What can you do in a big house with such a mix of ages and abilities and interests? When you get a big group of people together there’s time to talk, play, celebrate and have fun together, especially when nobody needs to be rushing off to get back home. “We’ve booked the house — now what do we actually do with everyone?”
Whether you’ve got three generations arriving for a big birthday, a gang of old friends reuniting, or the whole extended family descending for the first time in years, a big house gives you the one thing a hotel never can, space to fill with your own fun.
Here you go, we’ve put together the ultimate list: 101 things to do in a big house, covering everything from big showstopper activities to the small, silly, memory-making moments that somehow end up being everyone’s favourite bit.
Grab a cuppa (or something stronger), gather your group, and start ticking these off.
Why a Big House Is the Perfect Place for a Group Activity List
Before we dive in, it’s worth saying why this list works so well in a big house setting specifically. You’ve got the space to spread out, with games in the garden, quiet reading in the snug, a film going in one room while a card game rumbles on in another. You’ve got the privacy to be as loud, daft or lazy as you like. And you’ve got the kitchen, the dining table and the garden all built for exactly this kind of togetherness.
At houses like Tysoe Manor with its pool, tennis court and games room, or Tone Dale House with its hot tub, party room and four acres of grounds, half of this list is practically built in. The other half? That’s down to you — and that’s exactly where the fun starts.
Garden and Outdoor Games (1–20)
There’s nothing quite like throwing open the back door and letting a big group loose on a proper garden. Here are twenty ways to make the most of the great outdoors.
1. Rounders, the ultimate big-group leveller
2. Giant Jenga on the lawn
3. A full-blown croquet tournament (bonus points for dramatic commentary)
4. School-sports-day classics, egg and spoon is probably the less risky one
5. A scavenger hunt around the grounds
6. Twister on the lawn
7. French cricket (a family favourite)
8. A water balloon fight (weather permitting, or not)
9. Frisbee golf
10. A simple game of throw and catch (we played this for hours)
11. An evening game of hide and seek once it gets dark
12. A picnic under the trees
13. Badminton or volleyball, if there’s a net going spare
14. A treasure hunt for the little ones, hidden clues and all
15. Stargazing with blankets and hot chocolate once the sun goes down
16. A relay race with silly obstacles
17. Tug of war. Generations vs generations is always a crowd-pleaser
18. Grab coloured pencils and choose your view, set up a gallery
19. Kite flying, if there’s a breeze
20. A slow wander to find the best photo spot on the grounds
Pool, Hot Tub and Tennis Court Fun (21–35)
If your house comes with a pool, hot tub or tennis court, you’ve already got a head start. Several of our houses, including Tysoe Manor’s outdoor pool and tennis court, and Tone Dale’s bubbling hot tub, are built for exactly this kind of activity-packed stay.
21. A pool volleyball tournament
22. An inflatable “wipeout”-style knockout challenge
23. An inter-generational tennis tournament
24. A pool game of ‘Simon Says’
25. An evening soak in the hot tub with a glass of something fizzy
26. Pool noodle jousting
27. A ‘through-the-ages’ pool party with the pick-of-the-pops track list
28. Sunbathing with a good book and zero interruptions
29. A splash-about with pool toys for younger guests
30. A gentle early-morning swim before the house wakes up
31. Tennis lessons for the kids from whoever’s most competitive in the group
32. A late-night hot tub session under the stars, or try a sound bath session
33. Pool races, widths not lengths, for maximum chaos
34. Water aerobics, self-appointed instructor optional but encouraged .
35. A poolside spa afternoon, maybe with some meditation, and relax
Games Rooms, Cinema Rooms and Rainy-Day Fun (36–55)
British weather being what it is, every big house weekend needs an indoor backup plan and this is where games rooms, cinema rooms and cosy lounges really earn their keep.
36. A movie marathon in the cinema room, one film picked by each generation
37. An origami event, just bring paper and instructions
38. Table tennis doubles
39. A board game tournament, who’s up for Monopoly or Cluedo?
40. Table football, winner stays on
41. Story writing, take turns writing a start, middle and end
42. Charades, teams by generation for maximum competitiveness
43. A jigsaw puzzle left out on a side table for anyone to chip away at
44. A karaoke session, a proven hit at big birthday weekends
45. A murder mystery evening, costumes optional but encouraged
46. Articulate or Pictionary
47. A darts tournament
48. Re-enact an old photo with the original participants, extra point for clothes and expressions
49. A quiz night, family trivia included
50. Colouring books and crafts evening, time to get creative
51. A “talent show” evening, however cringe it gets
52. Baking competitions with a judge and a trophy
53. A board game no one’s played before, instructions read aloud, chaos guaranteed
54. Snooker or billiards, if the games room has a table
55. A “best dressed” fancy dress evening with a theme voted on beforehand
Food, Drink and Kitchen Moments (56–70)
Some of the best big house memories happen around the kitchen table or the dining room — and self-catering means you get to make the food part of the fun, not just the fuel.
