Community scarecrow trail at Arlington Court
10 Oct–1 Nov (next week)
Visitors can pick up a free trail sheet and explore Arlington Court’s gardens and grounds, spotting scarecrows made by local schools, community groups and volunteers. The 2026 trail has an animals theme.
Arlington Court is a neoclassical country house in Devon featuring historic architecture, period interiors, and a notable collection of horse-drawn carriages, set within registered Grade II* gardens. It offers indoor tours of the house and carriage museum along with outdoor exploration of the estate and gardens. The venue also provides dining facilities and activities suitable for children.
Creepy Chilterns
7 Oct–2 Nov (another 24 days)
A self-guided trail for children aged 8–12 exploring myths, legends and mysterious folklore of the Chiltern Hills. Participants explore Hughenden’s house and gardens, uncover ghostly tales and local legends, and encounter magical creatures.
Hughenden Manor is a Victorian mansion and former country house of Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, featuring historic rooms, memorabilia, and extensive gardens in Buckinghamshire. Now owned by the National Trust, it offers visitors a blend of indoor historical experience and outdoor natural beauty with views over the valley.
Autumn at Oxburgh; Everyday Histories trail
7 Oct–15 Nov (another 37 days)
Follow one of three trails around Oxburgh Estate’s gardens to discover the stories and working lives of housemaid Ruth English, housekeeper Winifred Cooper and head gardener Fred Greef in the 20th century.
Oxburgh Hall is a moated Tudor country house in Norfolk featuring historic architecture, Victorian additions, notable religious concealments, needlework by Mary, Queen of Scots, and extensive gardens with woodland walks.
Guided garden walks
8–9 Oct, 12–14 Oct…
Volunteer guides lead tours of Dyrham Park’s garden, highlighting seasonal blooms, its history and upcoming projects.
Dyrham Park is a Grade I listed baroque country house and extensive parkland in Gloucestershire, England, featuring historic interiors with Dutch art, 274 acres of gardens, an orangery, and a stable block now a tea room. It offers public access with events and has been a filming location for notable productions.
Sarah Watson art exhibition
7–11 Oct, 14–18 Oct…
An exhibition of landscape artworks by Sarah Watson, including scenes from Lincolnshire to Iceland and two large abstract paintings. The works are displayed around Grantham House.
Grantham House is a historic town house built in 1380, owned by the National Trust, featuring architectural elements from several centuries and set within extensive gardens. Open daily as a community space with free entry, a café, and a second-hand bookshop, it offers visitors a blend of indoor and outdoor experiences with rich historical significance.
Grantham is a historic market town in Lincolnshire known for its rich heritage including the birthplace of Margaret Thatcher and education of Isaac Newton. It offers cultural attractions, historic architecture, riverside walks, and a lively town centre with shops, pubs, and restaurants.
The social season: A Regency year at Mompesson House
9–13 Oct, 16–20 Oct…
Explore Mompesson House dressed to reflect the Portman family’s time there and learn about Regency life and the family’s social calendar. Visitors can see a Regency parlour and children’s playroom, take part in activities, and follow a spotter trail around the house.
Mompesson House is an 18th-century Queen Anne style historic house in Salisbury, Wiltshire, owned by the National Trust. Visitors can explore its carefully restored Georgian interiors and collections of 18th-century decorative arts. The house was also a filming location for the movie Sense and Sensibility.
Wednesday health walk
7 Oct, 14 Oct…
A sociable guided health walk around Gibside, with opportunities to enjoy the views and spot wildlife. The route is adapted to the group and may cover up to five miles.
Gibside is a historic Georgian country estate in Tyne and Wear featuring landscaped parkland, architectural ruins, and restored buildings such as the Palladian chapel and Banqueting House. Visitors can explore both outdoor grounds and significant indoor heritage structures.
Bateman's Park Mill in action
7 Oct, 14 Oct…
Visitors can meet the millers at Bateman’s Park Mill, watch them demonstrate traditional grain grinding, and ask questions about the flour-milling process.
Bateman's is a 17th-century Jacobean house in Burwash, East Sussex, known as the home of Rudyard Kipling. Visitors can explore the house preserved as it was in Kipling's time, including his study and collections, as well as the garden and the historic water mill on the estate.
Tales from The Workhouse
17 Oct, 19 Oct…
Meet costumed characters at The Workhouse and Infirmary, hear stories about the inmates’ lives and see them at their daily tasks. Activities include writing on a slate, helping with washing and learning to pick oakum.
The Workhouse in Southwell, Nottinghamshire, is a well-preserved 19th-century workhouse museum operated by the National Trust, showcasing historic rooms and offering educational programs for children. It highlights historic poor law practices and Victorian-era workhouse life.
Southwell is a historic cathedral and market town in Nottinghamshire, England, known for its beautiful Southwell Minster, rich history, and vibrant cultural festivals such as the Southwell Music Festival and Gate to Southwell Festival.
John Thompson art workshop: Woodland Stream - Sat 17 Oct
17 Oct (next Saturday)
An adults-only, full-day art workshop led by artist John Thompson, where participants create an acrylic painting inspired by nature. The workshop takes place in Nymans’ Potting Shed.
Nymans is a Grade II* listed English garden in West Sussex, featuring extensive woodland, rare plants, and the picturesque ruins of a mock-medieval stone manor. Managed by the National Trust, it showcases a variety of historic horticultural styles and plant collections.
The Gruffalo Art Adventure at Knole
29 Aug–1 Nov (another 23 days)
Visitors can follow a family-friendly trail around Knole’s parkland and into the Orangery to find 12 giant, hand-painted sculptures inspired by The Gruffalo.
The Royal Oak Foundation Conservation Studio is a National Trust conservation workspace housed in a historic medieval barn in Sevenoaks, Kent. It offers visitors a unique indoor experience of seeing expert conservation work on decorative art and exhibits, supported by interactive displays and knowledgeable volunteers.
Sevenoaks is a historic market town in Kent, England, featuring medieval landmarks like Knole House and Knole Park, with commuter rail links to London and a vibrant town centre offering shopping, cultural venues and local food experiences.
Hidden water walk
15 Oct (next Thursday)
Join a guided walk at Dyrham Park to discover its natural springs, hidden water chambers and historic water features, including an underground well and stone structure by the lake.
Dyrham Park is a 17th century stately home with a fine baroque house, extensive ancient parkland, and beautifully maintained gardens featuring formal borders and a wildflower orchard. Visitors can explore the house's history and art collections, enjoy walking trails through the parkland, relax in the tea-room and café, and take part in family-friendly activities including a playground and guided walks.
Halloween half-term at at Carisbrooke Castle
17 Oct–1 Nov
A Halloween half-term event at Carisbrooke Castle featuring family activities including interactive storytelling, spooky games and a themed trail. Visitors can also take part in a daily fancy-dress competition.
Carisbrooke Castle is a historic motte-and-bailey castle on the Isle of Wight known for its 13th-century buildings, Elizabethan fortifications, and as the prison of King Charles I. Visitors can explore the castle's interiors, the Isle of Wight Museum, and outdoor earthworks including a well with a working donkey wheel.
Newport is the county town of the Isle of Wight, known for its historic centre, Roman villa, arts and culture venues, and river quay, offering visitors a lively market town experience with annual music festivals.
Sound to Sketch - The Big Draw
7 Oct, 10–11 Oct…
Visitors can borrow a sketching bag and use its drawing materials to create their own pictures inspired by Tattershall Castle, its towers, moat and grounds.
Our Place, Our Marks - the Big Draw
7 Oct, 10–11 Oct…
Visitors can pause to observe and listen to the surroundings at Tattershall Castle, then use chalk to add their impressions to a shared drawing board. The collaborative artwork develops as visitors contribute throughout the season.
Tattershall College is the ruin of a 15th-century grammar school founded by the 3rd Baron Cromwell in Lincolnshire, featuring remains of Gothic architecture and an adjacent almshouse, now managed as a heritage site.
Apple afternoons - taste the produce
9–10 Oct, 16–17 Oct…
At Gibside’s Walled Garden, gardeners demonstrate pressing apples and talk about the heritage varieties grown there. Visitors can also taste freshly pressed apple juice.
Gibside is a Grade I-listed Georgian landscape garden near Rowlands Gill featuring historic ruins, extensive walking trails, and family-friendly outdoor activities including adventure play areas and den building. The venue includes a café, bookshop, and hosts seasonal events and guided tours, welcoming visitors and dogs alike.
Saved for the Nation
7–11 Oct, 14–18 Oct…
A display celebrating the transfer to the National Trust of two paintings by Sir Joshua Reynolds: portraits of Joanna Leigh and the actor David Garrick. It also explains the Acceptance in Lieu scheme through which the works entered the national collection.
Waddesdon Manor in Buckinghamshire is a French Renaissance-style château set in expansive Victorian gardens featuring ornate fountains, a rococo aviary, and a woodland playground. Visitors can explore the impressive art collection inside the manor, enjoy family-friendly outdoor activities, guided garden walks, and dine at onsite restaurants and cafes.
Pushabout
12 Oct, 9 Nov…
Pushabout is a monthly, volunteer-led walking group for people with pushchair-aged children. Attendees can walk different routes through Clumber Park, usually around three miles on mostly hard-standing paths, and meet other adults.
Clumber Park is a large National Trust country park in Nottinghamshire with extensive outdoor natural areas, gardens, a serpentine lake, and a historic Grade I listed Gothic Revival chapel. Visitors can enjoy indoor exhibitions at the Discovery Centre and the Duke's Study café, alongside exploring vast outdoor parklands and gardens featuring rare plant collections and wildlife habitats.
George Maw’s Global Suitcase Journey
10–12 Oct, 17–19 Oct…
Follow a Victorian-style passport trail around Benthall Hall and its garden, discovering George Maw’s travels, plant and fossil collecting, and inspiration for his tile designs. Suitcases around the site contain activities, objects to look at and passport stamps.
Benthall Hall is a 16th-century English country house in Shropshire, featuring fine oak interiors, historic gardens, and connections to the English Civil War, open to the public seasonally under the National Trust.
Telford is a planned new town in Shropshire, England, known for its strong industrial heritage and proximity to the Ironbridge Gorge UNESCO World Heritage Site. It features a bustling town centre with shopping, cultural amenities, and extensive parkland, surrounded by historic towns and scenic landscapes.
Stranger Folk at Quarry Bank
7 Oct–1 Nov (another 23 days)
Visitors can use the Stranger Folk app to take part in an outdoor interactive adventure inspired by British folklore, featuring goblins and other creatures. The app is designed for children aged 7–12.
Quarry Bank Mill in Cheshire is a well-preserved historic textile mill from the Industrial Revolution, featuring working waterwheel machinery, factory and worker village tours, and exhibits on industrial heritage and child apprentices. It is operated as a museum by National Trust.
