New Playground at Shaw House, Newbury

Post written by West Berkshire Family Life

It was so lovely to visit the new playground at Shaw House. A beautiful wooden structure with plenty for the children to do, from a large netted swing to balance beams, slides and musical elements, there is something for every age.

It has been built on wetpour surfacing (that lovely spongy, rubbery ground you often see on modern playgrounds), which is soft underfoot and safe for little ones who take a tumble. There is a little house and slide for toddlers and a larger slide for older children with the whole playground suitable for children up to the age of 12.

The playground has been designed to be accessible to children of all abilities, with sensory features and an accessible carousel alongside the more traditional equipment, and its centrepiece is a play structure inspired by the Great Hall of Shaw House itself, tying it beautifully into the history of the site.

The day we visited, the grounds were also home to the Altered States open air sculpture exhibition. Fabulous artwork in such a picturesque setting, with pieces dotted across the Orangery Lawn for you to wander round and admire. 

Altered States runs from Saturday 1st August to Sunday 27th September 2026, 11am to 4pm, seven days a week, and entry is free.

There are historic rooms to explore inside the house as well as a small children’s play and craft room. It’s also worth keeping an eye out for children’s activities running throughout the holidays; there are usually some exciting crafts events on, perfect for a fun morning activity. For the full picture of what’s on at Shaw House and elsewhere across the district this summer, check out the West Berkshire Family Life What’s On guide.

There is free parking on site, a café, a coffee and ice cream van open at weekends, so you are well set up for refreshments!

Between the new playground, the sculpture exhibition and the house itself, and the beautiful grounds Shaw House makes for a really lovely family outing together.

Where: Shaw House, Church Road, Newbury, RG14 2DR

Times: Open weekdays 10am to 4pm, Weekends 11am to 4pm

Cost: Adult: £9 /Child (age 4 to 17): £6 /Under 4s: free/ Family ticket (2 adults and up to 3 children): £25

If you are a West Berkshire resident, discounted rates apply:

• Adult: £6/ Child: £4/Family ticket: £20