Summer is the ideal season to discover the beautiful gardens scattered across the UK, offering plenty of family-friendly activities that bring parents and children closer to nature. From building dens and playing outdoor games to engaging in bug hunts, these gardens promise memorable experiences for all ages.
The National Trust’s ‘Summer of Play’ initiative features numerous family events, complemented by activities organised by the RHS, English Heritage, and the National Garden Scheme, which supports health charities and other vital causes.
Here are some of the top gardens worth visiting for a fun-filled family day out:
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Anglesey Abbey offers a beach-themed ‘Summer of Play’ where children can enjoy a giant sandpit, seaside arts and crafts, and games like badminton and volleyball. Five interactive seaside play zones throughout the gardens let kids unleash creativity while learning about coastal wildlife.
Belsay’s expansive 30-acre, Grade I-listed gardens have been refreshed by renowned designer Dan Pearson, featuring over 80,000 new plants. The Quarry Garden, with its unique microclimate, nurtures exotic plants and is a standout attraction. Dramatic ravines and giant rhubarb plants, known as ‘dinosaurs’ food,’ make for a fascinating visit. The garden also includes a fantastic new play area with climbing frames, slides, rope nets, and swings, plus a dedicated toddler zone.
Castle Ward’s sprawling estate boasts five themed play zones: Active, Quest, Creative, Nature, and Quiet. From medieval games with knights to dragon quests, fossil digs, and peaceful retreats, children have endless opportunities to explore and play. The garden is famous for its blend of Victorian and 17th-18th century landscapes, providing historical horticultural insight.
Chirk Castle’s gardens burst into vibrant colour in summer, with fragrant summer borders, topiary, and the inviting Lime Tree Avenue. The castle’s Big Play Adventure offers four themed zones—Forest, Meadow, Stream, and Kitchen Garden—each full of interactive activities designed to spark imagination.
Brodick Castle on Arran features the ‘Isle Be Wild’ adventure playground nestled in woodland, including the Squirrel Tower, rope bridges, and a glass-bottomed tunnel in the Otter area. Visitors can also enjoy formal gardens, ponds, waterfalls, and woodland trails where red squirrels may be spotted.
At Fountains Abbey, a UNESCO World Heritage site, children can engage in activities like soft archery, circus tents play areas, and space-hopper racing amid the ruins and an elegant 18th-century water garden.
Gloucestershire’s hidden gem boasts a vast country estate with rescue ponies, donkeys, chickens, formal terraces, a walled topiary garden, and a large glasshouse. Over 30 years, English Heritage has restored Brodsworth’s Victorian gardens filled with bedding displays, topiary, a fern dell, and intriguing garden buildings, including a charming 1864 ‘privy’ and a mosaic-paved Target Range.
Logan Botanic Garden, recently voted Family Venue of the Year, benefits from a subtropical climate where exotic plants flourish. On July 31, children can enjoy the ‘Fun with Flax’ event, learning to weave flowers and animals from colorful flax leaves grown in the garden.
Longleat Forest Gardens combine woodland trails with surprises like mini railway rides, veteran cars, and sculptures ranging from angelic figures to giant poppies. Visitors can also experience the thrilling medieval joust event featuring legendary knights competing for glory from August 5-7, complete with a medieval encampment.
These gardens across the UK provide exceptional opportunities for children to connect with nature, engage their imaginations, and enjoy active play during the summer months.