Polesdon Lacey National Trust After Lockdown. I stumbled across the fact that National Trust properties were starting to open to the public a bit by chance. Although apparently all members received an email to tell them. Tickets go on sale each Friday but you need to be quick as they are snapped up. From the things I have read they are making around 30% available across a selection of properties. Polesdon Lacey which we have visited before was the first property we managed to get tickets for. We visited on a very wet afternoon and so it was almost empty.
Table of Contents
ToggleArrival at Polesdon Lacey
As you drive up the long drive into the estate there is a little tent set up near the end. Here they check your name and ask for you to hold up your National Trust membership card. This is the only time you will be asked for tickets. There is more information at the entrance where you are told which parts of the attraction are open.
I was surprised to learn that they are selling hot drinks and snacks from the mobile coffee shop which is close to the house. The main cafe is closed as I would expect. In fact I found it quite strange walking through the courtyard which is normally very busy.
One way routes – Polesdon Lacey National Trust After Lockdown
There is a one way route set up around the house and grounds. The first takes you around the front of the house to the expansive lawns. The boys were very excited running all over the place yet still making sure they stayed a good distance (more than 2m) away from any other people we saw. Despite the rain they enjoyed running up and down the lawns. I must try and remember a picnic rug if we manage to visit next time it is sunny.
I really wanted to go and see the formal gardens so once the boys had run around a lot we headed over to the gardens. The one way route takes you down the long herbacious border and into the formal gardens at the far end. Despite the weather the border looked lovely and proved a source of conversation for the boys.
The formal gardens
Walking into the gardens we headed to the kitchen garden first. Exploring the little orchard and looking at the chickens, bug house and bee hives. There is a one way route around this area as well. With many of the vegetables in the ground still the boys found it very interesting. Especially as we are trying a bit of grow your own at home at the moment.
The route around the formal gardens essentially takes your right along the middle. It is not possible to explore either side of the centre path, which is a little disappointing. Although pretty with all the climbing roses I would have liked to get a little closer to some of the other roses.
Coffee & swings
After walking around the formal gardens we headed back towards the mobile coffee shop. What I did not realise is that it shuts at 4pm so it wasn’t possible to have that much longed for hot chocolate. A bit of a mummy fail but the strops didn’t last long when they realised they could climb all over the logs. Plus to my great surprise the large swings were also still in operation. The boys made a bee line for them and spent a good half an hour messing around. The giggles were infectious despite the rain. The larger play area is currently shut.
We had a lovely couple of hours and could have spent more time exploring more of the parkland. If the weather had been better I think we would have stayed longer. I have also had to promise that I will try to get tickets again so that we can go back and get a hot chocolate!
Other National Trust properties we have visited recently
We have been lucky enough to visit a couple of National Trust properties since lockdown started to ease. You can read about the other ones below:
https://mudpiefridays.com/2020/06/19/mottisfont-national-trust-after-lockdown/
- Standen National Trust after lockdown
- Nymans National Trust after lockdown
- Wakehurst Place after Lockdown
If you’ve liked this post please visit me on my social media channels:
Mudpie Fridays: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest | LinkedIn
Polesdon Lacey National Trust After Lockdown
46 Responses
I can see the boys enjoyed themselves, rain doesn’t stop them. It does look like an interesting place to visit
This looks like it was a lot of fun for the boys. Glad you’re finding ways to have fun amidst all the craziness!
Swing looks fun!
Such a great place for kids. Can’t wait for the day that I can go out again with my nephew.
Wow that’s a beautiful house and love the lavender garden
I like the way they have used so many natural materials for the children to play on!
I can only see this view in the movies! Thanks for sharing it looks really wonderful and colorful!
What a lovely day out! This isn’t too far away from where we are so we will have to head down for a little trip now that it’s reopened.
Such beautiful colours, stunning pics
The place looks ovely, especially after rain. And your kids had so much fun.
A truly delightful place suitable and gorgeous not only for children!
How wonderful that these amazing places are beginning to open up. You’re lucky to live in the UK. So many beautiful properties and gorgeous gardens. I plan on seeing all of them someday. 🙂
I love those fun bug houses they make! I just discovered my first one a few weeks ago and now I see them everywhere. But the one you photographed is the most complex I’ve seen so far!
It’s nice that things are starting to open up a bit. I am so glad to go places, though I am admittedly still a bit nervous.
It looks as though the boys had a fabulous time, despite the weather
This place looks magical! How fun to go there!
It looks like such a beautiful place. I can’t wait until we are out of lockdown.
I miss the outdoors so so much!!! This park looks amazing wow!! I can’t wait to go to our national park for camping next month, can’t wait.
That looks like a great place for families. I would love to take the kids there. I think we’d have a lot of fun.
Even more great pics of this beautiful place! I plan to look it up online later so I can see what the buildings look like inside. It looks like such an amazing place to visit.
Another wonderful place to visit – thank you
Such a beautiful place to visit. The florals are simply stupendous.
i sure miss using my national trust card. there are some amazing places in the UK. and the gardens at Polesdon Lacey look amazing and perfect for a picnic on a warm day. glad to hear they’re using precautions for covid-19.
What a fun place to visit! Looks like you had a blast with your kiddos.
What a beautiful location! It looks like the boys had a lot fun too!
Seems like a really fun place to visit. I would love to take my nephews here one day.
What a great place to get out and have an adventure with the kiddos. They look like they had a great time!
Wow, that is definitely great place to visit and to enjoy your freedom of being out again. It look so refreshing and relaxing to be there.
Such an interesting place to visit and great for the children to burn off some energy.
What a lovely place to visit. Looks like a great day out.
It looks like you all had a great visit! Also, after the rain, everything seems more vibrant, doesn’t it?
Come rain or shine Guarenteed winner for family joy – beautiful place
It looks like a beautiful place, even in the rain!
Those photos are so adorable! Seems like you had fun! Glad you shared these with us!
Looks like evryone had a lot of fun there ! , i am dying to visit one of national trust places near me
Stunning and beautiful place to visit. Love the flowers and the nature around. Thanks for sharing these amazing photos!
The trust is a cool place that parents and kids can enjoy outdoors. Right now enjoying nature is important.
what an amazing and beautiful place..it looks so stunning and lovely…it seems like you had such great time there…stay safe..
Looks like a great place to visit with lots of things to do.
Even though it was wet and rainy it looks like the perfect time for an outing when there are fewer other people around. Your children look like they had a ball of a time despite the weather.
The greenery is gorgeous there! Looks like a fun place!
This looks like such a nice outting. I know I’d love to get out myself within being on lockdown for so long.
Nice a place to visit. I love all those nature places and stuff like that.
It looks fabulous. Great that the boys could see the vegetable garden, too.
Nnnniiiiccccceeeeee….it must be so good to be finally out after such a long while, ain’t it?
It sounds like the boys had fun at Polesdon Lacey National Trust, beautiful photos 🙂