Ickworth
Ickworth estate is in Horringer, just outside of Bury St Edmunds and is owned and maintained by The National Trust. It has a house and gardens which are open to visitors most of the year. If you are not a member this is quite a pricey choice for a walk, but it is well worth a visit. There is a huge area of parkland, some wooded, some in open fields, a lake, a river, a walled garden and of course the rather striking house itself. The inside of the house is not open all of the time but the grounds seem to be open all the time.
The cafe has recently changed hands to become a National Trust run one and is not quite as gluten-free friendly. They have got a list of allergens available for viewing, but there is not much choice. They do, however stock gluten free rolls, and some of the soup is ok. It is always very busy there though so I would recommend bringing a picnic or using the outdoor cafe.
The toilet facilities are not the best. You have to get through the shop and down the stairs or the lift to the basement to get to them. The baby changing room is pretty small and is just a changing room, not a loo. I couldn’t get the buggy in with us. However, the disabled loo is right next door, which has plenty of room. There are other toilets outside near the car park, which are brand new and fantastic.
In the summer there is now an outdoor kiosk with a lovely seating area under the trees. They serve teas and coffees, ice creams, jacket potatoes, sandwiches and cakes. There are no high chairs here but plenty of space if you have a buggy or a dog.
The variety of walks means you could go every day and not repeat the same route all week. Some routes are much more difficult to navigate with a buggy, but for the most part there are good paths which are clearly signposted. There is a fantastic playground with enough for both little toddlers and larger children to be entertained for ages. It is mostly wooden with an obstacle course and zip line as well as a few tree trunks for exploring. There are also a variety of swings and slides to choose from.
If you come in the spring time, you will see hundreds of lambs all around in the fields. The lake is also home to a variety of ducks, geese, swans and other birds, including kingfishers. There is another smaller pond within the woods which often has ducks and moorhens nesting on. The snowdrops and daffodils are glorious in season and in the winter, Ickworth is stunning in the snow.
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.
Don't miss
■ Discover the extraordinary life of the 4th Earl of Bristol, the Ickworth visionary who built Ickworth House, a man loved and loathed in equal measure, the vagabond star in his own words.
■ Enjoy days out from a great line-up of events throughout the year for all your family and friends.
■ Step back in time, open the drawers, and bang out a tune on the piano in our restored basement.
■ Enjoy special Living History days, Conservation in Action days and Cooks in the Kitchen days throughout the year in the Rotunda House.
■ Discover the enchanting stumpery in the Italianate garden.
■ Wander at leisure across acres of parkland pleasure grounds and chart the changing seasonal landscape.
■ Picnic anywhere you like, but our walled garden and seasonal meadow are especially magical.
■ Have fun with our children's packs providing hours of entertainment every day of the year.
The Rotunda, Horringer, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP29 5QE
01284735270
[email protected]
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ickworth/
The cafe has recently changed hands to become a National Trust run one and is not quite as gluten-free friendly. They have got a list of allergens available for viewing, but there is not much choice. They do, however stock gluten free rolls, and some of the soup is ok. It is always very busy there though so I would recommend bringing a picnic or using the outdoor cafe.
The toilet facilities are not the best. You have to get through the shop and down the stairs or the lift to the basement to get to them. The baby changing room is pretty small and is just a changing room, not a loo. I couldn’t get the buggy in with us. However, the disabled loo is right next door, which has plenty of room. There are other toilets outside near the car park, which are brand new and fantastic.
In the summer there is now an outdoor kiosk with a lovely seating area under the trees. They serve teas and coffees, ice creams, jacket potatoes, sandwiches and cakes. There are no high chairs here but plenty of space if you have a buggy or a dog.
The variety of walks means you could go every day and not repeat the same route all week. Some routes are much more difficult to navigate with a buggy, but for the most part there are good paths which are clearly signposted. There is a fantastic playground with enough for both little toddlers and larger children to be entertained for ages. It is mostly wooden with an obstacle course and zip line as well as a few tree trunks for exploring. There are also a variety of swings and slides to choose from.
If you come in the spring time, you will see hundreds of lambs all around in the fields. The lake is also home to a variety of ducks, geese, swans and other birds, including kingfishers. There is another smaller pond within the woods which often has ducks and moorhens nesting on. The snowdrops and daffodils are glorious in season and in the winter, Ickworth is stunning in the snow.
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.
Don't miss
■ Discover the extraordinary life of the 4th Earl of Bristol, the Ickworth visionary who built Ickworth House, a man loved and loathed in equal measure, the vagabond star in his own words.
■ Enjoy days out from a great line-up of events throughout the year for all your family and friends.
■ Step back in time, open the drawers, and bang out a tune on the piano in our restored basement.
■ Enjoy special Living History days, Conservation in Action days and Cooks in the Kitchen days throughout the year in the Rotunda House.
■ Discover the enchanting stumpery in the Italianate garden.
■ Wander at leisure across acres of parkland pleasure grounds and chart the changing seasonal landscape.
■ Picnic anywhere you like, but our walled garden and seasonal meadow are especially magical.
■ Have fun with our children's packs providing hours of entertainment every day of the year.
The Rotunda, Horringer, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP29 5QE
01284735270
[email protected]
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ickworth/
|
|