Beanotown lands at Hillsborough Castle and Gardens for time-twisting summer trail

Encounter a medley of mayhem this summer as the crew from Beanotown stumble into Hillsborough Castle and Gardens on a ‘blam-azing’ adventure. From 27 June – 31 August, Historic Royal Palaces invites Beano fans of all ages on a time-twisting trail through the 100-acre estate with Beano Hijinks at Hillsborough Castle and Gardens – where kids go free to the gardens all summer.

This summer holiday, Dennis, Minnie, Harsha, Rubi and Gnasher are in trouble again. As their bonkers go-kart time machine goes haywire, the friends tumble through time and space, before crash-landing in Hillsborough Castle and Gardens. With the pieces of the time machine scattered across the Castle’s striking gardens, Dennis and friends could be stuck in history forever unless each missing piece is retrieved.

Equipped with a special Hillsborough Castle Beano comic strip story, visitors must track down six essential components of the time machine hidden amongst lush greenery to repair the tangled timeline. Along the way, meet larger-than-life characters from Hillsborough's history – from a young Lord Hillsborough to Benjamin Franklin, who famously visited in 1771.

After the trail, visitors can run wild in the outdoor Imaginary Menagerie, explore the Castle with an upgraded ticket or roam the same halls where world leaders have gathered. Families can also indulge in delicious Beano-inspired treats and tasty lunches from the café and pick up Beano merchandise from the onsite shop.

Beano enthusiasts can expect jokes, japes and joyful chaos against the backdrop of Hillsborough Castle’s historic gardens, making Beano Hijinks a mischievous and memorable summer where history and comic chaos collide.

The trail continues in London with Beano Havoc at Hampton Court Palace from 25 July to 23 August 2026. For more information, visit https://www.hrp.org.uk/.