Playing at The Children's House

On a sunny Sunday, an unexpected bank holiday in the middle of May, we travelled out to The Children's Country House at Sudbury - a National Trust property with a difference.

During the covid-19 lockdowns, the caretakers of the property formerly known as Sudbury Hall underwent a renovation, and reimagined the space with a child-first approach.

This means that every accessible room in the property has been redesigned to encourage children (and big kids) to explore, engage, and play, making for a wonderfully unique way to discover a heritage house.

In the entrance hall we were greeted by a volunteer, who talked to us about the history and background of the house and grounds, but warned us that the house's memories sometimes escaped through the cracks, particularly in the ceiling above us...

From there we explored the grand staircase, library and grand corridor, a ballroom (which urged us to 'Dance like it's 1699'), and several day rooms and sitting rooms, all of which provided activities for children, from dressing up to art-and-crafts.

There were other rooms to explore, in the old servants' quarters. On a previous visit they were still being renovated, but housed a lego collection and reconstructed kitchen. This time, the signpost directed us towards The Mystery Rooms, but Olivia wasn't interested in them on this occasion, and wanted to go and play in the sunshine outside.

The grounds of Sudbury are expansive, with manicured lawns giving way to a large field, ending at a riverbank. The woods at the side of the house hide a playground under the trees, and Olivia spent time playing in the log house and scrambling up the climbing walls. 

Sudbury is also home to The Museum of Childhood, the collection of which houses insights into the lives of children throughout the ages, and a hefty dose of nostalgia as the exhibits creep closer to the present day.

Of course, there are the obligatory bookshop and National Trust Cafe. At Sudbury the cafe has been themed around an enchanted woodland, which is a sweet touch, and while the bookshop is nicely decorated, it is very small and a little disappointing. The stables next to the cafe house a Crafts Den, where children are able to enjoy painting and craft creation. The weekend we were there, everything was Coronation-themed, so Oli was able to make a paper crown, a soldier out of a toilet-roll tube and a flag. All of which our crafty little lady enjoyed very much.

The Children's House at Sudbury definitely picked a theme and ran with it, which, for families with young children, is a really lovely experience. I'm not sure how engaging older children or adults-only would find it, despite the beauty and history of the house, it's now firmly focussed on the childhood aspect. But maybe we'll find that out as Olivia grows, as we very much enjoyed our day, and look forward to a return visit soon!

The house and grounds of The Children's House at Sudbury are free with National Trust membership, as is the parking, though the craft stables and cafe are extra. It's recommended to book a time-slot for entry into the house.