History and play: Four European castles that court travellers with kids

Castles, with their mix of history, glamour and culture, can be a highlight of any European vacation.

But take heed, young families. Trips to these places might sound inherently kid-friendly, especially for little people in the Disney Princesses stage, but their attraction can wear out quickly.

As a mother of two, I have learnt that visits to castles can easily descend into just “looking at things”: spectacular historic architecture and long hallways of priceless objects to be viewed quietly, from a respectful distance.

Luckily, a number of castles offer children’s activities that are exciting enough to be attractions all their own – and to serve as a bribe for bearing with the tapestries and throne rooms.

Here are four castles that offer delights for boisterous children and history-loving parents alike.

For pint-size dragon slayers

Hampton Court Palace, home of Henry VIII, runs family-friendly events, including arts and food festivals and demonstrations of historic cookery in the palace kitchens.

In summer, there is a Peter Rabbit-themed trail in the extensive gardens, which older visitors may recognise as a filming location for shows such as Netflix period series Bridgerton (2020 to present).

Hampton Court Palace’s head Rachel Mackay says: “We want to ensure everyone has a brilliant and memorable experience at our site, no matter what their age is.” 

Children will be particularly delighted by the Magic Garden, an enormous playground with palace-themed equipment, including a climbable dragon, a water-play area where they can cool off, a sandpit and a play structure with crenelated towers.

During weekends and school vacations, a kiosk sells ice cream and snacks. The cafeteria-style Tiltyard Cafe offers more substantial kids’ meals at good prices and options for adults.

Admission: Ticket prices start at £28 (about S$50) for adults and £14 for children older than five; those four and younger enter free. Hampton Court is in the borough of Richmond, about 20km south-west of central London. Trains from Waterloo to Hampton Court Station take about 35 minutes.

For pranksters on hot days

In Kent, just south of London, is Hever Castle, a childhood home of former Queen of England Anne Boleyn and later a country residence of politician William Waldorf Astor.

The piece de resistance of its massive playground is a castle-shaped structure complete with a drawbridge. It is the size of a four-bedroom house, and full of ladders and tunnels that adventure-minded kids can clamber over, under and through.

When temperatures rise, Hever’s selling point is its water maze, a series of steppingstone paths on a pond. The goal is to reach the central tower while avoiding stones that are booby-trapped to spray water.

But observant children soon learn that a well-timed stomp can squirt an unsuspecting parent, which is often a more compelling goal than getting to the tower. Wise adults will take along spare clothes for the entire family.

Admission: Tickets for the castle and gardens cost from £24.65 for adults and £13.65 for children, if pre-booked. A family ticket for four, with at least two children, costs £64.50. Children younger than five enter free. Hever Castle is about 50km south of London. Trains from London Bridge station to Hever take about 45 minutes and usually cost £16 to £25.

For knights-in-training

On the other side of the English Channel lies Chateau de Bridoire, in France’s Dordogne region.

The 900-year-old castle had fallen into disrepair before it was bought by its current owners in 2011. After a renovation, it is now the Castle of Games, offering youth activities throughout July and August.

Children can try on dresses in a session hosted by a “princess”, take sword-fighting lessons with a “knight” and play about 100 different games inside the castle and throughout its grounds. These include board games, lawn games and more esoteric offerings like a “tower of riddles” and duelling in the cellars.

The whole family can enjoy the labyrinth, a puzzle-filled route through the woods. There is an “enchanted forest” course for those three years old and up, while the more challenging “forgotten citadel” course is for ages eight and up.

Admission: Tickets start at €14.50 (S$22) for those aged 13 or older, €12.50 for children aged seven to 12 and €10.50 for children aged four to six. Labyrinth tickets can be added onto castle entry for a few euros. The castle is about 15 minutes by car from Bergerac airport, which has connections to cities including London; Edinburgh, Scotland; and Brussels. Trains from Bergerac to Paris take about 4½ hours and start at €59 one way.

For aspiring wizards

Fans of the Harry Potter film series (2001 to 2011) will recognise Alnwick Castle in Northumberland, in the north of England, from movie scenes showing parts of wizarding school Hogwarts and its Quidditch pitch.

The castle and its surrounding gardens are the home of the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland, who have invested heavily in family activities and entertainment.

Costumed guides offer “broomstick training” sessions in the same spot where Harry learnt to ride his Firebolt. They are free with castle entry, but must be pre-booked.

In the Alnwick Garden stands Lilidorei, billed as the world’s largest play structure. The 26m-high maze features towers, passageways, slides and swings, and costumed attendants work to make the experience seem magical.

But families with younger kids may want to exercise caution. The slides are high and the walls block sightlines, making it difficult to see children from the ground. If the young ones become scared or stuck, it can take a while for grown-ups to climb up to them.

Next to Lilidorei is The Treehouse Restaurant, a mid-air establishment nestled in the treetops. Its kids’ menu has main courses for £7, but adult fare can be pricey. The coffee shop outside the restaurant offers a similar treetop experience with less waiting and lower prices.

Admission: Tickets for Lilidorei, which include entry to the garden but not the castle, cost from £21.45 an adult and £17.60 a child aged three to 16. Children younger than three enter free. Tickets to the castle start at £21.55 an adult and £11.35 a child aged five to 16, and children aged four and younger enter free. Alnwick Castle is about six hours by car from London, and two hours from Edinburgh. The nearest train station is Alnmouth, about 6.5km from the castle, with connections available via local buses as well as taxis. NYTIMES