Wilmslow is a historic market town in Cheshire known for its quaint town centre, rich cultural heritage, access to railway services, local festivals, and a variety of shopping and dining experiences including luxury car showrooms.
Buckland 75 Exhibition
7 Oct–1 Nov (another 23 days)
An exhibition marking 75 years of Buckland Abbey welcoming visitors, reflecting on its significance to the local community and visitors. Attendees can share memories and stories of the abbey.
Buckland Abbey is a 700-year-old Grade I listed former Cistercian abbey in Devon, converted to a historic house museum notable for its connection to Sir Francis Drake. Visitors can explore the unique architecture, museum collections, and extensive grounds including historic barns and gardens.
Natural Craft Event: Autumnal Wall Hanging
14 Oct (next Wednesday)
Create an autumn-themed wall hanging using leaves, seed heads, pine cones and other natural materials. The indoor workshop provides the materials and guides participants through the process step by step.
Wentworth Castle is a Grade I listed historic country house in South Yorkshire, England, featuring extensive gardens, parkland, and a notable sham ruin folly. The site includes indoor heritage and outdoor landscaped gardens managed by a partnership including the National Trust. Visitors can explore restored historic interiors, formal gardens, and naturalistic landscapes.
The Garden of Curious Creatures | October Half Term Family Trail
17 Oct–1 Nov
Families can follow a trail through Attingham Park’s Walled Garden, completing challenges set by curious creatures and collecting ingredients for a pretend potion to help Kimberley the Kraken. Trail sheets include a painting set prize.
Attingham Park is a Grade I listed neoclassical stately home near Atcham, Shropshire, set within 4,000 acres including 640 acres of parkland and gardens landscaped by Humphry Repton. The estate features historical architecture, rare Georgian garden spaces, extensive deer parkland, and offers visitors both indoor tours of the mansion and outdoor exploration of the grounds, with food available onsite.
Mischief in Miniature
7 Oct–13 Dec (another 65 days)
Visitors explore Hill Top to spot needle-felted mice and miniature scenes inspired by Beatrix Potter’s The Tale of Two Bad Mice.
Hill Top Farm is a 17th-century historic house museum in Cumbria, England, that was once home to Beatrix Potter. Visitors can explore the preserved interior rooms furnished as in Potter's time and enjoy the surrounding garden maintained in the style of her illustrations. The venue offers a unique insight into the life and works of the beloved children's author in a picturesque Lakeland village setting.
Wellbeing walk at Coventry Charterhouse
15 Oct, 12 Nov
A guided wellbeing walk led by the Charterhouse Head Gardener through Charterhouse Heritage Park and its gardens, focusing on the area’s nature, beauty and distinctiveness.
Coventry is a historic cathedral city in the West Midlands, England, known for its iconic Coventry Cathedral with both a war-ravaged old spire and a modern new building. The city features cultural attractions including the Herbert Art Gallery, Coventry Transport Museum, and numerous theatres. Visitors can enjoy parks, festivals, and rich heritage linked to industry and the arts. Coventry also offers diverse shopping and dining experiences, and is celebrated as the UK City of Culture 2021.
'The Polar Failure': Uncovering the hidden images of the 1875 Arctic expedition
7 Oct 2026–28 Jun 2027 (another 262 days)
An immersive exhibition at Hughenden Manor explores Britain’s 1875 Arctic expedition through more than 100 historic photographs, rare objects and narration. Visitors can learn about the journey and the experiences of the crews of HMS Alert and HMS Discovery.
West Wycombe is a historic village in Buckinghamshire known for its National Trust properties including West Wycombe Park, caves, the Mausoleum on the hill, and St Lawrence's Church with a unique golden globe tower. The village has notable historical architecture and attracts tourists with its blend of indoor exhibits and outdoor heritage sites.
Garden and abbey tour
7 Oct–1 Nov (another 23 days)
A volunteer-guided tour explores Studley Royal Water Garden and the abbey ruins, explaining the garden’s design and its place in the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The tour lasts about 90 minutes.
The Church of St Mary, Studley Royal, is a Victorian Gothic Revival church built in Early English style by architect William Burges. Situated within Studley Royal Park near Fountains Abbey, North Yorkshire, it was constructed as a memorial to Frederick Vyner. The church is renowned for its rich interior, fine stained-glass windows, and status as a Grade I listed building.
Folde Deeper – Wellbeing Retreat
17 Oct (next Saturday)
A full-day wellbeing retreat led by movement teacher Carl Faure, combining guided movement, breathwork and relaxation with a seasonal lunch, woodland sauna and cold plunge, time outdoors and a closing fire circle. No previous experience is needed.
Borde Hill is a Grade II* listed English Heritage Garden set within 383 acres of woodland and parkland, famous for its diverse collection of unusual trees and shrubs and distinct garden 'rooms'. Visitors can enjoy scenic views, wheelchair accessible facilities, and family-friendly amenities including a cafe and picnic area.
Autumn Talks at Emmetts Garden – SUNDAY DAY PASS STANDARD
18 Oct (next Sunday)
A full-day pass provides access to four talks at Emmetts Garden, covering seasonal nature, science, wellbeing and the natural world, including an opportunity to explore meteorites. Each talk is followed by a Q&A session.
Emmetts Garden is an Edwardian estate featuring six acres of arboretum and gardens on a high sandstone ridge near Ide Hill, Kent, offering expansive views and a rose garden next to a Victorian house, though the house is not open to the public.
Parkrun at Bolberry Down
10 Oct, 17 Oct…
A free weekly 5km parkrun at Bolberry Down, open to people running, jogging or walking the route, which follows a tarmac path and coast path with sea views.
Bolberry Down is a scenic clifftop area in South Devon offering coastal views over the English Channel, owned by the National Trust and situated within a protected natural area.
Tyntesfield book club (sorry, group full)
13 Oct, 10 Nov
A monthly book club at Tyntesfield where members discuss books chosen by the group. The two-hour meetings are led by Bookshop volunteers and include a break for refreshments.
Tyntesfield is a Victorian Gothic Revival house surrounded by 540 acres of estate including woodland, gardens, and play areas, offering both indoor and outdoor experiences. Visitors can enjoy guided tours of the house, explore walking trails, dine at cafés and a restaurant, shop for gifts, and bring dogs on leads to designated areas. Accessibility features include a mobility shuttle, accessible routes, and wheelchair provision.
Yoga at Grantham House
9–10 Oct, 16–17 Oct…
A gentle vinyasa flow yoga class led by Grow Your Wings Yoga, with mindful movement and breathing in Grantham House’s restored rooms or outdoor spaces depending on the weather.
Belton House is a Grade I listed English country house in Lincolnshire, surrounded by formal gardens and a deer park. It offers indoor attractions including historic rooms, exhibitions, and a restaurant in the restored stables, alongside outdoor experiences in its extensive gardens, parkland, and adventure playground for families.
The Woodlands in Winter and Woodland Management
15 Oct (next Thursday)
Join a guided walk through RHS Garden Rosemoor’s woodlands to learn about its woodland management plan, management objectives and plans for resilient woodland. The route includes an area not normally open to the public and covers uneven terrain.
RHS Garden Rosemoor in Devon offers beautiful seasonal gardens with accessible paths, a restaurant, café, and a garden centre. It welcomes dogs on specific days and supports group visits. The garden provides a diverse visitor experience both indoors and outdoors.
Free Wednesday Social Walks
2 Sep, 9 Sep…
Free Wednesday Social Walks are weekly social walks around Longshaw led by experienced guides. The walks cover around 5 miles and start at the Welcome Building in Woodcroft car park, ending at Longshaw Café. They provide an opportunity to meet people, discover the countryside, and build walking confidence. Booking is advisable but drop-ins are welcome if space permits. Dogs on leads are allowed, and children over 8 years old can participate.
Longshaw Estate is a historic moorland and woodland area in the Peak District with outdoor trails, a tea room, shop, and indoor discovery centre offering wildlife and estate-related events. It features ancient settlements, historic guidestoops, and hosts traditional sheepdog trials.
Apple Day
18 Oct (next Sunday)
Apple Day at Shaw’s Corner celebrates the garden’s historic orchard with tastings of heritage apple varieties, a gardener’s advice stall and guided tours of the orchard and garden. Children can join in apple-themed games.
Shaw's Corner is the preserved home of George Bernard Shaw in Hertfordshire, showcasing his Edwardian Arts and Crafts house, original interiors, garden, and unique writing hut.
Meet the Marchers
17–18 Oct (next weekend)
The Marcher Stuarts present what day-to-day life was like in the 17th century, answering visitors’ questions and offering advice on topics such as dining etiquette and keeping gunpowder dry.
Tretower Castle is a Grade I-listed ruined castle in Powys, Wales, featuring a 12th-century motte and bailey design with a prominent 13th-century cylindrical keep and stone bailey walls with towers. Visitors can explore the historic ruins set in a triangular plan, reflecting its medieval military origins.
The Big Draw: Drawing Sessions
7 Oct, 14 Oct…
Join a volunteer-led drawing session in Croome’s Long Gallery, where participants can draw alongside others and pick up tips and techniques. The session is part of The Big Draw Festival.
Croome is a historic estate in Worcestershire featuring an 18th-century house, extensive Capability Brown-designed parkland and gardens, a WWII RAF museum, and facilities including a cafe and shop. Visitors can enjoy indoor exhibits, outdoor trails, family play areas, and accessible amenities.
Breathwork in the Forest
18 Oct, 1 Nov…
A breathwork class in Hatfield Forest using a variety of breathing techniques to promote relaxation, manage stress and support emotional wellbeing.
Hatfield Forest is a 403-hectare medieval Royal Hunting Forest in Essex, managed by the National Trust, offering extensive woodlands, ancient trees, diverse wildlife, archaeological sites, and accessible walking trails in an outdoor nature reserve experience.
Rudyard Kipling introductory talks
6–30 Oct (another 21 days)
A short outdoor introductory talk gives an overview of Rudyard Kipling’s life, family and writing, and explains his connection to Bateman’s before visitors go inside the house.
Pashley Manor Gardens offers 11 acres of beautifully maintained English country gardens surrounding a historic Grade I listed manor house. Visitors can enjoy seasonal displays of flowers including tulips, roses, and dahlias, art exhibitions, and a café with garden views. The site provides good wheelchair accessibility and facilities including accessible parking and toilets. Admission is free for Historic Houses members, with fees for others, especially during the annual Tulip Festival.
Hidden Treasure at Greenway: The silk jacket
7 Oct–1 Nov (another 23 days)
Visitors can see a silk jacket worn by Agatha Christie's mother, Clarissa, displayed for the first time after conservation. The display explores the jacket's motifs and its place in the Greenway collection.
