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Family events

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Children @ Harlow Carr

Harlow Carr is a great venue for families

Discover...explore...enjoy

Whether you want to have a go at gardening, or just love to get out and about, there’s a huge choice of activities to get stuck into all year round! It’s the perfect place to celebrate everything that’s fabulous about the great outdoors.

Things to do all year round

Enjoy a walk and fresh air in the garden

Family trails

Pick up a free trail map from the Garden Entrance, with a different version for each season of the year and have fun following the clues. There’s also I-Spy for the under sixes so that the whole family can have fun spotting plants, insects and sights around the garden. There’s usually a quiz at each of the events too!

Become an explorer!

Make a bee-line for the new Craggle Top Tree House. Explore the Log maze and see if you can reach the middle where you can climb up for a great view over the garden. Find the Log Ness Monster, completely made from logs.

Young visitors can also enjoy the children's play area and hunt out the woodland dens.

Wildlife in the garden

Watch out for birds & squirrels in the Woodland, ducks on the lake, and discover the Bird hide and bird feeding station in the Woodland. There's also an Observation beehive next to the Study Centre.

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Child-friendly facilities

There are baby changing facilities available in the Main Entrance foyer, in Bettys Tea Rooms and in the toilets by the Study Centre in the garden.

Most areas in the garden are buggy friendly.

Feeling hungry?

Eat out: You are welcome to picnic throughout the garden – just find a shady spot on the grass or on one of our benches.

Eat in: Bettys Café Tea Rooms has high chairs and staff are happy to heat bottles and baby food if required. In the shop you’ll always find treats for children. Picnic boxes can be packed up.

Café opening times

If you need help

In the event of a member of your group becoming lost or needing first aid assistance, please approach a member of staff (identified by a badge or green/grey uniform) who will be more than happy to help you.

Now for some shopping

Exciting gifts for young gardeners

Young gardeners can take their pick from a fantastic range of gifts, toys and books.

If you are planning a party we have invitations, masks, bunting, plates, cake candles and treats for party bags.

Wonderful wellies! Our range of wellies and gloves come in all colours, patterns and sizes plus paint your own wellies!

More information on the shop