Visiting Boscobel House, Shropshire, with children

Boscobel House is famous for King Charles II hiding away in the Royal Oak, but English Heritage has made the house and grounds surprisingly family-friendly.

Why visit Boscobel House in Shropshire?

Boscobel House is a historic home with a great story behind it. In 1651, after losing the Battle of Worcester, King Charles II fled to Boscobel, where the Pendrill family took in the runaway monarch as opposition forces scoured the country for him.

The story goes that King Charles II hid up a tree known as the Royal Oak, remaining unnoticed while an enemy soldier passed underneath the branches.

The tree in the field outside Boscobel House is a descendent rather than the original, and it is surrounded by sapling oaks, intended to restore the forest that was once on the grounds.

This is a story that has drifted from prominence over time, but at one point it was a tale that most Britons knew. The Royal Oak became a popular pub name because of it.

Boscobel House with kids

Boscobel House is managed by English Heritage, which has made big efforts to make the visit about more than a nearly 400-year-old story.

Visitors are given special electronic candles, which can be placed on candle symbols as you go round. This triggers sounds and projections – whether soldiers knocking at the door of the king cutting his own hair to disguise himself. It’s a fun way of bringing the house to life.

Elsewhere, there are costumed volunteers and a Victorian farm, where kids can coo at the Tamworth pigs, Indian runner ducks and rare breed sheep.

There are also gardens and a snaking tunnel made of bending willow branches, which children love running though.

Boscobel House, Shropshire, review: The best bit

The highlight inside this former hunting lodge is a ‘priest hole’ on the top level. This hidden underfloor compartment, little bigger than a wardrobe, was originally designed to hide Catholic priests in times of persecution. This was where the King slept when he stayed here, before making his escape to France.

Infants, juniors or secondary?

Younger children and toddlers probably won’t get much out of Boscobel, but junior school-aged children may well buy into the story and enjoy the presentation. The play area, farm and willow tunnel are probably not going to add too much for older kids, however.

Boscobel House entry prices

Entry prices for Boscobel House vary a little by season, but the cheapest tickets – which must be booked online – cost £10 for adults and £5.90 for children. There are also family passes available, costing £15.90 for one adult and up to three children, or £25.90 for two adults and up to three children.

Prices were last checked and updated on 5 November 2024.

Full day, half day or a couple of hours?

Boscobel House can happily fill a couple of hours, and you can push that to half a day if you let the children loose on the artfully-designed, wood-covered play area or take on the 20 minute walk to the ruins of White Ladies Priory.

Attractions near Boscobel House

Nearby attractions that can be combined with a visit to Boscobel House include:

• Moseley Old Hall near Wolverhampton.
• Weston Park.
• Ironbridge Valley of Invention.

Nearby cities

Boscobel House is in the Shropshire countryside, very close to the Staffordshire border. It’s in a triangle between Telford, Wolverhampton and Stafford.

Other cities within a 90 minute drive of Boscobel House include Wolverhampton, Birmingham, Stoke-on-Trent, Worcester, Chester, Leicester, Coventry, Derby and Nottingham.

Is it open on Mondays?

In winter, Boscobel House is only open on weekends. It generally opens up for the whole week during school holidays, however.

More information

For more information, visit the Boscobel House section of the English Heritage website.