Greenway House is a historic Georgian estate on the River Dart in Devon, once home to Agatha Christie. Visitors can explore the house, riverside gardens with diverse plants, and the Barn Gallery showcasing local art, with connections to Christie's literary legacy.
House of Discovery Exhibition at Dyffryn Gardens
7–10 Oct, 14–17 Oct…
An exhibition in the Morning Room of Dyffryn House explores the house’s history and the conservation and restoration work being carried out there.
Tinkinswood Burial Chamber is a Neolithic dolmen located in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, notable for its massive stone capstone and historical significance as a communal burial site dating back to around 4000 BC. Visitors can explore the outdoor stone structure and nearby stone avenues associated with ancient burial practices.
Specialist Talk - Wreck of The Phoenix
18 Oct (next Sunday)
A 30-minute specialist talk about the wreck of the Phoenix, captained by Admiral Hyde-Parker II, and the seafaring adventures of the Hyde Parker family.
Melford Hall is a historic Grade I listed stately home in Suffolk with 16th-century origins and Tudor architecture. Owned by the National Trust and open to the public seasonally, it offers a blend of both indoor historic house tours and extensive outdoor grounds hosting events.
Nordic Walking for Parkinson’s
12 Oct, 19 Oct…
A weekly Nordic walking programme at Kingston Lacy for people living with Parkinson’s, offering guided walks, support and advice on staying active. The programme begins with a four-week introductory course, followed by weekly Wellness Walks.
Kingston Lacy in Dorset is an opulent family home styled as a Venetian Palace, surrounded by extensive gardens and an 8,500-acre estate featuring heathland, hill forts and rare cattle breeds. Visitors can explore the house's remarkable art collection and ancient Egyptian artefacts, enjoy child-friendly play areas, café dining, and guided garden tours. The venue offers a mix of indoor and outdoor experiences with good accessibility and dog-friendly outdoor areas.
Forest Bathing with Amanda from Let's Step In
17 Oct, 21 Nov
A guided forest-bathing experience at Alderley Edge, introducing the mindful Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku through a gentle walk and nature-based activities. Participants are guided to slow down, engage their senses and take away practices for continuing their connection with nature.
Alderley Edge offers an outdoor experience with dramatic scenery including a red sandstone escarpment, scenic countryside walks, and historical sites such as a Bronze Age burial mound. Visitors can explore wildlife-rich woodlands and enjoy a locally-run tea room on site. The venue is dog friendly and offers activities suitable for children.
Painting Workshops
17 Oct, 1 Nov…
A guided acrylic painting workshop led by Easely Does It, with step-by-step instruction, demonstrations and individual support. Participants create a canvas to take home; no previous painting experience is needed.
West Wycombe Park in Buckinghamshire features a historic Palladian mansion open for guided tours, surrounded by 45 acres of landscaped gardens, a charming 16th to 18th-century village, and scenic hilltop views. Visitors can enjoy cultural events, family-friendly trails, and refreshment options in the village.
Guided Walk from Gunby to Bratoft Manor
10–11 Oct, 17–18 Oct…
Join a guided, three-mile walk from Gunby to Bratoft Manor, passing through the former medieval village of Gunby. A guide shares information about the estate’s history and natural features along the route.
Gunby Hall is a Grade I listed historic country house in Lincolnshire featuring significant art collections and Victorian walled gardens set within a Capability Brown styled park. The estate includes a clock tower, a stable block, and an active parish church on site, offering a combined indoor and outdoor visitor experience.
Free Tour Mondays at Chedworth Roman Villa
2 Mar, 9 Mar…
A one-hour guided tour of Chedworth Roman Villa explores why it was built, its possible owners, how its way of life was sustained, and what its discovery and recent excavations have revealed. Tours run hourly from 11am to 2pm on Mondays from March to October 2026.
Chedworth Roman Villa is a large and elaborate Roman villa near Chedworth in Gloucestershire featuring mosaic floors, heated baths, and a nymphaeum spring shrine, showcasing elite Romano-British life from 2nd to 5th century. It offers indoor archaeological remains and outdoor grounds for visitors to explore.
Grantham Arts – Small Pumpkin Arrangement Workshop
18 Oct (next Sunday)
Participants learn to create a fresh flower arrangement in a pumpkin, making an autumn-inspired centrepiece to take home. The workshop is led by the Fairview Floristry team at Grantham Arts.
Harlaxton Manor is a large Victorian-era manor house in Lincolnshire, renowned for its unique blend of Elizabethan, Jacobean, and Baroque architectural styles, with accessible interior facilities and historic tours available by appointment.
Guided Walk: Ancient Trees and Magnificent Murals
12 Oct, 19 Oct…
A volunteer-led, two-hour walk explores Sizergh’s ancient trees, farmland and limestone woodland, with views over the Lyth Valley and Lake District fells, and a visit to the historic mural at St John’s Church.
Sizergh Castle is a Grade I listed stately home and historic house museum in Cumbria, England, featuring Elizabethan and Georgian architecture with notable oak interiors and portraits. Visitors can explore both the castle's historic indoor spaces and its extensive outdoor gardens and estate, which includes the largest limestone rock garden held by the National Trust.
Stranger Folk at Woodchester Park
7 Oct–8 Nov (another 30 days)
Visitors use the Stranger Folk app to follow an interactive folklore adventure around Woodchester Park, guided by the Crone and completing challenges to close a rift between worlds. The activity can take around 20 minutes or be extended into a day-long walk.
Woodchester Mansion is a unique unfinished Victorian Gothic house set in a beautiful Cotswold valley, offering visitors insight into its architectural construction and bat colonies, with accessible grounds and private tours available. It combines an indoor exploration of the mansion with outdoor parkland and picnic areas.
Autumn Wreath Making Workshop
17 Oct (next Saturday)
Participants make a 14-inch moss-based autumn wreath in a two-hour workshop led by a florist and gardener, using sustainably sourced foliage and seasonal materials. Materials are provided, and the ticket includes refreshments and Garden entry.
Wakehurst is a historic estate in West Sussex featuring a late 16th-century mansion, extensive botanic gardens, and the international Millennium Seed Bank. Visitors can explore the gardens and mansion, enjoy the woodland and wetland conservation areas, and dine onsite. It offers a rich horticultural experience including the largest Christmas tree in England and national plant collections.
Stranger Folk at Ickworth Estate
13 Oct–8 Nov (next week)
Visitors use the Stranger Folk app to follow the Crone’s guidance on a folklore-themed Halloween adventure at Ickworth Estate, helping close gaps between the world of folklore and the real world.
Ickworth House is a notable neoclassical country house near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, set in extensive parkland with historic ancient trees. Visitors can explore the house's art collections, Regency furniture, and architectural features, as well as the nearby Ickworth Church and parkland. The house also hosts events in its renovated West Wing.
Stepping into Parkinson’s and nature: walking programme
7 Sep, 14 Sep…
A 12-week walking programme at Kingston Lacy for people living with Parkinson’s, with weekly walks that gradually build in pace while participants connect with nature. Sessions also offer activity advice and support from volunteer walk leaders.
Kingston Lacy is a historic 17th-century Italianate country house and estate near Wimborne Minster, Dorset, featuring extensive formal gardens, parkland, and a significant fine art collection. The house offers a blend of indoor tours with finely decorated interiors and outdoor exploration of its historic gardens and grounds.
(In)tangible
7 Oct, 10–14 Oct…
Tracy Hill’s site-specific art installation explores the role of fungi and lichen in shaping the environment and understanding climate change. Visitors can experience the installation in the house gallery.
Allan Bank is a Grade II* listed historic villa in Cumbria, England, known for its connection to William Wordsworth and other literary figures. Located in the Lake District, it offers both indoor historical house exploration and outdoor garden experiences with red squirrels. The property is owned by the National Trust and open to the public.
Carvery Lunch
18 Oct (next Sunday)
A two-course carvery lunch at Hilltop Lodge, with a choice of roast meats or a vegetarian Wellington followed by dessert. The event takes place on 18 October 2026.
RHS Garden Hyde Hall is a large garden in Essex featuring extensive collections of plants and shrubs, wide-open views of the countryside, and accessible paths. Visitors can enjoy on-site dining at two cafés and a garden centre offering plants and gifts. Entry requires a ticket or RHS membership, with discounts for car-free travel.
See Winchester City Mill’s New Waterwheel Turning
17 Oct, 25 Oct…
Visitors can watch Winchester City Mill’s newly installed historic waterwheel turn during test sessions, ahead of the Mill’s return to milling.
Winchester City Mill is a restored watermill from 1744 in Winchester, offering historical water-powered flour milling, weekend demonstrations, a café, and wildlife viewing including otters.
The Pikachu Art Adventure at Ickworth Estate
7 Oct–8 Nov (another 30 days)
Visitors can explore 30 Pikachu cards illustrated by different artists, learn facts about the character and design their own Pokémon trading card.
The Abbey of Bury St Edmunds is the ruins of a once wealthy Benedictine monastery in Suffolk, England, known for its historical importance, large medieval gatehouses, and surrounding Abbey Gardens. Visitors can explore the outdoor remains and gardens, reflecting its rich history as a pilgrimage site and monastic center.
Autumn Photography Walk
17 Oct (next Saturday)
Join volunteer photographers and fungi enthusiasts on a walk through Clumber Park to explore autumn colours and fungi, with photography tips and information about the park.
Clumber Park in Nottinghamshire offers a vast 3,800-acre estate of historic parkland, gardens, woodlands, and a large lake, featuring indoor attractions like a Gothic Revival chapel and a discovery centre alongside extensive outdoor trails and gardens. The venue is accessible, dog-friendly, family-friendly, and has food facilities available, making it an ideal destination for both relaxation and exploration.
Autumn trail: Become a nature detective at Dyrham Park with 'There's No Deer Around Here'
7 Oct–1 Nov (another 23 days)
Families can follow an outdoor nature trail around Dyrham Park, using a booklet inspired by the children's picture book to look for clues and signs of wildlife.
Hamswell House is a historic 16th-century house offering exclusive marquee weddings surrounded by 50 acres of gardens and private land with panoramic valley views, featuring wheelchair access and outdoor as well as indoor spaces.
Cycle hire at Wallington (September to 1 November)
10–11 Oct, 17–18 Oct…
Visitors can hire a range of bikes, including children’s bikes and trikes, to explore the Dragon cycle trail at Wallington.
Wallington Hall is a Grade I listed Palladian country house with rococo interiors and historic murals set in 100 acres of parkland and gardens in Northumberland, featuring wildlife reintroductions and cultural heritage exhibits.
Murder mystery evening at Castle Ward
16 Oct (next Friday)
Guests investigate the fictional 1900 death of a servant at Castle Ward, questioning suspects and gathering clues to solve the mystery. The evening includes welcome drinks, followed by drinks and canapés after the investigation.
