Things to do in Marlborough with kids

For children interested in old buildings, begin with The Merchant’s House and look for painted rooms, woodwork and evidence of how people lived. Children currently have free admission, but accompanying adults usually pay. Select a guided tour only if its format fits your family, and use town toilets first: none are available inside. Break for food after the visit rather than expecting a long spell of shopping to provide the change of pace. Stonebridge Meadow gives a shorter nature option on the eastern side of town. Read the council’s Trail One route and decide whether to include the rougher meadow loop. Boardwalk sections lead to less even ground, so a pushchair does not automatically make the whole outing practical. Keep children close by the river and turn back if the route is waterlogged. A short look at plants and birds is a worthwhile visit without needing a wildlife checklist. For a forest day, go prepared for Savernake with a map, picnic and an agreed turnaround point. Seasonal toilets and the locked car-park gate need checking, and forestry barriers take priority over your intended walk. Avebury offers another outdoor day, with stones to compare and roads to cross carefully; choose it instead of the forest. In wet weather, the house plus a food stop is the more compact option. For younger or tired children, one activity followed by lunch is a complete plan, not a failed attempt to see the town.