Grandparent friendly places?

Bargain outing (as long as you hang onto your purse) - many garden centres have a few animals. Hens are becoming popular. They also have fish to look at both tropical and cold water. A good way to while away some time.

Wimpole Hall and Home farm are great for children, Home Farm has lots for young one to see and do (even as a N.T member you have to pay to enter the farm).

My NT membership paid for itself several times over when no1GD and her half brother were small. They were able to run all over Lyme Park with me puffing along behind them. Unfortunately it didn't pay for the obligatory ice-cream.

NT - what a good suggestion HildaW. And they are the most reliable source of a nice slice of cake aren't they. We have Stowe and Waddeson Manor within reach of us and I can highly recommend them both. Huge grounds with things to look at. Inside of Stowe House is the public school. OUtside lots of greek temples, a grotto, etc etc
Inside or WM is not really suitable for children and I think not v. accessible either but plenty to do outside, including a garden centre. WM even has a toy shop - in the Stables - you have been warned. And a Warhol exhibition (10 amazing portraits) and an Anish Kapur sculpture in the aviary. So whether or not you have children in tow, these are both fantastic places to visit in the summer.

We have a subscription to historic scotland. We can visit many castles and let the grandchildren explore as much as they want. Loch leven castle is good as we need to take a boat there.

We had charge of 2 year old Grandson for day and went to a National Trust place - Hanbury Hall. They are surprisingly tolerant of little ones nowadays. Food is excellent, crayons and colouring available at tables for meals, high chairs available, nappy changing was fine too. We ran about in the gardens all day (would not have taken him inside - that has always seemed silly to me, did not take my own children inside a NT place until they were at least 6) We had a lovely time and all the staff were very sweet to us.