Conkers, National Forest: A Family Day Out Guide

If you are after a day out that keeps every age group busy, Conkers in the National Forest is one of the most reliable family attractions in the East Midlands. It sits on a 120-acre site of woodland, lakes and meadow near Moira, on the border of Leicestershire and Derbyshire, and it has spent more than 20 years building a reputation as a proper rain-or-shine day out.

The clever part is the balance. There are two indoor discovery centres packed with hands-on exhibits, a 4D cinema and an adventure play barn, so a grey sky does not end your day. Step outside and you have 120 acres to roam, a treetop walk, an assault course, a splash park for warm days and the Conkerchoo train rolling between the two centres. It is the kind of place where a three-year-old and a ten-year-old can both have a brilliant time without anyone getting bored.

This guide covers what to see, current ticket prices in £, opening times, how long to spend, parking and food, plus the practical question of where to base yourself. If you want a relaxed countryside stay within easy reach, The Barn near Market Harborough makes a comfortable home for the trip, and we will come back to that at the end.

What is Conkers in the National Forest?

Conkers is an award-winning family visitor attraction built within the National Forest, a young woodland being planted across 200 square miles of the Midlands. The whole point of the National Forest is to turn former coalfield land back into trees, and Conkers tells that story through play rather than lectures. Children climb, splash, balance and explore, and pick up the nature message almost by accident.

The site is split between two main hubs. The Discovery Centre is the larger one, with the indoor exhibition zones, the 4D cinema, the main adventure play and the bulk of the outdoor trails. The Waterside Centre sits across the park beside the lakes, with more play space and picnic spots. The Conkerchoo train links the two, which is handy when little legs get tired.

It is firmly aimed at families with younger children, roughly toddler age up to about 11 or 12, though the woodland walks and high ropes give older kids and adults something to do too. If you are planning things to do in Northamptonshire and the wider East Midlands during a break, Conkers is one of the bigger hitters for a full day with the children.

The best things to see and do at Conkers

There is a lot packed into the site, so it helps to know the headline attractions before you go. Here are the ones families come back for:

• Indoor discovery zones: four hands-on exhibition areas inside the Discovery Centre, with interactive displays about the forest, weather and wildlife designed for all ages.
• The treetop walk: an indoor simulated walk through the forest canopy on a gently moving bridge, taking you on a journey towards mines and caves.
• The 4D cinema: short immersive films with wind, water and motion effects that the younger children find brilliant fun.
• The Enchanted Forest play barn: a big soft indoor adventure play area for when the weather is against you.
• The Conkerchoo train: a miniature train ride between the Discovery and Waterside Centres, included in your admission and a firm favourite with toddlers.
• Conkers Cove splash park: interactive water jets powered by movement, open on warm sunny days and worth packing a towel and a change of clothes for.
• The Barefoot Walk: a 450-metre sensory trail where you kick off your shoes and feel mud, bark, water and grass underfoot.
• The assault course and high ropes: an 18-stage outdoor challenge plus the Vertigo high ropes for older, braver visitors.
• The Playdale adventure zone: a large outdoor playground set among the trees near the Waterside Centre.

Add in 120 acres of woodland and lakeside paths, a fairy labyrinth, an amphitheatre and an award-winning show garden, and you can see why three hours is the bare minimum and a full day is the honest recommendation.

Conkers tickets and prices

Conkers uses seasonal pricing, so what you pay depends on when you visit. Low season is the quieter parts of the year, mid season covers the shoulder months and weekends, and high season covers the summer holidays and peak dates. Under 3s always go free, and a single ticket gives you the run of the whole site, including the Conkerchoo train.

The prices below are the standard 2026 rates. If you are happy to add Gift Aid, the ticket cost rises slightly but the extra goes to the attraction as a donation. Buying online in advance usually secures the lower price, so it is worth booking before you set off.

Ticket type	Low season	Mid season	High season
Adult	£9.00	£9.90	£11.25
Child (3 to 15)	£9.00	£9.90	£11.25
Concession	£9.00	£9.90	£11.25
Carer	£5.40	£7.20	£9.00
Family (2 adults + 2 children)	£36.00	£40.00	£48.00
Under 3s	Free	Free	Free

A family of four visiting in low season is looking at around £36 for the day, which is reasonable for the amount on offer. Many visitors describe it as good value for money given the mix of indoor and outdoor activities. If you visit often, an annual membership can pay for itself quickly, so ask at the ticket desk if you think you will return.

