Play trail at Osterley Park National Trust
There’s no such thing as bad weather, goes the saying, only the wrong clothes. I agree in spirit but I find it very hard to summon up the motivation to head outdoors in the pouring rain even if we had head-to-toe waterproofs (we don’t). That does mean that after a week spent mostly indoors, I was desperate to get out for some fresh air – including a chance to explore Osterley Park play area.
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Minnie was less keen on the prospect of a winter day outdoors but has ended up having a lot of fun too over the past few days – yesterday exploring Fryent Country Park near Wembley, with mud, sticks, ponies and puddles.
And today, heading back to Osterley Park and House in west London. We had visited before, as it’s less than 20 minutes’ drive away, but I suddenly realised that was about two years ago – and Minnie herself has changed dramatically.
The house itself was closed but the gardens and natural play trail were open – and while we had a toddle through the gardens last time, we never ventured as far as the Osterley House play area.
With the lakeside and grounds to explore for free, you don’t actually need to go into the gardens if you simply want fresh air and somewhere to run around.
So before we headed through the gates, we took Minnie’s balance bike with us to practise along the long sweeping drive. You can normally count on a long sweeping drive with the National Trust.
Then after trundling in rather wobbly fashion past the grand steps and stone eagles, we swapped the bike for a pair of ‘nockulars’ in Minnie speak (bright yellow binoculars on free loan) at the entrance to the gardens, parking up by the ticket desk.
I was quite glad, as I strongly suspect I’d have had to carry it the rest of the time otherwise.
Even in November, especially this unexpectedly warm one, there are flowers blooming in the walled garden and along the paths, while the trees were heavy with red berries. We also came home with a treasure trove of pine cones.
The circular path known as the ‘Long Walk’ is around a mile long. With a small girl who has a passion for sticks, a fascination with leaves and desire to squish every fallen berry under her wellies, this can easily take over an hour…
Especially once you get beyond the formal gardens into the woodland and find the play trail – the Osterley House playground isn’t the kind with swings and a slide but it’s no less enjoyable for all that.
All created from logs and tree stumps, I can imagine how much fun it would be to clamber over in summer but frankly jumping from stump to stump, and finding a couple of rope swings kept both of us warm.
The slight risk of unexpected slipperiness from the rain just added to the excitement.
There’s also a grove set aside to build a den, one of the 50 things to do before you’re 11 3/4 which we have already ticked off. We had another go though.
Arrows point you in the right direction through the trail (and there is a path to bypass it if you just want a walk) and suddenly we were heading back towards the house. Just in time as Minnie’s legs were bored. Apparently.
Fortunately the cafe in the old stable block had spiced pumpkin soup, pasties, scones, cake and hot chocolate, as well as baked potatoes and sandwiches.
There was also the usual kids’ lunch box but without much choice today, so we skipped that. Plus a whole box of crayons and maps of the park to colour in.
And those cobwebs? Firmly blown away. Just in time, based on tomorrow’s drizzly forecast!
Need to know: Osterley House play area and grounds
Osterley House is closed during the winter months but the park and natural playground, gardens and cafe are open pretty much year-round. Check the site for precise opening hours.
Entrance starts from £15 for adults, £7.50 for children, including the house (or from £8.50/£4.25 for garden-only tickets).
It’s free for members, and also free to explore the park and grounds – and the cafe/toilets are accessible without a ticket.
Car parking is paid unless you’re a member. Buggies are allowed in the garden but not the house, there are slings and hip seats for loan.
Disclosure: My membership is courtesy of the National Trust. All opinions and decisions to play on slippery logs in the play trail at Osterley Park are my own. This post contains affiliate links – any purchases you make are unaffected but I may receive a small commission
Images copyright MummyTravels
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Do love an NT play trail – they do it so well don’t they? In all weather you can always be guaranteed some good fun. Love the photo of Minnie and the binoculars. We haven’t been to Osterly yet, but it’s on our NT list to see
They really do – after a slightly muddy wander in the countryside (lovely though it was), it was fab to know there’d be activities/somewhere to play here. And a cafe at the end. She had so much fun with the binoculars too, even if we spotted nothing more exotic than a squirrel.
Can’t go far wrong with the National Trust can you! We haven’t been to Osterley yet – must visit. #whatevertheweather
Absolutely – I can’t think why we don’t go to Osterley more often as it’s SO close. The usual thing of forgetting what’s on the doorstep, I suppose.
I really do need to join the NT membership! Bless your little one with the ”nockulars” how cute! The play trail looks great! Those leaves look huge!!
