With a play area, Barn Kids film programme, kids workshops and a year-round programme of events, there’s plenty for families to get up to at Dartington.
Scroll further down for all family events, or see below for our ‘top things to do’. You’ll probably need a map of the estate which you can download here (pdf).
Food and drink
Great quality, affordable food is available at Venus Cafe and Bayards Kitchen at The Shops at Dartington.
The Green Table, a vibrant, spacious new café near the Hall and Gardens, offers food for adults and children alike in a family-friendly atmosphere. Find out more here.
There are also plenty of picnic tables for al fresco dining – find them next to the Barn Cinema and wild play area.
Time to play
Our all-natural wild play area, designed and installed by EarthWrights, can be found opposite Space Studios, close to the main car park and Great Hall.
This a beautiful, gated safe space for children to play – and there are picnic tables too. Why not make a meal of it?
Get hands-on
Dartington has a range of workshops for kids to get involved in throughout the year. Many can be found in our events system – see below – but it’s worth checking out the following brilliant organisations found on the Dartington estate: Dynamic Adventures (adrenaline-fuelled activities), WildWise (wild outdoor experiences), Crazy About Clay (pottery fun) Arts Lab (community arts workshops) and MudTots (forest school for smaller children). Some of these require booking or run at certain times, so make sure you check ahead.
Walking at Dartington
Ah, the family walk. Love it or loathe it, there are plenty of beautiful walks to do here at Dartington – incorporating river paths, woodland scrambles and grassy meadows. Take a look at our estate walks page for ideas.
We have several dog-friendly fields (ie off lead areas) on the estate, and most of our paths are dog friendly too – although at certain times of year we exercise a ‘dogs on lead’ policy to protect ground nesting wildlife. Download our handy guide for details (pdf).
Upcoming family events – film, activity days, workshops and more
![The Jungle Bunch [U]](https://system.spektrix.com/dartington/files/8e3d38f9-46d6-4676-bf32-1321fe40ff96.jpg)
The Jungle Bunch [U]
- Mon 23rd Oct, 10am. Tue 24th Oct, 2pm. Wed 25th Oct, 10am. Thu 26th Oct, 2pm | £5.80
Join a gang of misfit animals on a wildly entertaining mission to protect their jungle home! Maurice may look like a penguin, but he’s a real tiger inside! Raised by a tigress, he’s the clumsiest Kung-Fu master ever.
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WildWise at Dartington
- Mon 23rd Oct 2017
- 10am
Wildwise offer a range of experiences on the Dartington estate including bushcraft, kids camps, nightpaddles, wild food, family events, dangerous weekends and wild nights out.
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Totnes Young Peoples Theatre
- Wed 25th Oct, 5:30pm. Wed 1st Nov, 5:30pm. Wed 8th Nov, 5:30pm. Wed 15th Nov, 5:30pm. Wed 22nd Nov, 5:30pm. Wed 29th Nov, 5:30pm. Wed 6th Dec, 5:30pm. Wed 13th Dec, 5:30pm. Wed 20th Dec, 5:30pm. Wed 27th Dec, 5:30pm
An award-winning youth theatre, with a history of offering exciting opportunities for young people, TYPT has worked with many young people in mainstream, alternative and home education.
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Deer Park Guided Walks
- Fri 27th Oct 2017
- 11:30am
A 700-year-old story awaits you on our volunteer-led Deer Park tours – learn about the people who lived here, the magnificent landscape, the deer themselves and the abundant wildlife.
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Seven wonders of the wild
- Sun 5th Nov, 2pm. Fri 24th Nov, 7:30pm
In association with WildWise. A diverse menu of wild encounters and experiences to give you and your family that sense of wonder and reverence that underpins healthy nature connection.
View Details >>![Earth: One Amazing Day [U]](https://system.spektrix.com/dartington/files/da100367-4fb8-4095-87e0-07e4d6c06187.jpg)
Earth: One Amazing Day [U]
- Sat 18th Nov, 12pm. Sun 19th Nov, 2pm | £5.80
From BBC Earth Films comes this stunning sequel to Earth, an astonishing journey revealing the awesome power of the natural world. Over the course of a single day, we track the sun from the highest mountains to the remotest islands to exotic jungles.
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Creative Workshops with Fevered Sleep
- Sat 25th Nov, 10am. Sun 26th Nov, 10am
A Dartington Live event. FREE workshops for children aged 8 - 12 years. Playful, creative workshops combining elements of movement, art, film and performance.
View Details >>![My Little Pony: The Movie [U]](https://system.spektrix.com/dartington/files/e35c8b10-ee62-444a-b187-c245e31cde37.jpg)
My Little Pony: The Movie [U]
- Sat 25th Nov, 2pm. Sun 26th Nov, 2pm | £5.80
Based on the much-loved children’s toys, this animated adventure features the voices of Emily Blunt, Kristin Chenoweth, Liev Schreiber and singer Sia, in addition to the TV series’ usual cast. The ponies of Equestria are preparing for their first Friendship Festival, overseen by Princess Twilight Sparkle in Canterlot.
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Grass - Second Hand Dance
- Sun 26th Nov, 11:30am & 2pm | £10.00
A Dartington Live event. Look down. What are you standing on? Explore the ground and all of its wriggling inhabitants in this quirky dance show for young children and families.
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The Girl with the Iron Claws
- Fri 1st Dec, 7pm. Sat 2nd Dec, 4:30pm. Thu 7th Dec, 7pm. Fri 8th Dec, 4:30pm & 7pm. Sat 9th Dec, 11:30am & 4:30pm. Sun 10th Dec, 11:30am & 4:30pm. Thu 14th Dec, 4:30pm | £8.00
A Dartington Live event. The Wrong Crowd present 'The Girl with the Iron Claws'. Growing up isn't easy, especially when you're in love with a bear.
View Details >>![The Son of Bigfoot [PG]](https://system.spektrix.com/dartington/files/419c989f-f622-4386-96df-e3d6e1d9c040.jpg)
The Son of Bigfoot [PG]
- Sat 2nd Dec, 2pm. Sun 3rd Dec, 12:30pm | £5.80
This funny, entertaining and adventurous animation sees a teenage outsider, Adam, setting out on an epic and daring quest to uncover the mystery behind his long-lost father – only to find out that he’s none other than the legendary ‘Bigfoot’.
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Late night Christmas shopping
- Fri 8th Dec 2017
- 5:30pm
Join us at the The Shops at Dartington for music, mince pies, and mulled wine. There will be plenty of great offers throughout the Shops, too.
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Christmas Fair at The Shops at Dartington
- Sat 16th Dec, 10am. Sun 17th Dec, 10am
Celebrate Christmas at The Shops at Dartington’s annual Christmas Fair - music, magic and a host of activities in every shop!
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Food Fair at The Shops at Dartington
- Sun 27th May, 10am. Mon 28th May, 10am
This two day event will showcase the best of local produce, as well as arts, crafts and activities for all the family.
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Open Farm Sunday
- Sun 10th Jun 2018
- 11am
Open Farm Sunday is a national, free event, with farmers across the country opening their gates to the general public - including those on and around the Dartington Hall estate.
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