A Georgian Italianate palace in an idyllic English landscape
A grand place for a truly entertaining day out.
Ickworth’s impressive Rotunda – a magnificent showcase commmissioned by the 4th Earl of Bristol to house his priceless treasures collected on tours around Europe in the 18th-century – is an architectural marvel. For 200 years, the eccentric, and sometimes infamous, Hervey family added to the treasures inside and out, also creating the earliest Italianate garden in England. The exquisite craftmanship of the finest Huguenot silversmiths is breathtaking, and you can follow the family’s history through outstanding portraits by Gainsborough, Hogarth and Reynolds.
After walking in the tranquil parkland, experience 1930s domestic service in the restored servants’ basement, sharing the real stories and memories of former staff who kept this country estate running.
There are many exciting activities for families to do together at Ickworth, whatever the season or weather.
On fine days, older children will love the swings, slides and zip wire in our adventure play area. Or why not help them try their hands at building dens in our shaded Albana walk? Let off some steam on our ‘trim trail’. Keep fit and try out exercises such as hurdles, leap frog, monkey bars and more; all to be found in the Albana walk trim trail.
The adventure starts here…
Little ones will love exploring our acres of woodland with one of our ’50 things to do before you are 11¾’ adventure scrapbooks, which include fun, educational activities from splashing in a puddle to flying a kite. These scrapbooks can be picked up free of charge from a number of locations here, and any ’50 things’ activities completed here will be awarded with a special ‘well done’ sticker and stamp which can be collected at our Porter’s lodge visitor reception. Every school holiday we run led ’50 Things’ activities to help you on your way.
Go equipped for your exploration with one of our adventure backpacks, available in a range of child-friendly colours and free to borrow from our Porter’s lodge visitor reception. These backpacks include all the tools you need to go adventuring; compasses, magnifying glasses and bug viewers, as well as identification guides for the birds, insects and plants that can be found on the estate.
Discover our magical Stumpery at the back of our Italianate gardens. See if you and your children can spot the sleeping dragon and her egg nest on this fern festooned walk. Feel free to bring your bikes and follow one of our two family cycle trails around the estate – we’ve a short route specially designed for little legs!
Little ones can play lord and lady in our mini Rotunda play house, which can be found in the outdoor seating area behind Porter’s lodge café. Curious young minds will love stepping back in time and imagining life as a servant at Ickworth in the 1930s by exploring the winding corridors and touchable exhibits of the servants’ quarters.
On rainy days keep your little ones amused with our classic parlour games in the West Wing reception such as ludo, dominoes and bagatelle. Younger children love playing with the dolls houses. Toys and books are also available to purchase from our gift shop. In the Suffolk school holidays, we run indoor seasonal themed kids’ arts and crafts in our gallery.
We always provide child-sized meals and drinks in our cafés. High chairs are available to use in our main West Wing café, where we can also warm baby food and bottles. We also have an outdoor dog friendly café to the back of Porter’s lodge visitor reception. You’re very welcome to bring your own food to with you. We’ve a number of picnic tables by the adventure play area and numerous wonderful picnic spots across the estate.
Good to know:
• A number of our parkland walks are accessible by prams and pushchairs. Just pick up one of our maps or speak with one of our Visitor Experience Assistants to learn more.
• Baby changing areas are located in the main car park and West Wing toilets.
• Baby carriers and hip seats are available to borrow from the West Wing reception.
• One of our volunteer drivers may even let you have a ride around the grounds on the Ickworth golf buggy!
For information on opening times and special events please visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ickworth