Powderham Castle With Kids: What’s Worth the Detour
Powderham Castle sits in a deer park on the west bank of the River Exe at Kenton, about eight miles south of Exeter. The Earls of Devon, the Courtenay family, have lived here since the 14th century and they still do. That fact is unusual enough on its own. What it means in practice is that the castle is a working family home as well as a visitor attraction, which gives it a different feel from a National Trust day out.
If you are weighing up whether to make the drive with kids, here is the honest verdict on what is worth it, what is not and what 2026 visitors should plan for.
2026 ticket prices and when it opens
Powderham closes to general admission over winter and reopens for the 2026 season on Good Friday. From that point the castle and grounds are open Sunday to Friday, closed Saturdays. The castle interior runs 11am to 4pm with last entry at 3.30pm, the grounds and Secret Garden run 10am to 5pm, and the Courtyard Cafe runs 10am to 4pm.
For 2026 the castle-and-grounds ticket is priced around fourteen pounds ninety five for adults, thirteen pounds ninety five for seniors, ten pounds ninety five for children aged five to 16, with under fives free. A family ticket (two adults and two children) is around thirty nine pounds ninety five, with each extra child five pounds ninety five. If you only want the gardens and grounds, that is around nine pounds ninety five for adults, six pounds ninety five for children.
Check before travelling if you are coming from far. The estate often runs evening events, concerts and the Toby Garden Fest (1 and 2 May 2026), which can mean closures or restricted access on adjacent days.
What kids actually like at Powderham
You can take a structured approach (book a guided tour of the State Rooms) or a wild one (lunch, deer park, Secret Garden, repeat). With younger children, lean towards the second.
The deer park
The fallow deer have been here since the medieval period. They are wild but well used to people, so you will see them from the grounds without needing to go off-piste. Bring a long lens if you have one. Do not feed them, and keep dogs close (more on dogs below).
The Secret Garden
This walled garden is the section of the estate most genuinely set up for younger children. Expect topiary, a pond, log seats, willow tunnels and a sense that you are inside something rather than just walking through it. It is also a good shelter on a windy day.
The castle interior
Older children, say eight upwards, get something out of the staterooms. The Music Room is a Wyatt design, the Marble Hall has the kind of staircase that asks to be photographed and the family portraits hanging through the rooms include some genuinely engaging characters. Younger children may need a bribe to sit through the audio guide. The castle offers self-guided routes and timed tours; check on arrival which is running that day.
The Courtyard and the cafe
The Courtyard is the meeting point. The cafe does proper plates of food rather than just sandwiches and there is a play area near the courtyard for under eights.
Dogs, buggies and access
Powderham is dog friendly across the grounds and Secret Garden. Dogs need to be kept on leads, and they are not allowed inside the castle itself. There are water bowls at the cafe.
The grounds are mostly flat but on grass and gravel, so a sturdy buggy is fine but a small umbrella stroller will struggle. The castle interior has steps in places and the upper floors are not accessible. There is an accessible WC in the Courtyard. The estate publishes an access guide on the Powderham website and it is worth a read if anyone in your group has specific mobility needs.
How long to allow and what to combine it with
For a relaxed visit with kids, allow four hours. That gets you the deer park, the Secret Garden, lunch and either a castle tour or a long wander.
If you want a fuller day, Powderham pairs well with a stop at Starcross or Dawlish Warren on the way back, both reachable along the Exe estuary. The dedicated Powderham railway halt was closed years ago, so you will be driving or coming in by bus from Exeter on the 2 route.
The verdict
Powderham earns the detour for families with children aged five and up. It is not the budget option (a family of four is looking at around forty pounds before lunch), but for that you get a half day in a place that does not feel like a theme-park version of history. The Courtenays are still in residence. The deer are still in the park. The walled garden has been worked for centuries and looks it.
Building a wider Exeter day out? Look at Crealy Theme Park and Resort if Powderham feels a bit gentle for your crowd, or pair the visit with our Family Days in Heavitree and St Thomas for a free play follow-up close to the city.