Family fun all summer long at Dunham Massey

Above: Enjoy family adventures at Dunham Massey this summer ©National Trust / Katie Clayton

With acres of parkland to explore, a beautiful garden to picnic and play in and a house to transport you back in time; Dunham Massey provides the perfect backdrop for family adventures this summer.

Visitors can join in with exciting family activities on weekdays throughout the summer holidays- perfect for families looking to make the most of the long summer break and keep their little ones busy all summer long.

“Our younger visitors can enjoy a whole host of exciting experiences this summer” says Katie Clayton, Assistant Visitor Experience Manager. “They can become a ranger in the making, enjoy theatre fun and join in with baking, storytelling, family yoga and more.”

“Each of the six summer holiday weeks are themed and activities change during the week. Visitors can choose from Ranger Week, Adventure Week, Show Week and more or even enjoy all six!”

Kick start your summer holidays with Picnic Week– design a patch for a giant picnic blanket on 27 July and join the Great Victorian Bake Off on 28 and 29 July.

Ranger Week will give families the chance to meet Dunham Massey’s Ranger team who will host an array of different outdoor adventures from 1-5 August.

Step back in time during Victorian Week– enjoy Victorian storytelling 8-10 August and join in with Victorian themed craft on 11-12 August.

Young explorers will be spoilt for choice during Adventure Week- find your way around the garden with journey sticks on 15 and 16 August, go on a sensory adventure on 17 August and discover what’s in a pond on 18 and 19 August.

Get up close to nature in Wild Week with ‘Brilliant Bugs’ on 22 and 23 August and ‘Busy Bees’ on 24 August. Head to the garden on 25 and 26 August…or should that be the jungle? Become a snake, giraffe or frog with fun family yoga on the lawn.

End a summer of fun with Show Week– tread the boards with Victorian Theatre on 30 and 31 August, join in with willow weaving on 1 September and enjoy a family puppet show on 2 September.

Continue your family adventure by ticking off some of your ‘50 things to do before you’re 11 3/4’ during your visit; track wild animals, go bird watching and even build a den.

Meet the Victorian servants at work in the house, find out about life below stairs and help them with their chores. And of course, no summer visit to Dunham Massey would be complete without a well-earned treat from the ice cream parlour!

Meet the Victorian servants in the house at Dunham Massey this summer ©National Trust / Emma Williams

Until 9 August, (Sunday- Thursday) visitors can also roll up to the garden for a summer of circus adventures. Dreamt up by Wild Rumpus, producers of incredible family adventures, visit Dunham this summer and before you know it, you‘ll be tightrope walking across the sky, juggling with aplomb, and cartwheeling across the lawn. From 11 August to 4 September, continue your circus adventures by following the ‘Run Away with the Circus’ trail around the garden. Try your hand at juggling, stilt walking, tightrope walking, hula hooping and feather balancing before your grand finale at the end of the trail.

Normal admission applies at all summer holiday events. Free for National Trust members. Most activities require a house and garden or garden ticket.

For full details of Dunham Massey’s events this summer, including timings, go to www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dunhammasse