Family fun during the summer holidays at Ickworth Estate, Sutton Hoo, Dunwich Heath and Beach, Melford Hall and Flatford
Enjoy fun-filled family days out and adventures this summer with the National Trust’s Summer of Play.
With different activities at each location, there’s something new to discover and enjoy at every place you visit throughout the school holidays.
You can try your hand at archery, athletics, croquet, tennis and cricket and unlock limitless possibilities to design and build dens.
Put your skills to the test navigating mazes or get crafty with friends. Explore the outdoors with bug-hunting and pond dipping, or relax with cloud spotting and wild nature art. Step onto the stage to have a go at performance play and dress-up games, or let your imagination run wild with story telling sessions.
All of the Summer of Play activities have been specifically designed with families in mind to make each visit special. There’ll be plenty of space to enjoy games and activities, as well as picnic spots, shady rest areas and of course, toilets, cafes and pop-up kiosks offering food and drink.
Here are some of the National Trust places where you can get stuck into activities and exciting adventures for the whole family this summer.
- Summer of Play | July 19 to September 2 | 10am to 3.30pm
- Cycle hire | July 18 to September 2 | 10am to 4pm (last hire 2pm)
- Wind in the Willows, outdoor theatre | July 25 | 6pm to 8pm
You can ransform the Walled Garden and reclaim it as a hub for families and friends to connect with nature and each other. With many different activities in this “Play Garden” you can lose track of time weaving through wild mazes, performing on the Summer House stage, cooking at the mud kitchen or immersing yourself in the sensory garden among so much more. Bring your bike (or hire one), explore the parkland on two wheels and discover the far-flung corners with spectacular views of the Rotunda and surrounding estate. Make sure you bring a picnic or treat yourself to lunch at one of the cafes then grab an ice cream before visiting the adventure playground. Spend the evening at Ickworth Estate enjoying the family classic Wind in the Willows performed against the backdrop of the Rotunda setting. Become a Little Ranger and explore the natural world of the Ickworth Estate with the ranger.
For all this and more, visit: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ickworth-estate
Sutton Hoo
Summer of Play | July 20 to September 1 | 10am to 5pm
Sand tray archaeology | July 22 and August 5, 27 and 28 | 11am, 12pm, 1pm
Theatre in the Forest | July 24 to August 24 | 7.30pm to 10pm
Wargaming The Age of the Anglo-Saxons | July 27 and 28 | 10am to 4.30pm
Anglo-Saxon living history | July 27 and 28 and August 3, 4, 17 and 18 | 10am to 5pm
Visit Sutton Hoo during the school holidays and immerse yourself in a summer of play. There will be lots of activities to keep little explorers busy, from dressing up like an Anglo-Saxon warrior, an observation challenge and craft activities inside the house, to sand tray archaeology and outdoor adventures on our free family trail. Explore the incredible landscape and record what you see, hear and feel at our art activity stations, immerse yourself in Anglo-Saxon life in the living history camp and watch one of Shakespeare’s funniest comedies performed right here in the woodland around the Sutton Hoo. On July 27 and 28, you can even try your hand at painting your very own model then before lining it up for battle in the return of our Anglo-Saxon wargames.
For all this and more visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/suffolk/sutton-hoo
Dunwich Heath and Beach
Summer of Play | from July 20 | 10am to 5pm
Bat walk | August 17 | 8.15pm to 9.45pm
Pond-dipping and bug basement sessions | Weekends from July 20 | 11am to 2pm
Solar observing | August 11 | 11am to 3pm
Head to Dunwich Heath and Beach this summer for a full day out immersed in nature. Explore the heath on one of the fun and interactive family trails or head to the beach for activities on the sand. Grab a tracker pack and see what wildlife wonders you can discover or make your way to the den building area to see who can construct the best hideout. Bring a picnic blanket and lunch or head to the tearoom for a tasty treat. Children can burn off steam on the outdoor play area and you can even book on to one of the events to learn more about the wildlife that calls this space home.
For more information or to book an activity then head to our website: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dunwich
Melford Hall
- Summer of Play activities | July 20 to September 1 (Wednesdays to Sundays) noon to 3.30pm
Enjoy family time together at Melford Hall this summer. Whether you spend a sunny afternoon on the lawn playing garden games, discover family-friendly trail in the parkland or join the Beatrix Potter storytelling in the garden, there’s plenty of activities to keep the whole family entertained and create great memories together.
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/suffolk/melford-hall
Flatford
Nature Days | July 30 and August 20
Rowing boats available for hire throughout the season
Get the whole family outdoors and discover nature in the Dedham Vale countryside at Flatford. Navigate the River Stour on the water as the popular rowing boats return for the summer holidays and don’t miss the Nature Days on July 30 and August 20, a great opportunity for little ones to experience the beauty of nature first hand at Flatford and enjoy a variety of crafts, trails and activities inspired by the great outdoors.