Strangford Lough is the UK's largest sea lough and a key wildlife habitat offering outstanding outdoor experiences including wildlife watching, coastal and woodland walks, and boat trips. It features mixed terrains with some wheelchair accessible paths and multiple car parks around the area. Dogs are welcome but should be kept under control.
Stranger Folk at Belton
10 Oct–1 Nov (next week)
Families can use the Stranger Folk app to follow a story-led outdoor adventure around Belton Estate, completing activities to help seal a rift between the human and spirit worlds. The app is recommended for children aged 7 to 11.
Autumn Nature Ramble at Heigham Holmes
18 Oct (next Sunday)
Join a ranger for a guided nature walk across the swing bridge to Heigham Holmes, a wildlife reserve in the Broads. The route explores its wetlands, grazing marshes, woodland and pools, where visitors may see birds and other wildlife.
Horsey Windpump is a restored historic drainage windmill located in the village of Horsey, Norfolk, managed by the National Trust. Visitors can enjoy the outdoor experience of exploring the windpump and surrounding nature walks with views over Horsey Mere and access to the nearby beach.
Dark Cornwall presents Kalan Gwav at Trelissick
17 Oct–1 Nov
Visitors can explore an immersive celebration of Cornish folklore, with mythological figures and installations throughout Trelissick’s garden and house. The programme also includes a high fantasy art exhibition, storytelling and games on selected dates.
Trelissick is a historic stately home and extensive garden located in Cornwall, England, owned by the National Trust. Visitors can explore both the house and its exceptional gardens featuring rare plants, woodland walks, and scenic estuary views within a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Garden Tours
18 Oct (next Sunday)
A volunteer-led tour of Fenton House’s garden explores its history and development, including its seasonal blooms and ongoing garden work.
Fenton House is a 17th-century merchant's house in Hampstead, North London, featuring historically significant interiors, a notable collection of early keyboard instruments, paintings, and porcelain, alongside extensive walled gardens including an orchard and kitchen garden. It offers visitors a combined indoor and outdoor heritage experience.
Introductory House Tours
7 Oct–1 Nov (another 23 days)
Join a Croome house volunteer for a 45-minute introductory tour exploring the house’s varied history. Tours take place on the ground floor, with sessions at midday and 2pm.
Croome Court is a historic 18th-century Neo-Palladian mansion with interiors by Robert Adam, set within extensive landscaped parkland designed by Capability Brown. Visitors can explore the grand house, its restored walled gardens, and a wide range of follies and temples throughout the park, all managed by the National Trust.
Meet the gardeners: The Mulberry Garden Project
27 Sep, 8 Oct…
Bateman’s gardeners give a short talk about the Mulberry Garden Project, covering the planned changes, the historical research behind them and how the project reflects the garden during Rudyard Kipling’s lifetime. Attendees can ask questions about the project.
Fused Glass Workshop with Suzie Lavender: Taster Session & Glass Garlands
18 Oct (next Sunday)
Glass artist Suzie Lavender leads a beginner-friendly fused-glass workshop at Wightwick Manor, with a morning taster session making two creations and an afternoon session to design a hanging glass garland. Participants’ work is kiln-fired after the workshop and can be collected later or posted.
Wightwick Manor is a Victorian era Arts and Crafts house near Wolverhampton, showcasing original William Morris designs and a significant Pre-Raphaelite art collection, set in 17 acres of gardens and woodland with an additional De Morgan Gallery in the adjoining Old Manor. It is owned by the National Trust and open to the public with a café and shops onsite.
Halloween best dressed costume competition at Bodiam Castle
10–11 Oct, 17–18 Oct…
Visitors can dress up in Halloween costumes, take spooky photos and enter the best-dressed competition in Bodiam Castle’s courtyard.
Bodiam Castle is a 14th-century moated castle in East Sussex, England, known for its distinctive quadrangular design with towers and battlements. Set in a landscaped environment with an ornamental moat, it showcases medieval architecture and history. The castle is a ruin open to the public under the care of the National Trust and has been featured in films and television.
Behind Closed Doors: Cellars, Stores, and State Rooms
14 Oct (next Wednesday)
Join Shugborough’s house and collections team for a behind-the-scenes tour of the Mansion, with access to normally restricted areas including the state bedroom, cellars and basement. The tour also explores conservation work on the building and its collection.
Shugborough Estate in Staffordshire offers a blend of indoor and outdoor experiences including tours of a Georgian mansion, expansive gardens, parkland, and a working model farm. It features accessible facilities, food outlets, family-friendly activities, and dog-friendly grounds across 900 acres of historic and natural landscapes.
Taith Gerdded Ffwng Gwyllt gyda Discover the Wild | Wild Fungi Walk with Discover the Wild
17 Oct, 21 Oct
Join fungi expert David Winnard for a guided autumn walk through Bodnant Garden, learning how to identify fungi and about their role in nature and local habitats.
Bodnant Garden is a large National Trust hillside garden in Conwy, Wales, renowned for its extensive plant collections, historic terraces, woodland areas, and the longest Laburnum arch in the UK. Visitors can explore formal gardens, riverside areas, and woodland with a variety of rare plants and trees.
Sun, stars and planets
17 Oct, 21 Nov…
Kernow Astronomers guide visitors in observing the sun safely through telescopes before sunset, followed by the moon, stars and planets as they appear.
Carnewas and Bedruthan Steps offers spectacular north Cornish coastline views with access to rocky beaches, historic mining heritage, and protected natural landscape. Maintained by the National Trust, it features a shop and café, coastal walks, and stargazing opportunities as a Dark Sky site.
Stranger Folk Digital Adventure
7 Oct–8 Nov (another 30 days)
A mobile-app adventure for ages 7–12 in The Vyne’s gardens, where teams follow a guide and complete creative tasks to find the Stranger Folk and decide their fate.
The Vyne in Hampshire is a historic Tudor mansion with royal connections set within extensive gardens, meadows, and ancient woodlands. Visitors can explore opulent state rooms, enjoy family-friendly outdoor activities, and attend outdoor theatre and cinema events. On-site facilities include a tea-room and a gift shop, with accessibility features and dog-friendly areas.
Stranger Folk – A digital adventure
8–13 Oct, 15–20 Oct…
Families with children aged 7–12 can use the Stranger Folk app to follow a folklore-themed adventure at Moseley Old Hall, completing magical tasks and solving a riddle together. The adventure can be played in around 20 minutes or spread throughout the day.
Moseley Old Hall is a historic house and museum in Staffordshire, notable as a hiding place of Charles II during his escape in 1651. Visitors can explore the restored early 17th-century hall with period furniture and an enclosed 17th-century-style garden, all managed by the National Trust.
Bat Trail at the Old Battery
17 Oct–1 Nov
Families can follow a Halloween-season trail at The Needles Old Battery with Victorian soldier and naturalist Gunner Bruce, investigating bat sightings through activities including examining bat droppings and exploring a creepy-crawly feast.
The Needles are distinctive chalk sea stacks off the Isle of Wight, featuring a historic lighthouse, scenic boat tours, and former military sites including batteries and a rocket test site, all accessible to the public and protected within natural and scientific conservation areas.
Abbey tour
7 Oct–1 Nov (another 23 days)
Join a volunteer guide for a one-hour tour of Fountains Abbey’s monastic ruins, exploring the abbey’s history and the daily routines of the monks who lived there.
Fountains Abbey is a historic ruined Cistercian monastery near Ripon, North Yorkshire, with architecture dating from the 12th century. It is part of Studley Royal Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, featuring landscaped gardens and industrial heritage. The site is owned by the National Trust and maintained by English Heritage, offering visitors extensive ruins, exhibitions, and scenic outdoor areas.
Garden Tours - Afternoons
7–9 Oct, 12–16 Oct…
Join a guided tour through Sizergh’s garden to learn about its history and development, current and future projects, and seasonal highlights.
Levens Hall is an Elizabethan manor house in Kendal, Cumbria, known for its historic interior and extensive, world-famous topiary gardens dating from the 17th century. Visitors can explore the house and gardens, enjoy the picnic areas, cafe, and shop, with facilities suitable for children and wheelchair access.
Halloween at Gibson Mill
7–31 Oct (another 22 days)
Halloween at Gibson Mill is a family event featuring spooky decorations, photo opportunities and Halloween-themed games. Visitors can take part in self-led arts and crafts activities, with pumpkin decorating offered during the final weekend.
Hardcastle Crags is a large woodland beauty spot in West Yorkshire featuring more than 15 miles of trails, historic Gibson Mill with its sustainable off-grid building housing a café and bookshop, and a variety of outdoor activities including orienteering and wildlife watching. The site offers facilities for dogs and is accessible with an emphasis on natural and industrial heritage.
Art Exhibition by Sophie Anderson
1 Sep–30 Nov (another 52 days)
An exhibition of local artist Sophie Anderson’s paintings, inspired by the landscapes and changing light of Penwith’s coastline and moors. The works use pastel, oil and mixed media.
Botallack Mine is a historic former submarine tin and copper mine located in Cornwall, England. It features iconic cliffside engine house ruins and extensive underground tunnels beneath the Atlantic Ocean. The site is part of the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape UNESCO World Heritage Site and is owned by the National Trust. Visitors can explore the striking industrial heritage setting along the South West Coast Path. The mine has cultural significance and has served as a filming location for the Poldark television series.
Online Talks: The Art of Wallpaper
13 Oct, 20 Oct
This online series features talks by historians, artists, designers and conservation specialists exploring wallpaper, its design history, craftsmanship and production, and the legacy of Morris & Co. Attendees can book individual live Zoom talks, which are also recorded for later viewing.
Watts Gallery is an arts and crafts gallery and historic house in Surrey showcasing works of Victorian painter and sculptor George Frederic Watts, with extensive woodland gardens, a historic chapel, craft activities for families, and a tea shop.
Live music at Wallington
18 Oct (next Sunday)
Tonewood performs live music in the House at Wallington, with the performance taking place in the Central Hall.
Wildlife art trail at Parke
7 Oct–1 Nov (another 23 days)
Visitors can follow a trail around the Parke Estate to find six large wildlife artworks created by pupils as part of an environmental project, and learn about the project and the featured native species.
Parke is a peaceful woodland estate near Bovey Tracey, Devon, offering scenic walks, a walled garden, riverside wildlife, and a café. It's ideal for outdoor activities, dog walking, and family-friendly exploration close to Dartmoor's edge.
Bovey Tracey is a historic market town in Devon on the edge of Dartmoor, known for its listed buildings, crafts, festivals, and outdoor activities.
Money, Murder and Marriage at Newton House
8 Oct, 13 Oct…
A one-hour guided tour with the Welcome Team explores the Rhys family history at Newton House, including its ownership, a near-murder and how marriage contributed to the family’s fortunes.
