Are we the bad guys?

Wander through historic Prior Park on this free and informative guided tour.

New for 2017 – a chance to discover some facts, finds and things that we think you would like to know about. These short, half hour tours will highlight items from the collection held at Overbeck\’s.

What will you create at South Milton Sands?Explore the strandline with National Trust rangers on a scavenger hunt, picking out treasures and natural materials ready for creating some wild beach art.

Every Thursday join our volunteer guide for a tour of the A la Ronde estate, taking in the Regency garden and changes over the years (to be confirmed)

Are you sitting comfortably? Then we\’ll begin… A fun packed day of woodland storytelling and story inspired crafts. Can you help solve the mystery of \’The Great Paper Caper\’?Sit back and listen to an exciting story of woodland crime and mystery.

Paper aeroplane crafts located in the Victorian Kitchens and open all day.

Paper aeroplane competitions on the hour 12-4, meet on the lawn by the Stablau.

Face painting located in the Victorian Kitchens (�3.50)

Celebrate Father\’s Day and the summer holidays by getting all the family together to sponsor a duck on Coughton\’s traditional duck race down the River Arrow, plus traditional games for families.

Would you like to find out more about the garden at Compton Castle, see the seasonal highlights and find out about the work that the team do to care for it? Why not join a garden walk?

Join us for story-telling and games for under fives and their families.Tickets for this event are not yet bookable, please check our website for booking information in June.

Wonder through the beautiful spring woodland at Tyntesfield and imagine you\’ve fallen down a rabbit hole. Come along to a Mad Hatters tea party, with party games and crafts.
Where possible, please limit the number of accompanying adults to 2 per child, thank you.

Learn all about the Winn family\’s love of horses and the hidden areas of the stable block that visitors don\’t normally see.Join a friendly stable guide to discover the history of this fascinating building, wind your way up into the hayloft and see the Riding School from the viewing platform as the aristocracy would have done. Tours last approx. 45 minutes and do include several stairs.

Discover some of Petworth\’s hidden gems with one of our knowledgeable guides on a \’behind the scenes tour\’. Tours may include the bedrooms, ice house and estate offices.

Join guided walk of the Godolphin estate, and discover the varied countryside and history of this important site.Join a guided walk of the wider estate at Godolphin and discover the nature and history at this important site. Learn about Godolphin through the ages, its mining significance, and enjoy stunning views throughout. Join either a 3 mile walk or if you fancy a longer stretch, bring a pack lunch on the last Thursday of each month for a 5 mile walk. Groups welcome, please get in contact to arrange.

Pick up your explorer pack and head out into our wild woodland with a National Trust Ranger.

Join us every Thursday during the school holidays for crafts themed Greek and Romans, as we celebrate the classics this summer. Drop in sessions no need to book.

Have fun in the gardenJoin a costumed servant on a family garden tour to taste flowers, touch bugs and discover how to turn your own outside space into a wildlife haven.

Are you sitting comfortably? Then we\’ll begin… A fun packed day of woodland storytelling and story inspired crafts. Can you help solve the mystery of \’The Great Paper Caper\’?Sit back and listen to an exciting story of woodland crime and mystery.

Paper aeroplane crafts located in the Victorian Kitchens and open all day.

Paper aeroplane competitions on the hour 12-4, meet on the lawn by the Stablau.

Face painting located in the Victorian Kitchens (�3.50)

Bring the children and enjoy a medieval day out at Ightham Mote with medieval themed quizzes and games in the house and gardens.

Watch as the wood turners demonstrate their craft and make beautiful items for sale. Have a garden tour with a wood theme and identify the trees in the garden which have been used for wood turning.

Explore areas that are usually closed to visitors and meet the staff and volunteers who care for Cotehele.We\’ll throw open the doors for you to explore areas usually closed to visitors. Meet the staff and volunteers who care for Cotehele, peek into offices, enter the sixteenth-century dovecote, the old potting shed, and climb the spiralling 55 stone stairs to the roof of the house (weather permitting).

We\’ve lots of activities for you to tick off your 50 things list this summer.Every Thursday we\’ll be helping you to tick off at least five of your challenges. You could try No.18 and create some wild art, or No.31 and hunt for bugs. There\’s lots more to discover too.

Discover what it\’s like to be an archaeologist with hands-on children\’s activities in the Museum Barn. Take part in a mini-dig to discover a Beaker burial and a West Kennet Long Barrow burial. These activities take place in the Museum Barn and are free with entry. By timed ticket only, collect yours from the Museum desk on the day.

