Family Days Out

The best play areas at our sites

These are the best playgrounds at English Heritage sites. Your kids are going to love them!

Once you've finished exploring a castle, or wandering through the grounds of a stately home, head to these gorgeous themed play areas so your little adventurers can be inspired to play based on the heritage stories they've experienced, learn more about the site, or just burn off any excess energy.

Photo of a toddler playing with large foam shapes at Belsay Hall

Playshapes at Belsay Hall

Playshapes is a unique, interactive art installation where visitors can use their imaginations to create new structures and sculptures, and then climb and have fun on their own creations!

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Dover Castle's new play area

Dover Castle has a brand new playground, inspired by the castle's new visitor attraction, Dover Castle Under Siege. Visit, and you can step into the world of siege warfare through interactive play. Think you've got what it takes to defend the castle?

Test your skills as you squeeze through wooden tunnels, scale walls, and even fire a mighty wooden trebuchet. Watch out for that fire outbreak! Use the buckets scattered around to put out the flames.

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Explore our top playgrounds

  • Audley End play area

    The Audley End play area is filled with horse-themed play equipment, as well as some swings, and a tunnel. It's right next to the café. Climb to the top turret of the wooden house in the centre of the playground, and you'll be rewarded with views of the orchards and the real-life horses behind the walled garden.

  • 1066 Battle Abbey playground

    The playground at Battle Abbey, the site of the Battle of Hastings, is near the café and based on 11th century life. Carved from wood, the playground features all sorts of fun play structures based on the theme of 1066, including climbable barrels, carts and an enormous wooden ox.

  • Belsay Wild Man play area

    Release your inner wild child at the Belsay Wild Man play area, which features towering climbing frames, winding slides, swings and lots more to explore. There's also a dedicated area for toddlers. It's tucked away in the woodland and right beside the refurbished cafe in the old coach house.

  • Bolsover Castle play area

    Inspired by the towers and turrets of the castle itself, the Bolsover Castle play area has it all. Look out for swings, a slide and even some wooden 'castle battlements' perfect for heroic, historic hide and seek, and role play. It's right outside the café so kids can let off steam while you take some time for yourself.

  • Brodsworth Hall playground

    The playground at Brodsworth Hall and Gardens is based on the history of the family who lived here. There's a sailing boat for mini pirates, climbing frames and slides to explore. Parents can relax on a picnic bench with a coffee from the nearby café while the kids climb, swing and slide through history.

  • Eltham Palace play area

    The Courtaulds lived at Eltham Palace in the 1930s and loved to travel. Inspired by their world, the Eltham Palace playground has an 'around the world' theme. You can fly in a plane, climb a pyramid or slip down an art-deco slide. It's right next to the café so you can watch your children play while enjoying a well-earned cup of tea.

  • Wrest Park playground

    Situated near the café, the Wrest Park playground is inspired by Wrest Park itself, with climbing frames, a slide and even a mini wooden pavilion to climb and explore. For daring adventurers there is a superb zip wire to ride on, but there's plenty here to keep kids of all aged entertained.

  • Witley Court's Wilderness play area

    Nestled in the woodland by Witley Court, you'll the Wilderness play area. Kids will love brilliant wooden adventure playground complete with a tree-house, slides, scramble net and wobbly bridge. Younger children can also explore the nature-inspired musical instruments and wooden animal rides.

  • Walmer Castle's play trail

    Little adventurers will love the natural play trail in Walmer Castle's woodland walk. Kids can explore so many fun, inspiring structures from giant acrons and wooden leaves, to wobbly bridges and giant swings within the woodland trail. Look out for hollow tree trunks to climb and giant nests to hide in. It's a the perfect place for imaginations to run wild in a natural setting. 

Find a place to visit

Where better to let little imaginations run wild than at a historic castle, abbey or house? 

Whether you fancy going exploring in Charles Darwin's back garden, or climbing the tallest tower at Dover Castle, a day out at one of our sites will keep everyone entertained.  

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