I can’t even put into words how good it feels to be out and about a bit more! We’ve been sticking to outdoor parks and activities and it’s lovely to visit places we haven’t been to in a while. We’re pretty local to Walton Hall and Gardens but it’s been a while since we’ve been. The children’s zoo has just reopened so now is the perfect time to visit.
It’s actually free to explore Walton Hall and Gardens. You need to pay for parking but it’s really reasonable – it’s £4 for the full day at the weekend, and just £3 during the week. You don’t need to pay for the gardens or the children’s zoo, but there is a fee for the adventure golf and pitch and putt.
There’s plenty to do at Walton Hall. You can just enjoy the gardens and have a picnic on the grass or you can take part in some of the activities that are on offer.
The Children’s Zoo has just reopened after lockdown. The kids love seeing all the different animals, including alpacas, rabbits, peacocks and pigs. The baby goats were also a big hit during our visit! There is the option to adopt one of the animals and the money goes towards providing luxuries and shelters for the animals.
The Pitch ‘n’ Putt reopened to the public on 12th April and has been a hit at Walton Hall for over 40 years! There’s nine holes to enjoy and it costs £8 per adult, £7 for juniors or £27 for a family of four. The Pitch ‘n’ Putt course is open at weekends and school holidays and throughout the summer months.
On weekends, bank holidays and school holidays the Thomas the Tank Land Train departs from the Children’s Playground and for £2 each you can have a ride around the estate.
The adventure golf is always a big hit with the kids and like the Pitch ‘n’ Putt, reopened on 12th April. There are 18 holes to enjoy and they provide clubs suitable for all ages, including under threes! Adventure Golf is open at weekends, school holidays and throughout the summer months. It’s £6 per adults, and £5 for juniors or £19 for a family of four.
There’s a great kids play area located just near the children’s zoo. It was refurbished in 2017 and has everything you would expect, including slides, swings and climbing apparatus.
The grounds and gardens at Walton Hall are just lovely. The kids love exploring the woodland and it’s the perfect place to relax with a picnic. We can’t wait to return in the summer when the flowers are in full bloom.
The Heritage Café is located in The Stables courtyard. It has been open throughout lockdown and is still open for takeaway only. They offer a great range of food and drink options. When it opens fully there’s plenty of indoor and outdoor seating and is even dog friendly! You can find the menu here.
There is also an ice-cream van by the children’s playground offering lollies, ice-creams and cold drinks.
We felt perfectly safe whilst at Walton Hall. There is so much space so it’s easy to keep your distance. There are also QR codes to comply with test and trace and there’s signage encouraging people to keep left when passing other people to help with social distancing.
To sum up, we had a great time at Walton Hall and Gardens. We love that we can have a different experience each time we visit. Some days we can take part in the activities, and other days we can have a more relaxed time in the gardens. We can’t wait for the cafe to reopen fully and we’ll definitely be returning in the summer to see the flowers in full bloom.
For more information about Walton Hall and gardens, please see their website.
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