Drop-in for some creative fun and bring your imagination. There will be different crafts taking place each day such as hand puppet decorating and making tablemats.

Get creative and crafty and keep those little fingers busy every Thursday of the school holidays. With a different locations and Osterley theme each week, why not become a craft cart regular?

An exhibition curated by best-selling author Robert MacfarlaneOur first exhibition of 2017 celebrates the natural world and the words we once used to describe it. The Word-Hoard is curated by Robert Macfarlane, author of Landmarks, and features breathtaking images by his parents, Cumbrian-based photographers Rosamund and John.

Come along and meet our very own Tudor Archers. If you wish, you can let arrows fly (�2.50 for six arrows) at balloons tied to targets. Get a feel of past times by viewing and handling replicas of armour, weapons, arrow heads and longbows.

You can\’t miss the displays and activities in the hand-painted pavilion tent with the royal standard and Tudor rose flags fluttering in the wind. Of course, if you would rather enjoy a more peaceable pastime you can throw some \’quoits\’.

Get up close to a variety of animals, big bugs and creepy crawlies and learn all about the Victorian age of exploration.Get up close to a variety of animals, big bugs and creepy crawlies and learn all about the Victorian age of exploration.

At the Tudor Days you can step back in time and experience castle life of old. There will be volunteers in costume as well as costumes for visitors of all ages to try on, games to play, the bouquet of fresh herbs to savour in the medieval kitchen, as well a different activity on each Tudor Day such as spinning or weaving.

Filmed in 2007 with stars Peter O\’Toole, Jeremy Northam and Sam Neill. It was filmed at Peckover House, locations in Wisbech and in North Norfolk. It tells the story of a father and son who are brought closer together when they entertain Dean Spanley at their home.

Watch the millers mill on Thursdays and Sundays.The millers grind organic wholemeal flour. You can watch the grinding and bagging on Thursdays and Sundays (water dependent) and buy a bag to take home.

The Brownes\’ family recipe book is full of great recipes, from meaty mince pies and macaroons to medicines dating back to the 17th century. We\’ll be cooking all afternoon where we\’ll recreate some of the recipes.

Discover areas you may not have been before or
learn something new about Lanhydrock.

Come and climb a tree higher than ever before and tick off number 1 on our 50 Things to do list.The Great Big Tree Climbing Company is back at Erddig!

Join our tree climbing experts who will guide you up Erddig\’s trees using ropes and harnesses.

Once you\’re kitted out, you\’ll get an opportunity to see our 1,200-acre estate from a different perspective.

Booking is essential as places are limited, so book your tickets early to avoid disappointment. For ages six and above only.

Let our knowledgeable guides lead you into the famous Cliveden House and the remarkable Octagon Temple chapel.

An exhibition of oil paints by local artist Sarah Talbot.Sarah has lived on the Island since 1983, having trained at the Ipswich and Kingston Schools of Fine Art. Her portraits, landscapes and seascapes all benefit from her close observation of character and atmosphere and have a uniquely English feel.

Heartbreak Productions bring David Walliams\’ book to life in the beauty of the Water Garden.*Please note booking is unavailable until mid-may

Please note that these walks will be available to book from the end of May 2017. Exclusive access to the park after hours. Perfect for photographers. Enjoy a leisurely guided walk around the park as the \’golden hour\’ sets in. You are very welcome to bring photography equipment.

Please note there is a �2-�4 car parking charge at Dyrham Park for non-members.

An exciting opportunity to watch one of your favourite films against the backdrop of the moated manor house. Don\’t forget to bring a picnic.Please note that the time is subject to change due to light levels and will be confirmed when tickets are booked. Tickets cost �13 for adults and �9 for under 12s, under 5s go free. Tickets for each screening can be purchased for the earlybird price of �11 for adults and �7 for under 12s, by Thursday 1 June. Groups of 8+ get �2 off each ticket.

Monday to Friday (not during school holidays).
Be honoured to access extraordinary rooms, closed for the majority of their lifetime and understand their special status with a short talk.Talks last 15 mins and are given by one of our knowledgeable volunteers. Check at reception for times and availability.

Time to unwind after a busy day on the fells – there will be live music, nachos and outdoor fires. Kickback, relax and share your experiences.

If you\’d like to find out more about Lanhydrock\’s beautiful listed garden, then come along to one of our free garden tours. Volunteer guides lead you around the formal garden twice a day on most weekdays, sharing their knowledge and answering your questions.

