With the summer holidays starting to draw to an end, finding somewhere that will keep the children entertained without leaving the adults wondering when it is time to go home can be a bit of a challenge.
But having spent Friday at Bowood House & Gardens, I can safely say it is one of those places where you really can make a full day of it.
And while the Adventure Playground is an obvious draw for families, there is a lot more to Bowood than slides, climbing frames and keeping the children entertained.
Set in the Wiltshire countryside, Bowood combines its historic house and gardens with parkland, woodland, an arboretum and plenty of places to explore.
Plenty to keep the children busy
If you have children with you, you certainly won't be short of things to do.
The Adventure Playground is a major attraction, with its iconic pirate ship, treetop aerial walkways, slides, zip wires and jumping pillows.
For younger children there is The Den and Activity Barn, aimed at children aged seven and under, with ride-on tractors, den and sandcastle building, water play and indoor soft play.
There is also the Partridge Play Pen for younger visitors, with an obstacle course, boat swings, a Wendy house, ball pit and jumping pillow.
And during the summer holidays, Bowood has added a selection of bookable Summer Adventures.
Outdoor Exploration, run by Mud & Guts, gives children aged six to ten the chance to spend three hours outdoors with activities including den building, fire making, games and exploring nature.
There is still a session taking place on Tuesday 25th August, with morning and afternoon sessions available.
Then, on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th August, children aged four to ten can have a go at Mini Rovers Driving, taking control of a fully electric mini Land Rover and negotiating a series of obstacles with guidance from a trained instructor.
These activities have limited spaces and are booked separately, so if you fancy giving one a go, it is worth checking availability before you visit.
We were also there on Friday when Outdoor Wall Climbing was taking place. The activity was open to children aged six and upwards, with adults also able to take part, and it certainly looked like a great opportunity for children to try something different and build a bit of confidence.
Don't just head straight for the playground
One of the things I liked most about Bowood was that you don't have to spend the whole day rushing from one activity to the next.
There are plenty of quieter corners to discover too.
The grounds include the Cascade, Hermit's Cave, Doric Temple, Walled Garden and the Arboretum, while the landscape itself is one of the celebrated Capability Brown landscapes.
The Arboretum Tree Trail is another good reason to explore beyond the playground.
The trail features 24 magnificent trees, including rare and 'champion' specimens, with labels providing fascinating facts about the trees along the way. There are also Bowood Adventure Quest activity sheets available, encouraging children to explore some of the less obvious parts of the grounds.
It is a nice way of turning a walk around the grounds into something children can get involved with, rather than simply being told to walk a bit further!
And then there is the Cascade.
It is one of those places where you can stop for a while and take in the surroundings, with the water running down the waterfall towards the lake and stepping stones to explore nearby. The Hermit's Cave is another of the hidden gems within the grounds.
A little bit of history too
If you have never been inside Bowood House, it is worth making time for.
The Lansdowne family have called Bowood home since 1754, and the house contains historic rooms and galleries displaying collections of art, sculpture, costume and family treasures.
One room that regular Calne News readers may recognise from previous stories is the laboratory where Joseph Priestley discovered oxygen in 1774.
It is one of those pieces of history that feels particularly special because it happened right here in our part of Wiltshire.
Bowood's current information still highlights the laboratory as one of the key features of the historic house, alongside the Sculpture Gallery, Orangery, Library, Chapel and exhibition rooms.
There is also a new house exhibition for 2026, '1776: Secrets, Spies and the American Revolution', which is being shown during the open season.
Time for a cuppa
After plenty of walking and exploring, we stopped at the Treehouse Café, which is right by the entrance.
It is not somewhere I would suggest for the views, as it is alongside the entrance and car park, but it is a handy place to stop for something to eat or drink either during your visit or before heading home.
I had a slice of the most delicious carrot cake and a cup of tea, and it was just what was needed after a few hours of walking around.
The café serves sandwiches, paninis, jacket potatoes, soup and snacks, along with cakes, doughnuts and hot and cold drinks. There are also children's lunch boxes available.
If you fancy something a little different, The Stables serves cream teas, baguettes, soup, cakes and drinks, while The Kiosk by the Adventure Playground offers hot drinks and ice cream.
And, of course, you can always bring a picnic and find somewhere to sit in the grounds.
There's still time to make the most of the holidays
Bowood House & Gardens remains open until Sunday 1st November, so there is plenty of time to visit beyond the summer holidays too.
But if you are looking for somewhere to go during these final days of the school break, there are still Summer Adventures to book, alongside all the usual attractions.
And that is probably what struck me most about our visit.
Bowood isn't just somewhere you take the children and spend the day waiting for them to finish playing.
They can burn off some energy in the Adventure Playground, try one of the bookable activities, explore the Arboretum and Tree Trail, discover the Cascade and Hermit's Cave, while adults can enjoy the gardens, the house and the history that makes Bowood such an interesting place to visit.
You can make the day as energetic or as leisurely as you like.
So, if you've been meaning to visit but haven't got around to it yet, give it a go before the summer disappears.
You might find, like I did, that there is considerably more to Bowood than you remembered.
For details of the remaining Summer Adventures, including Outdoor Exploration and Mini Rovers Driving, visit Bowood's website before booking, as spaces are limited.
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