Photo: Serenapaliria, CC BY-SA 4.0Castles and stately homes in Surrey
The castles and stately homes worth a family visit in Surrey are Guildford Castle, where the grounds are free and the Norman keep has a rooftop view, Farnham Castle with its Bishop's Palace tours, and Hatchlands Park in East Clandon, a Georgian house with a natural play area in its woods. Polesden Lacey near Great Bookham adds a house with a walled rose garden and a play area built from estate timber.
Our Surrey listings include two castles, and both are worth the trip for different reasons. Guildford Castle's grounds are free to walk round all year, while the keep is seasonal. Farnham Castle is the home of the Bishops of Winchester for more than 900 years, and its tours of the Bishop's Palace are led by volunteer guides.
The stately homes are mostly country houses set in large estates. Hatchlands Park has a Georgian house with Robert Adam ceilings, a natural play area and resident donkeys. Polesden Lacey has walled gardens, a natural play area and walks across its downland estate.
Check opening times for the houses before you go, because most are open only some days or in certain seasons. Gatton Park in Reigate opens to the public on the first Sunday of each month, and Titsey Place near Oxted offers house tours in season.
Every place here is checked against its official website; the latest check was on .
Castles
Two castles, each with something to do beyond the walls.
Photo: Serenapaliria, CC BY-SA 4.0Guildford Castle and Grounds
The keep of the Norman castle stands on its mound in the middle of Guildford, surrounded by award-winning gardens that are free to wander. When the keep is open you can climb to the top of the tower for views across the town and the Surrey countryside.
Why it's here: The Castle Grounds are free, and the Norman keep has a roof-top view over Guildford when it is open. The keep is seasonal and entry is charged, and Guildford Museum is next door.
Image: Farnham Castle TrustFarnham Castle (Bishop's Palace tours)
For more than 900 years the home of the Bishops of Winchester, at the top of Farnham's Georgian Castle Street, with a shell keep begun in the 12th century. Volunteer guides from the Farnham Castle Charity lead tours of the Bishop's Palace, including the medieval Great Hall.
Why it's here: Guided tours of the Bishop's Palace, including the medieval Great Hall, cost £5 each and are free for under 18s. Visitor numbers are limited, so book ahead.
Image: Guildford Borough CouncilGuildford Museum
A free museum in a run of historic buildings beside the Castle Grounds, partly built into the walls of the castle gatehouse of 1256. It covers Guildford and the surrounding area from prehistoric times to today, with a fine textile collection and changing exhibitions.
Why it's here: Free to enter, in a run of historic buildings beside the Castle Grounds and partly built into the walls of the castle gatehouse of 1256.
Stately homes
Historic houses with rooms, collections and gardens, many with play areas for children.
Photo: David Hillas, CC BY-SA 2.0Hatchlands Park
A Georgian country house built in the 1750s for Admiral Edward Boscawen, with Robert Adam ceilings and the Cobbe Collection of more than 40 keyboard instruments linked to composers such as JC Bach, Chopin and Elgar. Around it are more than 400 acres of parkland and woodland, partly landscaped by Humphry Repton.
Why it's here: A Georgian house built in the 1750s, with the Cobbe Collection of more than 40 keyboard instruments. Its natural play area in Great Wix Wood has a tree house and willow domes.
Photo: ChrisParkinson, CC BY-SA 3.0Polesden Lacey
The Edwardian country retreat of the society hostess Margaret Greville, set in a 1,600-acre estate of downland and ancient woodland with views across to Ranmore Common. The ground-floor rooms hold her collection of paintings, ceramics and French furniture, and the gardens include a walled rose garden and long herbaceous borders.
Why it's here: The Edwardian retreat of the society hostess Margaret Greville, with the Gold Saloon and a walled Rose Garden. A natural play area built from estate timber sits in the grounds.
Photo: Anthony Whitworth, CC BY-SA 3.0Titsey Place and Gardens
A historic estate under the North Downs near Oxted, dating back to the mid-16th century, with a manor house shown by guided tour, a Victorian walled kitchen garden, a rose garden and lakes. Around 500 acres of estate woodland have trails open to walkers outside the summer season too.
Why it's here: A house dating back to the mid-16th century, shown by guided tour in season, with a Victorian walled kitchen garden and woodland trails that are free to walk.
Photo: Peter Trimming, CC BY-SA 2.0Gatton Park
A historic parkland laid out by Capability Brown with Edwardian gardens, on a private estate owned by the Royal Alexandra and Albert School and opened by the Gatton Trust on monthly open days. Visitors enter through Gatton Hall, where refreshments are served in the ballroom overlooking the park.
Why it's here: Parkland laid out by Capability Brown, with Edwardian gardens and a Wild Things play trail. It opens on the first Sunday of each month, and adults pay £7 in advance while children go free.
Landscape gardens around great houses
Parkland and gardens laid out by famous designers, with places to walk dogs and rest.
Photo: nick macneill, CC BY-SA 2.0Claremont Landscape Garden
An 18th-century garden shaped by Vanbrugh, Bridgeman, William Kent and Capability Brown, once a royal retreat for Princess Charlotte and later bought by Queen Victoria. Paths lead round a serpentine lake to a grass amphitheatre, a grotto and the Belvedere Tower.
Why it's here: An 18th-century garden shaped by Capability Brown and others, with two natural play areas, including Badger's Basecamp for older children. Dogs on short leads are welcome in most areas.
Photo: Amandajm, CC BY-SA 3.0Painshill
A 160-acre 18th-century landscape garden in Cobham, laid out as a series of views around a serpentine lake with follies placed along the way. It is run by an independent charity, Painshill Park Trust, and the old house is private and not part of the visit.
Why it's here: A 160-acre landscape garden with a Crystal Grotto, a Ruined Abbey, a Gothic Temple and a Turkish Tent round a serpentine lake. Dogs are welcome on a short, fixed lead.
Photo: Daderot, CC0The Savill Garden
A 35-acre garden in Windsor Great Park, created by Eric Savill from 1932 and open to paying visitors since 1953. Themed areas change through the year, from the winter beds and spring magnolias to summer roses and autumn colour in the woodland.
Why it's here: A 35-acre garden in Windsor Great Park with magnolias, a winter garden and the Queen Elizabeth Temperate House. Only assistance and emotional support dogs are allowed in the garden.
Photo: Berit from Redhill/Surrey, UK, CC BY 2.0Virginia Water Lake
A two-mile lake at the southern edge of Windsor Great Park, created as a royal pleasure ground between the 1750s and 1790. A full loop is about 5.25 miles, while the Cascade waterfall and the Leptis Magna ruins are a shorter stroll from the car park.
Why it's here: A royal pleasure ground lake in Windsor Great Park, with the Cascade waterfall and the Leptis Magna ruins. It is free to enter, and parking is charged.
Questions people ask
Which castles in Surrey can families visit?
Guildford Castle's grounds are free all year, and the keep is open seasonally with a view over the town. Farnham Castle runs guided tours of the Bishop's Palace for £5 each, and they are free for under 18s.
Which stately homes in Surrey have play areas for children?
Hatchlands Park in East Clandon has a natural play area in Great Wix Wood with a tree house and willow domes. Polesden Lacey near Great Bookham has a natural play area built from estate timber, and Claremont Landscape Garden in Esher has two play areas.
Are dogs allowed at Surrey stately homes?
Hatchlands Park allows dogs under close control in its parkland, though not in the house or formal gardens. Polesden Lacey allows dogs on leads in selected areas of the grounds, and Claremont allows dogs on short leads in most areas.