Penshurst Place Kent: 10 Things to See With Kids

You’ll find endless family fun at Penshurst Place with its thrilling 30-metre zip line and adventure playground featuring over 30 play pieces. Kids can explore the medieval Baron’s Hall from 1341, get hands-on at the Toy Museum, and tackle the summer Maize Maze with puzzle routes. Don’t miss the Woodland Trail discovery walk, craft activities at the Old Coach House, and falconry shows on select Saturdays. The complete guide reveals even more exciting adventures waiting to be discovered.

Adventure Playground With Commando Trail and Zip Line

The traditional wooden adventure playground sits right near Penshurst Place’s main entrance, where you’ll spot more than thirty pieces of play equipment scattered across rolling grassy slopes.

Your older kids will love tackling the commando trail’s balance beams and climbing challenges, while little ones can enjoy the dedicated toddler area with smaller play pieces and basket swings.

The star attraction is the 30-metre zip line swing installed in 2018 – it’s incredibly popular with families seeking high-energy fun. There’s even a mini-zip line for younger children.

Don’t miss the central tunnel and steep slide that primary-age kids rave about. The playground also features an obstacle course that adds extra excitement to the adventure experience.

The Porcupine Pantry kiosk nearby offers ice cream and snacks when you need refreshments.

Woodland Trail Discovery Walk

After your children have burned off energy on the adventure playground, you’ll find the perfect next adventure waiting just steps away through a signed gate at the top right corner.

The Woodland Trail offers a family-friendly 1km circular discovery walk through mixed woodland beside Penshurst Place’s parkland.

Follow white directional arrows past log pyramids, mushroom carvings, and fascinating interpretation stops.

Your kids will love counting tree rings on a fallen chestnut from the 1987 hurricane and spotting wildlife around the carp ponds.

Look for dragonflies near the “Dragons and Damsels” panel and listen for bird songs together.

The trail features natural play elements like logs for balancing while teaching about woodland history and conservation. The path connects to the Eden Valley Walk, a longer route that follows the River Medway for families wanting to extend their outdoor adventure.

Watch for uneven paths and mud, so wear appropriate footwear.

Maize Maze Summer Challenge

When summer holidays arrive, Penshurst Place transforms part of its grounds into an exciting living maze carved from towering maize crops. You’ll discover three different puzzle routes designed for various ages and abilities.

Your youngest adventurers can tackle the mini-maze with its special game sheet, taking around 15 minutes to complete. Meanwhile, older kids can explore the main family route using passport-style cards to hunt for continent-themed stamps, or challenge themselves with the sequential puzzle requiring clues in correct order.

Each route offers buggy-friendly pathways, and you’ll receive flags for assistance if needed. The maze operates daily from mid-July through early September, typically 11:00-18:00. This large-scale puzzle provides the perfect outdoor adventure for families seeking an engaging navigation challenge.

Complete your mission and earn stickers as rewards for beating this fantastic eco-friendly challenge that combines outdoor exercise with problem-solving skills.

Toy Museum Collection

Since its opening in 1970, Penshurst Place’s charming Toy Museum has delighted families with treasures from the Sidney family’s own toy collection alongside fascinating heritage pieces that tell the story of childhood through the ages.

You’ll explore four interactive zones: Dolls & Bears, Games & Pastimes, Building Blocks, and World of Imagination.

Your kids will marvel at Georgian doll “Moggie,” century-old teddy “Old Ted” from 1907, and the mesmerizing Drinking Bear automaton.

Don’t miss the beautiful rocking horses, Pollock’s toy theatres, and intricate dolls’ houses showing miniature domestic life.

The museum’s hands-on approach encourages touching and exploring rather than just looking. The collection has recently undergone extensive conservation work by Zenzie Tinker Conservation of Brighton to preserve these precious toys for future generations.

With improved accessibility and educational workshops comparing old and new toys, it’s perfect for sparking conversations about how playtime has changed over generations.

Baron’s Hall Medieval Experience

While the Toy Museum showcases childhood treasures through the centuries, your family’s journey through Penshurst Place leads you into Baron’s Hall—a spectacular medieval great hall that’s remained virtually unchanged since 1341.

You’ll stand beneath the original 60-foot chestnut-beamed ceiling where medieval lords once hosted grand feasts. Your children can easily imagine knights gathering around the central hearth while you point out the high table where important guests sat.

The room steward helps explain how families lived here over 600 years ago using language kids understand.

If climbing stairs seems challenging with little ones, you can watch a virtual tour of the upper rooms right here in the hall. Clear sightlines make supervising children easy while they explore this authentic piece of history that’s appeared in countless TV shows and films. This magnificent hall originally served as a country retreat for the Lord Mayor of London when it was completed centuries ago.

