The South West's Largest Outdoor Play Area

Heligan’s 200 acres of adventure are curated to let little legs and old minds run free. Explore dappled woodland trails in the Giant's Head Play Area, adventure across our iconic Jungle Rope Bridge, and discover Heligan Play Meadow (the South West's largest outdoor play area) - where children and the young-at-heart alike can stay and play all day in nature. 

Heligan for Families

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    Winter at Heligan

    With the recent deluge of heavy rain at Heligan, the Heligan Play Meadow and Giant's Adventure Trail are both currently closed to allow them time to recover. 

    We look forward to welcoming you back to these areas in the February Half Term

  2. Heligan Stopframe Captures132

    Jumping Pillow

    The only Jumping Pillow in the South West, and latest addition to the Heligan Play Meadow. Bounce, boing and bop your way across our outdoor inflatable cushion. Up to 38 children can enjoy this at any one time, there is no additional charge or booking requirements. All participants must remove their shoes and avoid collision. No age restriction (under 5s should be accompanied by parent or carer). 

  3. Heligan Play Meadow Kids On Swing

    Heligan Play Meadow

    Climb, slide and scramble your way around Cornwall's largest outdoor playground. Over 14,500m² of adventure awaits - that's the size of two football fields.

    From turrets to towers, slides to swings, all set beside Bugginghum Palace (the UK's largest bug hotel) this natural play area brings families together in the heart of nature and the Heligan Estate. 

    We also have coffee, ice-creams and picnic benches because this is play, designed with parents in mind!

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    The Jungle

    Acres of raised boardwalks, giant exotic plants, pools, wildlife and one of the longest Burmese Rope Bridges in Britain! Perfect for any budding Indiana Jones or Dora the Explorer. This sub-tropical garden is not only brimming with exotic plants from around the world, it’s also home to some of the earliest dinosaur food – Tree Ferns. Although the dinosaurs have long since gone, the plants that they used to eat are still with us today! Can you spot them?

    Explore The Jungle

  5. Giants Head Play Child On Beam

    Giant's Head Adventure Play

    Can you spot our friendly Heligan Giant amidst the trees? Created in the heart of our Woodland Walk by Heligan's Team, our adventure play area is perfect to practice balancing skills, log-hopping and jumping in and out of bamboo tunnels. Keep an eye out for our sleeping Mud Maid at the end of the trail. 

  6. Gloucester spot Oxford sandy and black pigs in paddocks

    Heligan Farm Animals

    Throughout the Estate, you will discover a friendly collection of heritage and rare livestock in the form of our ‘Tamworth’, ‘Lop’ & ‘Berkshire’ Pigs, ‘Devon and Cornwall Longwool’, ‘Kerry Hill’, ‘Jacob’, ‘Hebridean’ & ‘Ryland’ sheep and our ‘Highland’, ‘Ruby Red’ & ‘White Park’ Cows, along with a variety of rare poultry.

    All the Heligan animals have their own appeal but our adorable piglets usually steal the show! Check with staff on arrival for their current location.

    Explore our Farm

  7. Bugginghum Palace, Heligan Play Meadow Jan 2022

    Bugginghum Palace - UK's Largest Bug Hotel

    Welcome to the UK's largest bug hotel. Located beside Heligan Play Meadow, with views across to the sea, this is the Ritz of Insect Hotels, providing a wide range of nesting space for a host of insect and invertebrate life. Join us on Wildlife Wednesdays for to find out more about the marvellous minibeasts who live here. 

    (Please note Buggingham Palace is accessible only to bugs, butterflies and mini beasts.)

     

  8. Scarecrows In Cornwall 1250 827 S C1

    Diggory

    Our resident scarecrow stands guard over the abundance of crops in the Vegetable Garden and is always pleased when visitors stop to pose for a photo with him.

Families at Heligan

Weekly pass - free upgrade for all Garden Admission Tickets

With over 200 acres to explore and enjoy, you might find you run out of time to see the whole of Heligan on your visit.

Each general admission garden entry ticket can be upgraded, free of charge, to a weekly pass to enable you to come back and explore the gardens at your own pace.

If you'd like to visit more than once in a week, please ask a member of our ticketing team to upgrade your day admission tickets to a weekly pass for no extra charge. 

Please note, car parking, access to Heligan Shop and Heligan Kitchen and Bakery is free of charge.

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