Family summer at Wakehurst

With more than 500 acres of gardens, woodlands and a nature reserve, there are plenty of things for families to do at Wakehurst — and kids go free!

A mother and her two children walk through woodlands

Many places to explore

The Children's Walled Garden and Mud Kitchen

Go beyond the Walled Garden to explore this enchanting place, where flowers, herbs and vegetables grow alongside each other. Open seasonally.

Wild Wood

Delight your senses by exploring our new Wild Wood trail with the whole family.

Tree Trunk Trek

We've given our champion play space for young adventurers a new look.

Natural play spaces

Natural play spaces are scattered across Wakehurst for kids to explore. Find your way through the Labyrinth, seek out wooden carvings in our woodlands and play along the mown pathways in our summer meadows.

Woodlands of the world

On a family day out, walk beneath the sweet gum trees of North America or search for the Wollemi pine, a 'living fossil' that is as old as dinosaurs, in Coates Wood. 

Explorer rucksacks

Wakehurst Explorer Rucksacks

Pull on one of our Explorer Rucksacks and prepare for an intrepid journey through Wakehurst. Each rucksack is jam-packed with creative goodies.

What's on

Meadowland
Family friendly

Nature heroes: Flower power

Discover the power of flowers this summer holidays!
20 July to 1 September 2024
Accessible | Exhibitions | Family friendly | Included with entry | Tours and talks | Wellbeing

Meadowland

Wakehurst premieres four bespoke outdoor art installations and workshops celebrating meadows.
14 June to 10 September 2024
back on sale
Family friendly | Evenings | Food and drink

Glow Wild

Enchantment awaits at Wakehurst’s magical winter lantern trail in Sussex
Selected evenings, 28 November 2024 to 1 January 2025

Planning your visit

Tickets – Children go free

Children (16 and under)*: free 

Young persons (17 – 25): £8.25 — after 3.30pm: £4

Adult tickets from £1

* An adult must accompany any child 16 or under.  

Eating and drinking

Enjoy tasty food and delicious treats from our cafés and restaurants.

You can also bring your own picnic! The best places to picnic are in Coates Wood on one of the numerous picnic benches dotted around; or on the Mansion Lawn between the high prairie grasses of the American Prairie in summer.

Facilities and access for families

Map – we will give you a map when you arrive, this shows all toilets, baby changing facilities and suitable routes for buggies.

Access – most buildings have level or ramped access. Around the Mansion and Visitor Centre there are gravel and hard surfaced paths. The remaining garden and woodland areas have steep slopes, steps or paths that may be uneven.