Newton House is a Grade II* listed historic country house in Carmarthenshire, Wales, partially owned by the National Trust. Visitors can explore beautifully restored interiors with exhibitions, enjoy a tearoom, and walk the surrounding Capability Brown landscaped deer park with rare wildlife. The house is famous for its Gothic architecture and reputed hauntings.
Guided parkland walks
8–9 Oct, 12–16 Oct…
A volunteer guide leads a walk through Dyrham Park’s 270 acres of parkland, sharing information about the deer herd, the site’s history and archaeology, and how the parkland is managed.
Sir Bevil Grenville's Monument is an 18th-century historic monument located on Lansdown Hill near Bath, commemorating the Royalist commander Sir Bevil Grenville, who was mortally wounded in the 1643 Battle of Lansdowne during the English Civil War. The outdoor monument stands 25 feet tall, featuring inscriptions and heraldic symbols, and is a protected Grade II* listed and scheduled ancient monument.
[SOLD OUT] Willow Reindeer Workshop
17 Oct (next Saturday)
Participants learn basic willow-weaving techniques with guidance to make a festive reindeer decoration, approximately 2–3 feet tall, to take home. Materials are provided during the full-day workshop.
This charming garden in a quiet valley near Dartmoor National Park features a historic walled garden with terraces, medieval ruins, and diverse plantings including wildflower meadows and an arboretum. It offers refreshments and plant sales, with free access for RHS members on specific days.
The Art of Wallpaper: Morris & Co.
8 Oct–9 Dec (another 61 days)
An exhibition exploring William Morris and Morris & Co.’s wallpaper designs, craftsmanship and influence on Victorian and modern interiors. Visitors can view original wallpapers, a film and a contemporary artwork, and try a hands-on pattern-tracing activity.
Loseley Park’s Walled Garden in Guildford offers a summer garden experience with diverse themed sections including a rose garden, white garden, and organic vegetable garden, set within two and a half acres of pathways. The garden has parking, refreshments, and plant sales available but only allows assistance dogs.
Myriad by Architects of Air
16–25 Oct
Visitors can wander through Myriad, an inflatable luminarium by Architects of Air, exploring winding tunnels and soaring spaces filled with coloured light. The experience draws inspiration from natural forms, geometry and architecture.
Sudbury Hall is a historic Restoration-era English country house in Derbyshire with a renowned Great Staircase and fine art collection, featuring a National Trust Museum of Childhood that offers interactive and child-friendly exhibits within its restored interiors and surrounding grounds.
Secrets of the Old Hall Tour
17 Oct (next Saturday)
A guided tour of Tatton’s fifteenth-century Old Hall explores the building and its history across five centuries, including its atmosphere and ghost stories.
Tatton Park is a historic estate in Cheshire featuring a neoclassical mansion, extensive formal and natural gardens, a large deer park, and a working farm showcasing rare breeds. Visitors can enjoy indoor tours of the mansion, outdoor exploration of gardens and parkland, and family-friendly activities including a children's playground and various events throughout the year.
Anglo-Saxon costume demonstration
7 Oct, 10 Oct…
Historic costume volunteers demonstrate Anglo-Saxon clothing and accessory-making skills, including spinning, dyeing, leatherwork, basket making and weaving.
Sutton Hoo is a historic estate featuring the Anglo-Saxon Royal Burial Ground with a viewing tower, Tranmer House museum, and the High Hall exhibition. Visitors can explore woodland trails, enjoy on-site food and shopping, and participate in family-friendly activities including an adventure playground.
Magical Potion trail at Antony
7–8 Oct, 13–15 Oct…
Visitors follow clues through Antony’s house and gardens to find ingredients for an enchanted potion. Halloween costumes are encouraged.
Antony House is an early 18th-century Grade I listed historic house museum in Cornwall, featuring fine 18th-century furnishings and a notable art collection. It is complemented by Georgian landscaped gardens and a large woodland garden with walking paths, offering both indoor and outdoor visitor experiences.
Torpoint is a planned town on the Rame Peninsula in southeast Cornwall, notable for its ferry link to Plymouth, historical roots, and naval training connections offering a scenic riverside visit.
Belton Acorns - Pushchair Friendly Walk
15 Oct, 19 Nov
A volunteer-led walking group for adults with or caring for pushchair-aged children, offering seasonal routes of up to 5 km and a chance to meet others and build basic fitness. The walks are designed to be pushchair-friendly and last up to 1.5 hours.
Sketching in the spaces; A Place at the table
15 Oct (next Thursday)
An after-hours still-life sketching session in Oxburgh Hall’s Drawing Room, using silver and glass tableware from the collection as inspiration. Basic sketching materials are available, though the session is not taught by an artist.
Barton Bendish Hall is an early 20th century Odd Fellows Hall in Norfolk, serving the local community and accessible by private pre-arranged tours only.
Crook Hall Gardens tour: horticulture
9 Oct, 16 Oct…
Join volunteer guides for a tour of Crook Hall Gardens, learning about seasonal flowers, plants and shrubs and nature-friendly, sustainable gardening.
Crook Hall Gardens offers interlinked gardens with varied plantings, tranquil water features, and views of Durham Cathedral close to the city centre. The garden showcases seasonal flowers, a walled garden, an orchard, and a living maze, providing a peaceful outdoor experience for visitors.
Cobwebs & Cream Tea Tours
8–18 Oct (another 9 days)
A guided behind-the-scenes tour of Burton Constable Hall explores hidden corridors, derelict rooms and the former servants’ quarters. The ticket also includes a self-guided Hall visit and a choice of cream tea or traditional afternoon tea.
Burton Constable Hall & Parkland is a magnificent Elizabethan country house in Yorkshire featuring historic interiors and an extensive Capability Brown landscaped park. Visitors can explore grand rooms, art collections, and outdoor parkland with trails, a play area, and picnic spaces, offering a blend of indoor and outdoor experiences.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar™ trail
7–31 Oct (another 22 days)
Children follow a trail inspired by Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar™, spotting fruit and snacks, discovering facts, and taking part in games and activities in Belton’s Italian Garden.
Garden tours at Croome 2026
8 Oct, 14–15 Oct…
Join a volunteer for an hour-long guided stroll through Croome’s garden, learning about its history, design, plants and statues.
From Garden to Pantry at Quebec House
17–18 Oct, 21–25 Oct…
Explore harvest-themed displays and seasonal crafts at Quebec House, with a look at how an 18th-century household prepared garden produce for winter. Younger visitors can use a dressing-up station and spot crocheted squirrels, and weekend visitors can sample autumn-inspired treats.
Walled Garden Tours
14 Oct (next Wednesday)
A guided tour of Ightham Mote’s walled garden, led by garden volunteers. Hear about its history, seasonal planting, sustainable growing and plans for its future.
2 miles from Knole
Knole is a large English country house of Jacobean architecture set in a 1000-acre deer park near Sevenoaks, Kent. It features extensive historic gardens, rich collections of 17th-century Stuart furniture, and a medieval chapel with one of the oldest playable organs in England. The house is a National Trust property with public tours and occasional cultural events. It has been used as a filming location for famous films and music videos.
Spooky Speke
9 Oct, 14 Oct…
Spooky Speke is an adults-only Halloween event at Speke Hall, beginning with tea or coffee and a sweet treat before a torchlight tour of the house and stories about its former inhabitants.
Speke Hall is a Grade I listed Tudor manor house in Liverpool, renowned for its historic timber-framed architecture, ancient yew trees, and scenic views over the Mersey estuary. Owned by the National Trust, it offers visitors both indoor exploration of historic rooms and outdoor gardens with walking paths.
Heritage Skills - Leather Worker
8 Oct, 15 Oct…
Meet leather craftsman David Evans in Llanerchaeron’s old stable block and watch him demonstrate traditional leatherworking, including the making of bespoke horse tack and handcrafted items.
Llanerchaeron Garden is a historic estate featuring beautifully preserved walled gardens, rare glasshouses, and a working sustainable farm, offering visitors outdoor exploration with seasonal produce sales and facilities including a play area and refreshments.
Don't go into the cellar presents- Confessions of Sweeney Todd
15 Oct (next Thursday)
A one-man performance of the classic penny dreadful tale of Sweeney Todd, featuring an audience with the infamous Demon Barber of Fleet Street. The show is not a musical.
Biddulph Old Hall is a historic Elizabethan mansion and medieval hunting lodge with guided tours covering its rich history, gardens, ruins, and former uses as an artist's home and Buddhist retreat. Visitors can explore both the house interior and extensive grounds, enjoying seasonal gardens and refreshments.
Biddulph is a picturesque market town in Staffordshire Moorlands known for its historic sites including Mow Cop Castle, Biddulph Grange gardens, and scenic valley setting between Mow Cop and Biddulph Moor.
Free apple tasting
10–11 Oct, 17–18 Oct…
Visitors can sample ripe apples from Acorn Bank’s collection of 165 varieties, while volunteers share information about the apples and their history. The tasting takes place in the courtyard near the café.
Acorn Bank Garden & Watermill is a National Trust property near Penrith, Cumbria, featuring an extensive garden of medicinal and culinary herbs, orchards of old English fruit varieties, and a restored watermill powered by the Crowdundle Beck stream.
Stranger Folk - The Folklore Mystery Journey
11 Oct, 14 Oct…
Visitors use the Stranger Folk app to follow clues and complete folklore-inspired challenges while exploring the grounds of Tattershall Castle. The family-friendly journey asks participants to find hidden cracks and help restore the balance between the natural and magical worlds.
Tattershall Castle is a historically significant 15th-century brick castle in Lincolnshire featuring a Great Tower with interior rooms and rooftop views, surrounded by moats, and preserved by the National Trust for public visits and events.
Forest bathing at Godolphin
14 Oct (next Wednesday)
A two-hour guided forest bathing session in Godolphin’s woods, using mindfulness and sensory activities to help participants slow down and connect with the natural surroundings.
The Godolphin Estate is a National Trust property in Cornwall featuring a Grade I listed Tudor/Stuart mansion with Elizabethan stables, early formal gardens, and significant archaeological sites. The estate offers a mix of indoor historic house exploration and outdoor garden and landscape experiences, including views from Godolphin Hill. The house is open to the public on certain days and also available as a holiday let.
October Half Term - Stranger Folk at Hughenden
7 Oct–1 Nov (another 23 days)
Families can use the Stranger Folk app to follow an interactive adventure inspired by British folklore at Hughenden, working together to heal a rift between the human and spirit worlds. The story features characters such as a mysterious Old Crone, goblins and boggarts.
Eden Shopping Centre in High Wycombe is a large indoor retail and entertainment complex featuring over 100 shops, a cinema, bowling alley, and a library with step-free access, complemented by ample parking and an adjoining bus station. It serves as a major regional shopping destination with facilities and events catering to all ages.
