Lowther Castle and Gardens in Penrith has absolutely everything you need for an unforgettable family day out. From wandering through the stunning castle ruins, strolling through the beautiful gardens, and experiencing the epic adventure playground, this guide will tell you everything you need to know for your visit to Lowther Castle and Garden with kids.
In 2017 my parents moved to the Lake District to enjoy their retirement, which means we’ve been lucky enough to spend plenty of time exploring this breathtaking corner of England. Over the years, we’ve tested out just about every family-friendly activity the area has to offer. Lowther Castle and Gardens in Penrith has become one of our absolute favorite family days out.
It’s not just the stunning scenery or the fascinating history that makes it special; it’s the fact that it has one of the most impressive adventure playgrounds in the entire UK, The Lost Castle. If you’re planning a visit to the Lake District and want a day out that both kids and adults will absolutely love, this is the spot you don’t want to miss.
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Where is Lowther Castle?
Lowther Castle is located at the top of the Lake District National Park a few miles from Penrith, and is a few miles off the M6 motorway. Acres of woodland surround the site, offering beautiful views that stretch through the Bampton Valley. Check out the link here for directions.
Pricing and Parking
Tickets:
- Adults: £15.00
- Children (ages 3–15): £10.00
- Children under 3: Free
Family bundles are also available for £45.00, which cover either 2 adults and 3 children or 1 adult and 4 children. All info on pricing is here.
Parking:
Parking costs £2 per day. There’s a large car park along with an overflow lot, so even on busy days, you should have no trouble finding a spot.
Lowther Castle
As you approach the grounds the dramatic façade of Lowther Castle comes into view. The castle looks like something pulled from a medieval fairytale. The site has been home to the Lowther family for nearly 900 years, though the castle itself was built more recently, in the early 19th century. The castle stood for 130 years before being abandoned after the ‘Yellow Earl’, the 5th Earl of Lonsdale squandered the family fortune. The castle was stripped of its roof and valuables, and left to decay into the mysterious, ivy-draped ruin you see today.
For young kids it is a marvelous place to explore and let their imaginations run wild within the crumbling inner rooms. It also might just be the most epic site for hide-and-seek we’ve discovered.
The Museum
One you’ve bought the tickets you will make you way through the museum. The museum contains lots of information about the history of the Lowther family who trace their heritage back to the Viking age, and the family history crosses paths with Kings and Queens throughout history. The museum presents its information well and offers plenty of detail, but it doesn’t really cater to young kids. So, your kids might do what ours typically do and race through the museum to the grounds of the castle and gardens.
The Gardens
After falling into disuse, Lowther Castle and Gardens deteriorated for decades until a restoration team launched a major revival in 2008, transforming the grounds into the gorgeous gardens you see today. While stunning they aren’t a huge draw for most kids, but there is a maze and large open fields for the kids to run about in. Your walk through the gardens will also take you into the woodland which will lead you to the main attraction for visiting Lowther Castle and Gardens with kids.
Lost Castle Adventure Playground
Nestled among the trees is one of the largest adventure playgrounds in the United Kingdom, the Lost Castle. The playground is completely hidden from view. We always have our son and daughter use a map to lead us the way (don’t worry, it’s not hard to find!). We love seeing their eyes pop when the full scale of the playground is revealed.
We’ve traveled fairly extensively around the UK and USA, and this is high on the list of places we love to take our young kids. We have been going every year since they were tiny tots.
The Lost Castle features a colossal timber structure that all interconnects, including turrets, several winding slides, multiple ziplines, and obstacle courses. Because all the areas connect seamlessly and include high wooden walls and safety barriers, the playground keeps kids safe by eliminating places where they could fall or trip. We felt very comfortable letting our little one’s roam and venture through the playground without feeling the need to have our eyes on them every second. We have easily killed at least 2 hours letting the kids explore, and usually spend much longer.
Food and Drink Options
There is a café right next to the museum. They have a selection of hot and cold foods, drinks, baked goods and a decent children’s menu. We have eaten there a couple times and would definitely recommend it. On other occasions we’ve brought a picnic from home to eat at the playground.
An outdoor café called Into The Woods sits right next to the adventure playground. It serves drinks, snacks, and a small selection of sandwiches and soups.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can bring your dog into the grounds, which make a great place for a walk. They are not allowed inside the adventure playground.
There are bathroom facilities within the castle museum and restaurant. There are also bathroom facilities close to the adventure playground.
Lowther Castle and Gardens is open daily all year round (except Christmas day).
The hours during Summer are 10.00am-5.00pm Winter.
The hours during Winter are 10.00am-4.00pm.
Note:- If conditions have been frosty or icy they will close the Lost Castle Adventure Playground. It would be best to call ahead to check it is open if there has been frosty weather.
The walk from the castle to the adventure playground takes about 15 minutes depending and is a fairly flat walk, so not overly challenging at all.
As we mentioned above, the walk is easy, so you can leave the hiking shoes at home. Basic sneakers are fine. If it’s been raining parts of the walk, particularly through the woods, it might be muddy. This is the Lake District so you can expect rain all year round. The playground floors have grip and tread features, but certain parts can be a little slippery after rain.
Lowther Castle and Gardens is mostly stroller accessible particularly when walking around the gardens. Once you get to the adventure playground you will want to park your stroller, and as mentioned before there is a dedicated play area for toddlers.