Discover the stories behind some of Belton\’s favourite pictures in this interactive, 20 minute workshop. Suitable for visitors aged 6 years and older.

Learn how to start and light a fire, be safe around fires, before cooking some simple snacks on your own fire. Part of our \’Go Wild!\’ series of events aimed at 8+ in this event we will be focusing on everything fire related! We will look at different ways to build and light a fire, how to stay safe around a fire, and how to cook some simple snacks on your own fire made from scratch.

Take a tour with our Garden Guides and discover Dunham\’s garden in a new light. Limited availability, pick up a token from the garden kiosk.Why not treat yourself at the stables afterwards with a drink and a slice of cake?

The 30 minute tour will start from the Old Head Gardener\’s office in the kitchen garden.The tour will explore the original plans and buildings and follow the highs and lows of the garden including the plans for restoration work. You will be shown the vegetable beds, fruit cages, orchard, ornamental flower borders and glasshouses, before finishing up in the orchid house.

Meet at the kiosk for a guided walk around the Arboretum. Well behaved dogs on a short lead welcome.

Ever fancied a go at rock climbing?Why not join us for an introductory session that will give you a chance to climb some of the world famous crags around Longshaw? Our friends from Adventure Expeditions will guide you through basic techniques and by the end of the session you will have reached the top!

Put on your walking boots and experience Stourhead\’s diverse countryside. You may see daffodils, bluebells and birds in Spring and orchids and butterflies in Summer. You\’ll walk through ancient woodlands, across historic parkland and over chalk downs, encountering Iron Age hillforts and follies along the way. Your guide will share how the estate has been managed in the past and how we look after these special areas for people and wildlife today.

Join us for a wildlife walk around our parkland, leaving from the ticket office at 11am every Friday.

Join us for a wildlife walk around our parkland, leaving from the ticket office at 11am every Friday.

The 30 minute tour will start from the Old Head Gardener\’s office in the kitchen garden.The tour will explore the original plans and buildings and follow the highs and lows of the garden including the plans for restoration work. You will be shown the vegetable beds, fruit cages, orchard, ornamental flower borders and glasshouses, before finishing up in the orchid house.

If you\’d like to find out more about Lanhydrock\’s beautiful listed garden, then come along to one of our free garden tours. Volunteer guides lead you around the formal garden twice a day on most weekdays, sharing their knowledge and answering your questions.

The 30 minute tour will start from the Old Head Gardener\’s office in the kitchen garden.The tour will explore the original plans and buildings and follow the highs and lows of the garden including the plans for restoration work. You will be shown the vegetable beds, fruit cages, orchard, ornamental flower borders and glasshouses, before finishing up in the orchid house.

Join a free 45 minute guided tour and discover intriguing stories behind selected royal portraits from Petworth\’s extraordinary art collection

Join the rangers and tick off some of your \’50 things to do before you\’re 11and three quarters.\’Join the rangers for bug hunting, snail racing, grass trumpets, kite flying and more at Lower Halsdon Farm.

Brighten up your garden and support our conservation work when you buy a great value, home-grown garden plant. The plants are lovingly grown and nurtured by a team of volunteers. All proceeds from the plant sales go towards moorland restoration and conservation work.

The plants are available to buy anytime between 10am-3pm.

Find our 50 Things base camp in the grounds and tick a different one of the 50 Things To Do off your list each week.
Drop in sessions no booking required.

Imagine being greeted by the smell of fresh baking as you walk through the doors of the house…Come along and see our volunteers cooks in costume experiment with authentic Victorian recipes as they whip up various traditional treats in the magnificent kitchen. Subject to volunteer availability.

Meet the conservation volunteers and learn more about the work they doStep into the house and watch how items from Cragside\’s collection are delicately handled, cleaned, and catalogued by the conservation volunteers. Subject to volunteer availability.

See the team care for our collection

Chat to head gardener Simon Brooks to discover more about Avebury Manor Garden or ask a question to solve a problem you\’ve been having with your own garden!On the last Friday of every month between March and October, Simon will be chatting to visitors and answering questions between 2-3pm in the Monk\’s Garden. You can always talk to the friendly garden team but at this time of the month you know exactly where our head gardener will be to answer all of your questions!

Take a tour with our Garden Guides and discover Dunham\’s garden in a new light. Limited availability, pick up a token from the garden kiosk.Why not treat yourself at the stables afterwards with a drink and a slice of cake?