The Fabric of East Riddlesden: Inspiration from the Hall and its grounds
7 Oct, 10–14 Oct…
An exhibition by textile artists Textilia 3, featuring artworks inspired by East Riddlesden Hall’s architecture, historic collection, past inhabitants and landscape. The works use techniques including stitching, felt, mixed media, ceramics, dyeing and print.
East Riddlesden Hall is a 17th-century historic manor house in West Yorkshire featuring well-preserved interiors, a medieval tithebarn, walled gardens, and a tea room, offering both indoor and outdoor experiences. It is notable for its architecture, royalist symbols, and as a filming location for various TV series and films.
Keighley is a historic market town in West Yorkshire featuring Victorian architecture, a heritage steam railway, diverse cultural attractions, and a vibrant shopping and food scene.
Autumn Bonsai Open Day
17 Oct (next Saturday)
An open day focused on bonsai, with trees, pots and tools available to browse and buy, and an expert on hand to offer advice. Visitors can also explore the Japanese-inspired garden.
Cascades Gardens is a natural four-acre garden featuring Japanese-inspired water and rock gardens, a historic limestone quarry, waterfalls, and various quiet seating areas designed for meditation, set in Derbyshire.
Yoga in the Long Gallery
13 Oct, 20 Oct…
A 60-minute vinyasa flow yoga class in Croome’s Long Gallery, with guided movement and breathwork for beginners and more experienced participants. Attendees should bring a yoga mat; alternative poses are offered during the class.
Half-term 'Battle of the Bats' Halloween Trail
17 Oct–10 Nov
Children aged 3–11 can follow a Halloween trail with six bat-themed challenges, learning about British bat species and collecting facts to complete a set of cards. The completed cards can be taken home to make a Battle of the Bats game.
Monksthorpe Chapel is a unique late 17th-century chapel designed to look like a barn, set within the extensive Gunby Estate offering both historical indoor exploration of Gunby Hall and vast outdoor gardens and grounds for visitors to enjoy.
An Audience with Corinne
17 Oct (next Saturday)
Cellist Corinne Frost performs a range of music and takes requests, with the possibility of creating improvised musical portraits inspired by attendees.
The Firs is the birthplace cottage of composer Edward Elgar, located in Worcestershire. It operates as a museum showcasing Elgar's memorabilia including manuscripts, letters, and personal items, housed in the historic cottage and the modern Elgar Centre.
Story Explorers - autumn fun for pre-schoolers
23 Sep, 30 Sep…
A pre-school session for children and their grown-ups featuring stories, rhymes and nature-based crafts.
Polesden Lacey is an Edwardian era country house and estate in Surrey, offering visitors a blend of indoor historical exhibits and outdoor estate walks, gardens, and woodland. Managed by the National Trust, it features fine art collections and hosts seasonal events including open-air performances.
Music Tours
16 Oct (next Friday)
A volunteer musician guides visitors through Fenton House’s rare plucked-string keyboard instrument collection, with musical demonstrations and serenades along the way.
Kenwood is a historic house located on Hampstead Heath featuring breathtaking interiors and a world-class art collection that visitors can enjoy for free. The venue includes tranquil landscaped gardens, children's activities, and a café, offering both indoor cultural experiences and extensive outdoor grounds to explore. It hosts seasonal events such as immersive Christmas light trails and exhibitions that appeal to families and art lovers alike.
Sculpture exhibition in Avebury Manor Garden
5 Sep–18 Oct (another 9 days)
An outdoor sculpture exhibition displays works by more than 20 artists across the 11 garden rooms at Avebury Manor. Visitors can explore the sculptures among the garden’s seasonal planting; the works are also available to buy.
Avebury Manor & Garden is a historic National Trust property featuring a Grade I listed early 16th-century manor house with period interiors and meticulously designed formal gardens, located in the village of Avebury near the famous neolithic henge monument. The venue offers both indoor exploration of historical interiors and outdoor enjoyment of the gardens, reflecting centuries of architectural and garden design history.
Stranger Folk
7 Oct–1 Nov (another 23 days)
Stranger Folk is an app-based adventure game exploring British folklore at Fen Cottage and Wicken Fen. Follow the Crone’s directions and investigate places where mysterious creatures are said to be crossing into the real world.
Wicken Fen National Nature Reserve in Cambridgeshire is one of Europe's most important wetlands, offering visitors a rich outdoor experience with diverse wildlife and plants, accessible boardwalk trails, family activities, and facilities including a café and visitor centre.
Afternoon Tea
11–27 Oct (next week)
Guests can enjoy classic afternoon tea in the Thatched Barn, with sandwiches, savoury bakes, cakes, scones, tea and coffee. Gluten-free, vegan and children’s menu options are also listed.
Danbury Common is a large biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Essex featuring heathland, woodland, ponds, and uncommon species, with areas managed by the National Trust and Essex Wildlife Trust.
Our Killerton
4 Jul–1 Nov (another 23 days)
Visitors can view a display of eight objects selected by people connected to Killerton, alongside a contemporary artwork by Patricia Dixon inspired by the stories behind the objects.
Spirit of Autumn
17 Oct–8 Nov
A family autumn trail through the garden at Knightshayes explores how plants and animals prepare for winter. Visitors can take part in hands-on activities about wildlife behaviours such as storing food, migrating and hibernating.
Bickleigh Castle is a medieval water castle and fortified manor house on the banks of the River Exe in Devon, with accessible ground floor, gardens, and chapel. Visitors can enjoy guided tours, open gardens, café facilities, and parkland areas.
Lightwaves Sandilands
17 Oct (next Saturday)
Take a guided evening trail along the Sandilands seafront, accompanied by a bird host and featuring illuminated birds and butterflies, artworks, poetry, music and characters. The experience lasts about 45 minutes and covers approximately one mile.
Sandilands is a coastal neighbourhood in Lincolnshire featuring a former National Trust-owned links golf course, annual family tennis tournaments, and seaside attractions including beach huts and local hotels.
The Collectors of Ickworth Exhibition
10 Oct–1 Nov (next week)
Explore the Hervey family’s collection at Ickworth, including historic objects such as Marie Antoinette’s fan, works by Italian masters and centuries-old books. The exhibition also looks at the collectors and the stories behind the objects.
A Conservation Tour
14 Oct, 21 Oct…
A guided tour behind the scenes at Ickworth’s Rotunda, where the Collections Team explains how they care for the house’s objects and what happens when it is closed to visitors.
Theatre Royal in Bury St Edmunds is a historic Regency theatre, Grade I listed and restored to its original 1819 condition. It offers a diverse program of drama, music and comedy and is operated by the National Trust as a working theatre with a historic Georgian atmosphere.
‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’ at Cotehele
7 Oct–15 Nov (another 37 days)
Visitors can follow a sensory trail around the garden, moving through interactive installations inspired by the picture book and animation ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’ as they search for the bear.
Cotehele is a Grade I listed medieval and Tudor manor house in Cornwall with extensive historic gardens, a working restored mill, and riverside quay, offering both indoor and outdoor historic experiences. It features original Tudor interiors, chapels, and has been used as a film location.
Walkies
14 Oct (next Wednesday)
Walkies gives visitors the opportunity to explore the outdoor areas of RHS Garden Harlow Carr with their dogs. Dogs must be kept on a short lead and follow the garden’s stated rules.
RHS Garden Harlow Carr is a horticultural destination in North Yorkshire known for its extensive gardens, seasonal displays, and visitor facilities including cafés and a garden centre. Visitors can explore outdoors through varied garden areas and enjoy seasonal food offerings onsite.
Harrogate is a historic spa town in North Yorkshire, England, renowned for its spa waters, RHS Harlow Carr gardens, and rich cultural scene including festivals, galleries, and theatres. It is well-connected by rail and bus, with a walkable town centre featuring shopping, dining, and significant landmarks such as the Royal Pump Room and Royal Hall.
Emmetts Garden Autumn Festival: Photography Workshop
14 Oct, 27 Oct
A half-day photography workshop led by photographer Roger Bloxham, using the natural environment and autumn colours at Emmetts Garden as subjects. Participants learn about their camera and how to take photographs.
Toys Hill is a large woodland area in Kent known for its scenic walking paths, diverse wildlife, and historical landmarks including a bat tower and old manor ruins. Visitors can enjoy peaceful walks, nature observation, and the natural beauty of the Greensand Ridge.
Herbarium Session
14 Oct (next Wednesday)
Children aged 7 and over can take part in a 90-minute workshop exploring how plants and pollinators interact, with activities matching pollinators to flowers, using UV light to discover patterns and identifying foods that depend on pollinators.
RHS Garden Wisley in Surrey is a renowned horticultural garden offering extensive outdoor garden grounds with world-class plant displays, accompanied by multiple dining options and a garden centre. It provides a rich outdoor experience for visitors seeking to explore diverse flora and enjoy seasonal food offerings.
Cheer Up Chuckaboo Trail
7–11 Oct, 14–16 Oct
Visitors follow a trail exploring the meanings of Victorian slang words and phrases from the 1800s. Trail sheets include a prize.
Langford Lowfields is a nature reserve in Nottinghamshire transformed from a quarry into a thriving wetland habitat, featuring the largest reedbed in the East Midlands. Visitors can enjoy extensive outdoor nature trails, birdwatching including rare species like Bitterns and Marsh Harriers, and a visitor welcome hut. The reserve focuses on wildlife conservation and offers scenic viewpoints and picnic areas for visitors.
Tinkley Tots
12 Oct, 19 Oct…
Tinkley Tots is a weekly outdoor nature group for children aged 2–4 and their grown-ups, with a different nature theme, story and activities each session. Children can explore outdoors, discover wildlife and make things from natural materials.
Woodchester Park is a tranquil parkland in Gloucestershire featuring wooded valleys, a chain of lakes, and remains of a historic landscape park. Visitors can enjoy walking trails, family-friendly natural play areas, a café serving wood-fired pizzas and ice cream, and explore an unfinished Victorian Gothic mansion nearby. The park has accessible facilities but includes uneven and steep paths.
The Pikachu Art Adventure at Ightham Mote
7 Oct–1 Nov (another 23 days)
Explore 30 illustrated Pikachu trading cards around Ightham Mote, learn facts about the character and design your own Pikachu card as part of an indoor and outdoor art trail.
Ightham Mote is a medieval moated manor house in Kent, England, featuring over 70 rooms arranged around a central courtyard and surrounded by a moat. It is a Grade I listed building owned by the National Trust, offering visitors a unique glimpse into medieval architecture with notable features such as a Tudor barrel-roofed chapel and extensive gardens.
