Summer adventures with the National Trust in Kent and East Sussex

Round up the family and join in summer fun at special places near you.

Little explorers under five will be enchanted by storytelling at Knole and Bateman’s. The invitation extends to furry friends at Ightham Mote, with a teddy bears picnic and bears to find in the house.

For the more intrepid adventurers schools’ out and nature in, with the chance to tackle 50 things to do before you’re 11 ¾ activities at Emmetts and woodland trails at Chartwell.

Meanwhile there are crafts and garden games to keep the whole family on the sunny side of out-of-control this summer.

Check online for family facilities, including baby-changing and access information for little ones travelling on four-wheels. The countryside and parkland in our care is perfect for summer adventures. Take your pick from our county highlights:

 Kent

 

Chartwell

• Winston and other animals family trail

Sat 1 Jul to Sun 3 Sep, daily 10am to 4pm

Our family trail leads you around the garden and woodland. Can you spot some of the animals who lived at Chartwell? Self-led family trail incorporating 50 things activities.

£1 per trail, normal admission applies

 

Emmetts Garden

• Ant trail

Sat 1 Jul to Sun 3 Sep, daily 10am to 4pm

Find out about the history of Emmetts Garden and look for friendly ants along the way. Incorporating 50 things activities.

£1 per trail, normal admission applies

 

• Wind in the Willows – outdoor theatre performance

Thu 31 Aug, picnic on the lawn from 3pm, performance from 4pm to 7pm

Join Ratty and friends as they embark on an adventure to save Toad Hall from the mischievous weasels. This family-friendly production by Immersion Theatre is the perfect way to spend a sunny summer’s afternoon. Bring along a picnic to enjoy on the lawn before the performance.

Adult £12, Child £7 (from 2 years), Family from £26

 

• The Comedy of Errors – outdoor theatre performance

Thu 17 Aug, 6.30pm open for picnics, 7.30pm performance

The Lord Chamberlain’s Men present one of Shakespeare’s earliest comedies full of slapstick humour and mistaken identity.

Adult £16, child £9 (from 8 to 16 years)

 

Ightham Mote

• Summer adventures

Runs throughout summer holidays

Adventure in the countryside awaits. On Themed Thursdays, crafts, trails and quizzes are the order of the day. Cuddly friends will love the teddy bears picnic. Bowls on the lawn is a genteel way to spend a sunny afternoon, and the summer activity pack has top tips to tick off 50 things.

£2 per activity pack, normal admission applies.

 

Knole

• Storytelling sessions in the Bookshop

Mon 3, 10, 17 July, 11am to 11.30am

Escape into a magical world of stories and adventure in Knole’s Bookshop. Settle into the children’s area surrounded by books, games and cuddly toys. Story sessions aimed at under 5s. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Free event for families, donations welcome.

 

• Family Mondays

24 & 31 July, 7, 14, 21 August, 11am to 3pm

Every Monday during the school holidays there are family craft activities and the chance to tick off some of your 50 things activities.  There’s a different theme each week, including archaeological discoveries, nature crowns, animal tracks and music in nature.

Free event, suggested donation £2.

 

• Tudor dressing up

Fri 4, Sat 12, Fri 18 & 25 August, 1pm to 4pm

Try on some realistic Tudor costumes and imagine what it would have been like to live or work in this grand house.

Free events, donations welcome.

 

Scotney Castle

• Summer holiday adventures

Runs throughout summer holidays

You can have your own adventure every day of the summer at Scotney Castle, building a den in a wilderness camp, exploring the discovery room or following a trail around the house. You can also join in a wildlife hunt every Wednesday – check the website for details.

Free event, normal admission applies

 

Quebec House

• Mrs Wolfe’s recipes

Every Sunday, 1pm to 4pm

Have you ever tasted King or Queen cakes and macaroons? Every Sunday volunteers cook eighteenth century delicacies from recipes used by the former resident of Quebec House. Tackle a colouring in sheet in the exhibition room after.

Free event, normal admission applies

 

Smallhythe Place

• The Walrus and the Carpenter – outdoor theatre performance

Mon 28 Aug, 4pm to 5.30pm & 6pm to 7pm

Lewis Carroll’s poetic characters are brought to life with this comic puppet show in the garden. The theatre tearoom will be open from 5pm serving a full menu of hot and cold refreshments, or you can bring along a picnic to enjoy on the lawn. There will also be an optional pre-show workshop where children can make hats and oysters to add to the story.

Adult £8.50, Child £10 (show & workshop), £7 (show only)

 

East Sussex

 

Bateman’s

• The Jungle Book trail

Runs throughout summer holidays

Much-loved characters from Rudyard Kipling’s classic tale are hiding in the garden. Join in the search for your favourite jungle creature, with a Jungle Book character medal awarded at the end of the trail.

£2 per trail, normal admission applies.

 

• World War I Weekend

5 & 6 August, 11 to 4pm

Explore the encampment complete with mess tent, field ambulance and more. There will be re-enactments and craft activities throughout the day.

Separate charges apply

 

Bodiam Castle

• Summer campaign and the Hundred Years War

Runs throughout summer holidays

Join in the medieval ‘war games’ as Bodiam Castle prepares for the summer campaign. Test your wits playing lawn games like chess and Nine Men’s Morris, then test your skills on the archery range. Tackle the Hundred Years War adventure trail.

Prices vary, normal admission applies.

 

• Military week and camp

Mon 21 to Mon 28 August

Discover the might of medieval England as a military camp pitches up outside the castle. an armourer will be on site hammering out an authentic medieval breast plate, which our expert bowmen will put to the test over the bank holiday weekend . Can the armour survive the drawing power of the mighty English archers?

 

From Mon 21 Aug to Fri 25 Aug you can join in the castle boot camp and train with Sir Edwards’ army and his best knights. New recruits will be put through their paces with marching and drills.

 

Boot camp £6.5 per child. Sessions run throughout the day. Suitable for children aged 5 to 15. Normal admission applies.