Best national trust place in Stratford upon Avon area. Play area etc

[Roseandvioletcreams]

Passing through this area and there are quite a few places

Ideally I want somewhere great for dc. Thanks.

National Trust and play area do not normally go together. There are loads of both in the area.

I wouldn't say there were quite a few places. There are only two NT properties relatively close to Stratford - Coughton Court (10 miles away) and Upton House (13 miles away) and I wouldn't say either have much of what you would call a play area (I agree with previous poster, they rarely do).

Oh no, national trust places do have v good dc play areas!

They are very child focused now.
We will be spending much of the day on the area so we can travel around. I saw hidcote Manor, Snowshill Manor, Charlecote Court, baddesly Clinton, the ones mentioned above and more. Thank you.

My children enjoyed Baddesley Clinton when we went there - lots of exploring to be done and free space to roam. My local NT place has lovely play areas and it wasn’t quite like that but it was very child friendly.

Really? I go to several each year and there are few I've been to this year that I would describe as having a good play area. They often do good events, though.

Snowshill is 18 miles from Stratford and has a wooden tractor, some wooden sheep and a hazel maze. Now, I wouldn't call that a good play area, myself, but it's a very small property with limited outdoor space as it is.

Hidcote is a bit nearer but only has children's trails.

Coughton has games in an activity shed but no play area (you can do things like pooh sticks in the wider estate though)

Baddesley I don't really think of as being near Stratford, although it's only half an hour away, it's much nearer Solihull and Coventry. It's got a play trail.

I guess I always think of a play area, which is what you mentioned, as a proper defined area with things to climb on, swing on, slide down rather than trails - the NT do a lot of the latter, I agree, but much less of the former. It depends very much on the age of the kids and how active you want, as some trails are more wandering around than being particularly active.

Some of those places are not exactly SOA. If you have a wider range then Snowshill and Cotswold Farm Park are close.

You could also do Hidcote/Kiftsgate Court next door if still open and then do Stratford Butterfly Farm or the Hatton Country World for the kids.

Near us we have one with woodland play area, causally built hut from tree trunks, and one with slides, huts to run in, see saw, another has a Fort, lots of stairs, rooms slide, rope swings etc.

Another has really good one with all above but tunnels as well.
Don't fancy a trail.

Again some have gorgeous gardens for dc to run round in. Some are more sparse parkland.

We prefer nt as we are members.

Packwood and Baddsley Clinton are great for kids - depends what you call ‘play’

Ragley Hall not so far away and has adventure areas and a maze

Also Hatton Country World very kid centric but expensive and drives me bananas!

In Stratford itself the recreation ground by the river is great for kids. Splash pool, good equipment, snacks van, loos etc. Five minutes walk from Bridge St.

NT wise nearest is Charlecote park, which is just off the road towards Stow/Cirencester. Fantastic but no play areas as such.

Oh I forgot Compton Verney - massive grounds and an adventure playground near Stratford. Art gallery and collection of folk art - not sure if you have to pay to visit he playground and cafe

If you want the sort of play area you describe (which is precisely what I thought you meant), then I was right in the first place. None of the NT properties within half an hour of SOA has a play area. Trails or just running round is what you get. You certainly can't run around at Snowshill or Hidcote - they are proper plant gardens and relatively small with no expanse of grass you can run on.

Oh, yes, I'd forgotten Charlecote. No play area there either, as a PP has said. Can run around there though. And play croquet

And the deer are gorgeous.

They've had Thursday kids clubs over summer, the last one might be tomorrow

Croome has got plenty of space to run around, a decent play area and a tree with a hole that small children can climb into.
However it’s past Pershore, so about 40 min drive. There is loads to do in Stratford, a big recreation ground by the river to run around, the Butterfly Farm, a super duper playground with paddling pool, a big wheel like a mini London Eye, boats to hire, really why would you bother to go anywhere else?

Some great ideas here thanks.

I also saw mad musuem in Stratford that looks cheap would it entertain 11 year old?

Oh yes - Mad Museum is ace