Lighthouse Keeper Trail
7 Oct, 10–14 Oct…
Visitors follow a self-guided trail at the lighthouse, taking on lighthouse keepers’ daily tasks and exploring the building and grounds. The activities include climbing the lighthouse stairs and identifying plants outside.
Souter Lighthouse is the UK's first electric lighthouse, offering indoor historical exhibits and outdoor coastal walks including The Leas and Whitburn Coastal Park. Visitors can enjoy a café, bookshop, rockpooling, wildlife watching, and family events in a scenic coastal setting.
Calan Gaeaf at Dinefwr : October Half Term
17 Oct–1 Nov
Calan Gaeaf at Dinefwr brings Welsh Halloween folklore and seasonal traditions to life through immersive activities and storytelling in Newton House and the Oak Yard. Visitors can explore the house, hear local tales, take part in creative activities and enjoy outdoor autumn adventures.
Dinefwr Park National Nature Reserve is a historic 800-acre estate in Carmarthenshire featuring the Newton House mansion, Dinefwr Castle ruins, ancient trees, and a nature reserve with deer and white park cattle, open to public visits.
Big Draw® - Art Group Sketching Days
14 Oct, 19 Oct
Artists from Quayside Artists and Ipswich Art Society create artwork inspired by Sutton Hoo’s historic and natural features. Visitors can watch them work and discuss their art and inspiration.
Sutton Hoo is a historic archaeological site of two 6th to 7th century Anglo-Saxon cemeteries near Woodbridge, Suffolk, with an impressive ship burial containing regalia, weaponry and treasures. The site offers both outdoor exploration of burial mounds and an indoor visitor centre showcasing original artefacts, replicas and exhibitions. It is a landmark for Anglo-Saxon history, art and archaeology.
Guided walks at Parke - Wider Estate
14 Oct, 25 Oct…
Community Walk Volunteers lead a friendly walk of around three miles through the natural landscapes of the Parke Estate. The route includes varying terrain, steep hills and uneven ground.
Canonteign Falls is a 90-acre estate in Devon featuring natural waterfalls, woodlands, lakes, and meadows, with family-friendly amenities including a children's play area, café, and scenic walks.
Parkrun at Bolberry Down
10 Oct, 17 Oct…
A free weekly 5km parkrun at Bolberry Down, where participants can run, jog or walk a route along paths and the coast path.
Overbeck's Garden at Sharpitor is a Grade II registered Edwardian garden in Devon featuring a subtropical collection of plants, themed garden areas, and a historic house housing a museum with maritime exhibits and unique displays like a secret door and musical box.
Salcombe is a picturesque resort town in Devon known for its historic maritime heritage, sailing activities, sandy beaches, and charming waterfront, attracting tourists with its natural beauty and cultural events.
Guided Group Walk - The Dean and Winchester
12 Oct (next Monday)
A guided walk of approximately 4.5 miles from Alfriston, climbing onto the Downs for views across the South Downs before descending to the Cuckmere valley and Lullington Church.
Alfriston Clergy House is a modest 14th-century Wealden hall house in East Sussex, notable as the first property acquired by the National Trust. It features timber framing, a thatched roof, and a historic cottage garden, offering visitors an authentic glimpse into medieval domestic architecture.
Stories That Made Us exhibition
7–11 Oct, 14–18 Oct…
Stories That Made Us is an exhibition featuring new work by artists Hardish Virk and Shaniece Martin, inspired by Coventry Charterhouse and its surrounding communities. Personal reflections and immersive installations explore identity, memory and belonging.
Charterhouse in Coventry is a historic house with extensive gardens featuring accessible routes and interactive exhibits perfect for families. Visitors can enjoy a café, an adventure playground, and free parking when registered. The venue offers indoor and outdoor experiences including art, history, and outdoor play areas, with good accessibility for wheelchair users.
Knole Fawns baby and toddler group
9 Oct, 16 Oct…
Knole Fawns is a baby and toddler group with time for play, games, books, music and a small craft activity. Sessions also include songs and a story, with children accompanied by an adult.
Riverhill Himalayan Gardens is a historic garden in Kent featuring seasonal floral displays, themed garden areas, panoramic views, and family-friendly outdoor attractions including a playground and hedge maze.
Box Hill Guided Hike
18 Oct, 15 Nov
A guide leads a 10km circular hike around Box Hill, highlighting notable features and less-visited parts of the area. The moderate-to-strenuous walk includes climbs, descents and a break, with opportunities to ask questions and learn about the Surrey Hills.
Box Hill in Surrey is a renowned natural landmark featuring chalk downland, diverse wildlife including rare orchids and butterflies, historic military forts, and scenic trails for walking and cycling. It offers panoramic views, a National Trust visitors' centre with a café, and family-friendly outdoor activities.
Behind the Scenes Tour
7 Oct, 13–14 Oct…
A volunteer guide leads visitors through areas of Nunnington Hall that are normally closed to the public, introducing collection objects and the work involved in preserving the hall.
Nunnington Hall is a Grade I listed 17th-century country house in North Yorkshire featuring rich historic interiors, art collections, and period furniture. The hall sits beside the River Rye and is surrounded by organically managed gardens and orchards. It is managed by the National Trust and open to visitors interested in English heritage, architecture, and gardens.
Behind closed doors: Audley End’s Forgotten Interiors
8 Oct–30 Nov (another 52 days)
An exhibition of photographs by Lachlan French and Clive Downes reveals Audley End’s usually closed second-floor rooms, once used as guest bedrooms and servants’ quarters. The images explore the rooms’ faded interiors and traces of life in the house.
Audley End House is a grand early 17th-century Jacobean English country house near Saffron Walden, Essex, set within Capability Brown-designed parkland with historic gardens. It served as a royal residence and was used by the Special Operations Executive during WWII. Visitors can explore the extensive interiors, grounds and gardens, which have been featured in film and television.
Chartwell 60 - Your Chartwell Memories Display
7–16 Oct (another 7 days)
An outdoor display marking 60 years since Chartwell opened to the public, featuring memories and stories shared by its visitors. Visitors can wander through the display and explore personal connections to the house and grounds.
Chartwell is a historic English country house near Westerham, Kent, best known as the home of Sir Winston Churchill for over forty years. Visitors can explore the restored interiors, including Churchill's study and memorabilia, as well as extensive gardens and lakes designed by Churchill himself. The site includes a restaurant, shop, and exhibitions reflecting the life and legacy of Churchill.
Building Arcadia: Creating a Forest Garden
15 Oct, 19 Nov
Join the Forest Garden Team for a walking talk at Arcadia, with a preview of the developing garden and an introduction to forest gardening principles.
Shugborough Hall is a Grade I listed historic stately home and museum in Staffordshire, England, featuring opulent 18th-century interiors, a working model farm, rare farm animals, and notable follies with classical and Chinese themes in extensive grounds.
Oxburgh Hall; Past to Present - Afternoon Tours
7 Oct–1 Nov (another 23 days)
A volunteer-led tour explores how Oxburgh Hall has changed over the past 500 years and the conservation work carried out during the Raise the Roof project. The tour takes place outside the hall and lasts about 45 minutes.
Acorns
9 Sep, 23 Sep…
Acorns is an outdoor nature activity session for pre-school children and their grown-ups, with creative and curious activities led by National Trust staff and volunteers. Sessions explore seasonal themes such as minibeasts, fungi and autumn.
Sheringham Park is a landscaped garden and woodland park in Norfolk featuring a wide variety of rhododendrons, azaleas, and mature trees with scenic overlook towers and a visitor centre showcasing the park's natural history and Humphry Repton's landscape architecture. It offers outdoor walking experiences and amenities including a café.
Behind the Lens | Lichfield Apartment Tour
11 Oct, 13 Oct
A guided tour of society photographer Patrick Lichfield’s apartment, led by the house and collections team. Hear stories about his life and learn how the apartments and their collection have changed over the years.
'Wonder World: Earth' Children's Trail
7 Oct–1 Nov (another 23 days)
A family trail along the Holeslack accessible route, exploring the world of soil and the life found underground. Visitors can pick up a trail map at the Visitor Centre.
Mindful Art – The Bridgewater Garden in Autumn
17 Oct (next Saturday)
An adult workshop exploring autumn in the garden through mindful drawing with pencils, clay forms and a tactile sculpture. Materials are provided, and some activities may take place outdoors, weather permitting.
RHS Garden Bridgewater is a large outdoor garden offering extensive plant collections, child-friendly learning areas, and several cafes for food and drink. Visitors can enjoy beautiful natural landscapes and seasonal meals while exploring the garden.
Garden Design (2-day workshop)
17 Oct, 7 Nov
This two-day workshop introduces garden design principles, including colour, light and shade, line and form, balance and contrast. Participants will consider examples at RHS Rosemoor and develop and review design ideas for their own gardens.
The Great Pumpkin Parade Trail
17 Oct–1 Nov
Follow a map around the garden to find eight pumpkins and complete spooky challenges with the Halloween Friends before the Great Pumpkin Parade.
Biddulph Grange Garden is a Victorian formal garden featuring themed garden rooms with international plants, a geological gallery, and distinctive areas like the Chinese Garden and Egyptian Court, offering an adventurous outdoor experience for all ages.
Display of Su Blackwell's 'Bateman's Reimagined'
5 Oct 2026–14 Feb 2027 (another 128 days)
An exhibition of Su Blackwell’s paper artwork, a house created from copies of Rudyard Kipling’s handwritten manuscript of The Jungle Book. The artwork is displayed in Elsie’s Room on the ground floor of Bateman’s.
Zombies of Lamport Trail
9 Oct–1 Nov (another 23 days)
Follow a zombie-themed trail through Stowe Gardens, solving puzzles to help a scientist find an antidote and clear the zombies from Lamport. The trail is designed for children aged 6 and over.
Stowe House is a lavish historic English country house known for its pioneering 21st-century restoration project, set within the renowned Stowe landscape with enchanting gardens. Visitors can explore the interior of the house and enjoy accessible facilities and food options onsite.
Jacobean Choral Singing at Kenwood
18 Oct (next Sunday)
The Thames Chamber Choir performs two identical 30-minute concerts of music by Byrd, Tallis and other composers from the Jacobean era, alongside the William Larkin portraits from the Suffolk Collection.
2 Willow Road is a Modernist terraced house in Hampstead, London, designed by architect Ernő Goldfinger, featuring a notable spiral staircase and a collection of 20th-century art, open to the public under the National Trust.
A Life Below Stairs Tour
12 Oct, 16 Oct…
A guided tour taking visitors back to 1935 to hear stories about the servants who lived and worked at Ickworth, and learn about life and activity in the house’s basement.
Bath House Gift Shop –The Artisan Collective
14 Oct–15 Nov (next week)
Two artisans bring together work by their creative friends, offering visitors a showcase of handmade work and a shopping opportunity.
