Family-friendly things to do at The Vyne

Two young children stand on a wooden outdoor stage holding props. — Plan family-friendly adventures for the diary. | © National Trust / Megan Taylor

Jam-packed with lively games and pioneering fun, the Little People, BIG DREAMS® trail encourages young adventurers to ‘be bold, be brave’ and ‘dream big’. Runs daily until Sunday 22 June, 10am-4pm in the gardens and 11am-3pm in the house.

On Saturday 7 June, don't miss outdoor theatre The Wind in the Willows. Running Saturday 19 July – Sunday 31 August 10am-4pm, in a Summer of Play, young adventurers can get active with fun games in The Vyne’s gardens. Click on 'Planning your family visit' below for helpful information to get the best out of your day.

Parking is free at The Vyne in the visitor carpark (What3Words: pizzeria.person.gone). During busy periods at weekends and during the school holidays, try and get here for 10am when gates open for the best chance of a parking space.

Picnics are welcome, there are some picnic benches in the carpark and dotted about in the gardens. In case these are all occupied, bring a waterproof picnic blanket.

Normal admission applies. National Trust members and under fives enter The Vyne free, just bring your membership cards to scan at Visitor Reception.

Toilets and baby changing facilities are on the left just past visitor reception and also at the Brewhouse tea-room next to the house.

. If you have any queries about accessibility at The Vyne you can give us a call on 01256 883 858. Alternatively you can email us at thevyne@nationaltrust.org.uk, putting 'Accessibility Query' in the subject line. We'll get back you as soon as we can.

Buggy-friendly garden paths: The garden has hard gravel pathways for buggies. You might prefer to use a child carrier if you’re planning on going further afield.

Bring wellies if you're planning on going in the woods.

Pack the coats as this is a mostly outdoor site.

The Brewhouse tea-room is a bit snug, so you’ll need to leave your buggy or pushchair outside. Alternatively, a kiosk located between the Brewhouse and the gift shop sells drinks and snacks outside and there are picnic benches and tables where you can grab a seat and keep your buggie with you.

Highchairs are available on request and a microwave is located in the ground floor seating area for warming milk.

In the house we’ve got slings for you to carry small children in. Again, you’ll need to leave your buggy or pushchair outside.

There are lockers to the right of the main entrance to the house where you can store belongings while exploring this family home. Items are left at your own risk.

Lost property: Should you lose something at The Vyne, you can ask at Visitor Reception if anything has been handed in. If you get home and realise something's missing, you can give us a call on 01256 883 858 to see if anything has been handed in at the Estate Office. Alternatively you can email us at thevyne@nationaltrust.org.uk, putting 'Lost Property' in the subject line. We'll get back you as soon as we can.

Pitching expectations: Unfortunately ball games, frisbees, scooters, bikes and drones aren't permitted on the estate due to previous damage to the house and grounds. Thanks for understanding.

Three children's book covers appear on a plain blue background with the words 'Little People, BIG DREAMS' appearing in black writing on white tape. — © Little People, Big Dreams® Alba &/or Beautifool Couple | © 2025 Vegara, various illustrators, licensed by Quarto.

Get stuck into fun family adventures on the Little People, BIG DREAMS® trail at The Vyne.

On this literary family trail discover remarkable true stories about inspiring people.

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Family-friendly events

Little People, BIG DREAMS®

Saturday 3 May – Sunday 22 June, House 11am-3pm. Gardens 10am-4pm

Recommended ages 4-7+. Lively games and pioneering fun will encourage kids to ‘be bold, be brave’ and ‘dream big’ in The Vyne’s house and gardens where young readers can look out for vibrant illustrations from this best-selling biography series for kids by Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara. On this literary family trail discover remarkable true stories about inspiring people. In the gardens, try your hand at kangaroo pouch bean bag toss with Steve Irwin and ‘jam’ with Taylor Swift in the Summerhouse. Keep an eagle eye out with David Attenborough using binoculars at the bird hide and throw your own mini-theatre production with Hans Christian Andersen. Join Jane Austen in the house before browsing the shop for copies of these much-loved books.

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In the natural play area off The Vyne’s Lime Avenue, the scene is being set for a bold defence of children’s rights. Imagine the government has closed the play area purely because they believed children shouldn’t be allowed to play - ever!

Inspired by Malala Yousafzai’s brave defence of children and girls’ rights to education, here budding young activists can use their voice to be heard.

To help young visitors understand the impact when peoples’ rights aren’t upheld, you’ll find that everything in the play area has been roped off and ‘declared illegal’. This is an opportunity to reflect together on how this feels and the importance of resisting ‘big bully’ autocratic regimes.

You can ask children ‘Why not pretend to be peaceful protesters?’ or ‘What would you say to convince the government and other people that what they’re doing is wrong?’ and, importantly, ‘Why might someone need to be brave to do this?’

After this you can ask children to imagine the tide finally turns and playtime is allowed once again. Now, youngsters can begin to shape the world around them.

We’re asking children to vote for their favourite new piece of play equipment using a token available at Visitor Reception. While the rest of this activity is imaginary, the vote really counts as we will install whichever equipment is voted the most popular.

Family outdoor theatre: The Wind in the Willows

Sat 7 Jun | Gates open 5pm, Performance 6-7.40pm (includes 20 min interval)

Multiple award-winning Illyria celebrates Kenneth Grahame’s timeless tale of friendship, laughter, the longing for home and the lure of adventure.

Timid Mole yearns to explore the wide world. Gruff old Badger enjoys peace and quiet. Rat likes summer picnics and just messing about in boats. Their idyllic lives on the Riverbank are turned upside down when Toad announces his latest in a long line of extravagant obsessions: a gypsy caravan. Generous Toad. Exciting Toad. Only-A-Tiny-Bit-Boastful Toad. The Riverbankers console themselves with the fact that he cannot possibly get any worse - until, bewitched by the roar of a motor-car and the screech of burning tyres, he does. The other animals resolve to save him from himself – but can they teach him even a jot of restraint AND help him evict the opportunistic stoats and weasels who have taken over his ancestral pile? Bring your own seating/rug, suitable clothing and a picnic. The Vyne's north lawn is wheelchair accessible. Tickets: Adult £18 + £1.51 booking fee, Child (3-16 yrs) £12 + £1.01 booking fee, Under 3’s go free. Registered carer, free (one per paid booking).

Find out more and book tickets

Summer of Play

Sat 19 Jul - Sun 31 Aug | 10am-4pm

Young adventurers can get active with a collection of fun family games and challenges hidden in The Vyne’s sprawling gardens.

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Play area

Little ones can explore the outdoors in the natural play area created especially for very young children just off the Lime Avenue.

If it rains, you can browse the gift shop, head into the Brewhouse tea-room for a hot chocolate, or venture into the house. Inside this ancient family home, you can wow the kids by showing them a secret Tudor peephole concealed in the panelling of The Study on the ground floor. There's also a very young, slim Henry VIII depicted in the chapel stained-glass windows. And at the end of the visitor route on the ground floor of the house there's a light and airy second hand bookshop with a cushioned bay window where you can leaf through your child's next favourite page-turner.