Summer performances from the Trerice Volunteer ChoirEnjoy the sunshine and listen to a seasonal performance from the Trerice Volunteer Choir in the Rear Court. If wet the performance will be relocated.

Feeling brave? Tackle the 68 steps to the top of Tredegar House and take a look at the conservation work happening on our roof.For the first time ever visitors can get unprecedented access to the restoration work taking place at Tredegar House on a Scaffold Climb.

Terms and conditions apply; height and clothing restrictions in place.

Access to Scaffold Climbs is subject to weather and volunteer staffing – please check the website for updates.

Scaffold Climbs will not be running on weekends and Bank Holidays.

Join us as we challenge you to complete one of the #50things activities.Meet the Play Team who will be challenging families to take part in one of the #50things activities each Friday in the school holidays. Tick off one of the \’50 things to do before you\’re 11 and three quarters\’ activities from your checklist.

We\’ve got lots of summer fun activities to help you tick off some of the challenges on your 50 things list.Have a go at some of our 50 things family activities such as no. 18 create some wild art, no. 44 go bird watching, or no. 31 hunt for bugs.

Join us for a summer of crafts, trails and outdoor activities. With a different theme each week there will always be something different to do.
(Please remember that the crafts are only available Monday – Friday)

Learn how to start and light a fire, be safe around fires, before cooking some simple snacks on your own fire. Part of our \’Go Wild!\’ series of events aimed at 8+ in this event we will be focusing on everything fire related! We will look at different ways to build and light a fire, how to stay safe around a fire, and how to cook some simple snacks on your own fire made from scratch.

Take a walk on the wild side and join Claire Scott from Great Scott! Adventures Outdoors for a rummage in the rockpools. Discover and meet the weird and wonderful creatures that live just off the causeway. Learn amazing things about their lives and find out who is dinner and who is diner!

Rockpool Explorer is suitable for all ages and children must be accompanied.

There\’s no need to book, just drop in at the start time.

Join in with one of the 50 things activities from hunting for bugs, making a habitat for wildlife or creating wild art.Discover more about the natural world around us and during lots of the sessions, make something special to take home. Some activities have a small charge to cover the cost of materials.

Enjoy an extended sailing on the glorious Steam Yacht Gondola on Coniston Water in the Lakes.Soak up the serene experience of cruising on a unique rebuilt Victorian steam yacht. Enjoy the gentle puff of the steam engine and listen to stories about Coniston\’s famous connections.

A masterpiece of colour, design and planting, this carefully cultivated garden awaits your discovery.Woolbeding delights at every turn with distintive garden rooms set against manicured hedges and thoughtfully composed colour-themed borders. Formal lawns melt into the rural landscape and beyond the meadow, you\’ll find a waterfall, gothic summerhouse and enchanting landscape garden.

An adventure filled afternoon with abseiling and weasellingWeaseling is an adventurous journey through rocks and boulders. Our friends from Adventure Expeditions will help you find your way through the maze of chasms between rocks and through boulder fields.

Enjoy a one hour taster stand up paddleboard lesson followed by a fish and chip supper at Knoll Beach Caf�Minimum age of 12 years.

Join Woody and Buzz in their first adventure at Wimpole Estate this summer. A family friendly daytime screening of this Pixar favourite. To book visit sundowncinema.co.uk or call 0333 666 3366. Bring something to sit on and a picnic to enjoy or hire a beanbag and tuck into our vintage ice cream van and wood fired pizza.

Dennis Potter explores the joy and anguish of childhood in this poignant and humorous drama where the children are played by adults. Performed by the Summer Theatre Company.Set in a rural idyll in 1943, the cruel games of the children provide a stark contrast to their tranquil surroundings. Potter\’s timeless masterpiece delves into themes of morality and human nature, performed in the Barn Theatre at Smallhythe Place.

The theatre tea-room will be open from 6pm serving a full menu of hot and cold refreshments. Picnics in the garden are also welcome.

Head out at dusk with our Learning Officer to spot and listen out for the bats in the park, including from our wetland boardwalk. Bring your family along for a walk around the park after dark as we look and listen for bats.
Borrow a bat detector to hear the calls and see if you can spot them fluttering above.
Suitable for families, all children must be accompanied by an adult.
Led by Learning Officer Isabel Nancarrow

Relax under the summer evening sunshine while Remi Harris and his talented band of musicians play well-loved jazz tunes.
The sounds of Jazz will get your toes tapping as you enjoy your picnic.
Bring rugs and chairs and relax under the summer evening sunshine while Remi Harris and his talented band of musicians play well-loved jazz tunes.

