We were so impressed with our recent trip to Auckland Castle in Bishop Auckland with just how much there was going on. Entry is only £6 for adults and free for (accompanied) under 16's which is just fantastic value. Annual passes work out even better value at only £15 per adult for unlimited access throughout the year (kids still go free). Today I thought I would share some of the fantastic events and activities you can join in with alongside exploring the Castle and grounds.
Play Saturdays - Every Saturday 12-3pm
Every Saturday until mid-December there will be a chance to play giant Jenga, lawn games, football penalty shoot outs, croquet and more in the beautiful Castle gardens.
Treasure Hunts
You can pick up a treasure hunt from the Castle reception which will lead your children all around the gorgeous Castle. We loved discovering the treasure at the end of the trail and it was a fantastic way to get the kids interested in the Castle.
Castle Tours
There are regular Castle tours throughout the day that are family friendly or you can lead yourself around and one of the helpful guides will be happy to answer any questions (or in our case help you with the treasure hunts).
Castle Costumes
Half way through the Castle there is a lovely dressing up area where children can dress up as a Bishop and sit on their very own throne. Little craft tables are also a very thoughtful touch.
Explorer Back Packs and Scavenger Hunt
These backpacks can be borrowed from reception for free and used to explore the Castle grounds - we loved the scavenger hunt that was included and had lots of fun looking for wildlife.
Lunch in Library Tearoom
The Library Tearoom was a really beautiful setting for lunch. You can purchase a children's lunch box for £3.95 which includes a freshly made sandwich, carton of juice, crackers, raisins and a homemade biscuit (in our case they were jammy dodgers - yummy!). For grown ups I can highly recommend the Library Club Sandwich, a bargain at £5.95. We also enjoyed a rather indulgent chocolate orange cheesecake brownie.
School Holiday Events
There are lots of fun events over the school holidays including Messy Mondays, Wild Wednesdays, Trekking Thursdays, Foodie Fridays, Play Saturdays and Story Sundays. All events take place during school holidays 12-3pm and are free for children when accompanied by a paying adult.
Seasonal Events for your diary
- All Hallows' in the Park - Friday 30th October and Saturday 31st October
- Guy Fawkes Night - Friday 6th November
- Christmas in the Castle - Friday 20th November - Thursday 24th December
We are so pleased we discovered Auckland Castle and have invested in an annual pass - we will definitely be returning over Christmas so look out for a future blog post! Visit aucklandcastle.org for more information and make sure you subscribe to their newsletter to keep up to date with future events. Don't forget to let us know if you visit.
I love the photos! Definitely a place I'll bear in mind for the future x
ReplyDeleteYes it was really good value - we are returning over Christmas.
DeleteI wish we lived closer - looks wonderful, love all the activities available
ReplyDeleteIt was such a good day - can't believe I've never been before!
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