toilets and accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: 1 hour.
Buggies: Buggy friendly.

Parking: There is a car park. 
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Birds, butterflies and other insects.

Information Written: March 2017

Our visit to Uppark House and Garden in Petersfield is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

South Hill Park

The grounds divide into two areas – South Lake and North Lake. Each has a lake, marked trails, an orienteering course, and play areas.

South Hill Park South Lake

A walk around South Lake’s landscaped gardens takes you past the lake with its fountain, bridge, and ducks

and through a wooded area with an amphitheatre, story telling seat, and hidden pet cemetery.

South Lake has two play areas: the Toddlers’ Play Area with its musical stepping stones,

and the fun Hedgehog Park with its long slide.

South Hill Park North Lake

North Lake is wilder, with woodland, a long lake, a boardwalk over a small marsh 

and South Hill Road Play Area, a large adventure play area with zip wires, climbing nets and a balance course.

Orienteering

There are two orienteering courses available at South Hill Park. One leads you around South Lake and the other around North Lake.

Visit South Hill Park’s website to find these maps and answers.

Arts Venue

The house itself is now an arts venue with sculptures, a gallery, the Wilde Theatre, a cinema and a cafe. It hosts child friendly classes, and child friendly theatre productions.

Nearest Town: Bracknell
County: Berkshire
Nearest Postcode: RG12 7PA

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic or eat in the cafe. 
Facilities: Picnic tables, cafe, snacks, ice cream, toilets, accessible toilets. 

How Long We Spent There: 2.5 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: There is a good-sized car park.
Cost of Parking: Free

Animals You Might See: Ducks, swans, geese, squirrels and herons.

Information Written: November 2016

Our visit to South Hill Park in Bracknell is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

The Walled Gardens

We investigated the walled gardens first. The path leads you along winding paths edged with gorgeous flowers and bushes. 

These paths are the perfect size for little ones to run up and down but there are water features and fountains hidden around a few of the corners so you have to be careful.

The Moat

On the edge of the gardens, there is a small lawn with a slope hiding a sheer drop into the moat. 

The Lake

The lake is a ten minute walk from the house and walled gardens. We enjoyed a walk surrounded by waterbirds, flowers and parkland. Then, to our surprise, a beautiful deer ran across our path.

The House

You can also visit the house but we did not do this. It was used as a filming location, including for The Crown. 

RHS Membership

At the time of writing, the Loseley Park gardens are free to visit with RHS membership. We would visit again but only when entry was free.  

Nearest Town: Guildford
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcode: GU3 1HS

Opens: Various times throughout the year and during the week. Please check their website before planning your visit.

Adult Cost Range: £10 to £14.99
Child Cost Range: £0 to £4.99
Free if: Under 5 or with RHS membership at set times.

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic or buy food from the cafe.
Facilities: Cafe, toilets, accessible toilets, picnic area, snacks, ice creams.

How Long We Spent There: 1.5 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: Car park by the play area.
Cost of Parking: Free

Animals You Might See: Geese, Canada geese, ducks and butterflies.

Information Written: May 2016

Our visit to Loseley Park in Guildford is summarised below on the basis of free entry with RHS membership. You can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.