Child's guide to Hampton Court

Family-friendly hotspots at the show

Lego figures, giant pink taps and cannibal picnics; there’s a treasure chest of child-centric wonders at this year’s show when you know where to look.

Area A

Tyrrells Harvest Celebration – A chance for kids to see the journey from seed potatoes to snack foods although what they’ll really love are the free crisp samples and bright red shiny tractor.

The LEGOLAND Pirates Landing Garden – LEGO pirates invade this garden which also features a beautifully behaved, low maintenance LEGO dog which every family will covet.

Playful Garden – Growing your own has never looked more fun than with crawl-through root tunnels, curtains of plants and steps of edible crops.

A Matter of Urgency – A giant pink tap floating in mid-air – what’s not to love! Just make sure you know where the toilets are first.

The Girlguiding UK Centenary Garden – Children will adore the multi coloured shade sails and turf landform chill out area complete with speakers.

Area C

Inspiring Spaces – A chance to see small gardens with big ideas including Dinosaur Den where carnivorous plants and old tyres are used in a pre-historic-themed garden as well as The Owl and the Pussycat complete with boat-shaped sandpit.

Girlguilding UK’s Centenary Recycled Container Competition – If you ever wondered what would happen if you let a bunch of Guides and Brownies loose on a skip, here is your answer – 24 recycled containers from toilets and ovens, to shopping trolleys and clothes horses.

Home Grown – if one tractor wasn’t enough to sate your children’s farm machinery fascination, you will find two more on this exhibit along with a baler.

Area D

Not only is this the destination for a weekend full of activities in the Children’s Zone but it also houses the Shakespeare’s Comedies Scarecrow Competition. Children can check out all 40 entries before voting for their favourites.

In the Bard’s gardens, there is also a chance to spy fairies in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Phoebe’s sheep in As You Like it and a host of garden-based tricks in Twelfth Night.

Floral Pavilion

Discover miniature plants to create your own Lilliput style garden from Bonsai trees and alpine plants. There are also nine different summer picnics to spot among the displays including Hopleys Plants’ Teddy Bear’s picnic and Desert to Jungle’s cannibal’s feast.