There is no better day out for kids than trying to conquer a maze. From the impressive Marlborough Maze at Blenheim to one of the worlds largest at Longleat, we’ve rounded up the best places to get lost in a maze in the UK.
Hever Castle & Gardens
At Hever Castle & Gardens there are two really great mazes to complete – the Yew Maze and the Water Maze. Their Edwardian Yew Maze (opening 9th February 2022) is a favourite and with its many twists and turns it’s a fun challenge to complete.
Their Water Maze (opening 26th March 2022) provides a unique experience as you aim to get to the stone grotto in the centre without getting wet – watch out for the stepping stones, you might get wet!
Where: Hever Castle, TN8 7NG
Web: Hever Castle
Horrible Histories Maze at Warwick Castle, Warwickshire
This is one of our favourites and a great one for families. It’s a really fun interactive maze with special effects and obstacles you encounter during your journey. What’s more you learn about hundreds of years of history as you try to complete the challenge that the maze offers.
Where: Warwick Castle, Warwick, Warwickshire, CV34 6AH
Web: Warwick Castle
The Hampton Court Palace Maze, Surrey
Hampton Court Palace contains one of the worlds most famous mazes, commissioned in 1700 by William III. This puzzle maze at Hampton Court Palace covers a third of an acre and takes around 20 minutes to complete and reach the centre of the maze.
Where: Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, Surrey, KT8 9AU
Web: Hampton Court
Blenheim Palace’s Marlborough Maze, Oxfordshire
During a visit to Blenheim Palace, make sure you stop by its really impressive Marlborough Maze. This Yew tree maze even features Churchill’s famous ‘V’ embedded in the maze in honour of Winston Churchill, who was born at the palace.
Where: Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire OX20 1UL
Web: Blenheim Palace
Longleat Hedge Maze, Wiltshire
As well as being the most famous safari park in the UK, it also has one of the best mazes in the UK. This maze is huge, it’s the largest in the UK and once was the biggest maze in the world. When we tried this we got lost in here, and it can take anything from 20 and 90 minutes to complete, depending on how good your navigational skills are. The bridges that span parts of the maze provide a great vantage point to view your escape route!
Where: Longleat, Warminster, Wiltshire, BA12 7NW
Web: Longleat
Noah’s Ark Maze, Somerset
Noah’s Ark is the largest zoo in the South West and a wonderful place to visit with kids with their maze being a popular attraction here. In the shape of Noah’s Ark with seven animals inside, this maze has been constructed with 14,000 beech trees, this hedge maze is the longest in Europe with an interactive trail, and with two new timber structures added to the maze you can climb the brand new nest tower.
Where: Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm, North Somerset
Web: Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm
Minotaur Maze, Northumberland
Inside the grounds of Kielder Castle you will find the impressive Minotaur maze, constructed entirely in stone and inspired by Greek myth of Minos and the Minotaur. There are a number of special features that include a set of stairs that take you above the walls so you can try to navigate your way to the end. When you manage to complete the maze you will be rewarded by a glittering room made from recycled glass at its centre.
Where: Minotaur Maze, Kielder Castle, Northumberland
Web: Kielder Castle
The Dragonfly Maze, Gloucestershire
In the beautiful location of Bourton-on-the-water in the Cotswolds you will find the Dragonfly Maze (opening 19th February 2022) . What makes this Yew hedge maze a great choice is along with trying to get to the centre, you also have to complete the 14 clues dotted around each pathway to solve the puzzle and to find the golden dragonfly in the centre.
Where: The Dragonfly Maze, Bourton-on-the-Water, Cheltenham, England GL54 2BN
Web: Dragonfly Maze
Leeds Castle, Kent
The elaborate maze at Leeds Castle has been constructed out of 2,400 yew trees, and when it opened in 1998 it was so complex even its creator had trouble completing it. When you get to the centre of the maze and look out you will notice that the part of the maze looks like a Queen’s crown. One of the coolest parts that kids will love is the exit via an underground grotto, featuring mythical beasts created from wood, minerals and shells.
Where: Leeds Castle, Kent
Web: Leeds Castle
Traquair Maze, Peebleshire, Scotland
This maze at Traquair House in Innerleithen, Peeblesshire is one of the largest in Scotland covering over half an acre (opening 1st April 2022) . What makes this beech tree maze stand out is its unique layout with no dead ends and you have to reach four sub-centres before reaching the real centre.
Where: Traquair House, Innerleithen, Peeblesshire, EH44 6PW
Web: Traquir Maze