The South West's Largest Outdoor Play Area

Heligan for Families

1. Jumping Pillow - NEW for 2023

   The only Jumping Pillow in the South West, and latest addition to the Heligan Play Meadow. Bounce, boing and bop your way across our outdoor inflatable cushion. Up to 38 children can enjoy this at any one time, there is no additional charge or booking requirements. All participants must remove their shoes and avoid collision. No age restriction (under 5s should be accompanied by parent or carer). 

   Please note that we may have to close the jumping pillow during adverse weather conditions for the safety of our visitors.

2. Heligan Play Meadow

   Climb, slide and scramble your way around Cornwall's largest outdoor playground. Over 14,500m² of adventure awaits - that's the size of two football fields.

   From turrets to towers, slides to swings, all set beside Bugginghum Palace (the UK's largest bug hotel) this natural play area brings families together in the heart of nature and the Heligan Estate. 

   We also have coffee, ice-creams and picnic benches because this is play, designed with parents in mind!

   New for 2023 our 3m tall Jungle Castle, and Heligan Jumping Pillow!

3. The Jungle

   Acres of raised boardwalks, giant exotic plants, pools, wildlife and one of the longest Burmese Rope Bridges in Britain! Perfect for any budding Indiana Jones or Dora the Explorer. This sub-tropical garden is not only brimming with exotic plants from around the world, it’s also home to some of the earliest dinosaur food – Tree Ferns. Although the dinosaurs have long since gone, the plants that they used to eat are still with us today! Can you spot them?

   Explore The Jungle

4. Giant's Head Adventure Play

   Can you spot our friendly Heligan Giant amidst the trees? Created in the heart of our Woodland Walk by Heligan's Team, our adventure play area is perfect to practice balancing skills, log-hopping and jumping in and out of bamboo tunnels. Keep an eye out for our sleeping Mud Maid at the end of the trail. 

5. Heligan Farm Animals

   Throughout the Estate, you will discover a friendly collection of heritage and rare livestock in the form of our ‘Tamworth’, ‘Lop’ & ‘Berkshire’ Pigs, ‘Devon and Cornwall Longwool’, ‘Kerry Hill’, ‘Jacob’, ‘Hebridean’ & ‘Ryland’ sheep and our ‘Highland’, ‘Ruby Red’ & ‘White Park’ Cows, along with a variety of rare poultry.

   All the Heligan animals have their own appeal but our adorable piglets usually steal the show! Check with staff on arrival for their current location.

   Explore our Farm

6. Bugginghum Palace - UK's Largest Bug Hotel

   Welcome to the UK's largest bug hotel. Located beside Helican Play Meadow, with views across to the sea, this is the Ritz of Insect Hotels, providing a wide range of nesting space for a host of insect and invertebrate life. Join us on Wildlife Wednesdays for to find out more about the marvellous minibeasts who live here. 

   (Please note Buggingham Palace is accessible only to bugs, butterflies and mini beasts.)

    

7. Diggory

   Our resident scarecrow stands guard over the abundance of crops in the Vegetable Garden and is always pleased when visitors stop to pose for a photo with him.