19-07-2025
National Trust summer events: All you need to know
With the school holidays here for some and fast approaching for others, the National Trust has unveiled a host of activities at its attractions to keep families young and old charity has launched its family-friendly Summer of Play scheme at locations including Lyme in Stockport, Greater Manchester, Quarry Bank in Styal, Cheshire, Speke Hall in Liverpool and Old Rufford Hall in Ormskirk, against the backdrop of its historic houses and gardens, the trust is offering adventures from nature games to trails and pop-up sports more on what to expect in your area:
Greater Manchester
Dunham Massey in Altrincham has a plethora of events until 7 September with themed activities every day of the week until 31 August including arts and crafts, circus skills and 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 Park, on the edge of the Peak District, has activities running through until 7 Lyme House visitors can play with shadow puppets and recreate the Egyptian adventures of Thomas Legh, an explorer who lived at at the mansion. At the Boiler House, people can attend the Riverlands Silent Pond Disco, curl up with a book in the reading corner and play nature-themed board games.
Cheshire
Hare Hill in Macclesfield is holding events until 31 tranquil wooded garden is perfect for kids to explore without crowds. Inside the walled garden people can find picnic spots and a big lawn for little ones to explore or see what wildlife can be spotted on the flat, pushchair-friendly Quarry Bank in Wilmslow has events until 1 SeptemberIt has a new indoor play hub with soft play, giant board games, fancy dress and a stage as well as traditional games and outside there is a maze featuring loose parts where children can build their own adventure, alongside nature bingo.
Merseyside
Speke Hall in Liverpool starts its schedule of family-friendly activities on Monday which will run until 31 games galore in the grounds of the Tudor manor house - from mud pie-making to running races, building and creating, or getting cosy with a good book from the second-hand the historic grounds, let imaginations run wild in the accessible gated play area, build dens in the woodland, or zoom through the air on the zipwire. There is also a sensory resource station in the visitor centre to enjoy fidget toys, ear defenders and other sensory items.
Lancashire
The Tudor Rufford Old Hall near Ormskirk is staging events until1 exploring the garden in style on a balance-bike to spotting wildlife on the canal, there is plenty of room to let imaginations run can also enjoy an abundance of garden games and self-led activities. Or head to the Orchard Paddock and take part in free sports activities including cricket, rounders, tennis and croquet. Meanwhile, from the Coach House people can collect sports day kit boxes which include instructions, skipping ropes, hula hoops, race markers, beanbags and more.
Is it free?
While admission charges apply to the trust's sites there is free entry for under fives, carers and National Trust members and no additional charges for Summer of Play events.
Read more stories from Cheshire, Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC North West on X.
