The Tiger Who Came To Tea exhibition at National Trust's Knole Park in Sevenoaks from Saturday, November 9

A giant tiger will be prowling a Kent attraction when a popular exhibition arrives in the county.

The Tiger Who Came To Tea will be raiding the cupboards at Knole when 50th birthday celebrations for the popular children's story begin in Sevenoaks this November.

The Tiger Who Came To Tea exhibition with the National Trust will see Judith Kerr's original artwork go on display
The Tiger Who Came To Tea exhibition with the National Trust will see Judith Kerr's original artwork go on display

The life-size model tiger will be part of a fully interactive play kitchen as part of efforts to bring the classic picture book by Judith Kerr - about a tiger who unexpectedly knocks for tea at the home of a little girl called Sophie - to life.

Celebrating the story's 50th anniversary and over five million copies sold, The Tiger Who Came to Tea exhibition has been touring National Trust properties across the country and is now close to its Kent dates which begin on November 9.

A life-size model tiger will be at Knole as part of the exhibition
A life-size model tiger will be at Knole as part of the exhibition

The exhibition, which is at Bateman's in East Sussex until Sunday, November 3, will be inside Knole’s Orangery. Little ones will be able to delve into the dressing-up chest for a mini stripy Tiger onesie and have fun making 'tea' in the play kitchen as they pretend to recreate the story in which the crafty tiger invites himself for tea and goes on to eat all the family's food and drink.

There will also be a story corner, tiger puzzles to enjoy and colouring in games.

A short film for older visitors will also be available to watch, which tells the story of Judith Kerr's experience of escaping Germany before the Second World War, how it felt to be a refugee in Switzerland and France before arriving in London in 1936.

Take on the parkland trail around Knole's famous residents
Take on the parkland trail around Knole's famous residents

There is also a 'Tiger Who Came to Knole' children’s parkland trail which costs £5 per child and enables walkers to read the story as they follow wooden dear around the park. It takes place between 10am and 3pm, no booking is required, and every child taking part will receive a treasured stripey feline prize at the end!

The Tiger Who Came to Tea exhibition will be at Knole from Saturday, November 9 until Sunday, January 5.

The exhibition itself is free to visit but normal National Trust admission prices for Knole will apply. To learn more about those and further information about activities at Knole please click here.

  • For more suggestions of things to do with the kids in Kent please click here.

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