Are you looking at visiting Stourhead National Trust with kids? Not sure if they will enjoy it or not? Take a look at our visit to Stourhead National Trust with our 3 young children. It’s such a fun place to explore for both adults and kids.
When we were on our holiday this year, we took a trip to Stourhead National Trust in Wiltshire. I had heard about this stunning place but never got a chance to visit it. As it was only 30 minutes away from Pump Cottage, Shaftesbury, it made it a perfect place to head to.
Stourhead is made up of 2,650 acre estate, which has a world-famous landscape garden, a Palladian house that was finished in 1725 after 4 years of being built, and so many little hidden places to explore. My post is going to be picture heavy as this is the best way to show you what an amazing place this is to visit.
First off is the house, we don’t usually look around the houses as I have always worried about the kids, touching or breaking things. Let alone them not being interested at all! However my son is really enjoying History at school, so it is nice for him to see these different places and learn new things. He has been taking an interest in the people who lived there, what their history was, and to see what things used to look like.
Stourhead had also thought about the younger children too and created something for them to do. They had hidden little horse figures around the house and the children had to spot them. This worked great!
After this we had an exploration of the grounds near the house, with some lovely flower beds to take some pictures in, bridges to climb and hills to run up and down, the children were quite happy.
We stopped for lunch and ice cream in the courtyard-style restaurant, this is the smaller eating area with a pub, snack shop, and some little gift shops.
Little did we know what was around the corner, the most stunning view I have ever seen!
There is a woodland walk all around this lake, it isn’t a small lake so give yourself time, as your need it, and your want to spend time here. It is so peaceful, and relaxing and I could have stayed there for ages!
It is a photographer’s dream, and I am nowhere near a pro but it was a lovely place to take photos.
The children loved exploring Stourhead as you just didn’t know what was around the corner. Their favourite one was the magical caves, with water pouring in and little windows to peep out of too, they had never seen anything like that before!
Little houses hidden in the woods where someone would write her love letters, I mean come on, imagine living in Stourhead and having THIS as your garden!
My son loved the temples that were dotted about, his favourite one was the Temple of Flora which has huge statues of famous people.
The girl’s best part was when they found a grotto or cave….where you climbed up through the stone steps and stone rooms to get higher and higher. It was very steep but it was worth it when you got to the top,
The children spent quite a while playing around on this, as it was so high up, it was really quiet from the public and would have been a perfect picnic spot.
We spotted some very sweet signets and swan swimming along the lake too, we watched them for ages, chatting about how they feed and swim and they were fascinated by them.
If you are able to go to Stourhead, go! Don’t think like we did that, oh no I won’t enjoy places like this, or the children will be bored and need somewhere with entertainment. Given the chance kids will make their own entertainment within the environment, they are in, outside exploring nature and interesting places. With a little bit of history chucked in too!
Pictures Taken 2016
We have a National Trust annual membership, which we have used to visit lots of places so far. Take a look at it as you may find it works out a good price for you too.
We have since visited Stourhead National Trust many more times, it’s so different throughout the year, and Autumn is stunning with all the colour-changing trees. We even enjoyed a Christmas glow walk during the Winter, which was stunning.
Tips When Visiting Stourhead National Trust
- Large car park
- Check for events
- Steep hills
- Uneven footing paths but plenty of flat paths too
- Lots of hidden places to find
- Cafe, pub and toilets are all there
- Entry fees
- Easy to find
- The farm shop at the entrance is lovely
- Dogs welcome with some restrictions
15 Comments
Looks really great for the family! I really like all the pics of the country garden and the victorian follies. Looks great for a summer day out!
The place looks so fairytale like! So magical and lovely there! #whatevertheweather
I love National Trust days out, I find them really family friendly.
Well what a beautiful setting for a family day out. Love the sounds of that cave/grotto as well! x
What a wonderful place it is. I have seen posts from here before and just adore the look of the lakes on those perfectly manicured lawns. It really does look magnificent and there is just enough for the kids to discover around the grounds too. I love the sound of the caves and the natural windows. I’d definitely enjoy a visit if we were in the area, I do wish we had done more the year we took out National Trust Membership, it is perfect for kids with imagination and a desire to learn.
Thank you for sharing with me on #CountryKids
Wow, what a beautiful place! The house looks fab inside, I’m a bit of history geek, this is right up my street lol. The flowers are beautiful.. all your photos are stunning 🙂 #CountryKids
What a beautiful quintessentially English scene.
National Trust places are fab aren’t they? They really do think about children and we have many great days out at them. By the sounds of it I don’t think this one is too far from you, I will have to take a look. There looks like there is lots for them to explore x
National Properties are just stunning aren’t they? This one is breathtaking, I have never visited. I love our local ones though. Love all your photos! Kaz x
Gosh this place looks absolutely stunning. We don’t have a many National Trust parks near where we live but when we move to another part of the country next year, a membership might be something we look into.
This is beautiful. I love a good National Trust day out – and this one is added to my wish list! Your photographs are beautiful. #countrykids
We’ve just got national trust memberships. This place oooks so beautiful!!
Gorgeous photos! I absolutely love visiting places like this, it looks incredible x
Wow!those NT trails are great for kids. Amazing gardens
I’m so jealous and we’d love to go there but as I don’t drive it’s hard to get to.