Elizabethan Walled Gardens

The Elizabethan Walled Gardens at Penshurst Place transport your family back to Sir Henry Sidney’s 1560s vision, where ornamental beauty meets practical kitchen gardening in an authentic Tudor setting that’s remained largely unchanged for over 450 years.

You’ll discover multiple “garden rooms” enclosed by protective stone walls, creating safe spaces for kids to explore winding paths lined with box hedging. The aromatic herbs like sage and lavender offer wonderful scent experiences, while fruit trees trained as espaliers showcase historical growing techniques.

Your children can play hide-and-seek among the geometric layouts while learning about Elizabethan self-sufficiency. These gardens provide perfect curriculum links to Tudor history and demonstrate how wealthy families combined beauty with practical food production. The estate’s royal connections add extra fascination, as these very gardens once welcomed monarchs like Elizabeth I and James I during their visits to this historic Kent manor.

Old Coach House Craft Station

After exploring the beautiful Elizabethan gardens, your family can head to the Old Coach House Craft Station for hands-on creative fun that’s perfect whatever the weather. This dedicated indoor space offers drop-in craft sessions where kids can make lavender bags using scented fillings and fabrics, or create “Mr Potato Head”-style grass heads that’ll sprout “hair” at home.

The activities change regularly, especially during Summer Sundays and special events like the Toy Museum celebrations.

Your children will love these take-home souvenirs that extend the fun beyond your visit. The crafts help develop fine-motor skills while teaching basic concepts about plants and herbs.

Best of all, these activities are typically included with your gardens admission, making it excellent value for creative family time. The Old Coach House is part of the facilities designed to entertain families visiting this historic 14th-century Manor House.

Porcupine Pantry Café and Refreshments

Hungry from all that exploring? You’ll find the Porcupine Pantry Café right at Penshurst Place’s entrance courtyard, perfect for refueling before or after your adventure. This converted barn serves up kid-friendly favorites like jacket potatoes, sausage rolls, and bacon baguettes alongside sandwiches, pastries, and locally made cakes that’ll make excellent post-playground treats.

The café’s open daily 9:00am–5:00pm with hot food until 3:30pm. They’re brilliant with dietary needs—you’ll find gluten-free and dairy-free options available. If you have specific dietary requirements, it’s worth calling ahead to discuss your needs with the helpful staff. The ramped entry works great for pushchairs, and there’s outdoor seating where you can spread out with all your family gear.

Plus, even if you’re just visiting the village or tackling the 5km walking loop, you don’t need estate tickets to grab refreshments here.

Bike Hire Estate Exploration

Looking for a fresh way to explore Penshurst’s sprawling parkland? The Countrybike self-service hire point beside the car park offers hybrid bikes perfect for family adventures. Using the smartphone app, you’ll access bikes without needing staff assistance and explore estate tracks with stunning Weald countryside views.

The Tudor Trail connects Penshurst Place to Tonbridge Castle along five miles of almost entirely traffic-free paths following the River Medway. There’s one noticeable climb between the Medway bridge and Well Place Farm, but it’s manageable for confident child riders. The full Tudor Trail covers 22 miles and passes through historic Chiddingstone village with its Tudor landmarks and traditional pub stops.

You can combine short family loops around the parkland with longer trail sections, using bike racks near the visitor entrance when you’re ready to explore the house and gardens on foot.

Summer Sunday Family Activities

Why not make your Summer Sunday visit extra special with Penshurst’s packed programme of family activities? From July to August, you’ll discover Alice in Wonderland storytelling sessions happening four times daily in the gardens – perfect for little ones who can sit on the grass and move freely between tales.

The adventure playground‘s your next stop, featuring swings, slides, and a mini zip line for older kids, plus a dedicated tots’ area near the snack kiosk. Don’t miss the Woodland Trail leading to the seasonal Maize Maze, where you’ll choose between a quick 15-minute route or challenging 40-minute adventure.

The maze comes complete with activity cards and sticker rewards, making the experience even more engaging. On select Saturdays, you can also enjoy thrilling Falconry Shows featuring magnificent birds of prey in action.

Finally, pop into the Old Coach House for drop-in crafts like lavender bags and grass-growing planters you’ll take home.

The Sum Up

You’ll discover endless fun at Penshurst Place with your family! From swinging through treetops on the zip line to getting lost in the maize maze, there’s something for all. Don’t miss exploring the medieval Baron’s Hall or creating masterpieces at the craft station. Pack your sense of adventure and comfortable shoes – you’ll be walking, climbing, and laughing all day long. It’s the perfect Kent day out that’ll create memories lasting forever!