Please check our website for booking details in mid May.

An exciting opportunity to watch one of your favourite films against the backdrop of the moated manor house. Don\’t forget to bring a picnic.Please note that the time is subject to change due to light levels and will be confirmed when tickets are booked. Tickets cost �13 for adults and �9 for under 12s, under 5s go free. Tickets for each screening can be purchased for the earlybird price of �11 for adults and �7 for under 12s, by Thursday 1 June. Groups of 8+ get �2 off each ticket.

Learn to canoe, experience the thrill of shooting a target at over 20 metres, make fire with just two sticks, self defence classes and lots lots more. Canoe Cornwall take everything that they do and aim it just at under 16\’s. It\’s called \’Life Skills Academy for Kids\’ and it is exactly that. Learn so much about yourself, others and our environment. Learn to canoe, experience the thrill of shooting a target at over 20 metres, make fire with just two sticks, self defence classes and lots lots more. Work towards Lifeskills Academy and British Canoeing Awards.

Join one of the gardeners and enjoy a seasonal tour of the gardens discovering its short but interesting history and amazing collection of plants.

This event is perfect for families looking for a bespoke experience. You will learn how to safely build and start your camp fire without matches. Bring a picnic lunch.
Children aged 7-14years. Wellingtons essential.

Join the ranger team for a fun filled session of art and craft activities along the coast of Kearney on the Outer Ards Peninsula. On the day we will be building miniature castles and other structures from pebbles before the rising tide will test their strength

Suitable for families.

A new guided walk along the the old railway line and taking in three water mills as well as Sudbury\’s famous water meadows A pleasant 5.5 mile guided walk from magnificent Melford Hall to Gainsborough\’s House in Sudbury. Walking part of the old Great Eastern Long Melford to Sudbury railway line, visiting three old water mills and Sudbury\’s famed Water Meadows en route.

Join our expert guide in the Central Courtyard for a talk on all things Delaval! Discover the story of the flamboyant Delaval family and the tale behind Vanbrugh\’s architectural gem that is Seaton Delaval Hall.

Immerse yourself in history as one of the finest barns in England is brought to life through the power of storytelling.Largely unchanged since the 17 century, you\’ll hear how the Great Barn was constructed, what it was used for and how it helped to support the families who lived here.

Join us in the discovery of this historic treasure.

Delve into the store for a peek of the delicate and lavish costumes once worn by Ellen Terry and her actor friends. With fascinating stories attached to each garment, costume tours are an opportunity to discover a rich theatrical history.Costume tours also take place at other times throughout the week, so it is always worth calling the property before your visit if you would like to join a tour.

All your local food and crafts at one quality market.
Held in the old stables, this ever popular and award winning \’best in Somerset\’ market is a must for those who like top quality local produce and crafts.

Last year we embarked upon an urgent project to save Townend after we found wet rot in two of the house\’s main structural beams, come and find out what we discovered along the way. It was a difficult year, replacing damaged sections of 400 year old solid oak beams from a Grade 1 listed farmhouse is no easy task, but along the way there were some fascinating discoveries that we\’re excited to share with you. Find out what we revealed when we looked behind render and ceiling voids for the first time in hundreds of years, peeling away centuries of hidden history.

Walk or drive to Dunstall Castle. Climb the steep staircase to the top of the tower to get views across the estate to the Rotunda and surrounding countryside.

As only 5 people can go up the tower at one time there may be a short wait.

Lord Nuffield\’s history with motor cars attracts a variety of car clubs to Nuffield Place. Motor cars from visiting car clubs are parked outside the front of the house for visitors to enjoy seeing. Cars will usually arrive at Nuffield Place in the morning and generally stay for a couple of hours.

Please be aware that sometimes due to weather conditions, or mechanical failures, cars will not be displayed as anticipated.

Visit Winchester City Mill to see how seasonal ingredients can be combined with our stoneground wholemeal flour to produce delicious bread, cakes, biscuits and much more. Sample different recipes and be inspired.Our baking demonstrations take place between 11am and 3pm and are ongoing throughout the day.

Sample the bakers\’ recipes and take home our recipe cards, along with a bag of freshly milled Winchester City Mill flour, to bake at home.

Immerse yourself in history as one of the finest barns in England is brought to life through the power of storytelling.Largely unchanged since the 17 century, you\’ll hear how the Great Barn was constructed, what it was used for and how it helped to support the families who lived here.

Join us in the discovery of this historic treasure.