National Trust - quick rant !

[Whizzz]

We went to Penrhyn Castle today near Bangor. Great place (not a 'real' castle built in 19th C) with lots to see.
We are tempted to join the old NT but WHY don't they do more stuff for children? DS is almost 5 & it was a battle trying to keep him interested as we trawled through all the rooms.
They had activity sheets for older kids - why can't they do something for littler ones ? I'm sure I could have come up with something !

Rant over !

We joined in January and have had our money's worth. My DD is a bit older than yours Whizz - she is nearly 6 but she has enjoyed gardens, little cafes and coffe shops etc. She also loved the Apprentice House at Quarry Bank Mill which we all enjoyed. She seems to like the ones where the guides dress up and tell you about the history - Quarry Bank Mill was mostly about small children working so she was very interestd in that.

I think I will renew my membership because you can just go for a couple of hours and run about in the garden.

Here in the east midlands many of the properties have special themed weekends with activities for children and families.

I especially recommend Sudbury Hall, which has the Hall, a seperate museum of childhood, and lovely gardens to run around in. At easter they have an egg hunt, often events in the summer too.

The NT are trying to preserve our history, as well as provide us with places to visit, so it's hard for them to provide entertainment for toddlers inside the properties too.

DS is nearly 6, and now we can just go in the properties to tour. But you can't dawdle, because he gets bored (even with the activity sheets they provide).

Go to the NT website, check the events directory (No time to link now, should be on my way home).
Tick the box marked for children and families to see good events.

Well i have had a good look at the NT website which has improved alot since I last ranted at them

link here to kids stuff

So maybe they aren't as bad after all

sorry but why does everywhere have to provide stuff for children to do?

when i was little we went to a LOT of NT places and there were never worksheets/quizzes anything... we were never bored!
We liked going round and looking at stuff, playing in the gardens etc...

Because my DS whirlwinds through great houses without a pause for breath!

Yet he still talks about the easter Egg hunt that we did at one place ages ago

i love penrhyn castle, im from bangor so every summer was spent in the usual haunts, ie beddgelert, betws-y-coed etc, i have taken the children there when i have been to visit my mum and i must admit they do seem more geared to activities for older kids, however dont let that put you of joining the NT, it pays for itself if you visit historic houses a lot, dh and i are family members and you quickly get your joining fee back, i would write the letter though, good luck.

by the way, a nice place to go is boddelwyddan castle which has a lovely childrens playarea outside.

Oh Starlover, just you wait till that adorable little O-mouthed boy turns 2 and a half. You'll get it then!

lol yeah i probably will!

we joined the NT a few weeks ago. We live by Tatton too and found it really child friendly. Speke Hall is also like that and Formby is fantastic with pinewoods, squirrel trails, sand dunes. I don't think every property is like that but you have to read up about it, if you join you get a hand book with all that sort of info in. I have 2 boys so as long as I take a ball and there's an outside bit and cakes we're okay!