Opening times and how long to spend

Conkers opens at 10am year round, with closing times that stretch later in summer and pull in during winter. As a rule, expect a 5pm close in the colder months and a 6pm close through spring and summer, with January often running weekends only. The site closes on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, and there are occasional early closes for special events like the autumn fireworks, so it pays to check before you go.

On how long to stay, the official advice is three hours or more, but most families find that undersells it. With two centres to explore, the train to ride, an assault course to tackle and 120 acres to wander, a full day is the realistic plan. Arrive at opening, break for lunch in the middle, and you will have time to do the lot without rushing.

Detail	What to expect
Opening time	10am daily (January often weekends only)
Closing time	5pm in autumn and winter, 6pm in spring and summer
Closed	Christmas Day and Boxing Day, plus some maintenance weekdays
How long to spend	3 hours minimum, a full day recommended
Address	Rawdon Road, Moira, near Ashby-de-la-Zouch, DE12 6GA
From The Barn (Clipston)	Around 50 minutes by car

Getting there, parking and food

Conkers is at Rawdon Road in Moira, just off the B586 and close to Ashby-de-la-Zouch. It is well signed once you are in the area, and most visitors arrive by car. The good news for budgeting is that parking is free, with around 300 spaces at the Discovery Centre and another 100 at the Waterside Centre, including dedicated accessible bays.

For food, you have a choice. The on-site catering serves the usual family-friendly favourites such as burgers, chips, ice cream and hot drinks, and there is a cafe and restaurant at the main centres. If you would rather keep costs down, you are welcome to bring a picnic, and there are tables and grassy spots dotted around the lakes with lovely views. Packing your own lunch is the move most regulars recommend.

A few practical notes worth knowing before you arrive:

• Parking is free at both centres, so no need to carry change.
• Only assistance dogs are allowed on site, due to the wildlife, so leave the family pet at home.
• Accessibility is good, with surfaced paths, accessible toilets and mobility scooters or buggies available to pre-book on 01283 216633.
• Pack for the weather, including wellies for the Barefoot Walk and a towel and spare clothes for the splash park in summer.
• Buy online in advance to secure the lower ticket price and skip the queue at the desk.

Is Conkers worth visiting?

For families with young children, yes. The combination of weatherproof indoor zones and genuinely large outdoor grounds is hard to beat in the East Midlands, and it removes the usual British worry of booking a day out and watching the forecast. Parents consistently praise the value, the variety and the fact that there is enough to fill a whole day rather than a couple of hours.

The honest trade-offs are these. It is busiest in the school holidays and on sunny weekends, so an early start makes a real difference. Teenagers may find it pitched a little young unless they are into the high ropes and assault course. And while the on-site food is fine, bringing a picnic both saves money and gives you more flexibility with timings. None of that changes the headline, which is that Conkers earns its place on any family day-out shortlist.

If you are building a whole break around the region rather than a single day, it pairs well with other local attractions. Science-mad families might combine it with the National Space Centre in Leicester, which is another excellent indoor option for a rainy day and only a short hop from your base.

Where to stay near Conkers: The Barn at Clipston

A day at Conkers is even better when you are not driving home tired afterwards. The Barn is a luxury self-catering cottage at Rectory Farm in Clipston, just outside Market Harborough on the Leicestershire and Northamptonshire border. It is around 50 minutes by car from Conkers, which makes it an easy day trip while keeping you in peaceful countryside the rest of the time.

The Barn sleeps eight plus two infants across three bedrooms, so it suits larger families and groups travelling together. There is a fully equipped kitchen for cooking after a busy day, a garden and terrace with a gas BBQ for summer evenings, and a 10-metre folding glass wall that opens the living space out to the outdoors. With EV charging, smart tech throughout and an eco-friendly design, it is a comfortable and relaxed base for exploring the region. A family cottage holiday here gives everyone space to spread out and unwind between days out.

Frequently Asked Questions