The Children’s Country House at Sudbury is designed especially for families, making it a great day out, whatever the weather. Explore the historic country home of the Vernon family in the hall, take a journey through childhood in the museum, or explore in the garden. A wonderful National Trust day out for any weather.
It is definitely the most child friendly National Trust property we have been around. The hall is filled with toys, games to play, and clear and colourful boards to read. The museum is a massive collection of toys and memorabilia from the past and great for children to get an insight into how their grandparents lived.
Top Info
🔵 There is no need to pre-book anymore - just arrive on the day.
🟡 Pushchair friendly paths from the car park to the property.
👶 Baby changing facilities.
🏍 Buggy store for prams, pushchairs, bikes, scooters.
🚗 Free wheelchair accessible vehicle transfer from the property to the car park, and return
🐕 Dog welcomes on the grounds on a lead
🐕 Assistant dogs only in the buildings
🚗 Free Parking. DE6 5HT
☕ The Fairy Tale Forest Café serves breakfast, lunch, snacks and drinks to eat in or take away
🎨 Activity Hub with extra Crafts on for £5 per child during holidays
☕ Coffee Van in courtyard
⏰ Open 10.00 -5pm
🔵 Sudbury Hall, Main Rd, Sudbury, Ashbourne DE6 5HT
When we arrived we first headed into the courtyard where the ticket sales office is, toilets, baby changing facilities, a sensory room, cafe and outside seating.
Within the courtyard there were a few simple toys out like skipping ropes and hoola hoops but these had every child there playing and laughing no matter what their age.
Also in the courtyard was the Activity Hub. This is a room full of 2 or 3 craft activities which costs an extra £5 per child to do. They don't have this on all the time so I'd check their website before going. But I've noticed it's on during school holidays and weekends.
🪀 The Museum of Childhood
We headed inside the museum to start. You can wander freely around, taking your time to look at the displays of toys. It was fun to spot toys from my childhood and quite a shock to see what basic toys children had in the past. Very different to modern day so it's a great display and very educational. The award-winning museum welcomes families to explore, seek and connect with history through objects and activities. Their Victorian Classroom lets children experience what school used to be like and their chimney sweep simulation was so much fun for the children. We learnt that children at the age of 7 would be sent up the chimneys to clean them and would sometimes even get stuck.
☕ Food & Drink
After the museum we went for lunch. The Fairy Tale Forest Café serves breakfast sandwiches, lunches including jacket potato, homemade soup and sandwiches. Hot Children's meals and lunch boxes aswel as a counter filled with cakes, snacks and drinks
The cafe has a good amount of seating both inside and outside. Outside you can enjoy your own picnic too and get a drink from the coffee van parked in the courtyard.
We ordered a children's fish fingers (which is quite small so maybe for 8 and under), a tuna jacket potato, an egg sandwich and a bacon sandwich. Our food came quickly and it was nice to have a warm lunch.
🌳 The Gardens
As the sun was beaming today we took a walk around the gardens. The gardens arnt very big and are mostly open grass to run and relax in or woodlands where you will find a small children's play area and den building area.
The grass lends its self to a gentle stroll and a place to enjoy a picnic in the summer. There are lovely views of both the lake, the grand hall and a sweet water feature.
🏠Explore the Hall
Finally, we stepped in side the hall. This was definitely the highlight of the National Trust site. Most of the time these properties are a simple walk round and the old and un touchable artifacts make me a bit nervous especially with children who like to touch to explore.
However, Sudbury Hall was the most child friendly one ive been in. Yes they had untouchable and precious items but not loads and there were plenty of actual toys, games and displays which you were allowed to use and explore instead. The Long Hall especially was had table and boxes filled with toys suitable for a wide range of ages. Packs of cards, dominoes, noughts & crosses, push along toys, dress up and wood puzzles.
The historic paintings on the walls has speech bubbles as if the people were alive and speaking to us about the way they were dresses or sat which added humour and made them more interesting to look at.
Plus, one room had a disco in. With neon lights, a disco ball and music playing, plus dressing up clothes so you could get a party dress on before a boogie.
Prices (March 2024)
Sudbury Hall, Museums and Gardens
Ticket type Standard
Adult £24.00
Child £12.00
Family £60.00
If you are a National Trust member then it is free to visit. With this location being £60 for a family it really makes a membership worth while. Home | National Trust
To find out about more National Trust sites in the North West click here
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