Summer of Play with The National Trust

Above: Indoor play hub at Quarry Bank Mill © National Trust Images Annapurna Mellor

Enjoy a summer of adventure and imagination with the National Trust’s Summer of Play.

Kicking off in July and taking place over the summer holidays, Summer of Play activities will have a family-festival feel set against the backdrop of the National Trust’s historic houses and beautiful gardens 

Quarry Bank, Wilmslow 
Summer of Play, 19 July – 1 September 

Brand-new indoor play hub with soft play, giant board games, fancy dress and a stage. Outside you’ll find a maze, loose parts play and nature bingo 

Come rain or shine, there’s fun for all the family at Quarry Bank. Inside the huge mill, there’s a brand-new Play Hub where little ones can dress up, put on puppet shows, dive into soft play and enjoy giant board games. Older kids can get stuck into traditional games and crafts too. 

Outside, on the Mill Meadow you can play nature bingo, race through the maze or build your own adventure.

Enjoy a picnic on tables in the playground near the Mill Yard – or pull up a deck chair and treat yourself to an ice cream from the Stables Ice Cream Parlour. 

And with Magic Mondays, Travel Tuesdays, Woodland Wednesdays, Theatre Thursdays, Fitness Fridays and Wild Weekends – there’s something new for you to try every time you visit. 

Admission charges apply (£21 adult, £10.50 child, £52.50 family, free entry for under 5s, carers and National Trust members). No additional event charges. nationaltrust.org.uk/quarry-bank    

Dunham Massey, Altrincham 
Summer of Play, 20 June – 7 September  

Themed activities every day of the week from 19 July – 31 August 

From arts and crafts to circus skills and storytelling, log pile natural play area 

Dunham Massey, near Altrincham, is full of playful adventures this summer. Follow the colourful bunting to the Play Hub in the North Park where you’ll find giant deck chairs, a tipi and games to play with the whole family. And from circus skills to fancy dress, there’s lots of different activities to try every day of the week.  

Climb and clamber over the Log Pile natural play area and spot fallow deer roaming the parkland. For a moment of quieter imagination, head inside the house and follow Speechly’s grand tour. Fill hungry tummies with a woodfired pizza and keep the adventures going. 

Admission charges apply (£17 adult, £8.50 child, £42.50 family, free entry for under 5s, carers and National Trust members). No additional event charges.  nationaltrust.org.uk/dunham-massey 

Lyme, Stockport 
Summer of Play, 18 July–7 September 

Experience the locations of Pride & Prejudice through the eyes of a child. Recreate an explorer’s travels through Egypt. Silent pond disco, reading corner, nature-themed board games 

Fill a full day at Lyme on the edge of the Peak District. There’s pushchair-friendly paths and adventurous trails to explore. Every day this summer stories will come to life through the world of play. 

In the garden, gallop your way from Netherfield to Meryton and experience the locations of Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice through the eyes of a child. Inside the house you can play with shadow puppets and recreate the Egyptian adventures of Thomas Legh, an explorer who lived at Lyme. And at the Boiler House, you can attend the Riverlands Silent Pond Disco, curl up with a book in the nature reading corner and play nature-themed board games. 

The Timber Yard Café near the Crow Wood play area serves tasty treats from children’s lunch boxes and sandwiches to ice cream scoops.   

Normal admission applies (£17 adult, £8.50 child, £42.50 family, free entry for under 5s, carers and National Trust members). No additional event charges. nationaltrust.org.uk/lyme  

Hare Hill, Macclesfield 
Summer of Play, 19 July–31 August 

Water Wonders Trail. Safe space for little ones to run free 

This tranquil wooded garden is perfect for kids to explore without crowds. Inside the walled garden you’ll find picnic spots and a big lawn for little ones to explore. See what wildlife you can spot on the flat, pushchair friendly paths – the bird hide is the perfect place to start your adventure. Or you can build, climb and balance in the natural woodland play area. 

This summer go with the flow and follow the self-led Water Wonders trail though the gardens at Hare Hill. Inspired by the National Trust’s Riverlands, a project that aims to improve the health of the River Bollin across Cheshire, you can find ways to become a guardian of the water too. 

Normal admission applies (£9 adult, £4.50 child, £22.50 family, free entry for under 5s, carers and National Trust members). No additional event charges. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hare-hill 

Little Moreton Hall, Congleton 
Summer of Play, 19 July–31 August 

Games from the past. Children’s archery. Topsy-turvy Tudor manor 

This topsy-turvy Tudor manor house is full of wonky angles and quirky character, and this summer you can have fun exploring a blast from the past trail of play. Travel through time, without the need for a time machine, from Tudor period to present day, as you delve into the history of games in the outdoors. Will you come across a familiar favourite or discover a new game to give a go? Or discover your inner Robin Hood with archery sessions for all the family. 

Normal admission applies (£15 adult, £7.50 child, £37.50 family, free entry for under 5s, carers and National Trust members). No additional event charges. 

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/little-moreton-hall