56. A big communal cook-along for one of the group dinners
57. A bake-off, complete with a taste-test panel
58. A cocktail-making evening, someone always knows a good recipe
59. A cheese and wine tasting, blind-tasting optional
60. Booking a private chef for one night to make it extra special (several of our houses, including Tone Dale and Tysoe Manor, offer this)
61. A pancake breakfast, everyone on topping duty
62. A “bring a dish” night where each family contributes a course
63. A gin or cider tasting, Somerset’s cider heritage makes this a local speciality (you can also get low or non-alcoholic versions)
64. Sunday roast, the full works, with someone appointed Head Gravy Officer
65. A picnic hamper put together for a day trip out
66. A picky dinner night with all the left-overs
67. A breakfast buffet with everyone contributing something
68. A “mystery box” cooking challenge, teams given random ingredients
69. Homemade pizza night, everyone building their own
70. A big BBQ day with everyone’s favourites
Celebrations and Special Occasions (71–80)
If your stay marks a birthday, anniversary or reunion, these ideas turn a big house weekend into the main event.
71. A milestone birthday toast with everyone gathered
72. A memory-sharing circle, everyone tells a favourite story about the guest of honour
73. A “This Is Your Life” style slideshow of old photos
74. A surprise arrival for the birthday guest, planned in advance by the group
75. A formal dinner night, time to get dressed up to the nines!
76. A photo booth corner with props for the weekend
77. A guest book for everyone to leave a message in
78. Party games from decades past, chosen to match the milestone
79. Sparklers to mark the final evening (weather and site rules permitting)
80. A toast at sunset, everyone with a drink in hand, marking the occasion properly
Exploring the Local Area (81–90)
Every Big House Co. property sits somewhere worth exploring, and building in a little time away from the house rounds out the weekend nicely. Look out for the local information in each house to decide where you’d like to visit.
81. A walk to the nearest village pub for a pint and a change of scene
82. Exploring nearby National Trust, or English Heritage properties and stately homes
83. A visit to a local farm shop for treats to bring back to the house
84. A cider or vineyard tour, particularly easy from our Somerset houses
85. A countryside walk mapped out for all fitness levels
86. Cycling the local lanes, bikes hired for the day
87. A trip to a nearby market town for a browse
88. Horse riding for those who fancy it
89. A day at a nearby beach, if your house is coastal, wild swimming optional
90. A visit to a local historic site or castle for the history buffs in the group
Quiet Moments and Downtime (91–101)
Not every big house memory has to be loud. Some of the best moments are the quiet ones — and with all that space, everyone can find their own corner.
91. A lazy morning with the papers and a pot of tea
92. An afternoon nap in a hammock or garden chair
93. Savour reading your book, guilt free
94. A long bath with a view, if your room has one
95. Journaling or sketching in the garden
96. A gentle yoga or stretching session before breakfast
97. A day you don’t even need to get dressed
98. A slow walk around the grounds, with just a few of you, or even just by yourself
99. An early night, guilt-free, while everyone else stays up
100. Simply sitting by the fire, relax and tell stories
101. The big family selfie before you leave (and plan your next trip)
Frequently Asked Questions
What can you do in a big house for a group holiday?
A big house gives you space for garden games, pool and hot tub activities, indoor entertainment like cinema rooms and games rooms, group cooking, celebrations, local day trips and plenty of quiet downtime, you don’t even need to leave the property if you don’t want to.
What activities are good for a multi-generational group in a big house?
Games that work across ages – French cricket, tug of war, charades, board games and quizzes – tend to be the biggest hits, alongside shared meals and a “something for everyone” mix of pool time, garden games and quiet lounges.
Do The Big House Co. properties have games rooms and pools?
Many of our houses include facilities like games rooms, cinema rooms, hot tubs, swimming pools and tennis courts — Tysoe Manor and Tone Dale House are two great examples. Browse our full collection of big houses to see what each property offers.
What’s a good rainy-day backup plan for a big house weekend? Indoor games rooms, cinema rooms, board games, cooking together, crafting, and cosy activities like baking or a movie marathon are ideal, several of our houses are designed with exactly this kind of rainy-day fun in mind, so the weather never has to spoil the weekend.
Ready to Start Ticking These Off?
However you use this list, either as a starting point for a big birthday weekend, a family reunion, or just a group of friends overdue a proper catch-up, just book the right house, and invite the right people, and enjoy a bit of time together.
At The Big House Company, we’ve spent more than 25 years helping groups create exactly these kinds of memories. From Tysoe Manor in the Cotswolds to Tone Dale House in Somerset, our properties are built with games rooms, pools, hot tubs and generous gardens — everything you need to fill a weekend with the kind of activities that become family legend.
Not sure which house suits your group best? Take a look at our Top 10 Must-Have Features for a Big Group Holiday House for guidance, or get in touch and let our friendly team help you plan the perfect stay — for enquiries, visit our Contact Us page, email us at party@thebighouseco.com, or call +44 (0)1823 662673.
Big enough for everyone. Personal enough to feel like home.
