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Please find below inspiration for easy, fun family days out at National Trust’s The Vyne in Hampshire during the May half-term school holidays. A former Tudor palace turned 17th-century family home, The Vyne is located in Sherborne St John, just outside of Basingstoke.
After half-term, on 7 June, family outdoor theatre The Wind in the Willows comes to The Vyne’s north lawn and a free community minibus runs between Basingstoke Train Station and The Vyne on select dates. Read on for more information.
Little People, BIG DREAMS® at The Vyne
Saturday 3 May – Sunday 22 June, 10am-4pm:
Lively games and pioneering fun will encourage kids to ‘be bold, be brave’ and ‘dream big’ in The Vyne’s house and gardens where young readers can look out for vibrant illustrations from this best-selling biography series for kids by Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara.
On this literary trail, discover remarkable true stories about inspiring people. In the gardens, try your hand at kangaroo pouch bean bag toss with Steve Irwin and ‘jam’ with Taylor Swift in the Summerhouse. Keep an eagle eye out with David Attenborough using binoculars at the bird hide and throw your own mini-theatre production with Hans Christian Andersen.
Join Jane Austen in the house before browsing the shop for copies of these much-loved books. Gardens open 10am-5pm. House open 11am-3pm. Last entry 4pm. Free event, normal admission applies.
Outdoor theatre: The Wind in the Willows
Sat 7 Jun | Gates open 5pm, Performance 6-7.40pm (includes 20 min interval)
Multiple award-winning Illyria celebrates Kenneth Grahame’s timeless tale of friendship, laughter, the longing for home and the lure of adventure.
Vyne Line | Basingstoke community minibus
Saturday 31 May, 28 Jun, 26 Jul, 30 Aug, 27 Sep, 25 Oct, 29 Nov, 27 Dec
11am depart Basingstoke train station | 11.20am arrive The Vyne | 3pm depart The Vyne car park | 3.30pm arrive Basingstoke train station.
This is a free shuttle service with the minibus kindly provided by Basingstoke Community Transport. Pre-booking your space on the minibus is essential. You can do this online at nationaltrust.org.uk/the-vyne or by phoning 03442 491 895. Please arrive 10 minutes before the departure time as this is when the bus will leave. Normal admission to The Vyne applies.