Mottisfont

Mottisfont is a historic house and estate beside the River Test, run by the National Trust. Families come for the riverside walks, the Wild Play area of wooden climbing frames, platforms and balance beams, and the walled rose garden, which is at its best in early summer. The 18th-century house grew up around a medieval priory and has a permanent 20th-century art collection with changing exhibitions in the top-floor gallery. The wider estate offers woodland walks and paths across marsh and downland for longer outings. Cafés, a shop and a plant centre are on site, and there are picnic benches across the grounds. A family Christmas production runs in the winter months. Dogs on leads are welcome in most of the gardens.