Visiting Dunham Massey NT with kids

Dunham Massey is one of my favourite National Trust properties in the North West. It’s a fantastic place for families who love to get outdoors. There is so much space for children to run free, accessible paths for family walks and beautiful gardens. There is a great calendar of family events too. Find more fantastic Family days out North West England here.

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Dunham Massey

If all that walking and exploring give you an appetite there is a cafe in the visitors’ centre and a restaurant and ice cream parlor in the Stables. There is also a National Trust shop and toilets.

Clock tower above a long building around a courtyard

Where is Dunham Massey National Trust?

Dunham Massey is located in Altrincham, Greater Manchester.

Sat Nav postcode it WA14 4SJ.

It is easy to get to from the M56 & M6.

The address is Dunham Massey, Woodhouse Lane, Altrincham, WA14 4SJ.

Dunham Massey Parkland

The parkland at Dunham is perfect for family walks. There are several accessible paths around the deer park. Most of the paths are completely accessible too. The perfect place for a buggy walk or for wheelchairs. The gardens are also great for walking around too.

Large red brick mansion at the end of a large grass area

Geocaching at Dunham Massey

There is a series of different size cache hidden around the parkland with the help of the park rangers. Some of them are too small to contain a pencil so make sure you take your own.

None of them are in the deer sanctuary and they are all hidden where deer can not access them. We’ve found a number of the cache so far but we still have a couple to find.

Find out more about Geocaching with kids here.

Dunham Massey Hall

During World War 1, Dunham Massey Hall was Stamford Military hospital, a 53 bed hospital. Nearly 300 patients were treated here. The hall is currently a museum sharing the hall’s history with an area set up how the wards would have looked.

My girls found this fascinating to look around. You can also tour Dunham Massey house including the servant quarters and library. We’ve been a couple of times and see different areas of the house and hall open.

The hall is not open every day so it’s best to check the National Trust website to confirm when it is open. At present it is open on select days between March and October.

Dunham Massey gardens

The formal gardens are stunning all year round. From displays of 1000s of snowdrop bulbs to the beautiful rose garden, there’s always some beautiful planting to admire. There are often family activities in the gardens such as trails and in the school holidays, there are often kids’ activities like crafts and storytelling sessions.

Small red brick building in a large garden

Dunham Massey playground

Whilst there may not be a typical playground with swings and slides, there are several natural play areas that my kids love. Natural play areas are lovely and really encourage kid’s imaginations. There are logs to balance on and loads of dens. There’s even a log that small kids can crawl all the way through. My kids love playing in these areas.

The main Dunham Massey play area is outside the property, just inside the gates to the left of them. Here you’ll find log stepping stones, fallen trees to climb and more.

Deer at Dunham Massey

There are lots of wild deer roaming freely throughout the park. They are literally everywhere sometimes but other times you don’t see them at all.

There are also a few large areas where you can not enter as the deer do need somewhere to be able to retreat to. There are paths around the edge and deer are constantly crossing the path.

My daughters are always mesmerised by the deer. It really is a privilege to be able to see these beautiful creatures close up. However it is worth mentioning these are wild animals so it is advisable to give them plenty of space and not get too close.

Dunham Massey Mill

There is also a restored sawmill which dates back to 1616. It is open to the public some days. We have been lucky enough to go in when it was open. We saw how water wheels can power a saw that cuts wood.

Dunham Massey family trail walks

There is nearly always a family trail on at Dunham Massey. Sometimes they cost a small fee and sometimes they are free. They are usually in the parklands nearest the property and occasionally into the gardens. They are always really short so perfect for little legs.

Can you walk around Dunham Massey for free?

You can walk around Dunham Massey for free if you are a National Trust member. Parking, admission to the deer par, house and gardens are all free.

You can also enter for free during some special events such as National Lottery week (March), newspaper National Trust ticket giveaways and National Heritage Days (September).

A few years ago you could pay a car parking fee per car and walk around the deer park but not enter the gardens or house. This is no longer an option.

Dunham Massey cafe

There is a lovely cafe in the visitor’s centre and also an ice cream Parlour and restaurant in the Stables. In the summer months, there is often an ice cream cart in the gardens.

Dunham Massey Christmas lights

We visited the Dunham Massey Christmas lights in 2023 and they were every bit as spectacular as I thought they would be.

Find my full review here – Christmas at Dunham Massey 2023 review

Our top tips for visiting Dunham Massey

Dunham Massey is all very pram/buggy friendly.
Picnics are welcome but there are set places for picnics away from the deer.
Dogs are welcome but must be kept on a lead.
It’s worth noting that you can no longer just pay for parking and explore the parklands if you are not a NT member. Entry at the car park hut is now charged per person, not per car. If you are a NT member this does not affect you.
Children under 5 are allowed to cycle or scoot around the parkland. This is a great idea as it is quite a long walk for little legs. You can do shorter walks of course. Bikes and scooters are not allowed in the gardens or house. There is an area inside the gates where you can leave them.
Toilet and baby change facilities are available, clean and practical. They are in both the visitors’ centre and the Stables.
You can find a second hand book stall in the visitor centre, near the main entrance.
Please check their website for up to date information on prices, opening times and events.

Nearby National Trust properties we love

Have you read our review of Hare Hill?

Or the fascinating Little Moreton Hall?

We love Quarry Bank.

Lyme Park is another National Trust property that is fantastic for getting families outdoors. I’ve written about our favourtie walk here – Lyme park circular walk to the lantern.

Speke Hall is amazing for children with play areas, a maze and a fun woodland trail.

Have you visited Tatton Park farm?

Find more National trust near the M6 here.