Hardwick Park

18/09/2026

How do you get into a haunted house? Turn the skeleton key 💀🗝

Get along to Hardwick Park this October half term and enjoy the Skeleton Key Trail running from Saturday 24 October until Sunday 1 November.

18/09/2026

Autumn is approaching and our parks will soon be awash with vibrant reds, oranges and golds as the landscape settles into a new season. 🍂

It's the perfect time to enjoy a family walk crunching leaves and collecting conkers, with a stop in one of our cafes for a warm drink and treat.

There's also a variety of activities on offer at Hardwick Park:

📚 Step into Storytime: Ten Little Monsters
Outdoor discover sessions for 5's and under involving storytelling, crafts activities, interactive trails, games and woodland play

Date: Saturday 17 October 2026, 10.00am to 1.00pm
Price: £7.00 per child

🌳 Forest Club
Hands-on experience designed to engage children about the natural world around them, aimed at children from approximately 2 to 6 years of age.

Date: Tuesday 27 October, 10.00am to 12 noon and 1.00pm to 3.00pm
Price: £8.50 per child

🐦 Guided by Nature: Wildfowl identification
Discover the fascinating world of wildfowl at Hardwick Park. Join the education team and explore the park's tranquil waters and wetlands, identifying a variety of wildfowl as they return to their seasonal home.
Date: Friday 30 October 2026, 7.30am to 9.30am
Price: £8.50 per person or Family ticket price £18 (4 people with at least one adult and a child under 16). All under 18's must be accompanied by an adult.
Minimum age of participants: 8 years and above.

Find out more: https://www.durham.gov.uk/HardwickEvents

📷 on Instagram

16/09/2026

It is 100 days to Christmas! That means it’s not long until Father Christmas returns to Hardwick Park 🎅🏻

Visitors have been asking when Father Christmas will be visiting Hardwick Park this year, we can tell you this will be over 2 weekends in December 👇

👉Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December, 2026
👉Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 December, 2026
👉Visits between 10.00am and 4.00pm each day

When will ticket go on sale we hear you ask?
Online tickets go on sale Friday 25 September at 10.00am.
Tickets are priced at £20 per child, adults come free!

Tickets are popular and book quickly, we recommend booking early to avoid disappointment. Tickets are non refundable once purchased.
Watch this space for further details on how to book🎅🏻🎟

15/09/2026

Our October Half Term events are now on sale for our destination parks with a selection of Halloween themed events on offer.

Check out our Halloween event flyer for full details 🎃💀👻

Tickets must be booked in advance online by visiting https://events.durham.gov.uk/1/Home/List

07/09/2026

04/09/2026

Hardwick Park Café is currently recruiting a Cafe Co-ordinator and a Café Assistant. Click on the below links to see full vacancy details and apply online.

Applications are open online now, closing date for both posts 17 September 2026.

NE26-136 – MYWF 30937 Café Co-ordinator – External (and Facebook, LinkedIn and Indeed)
https://www.northeastjobs.org.uk/job/Cafe_Co_ordinator/301482

NE26-137 MYWF 30933 Café Assistant- External (and Facebook, LinkedIn and Indeed)
https://www.northeastjobs.org.uk/job/Cafe_Assistant/301489

03/09/2026

Looking for something to do outdoors with your little ones?

Then join us on Saturday 12 September for our next Step Into Storytime session (The Scarecrows Wedding). 10am or 1pm.

Outdoor woodland play sessions for younger children involving storytelling, craft activities, interactive park trails, sensory experiences, and free time to explore the play equipment.
Suitable for children approx. 18months -5 years. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Workshops are held in our Outdoor Learning Site at Hardwick Park which is a short walk from the Visitors Centre.

What's included in our Step into Storytime workshops?
🍄‍🟫1.5 hour of woodland play in our enclosed outdoor learning area
😊 Aimed at children roughly 18 months to 5 years of age
📖Sessions begin with reading a story in our story circle area
🌿 Children will enjoy a themed interactive trail
🎨 Create themed natural crafts
👀 Free time to explore play equipment
📖 Share more stories in our story zone
👋 Opportunities to socialise with others
🌳 Sensory and small world play in an outdoor setting
⚽Outdoor games and activities

Online booking is required to book visit https://events.durham.gov.uk/1/Home/List
find Step into Storytime the correct date and time then click on the link to be taken to the online booking system. This is a new online booking system meaning you will need to register your details before you can book a ticket.

20/08/2026

A big thank you to all the families who joined us in fine voice for 'Step into Songtime' last week!

Don't forget we are back to 'Step into Storytime' with The Scarecrows Wedding on Saturday 12 September. Book your space now at https://events.durham.gov.uk/1/Home/List

15/08/2026

Bat and Moth Evening: Guided by Nature 🦇🦋
Explore the hidden world of these fascinating creatures. Walk to discover the bats habitats and use detectors to listen to their sounds and watch them fly. Catch moths in a trap and nets to look closely at them and see the variety of this species.
To explore and discover more come along on Thursday 20 August 8pm - 10pm
Booking Essential. All sessions £8.50 per person or £18 per family ticket (4 people, must include 1 adult and 1 under 16)

Following the link below: https://www.durham.gov.uk/hardwickevents