I must say the spiced pumpkin soup sounds lush, perfect for this time of year.
Lovely post and lovely photos, too. xx
Thanks! The leaves were gigantic, especially next to her little face. And I couldn’t bring myself to correct ‘nockulars’, too cute even if it is wrong 🙂
I love the outdoors, and forests. This trail looks great for exploring and getting kids outdoors x
It was really fun – came at the perfect moment too when leaves and berries were starting to lose interest for her.
This looks fab! We live next to a national park and reading your post makes me want to go visit our one!
Angela from daysinbed
I do love autumn for getting outside into the woods.
I’m like you. I don’t do intentional getting wet, although N will quite happily go out on the farm with his dad in all weathers.
N’s a bit rubbish with trails. He’ll walk them, but anything that might involve other children being on them at the same time, he’s not keen on.
I don’t think my daughter has quite grasped cause and effect – she loves jumping in puddles, but occasionally seems baffled that she’s got soaking wet legs/water in her wellies as a result! The bonus with a November walk is that we had the place to ourselves too…
It has been years since I have been to Osterley Park but it is just so beautiful to be able to wander around and do the ‘Long Walk’ which I felt was much longer than I thought it looked x
It’s lovely isn’t it – they told us the Long Walk was about a mile but I agree, there seemed a lot more to it!
Looks like you can explore a lot there. It also looks really cold with the gloves on. Thankfully it only started getting cold since today.
Lots to see – and not quite as cold as the gloves suggest. My daughter is just a big fan of bright gloves (and a good idea when she’s squishing berries too…)
It was lovely
Ahh this looks like so much fun and you got such beautiful photos! I wish I enjoyed walking more – I always love to see the fun people had and the photos they captured, but I just don’t enjoy the outdoors much – I get cold and ratty so quickly!!! I wish I was different.
I LOVE your little ones yellow wellies by the way! xx
Thank you! I definitely prefer the idea of a walk when I know there’s a cafe/hot chocolate at the end – and I have welly envy too, really need some bright ones for myself as well 🙂
It does look like a lot of fun and it’s a National Trust site I haven’t visited yet. A bit surprised at the non-members car parking charge though – bit steep and I don’t agree with car parking charges at attractions, etc. I’m a member though (and have been for 20+ years) so I wouldn’t need to pay. I do find that membership is a really good deal for days out and holidays and has saved us so much money in the past.
I agree, I think the number of days out on offer makes the membership such good value. It’s not the first time I’ve come across the car parking charge for non members at some of the properties, I think perhaps they have it here because you can access the lake and parkland without being a member so want to stop people filling that up if they’re not coming in – but definitely offputting to add the extras if you are paying anyway.
Looks like a great place to visit! We’re members of National Trust and love visiting our local estates. I would give my mummy a heart attack if I was on those slippery steps and trunks! #Whatevertheweather
It is lovely here… and three days later, my heart has just about stopped racing and my daughter still has all her limbs and teeth 🙂
It looks great and Minnie seems to have had a fab time too. Stick and leaf hunting is so much fun for kids and great idea to bring the binoculars. We tend to go out in rain, mainly because we have no choice, my husband has the car for work and so we have to walk everywhere during the week. Still, it’s much more fun when it’s not raining! Two years goes by in a flash doesn’t it, great that it’s not far from you and not too expensive if you want to visit more often now you’ve rediscovered Osterley Park.
Thanks so much for linking up to #Whatevertheweather 🙂 x
She did – it’s amazing how much fun she can have with three leaves and two sticks!
National Trust are so good at putting fun things outdoors aren’t they. The play trail sounds fab. I love things like this when every corner you find something new to jump over or climb. It really makes it fun being outdoors no matter what the weather. Thank you so much for linking to #whatevertheweather. x
Definitely – we’d had a reasonably long walk (by three-year-old standards) through the woods first so the trail came at just the right point too.
Tin Box Tot’s all-in-one waterproof usually gets left at nursery so I’m also reluctant to head out on the wettest days. Thank goodness for a break in the showers! It looks like there’s some great places to explore at Osterley.
Exactly! It’s lots of fun getting wet but then soggy l preschoolers tend to be grumpy ones…
This is one of our families favourite places to visit and we love it. The play trail is brilliant. We live about the same distance away too x
I can’t think why I haven’t been more – it’s such a lovely place to get outdoors. Maybe see you there one day!
Ah love a good national trust place and this one looks great! What a fab trail! I know what you mean about getting out in the rain, we do have head to toe waterproofs which are fab but sometimes it is just not inviting is it!? xx
Exactly! But this is a lovely one to explore when it does stop raining