15 September 2020
Family things to do at Wakehurst this autumn
Take your pick from our autumn highlights.
Whether you’re looking for a fun half-term event or natural play spaces in stunning surroundings, our wild botanic garden in Sussex has it all.
Come to Wakehurst this autumn to enjoy our range of brilliant family activities and attractions.
Join our Gruffalo Adventure
This October half-term why not get involved with our Gruffalo family fun?
Set out on the exciting Gruffalo trail, solving clues along the way to seek out the Gruffalo.
We invite you to come dressed up as the little brown mouse from the story and lead the way.
There will also be a Gruffalo crumble-themed hunt. If you and your family find all the ingredients required to make a Gruffalo crumble, from apples to sugar, you’ll be rewarded with a special Gruffalo prize.
Join our creative workshop to make mud owls, snake bread, Mandala Mayhem nature art, Barking Gruffalo (charcoal bark rubbings of Gruffalo characters) and go footprint finding with a mixture of animal prints including Mouse, Snake, Owl, Fox, and Gruffalo.
Explore our gardens
Stretching across 500 acres, our beautiful gardens offer lots to discover and enjoy throughout autumn.
And don’t forget, children (16 and under) have free entry to the gardens.
Enjoy the fiery autumnal colours of our vast collection of deciduous trees, their leaves turning eye-catching shades of yellow, orange, gold and red.
Children will love crunching the fallen leaves underfoot as you roam through our woodlands of the world.
Look out for all the different berries, leaves, bark, nuts, fungi and flowers you can spot.
To sweeten up your day, don’t miss our katsura tree (Cercidiphyllum japonicum) growing near the Mansion Pond.
Native to China and Japan, this special tree is also known as the candyfloss tree thanks to the sweet sugary smell of its autumn leaves.
If you and your family want to capture the autumn beauty at Wakehurst, follow our handy photography tips to get the best seasonal pictures.
Go wild in our play spaces
Discover our natural play spaces scattered across Wakehurst for kids to enjoy.
Look out for woven willow tunnels to run through and a labyrinth to explore.
Visit Tree Trunk Trek to crawl, climb and get to know our trees on this adventurous log trail in Coates Wood.
Be wildlife explorers
Calling all wildlife lovers! Head to our Loder Valley Nature Reserve, a 150-acre wildlife paradise.
It’s home to dormice, badgers, kingfishers, owls, and many more species. How many creatures can you spot?
Seek out the top water spots across our gardens to feed the wild ducks, including Mansion Pond and Westwood Lake (you can buy nutritional duck food from our Visitor Centre shop).
Discover the Millennium Seed Bank
Take your kids to our Millennium Seed Bank Atrium to enjoy our Surviving or Thriving exhibition.
You’ll find out why some of the world’s plants are thriving while others are just surviving, through games, film, sound, models, and a futuristic garden.
While you’re here, you can also uncover the seed bank’s underground secrets and see our scientists at work.
Have a bite to eat
Warm up in our Stables Kitchen this autumn and choose from our family-friendly menu, which includes fresh hot meals and children’s portions.
During half-term, we'll also be offering fun Gruffalo-themed food and drink.
Grab a table inside the restaurant or, if you prefer, make use of our takeaway service.
Get shopping
Toys, games, puzzles and books are just some of the great gifts we sell for children in our Gift Shop.
Wakehurst and Kew members can enjoy 10% off in our shop and plant sales area.
Prefer to buy online? Then have a browse of our Kew Online Shop, stocked full of fantastic family-friendly gifts and items.