Specialist Garden Talks
7 Oct, 14 Oct
Join the gardeners for a short talk on a different garden theme each week, covering what is looking good, gardening tips and the work carried out by the team. Talks meet at the garden entrance and may include a gentle stroll around the garden.
Exmoor Zoo is a conservation centre in North Devon, specializing in rare and smaller animals with a focus on conservation breeding programmes. It offers outdoor animal exhibits including rare carnivores and birds, alongside visitor facilities including the African Café. The zoo provides an engaging family-friendly experience in a scenic national park setting.
Online Talk: The Shadows of Salem – Myth V Reality in Lois the Witch and Other Tales
14 Oct (next Wednesday)
Author Livi Michael gives an online talk exploring how Elizabeth Gaskell used the Salem witch trials in her novella *Lois the Witch*, and how historical fact and Victorian fiction intersect in stories about witches.
Elizabeth Gaskell’s House in Manchester is the former home of the English novelist, offering a unique experience with period rooms, a re-imagined garden, interactive Victorian house activities, and a Tea Room. The venue is wheelchair accessible and provides engaging tours and facilities for families and groups.
Crafted Christmas: Crafternoons
7 Oct, 13 Oct…
Visitors can drop in to make handmade Christmas decorations using techniques such as crochet, knitting, felting, stitching and recycled materials. The decorations will reflect Wallington’s heritage and different craft styles.
Archaeological tour of Trerice
16 Oct (next Friday)
An hour-long guided outdoor tour of Trerice’s gardens explores the site’s archaeological and architectural history, including notable features and archaeological finds.
Trerice House is a historic Tudor manor near Newquay, Cornwall, featuring an elaborately rebuilt 16th-century house with extensive gardens. Owned by the National Trust, it offers visitors a glimpse into the history of the Arundell family and Tudor architecture within landscaped grounds.
Collectors' Book & Media Sale
16–18 Oct, 22–25 Oct
Browse and buy a selection of vintage and collectable books, artwork, films and music at a sale in the Riding School. Items include rare and unusual books and other pre-loved finds.
Nostell Priory is a historic Palladian house in West Yorkshire, England, featuring original 18th-century furnishings, extensive parkland with lakeside walks, notable artwork and furniture collections, and a rich monastic history dating back to the 12th century.
Sketching for the Terrified
10 Oct, 15 Oct…
An informal outdoor art workshop at Sutton Hoo, where participants try quick-sketch activities inspired by the landscape and their responses to it. Arts and Crafts volunteers lead the session, with materials provided.
Kyson Hill in Woodbridge, Suffolk, offers grassy slopes, specimen trees, and views of the estuary, ideal for walking and relaxation in an outdoor natural setting. It features walking trails through woodland, mudflats, and estuarine ecosystems and allows dogs on leads. The site is accessible via footpath from Woodbridge Railway Station and has benches for resting, but the terrain is uneven and not wheelchair accessible.
Poetry Reading in the Garden Room
7 Oct, 14 Oct…
Michael Bloom reads excerpts from Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poems in the Garden Room at Coleridge Cottage, exploring the stories and landscapes that inspired his work.
Coleridge Cottage is a 17th century historic cottage in Nether Stowey, Somerset, where poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge lived and wrote some of his famous works. Now a National Trust writer's home museum, it features period rooms, a garden with wildflowers, and serves as the starting point for the Coleridge Way walking trail.
Stranger Folk Digital Adventure at Allan Bank
7 Oct, 10–14 Oct…
Visitors use the Stranger Folk mobile app to follow a guided quest through Allan Bank’s grounds, completing magical tasks and encountering creatures from British folk tales.
Wordsworth Grasmere offers a rich cultural experience exploring William Wordsworth's home, Dove Cottage, with restored gardens and woodland, an interactive museum with manuscripts, and engaging activities for all ages. Visitors can enjoy guided tours, a sensory garden, and a café serving local food amidst the scenic Lake District setting.
Halloween Family fun at Hinton Ampner
17 Oct–1 Nov
A Halloween family event in the gardens, with spooky games and challenges such as broomstick racing and tossing eyeballs into a cauldron. It is described as suitable for children aged 4–7.
Hinton Ampner is a National Trust country house and garden estate in Hampshire, featuring a neo-Georgian mansion with rich interiors and extensive 20th-century gardens, alongside a historic village and church. Visitors can explore both the indoor historic house museum and the outdoor gardens and parkland.
Harlow Carr Embroidery: Summer and Autumn
8–31 Oct (another 22 days)
View two seasonal garden scenes embroidered by Richmond & Leyburn Creative Stitchers, depicting Harlow Carr’s Main Borders in high summer and autumn. The exhibition is displayed in Harlow Carr Library.
Stranger Folk at Tredegar House
7 Oct–1 Nov (another 23 days)
Visitors use the Stranger Folk app to follow an interactive folklore adventure around Tredegar House, completing challenges and deciding the fate of the characters. The experience is designed for children aged 7 and over and imaginative adults, and draws on Welsh folklore and storytelling.
Tredegar House is a grand 17th-century Carolean mansion near Newport, Wales, set within 90 acres of landscaped gardens. Once the home of the influential Morgan family, it is a Grade I listed historic property managed by the National Trust. Visitors can explore the richly restored mansion and its extensive gardens, with a history spanning over 500 years. The venue has also been used for various filming productions and hosted an annual classic car show.
Turning back time tour
11 Oct, 18 Oct…
A tour at Treasurer’s House explores the lives and legends of some of its former residents, tracing the history of the house and its connections to York.
Treasurer's House is a Grade I listed historic house museum in York, showcasing architecture from the 12th century onwards with significant restoration by Frank Green. Owned by the National Trust, it offers tours including cellar and attic, features Roman archaeological remains, and a café and garden accessible to visitors. The house is notable for its reputed Roman soldier ghost sightings.
Wordsworth the Influencer
7 Oct, 10–14 Oct…
A permanent exhibition at Allan Bank explores how William Wordsworth influenced the Lake District. Visitors can see large-scale photographs of landscapes featured in his writing, alongside a first edition of his Guide to the Lakes and later guides.
Grasmere is a small lake in England's Lake District, known for its connection to poet William Wordsworth and its scenic natural surroundings. The lake allows private and hire rowing boats but prohibits powered boats. It features one island now owned by the National Trust and offers picturesque views from surrounding areas.
Drawn to Trees: Tree Zodiac exhibition
7 Oct–1 Nov (another 23 days)
An outdoor exhibition of thirteen etchings by Luke Adam Hawker, inspired by an ancient Celtic zodiac that associates each lunar month with a tree or plant. Visitors can view the artworks and reflect on their stories and connections to the natural world.
Stourhead is a historic estate in Wiltshire featuring a Grade I listed Neo-Palladian house, an acclaimed 18th-century English landscape garden with classical temples, an artificial lake, and significant art collections, managed by the National Trust.
Tour: ‘Taste, Design, & the Georgian Gentleman’
7 Oct, 10 Oct…
A volunteer-led tour exploring Georgian owner John Chute’s life, relationships and influence on The Vyne’s architecture and interiors. Visitors see highlights including the Neo-classical portico, historic chapel features and Tudor Oak Gallery.
The Vyne is a historic 16th-century Tudor country house near Basingstoke, Hampshire, showcasing a blend of Tudor and classical architecture with notable features such as the earliest classical portico in England, a Tudor chapel, an early long gallery, and a grand imperial staircase. The house is set within landscaped grounds including a lake, and is open to the public as a National Trust property.
Tuesday health walk
13 Oct, 20 Oct…
Join walk leaders for a relaxed, approximately one-mile stroll along Gibside Avenue. The walk takes place every Tuesday and is described as a gentle health walk.
Derwentcote Steel Furnace is an early 18th-century cementation furnace near Newcastle upon Tyne, preserved as a Grade I listed industrial monument and scheduled site, showcasing historic steel production methods.
Anglesey Abbey: Made and Remade
8 Oct, 13 Oct…
A talk with Anglesey Abbey house guides explores how the site changed from a medieval religious site into a country house and how Lord Fairhaven reshaped it through architecture, art, gardens and collecting. It includes stories about items in the collection, including paintings by Claude Lorrain and Canova’s Amorino.
Anglesey Abbey offers extensive 35 acres of formal gardens and wildflower meadows with seasonal highlights including spring bulbs, roses, and a winter garden. The venue features outdoor attractions for nature lovers and families, including a children's play area and refreshments available on site.
Autumn Talks at Emmetts: Gardens, Life and Everything in between with Adam Frost–Sat
17 Oct (next Saturday)
Garden designer and presenter Adam Frost discusses the gardens that have shaped his life and work, sharing reflections on garden design and creating liveable spaces. The talk is followed by a Q&A.
Toys Hill is a hamlet in Kent known for its scenic viewpoint from a steep wooded escarpment, extensive National Trust woodland, and significant natural conservation value as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Stranger Folk
7–31 Oct (another 22 days)
Stranger Folk is a Halloween folklore adventure at Wimpole Estate. Visitors use a downloadable app, guided by the Crone, to find places where folklore creatures are crossing into the real world.
Wimpole Hall is a historic country estate near Cambridge featuring a grand 17th-century hall with significant architectural and garden designs, a large working farm with rare animal breeds, extensive landscaped grounds, and a range of family-friendly activities and events.
Highlights Tours 2026
15 Oct (next Thursday)
A one-hour guided tour of Sir Stanley Spencer’s paintings at Sandham Memorial Chapel, highlighting their meanings and details.
Sandham Memorial Chapel is a Grade I listed chapel in Burghclere, Hampshire, featuring a series of World War I inspired murals by artist Stanley Spencer, run by the National Trust as a historic site open to the public.
History of Durham city walk
13 Oct, 20 Oct…
Join a guided walk from Crook Hall Gardens to explore Durham’s history, from its Anglo-Saxon origins onwards. The approximately two-mile route visits the city centre before returning to the gardens.
A 25-acre University Botanic Garden featuring diverse plant collections, accessible glasshouses, woodland areas, and a children's play area, with food available on-site and partial wheelchair accessibility. Access is free for RHS members on select days.
Brother Thomas the Cellarer
17 Oct (next Saturday)
Meet Brother Thomas, a Cistercian monk at Tintern Abbey, and learn about the daily routines, duties, hygiene, meals and religious services of the abbey’s monks.
Tintern Abbey is a historic Gothic ruin located on the banks of the River Wye, founded in 1131 by Cistercian monks. Visitors can explore the extensive abbey grounds, enjoy views of the iconic Gothic architecture, and learn about its rich history from the exhibition on site. The venue offers good accessibility and parking facilities, with dogs allowed on short leads in ground floor areas. It remains a major cultural and historic landmark in Wales, open to the public with admission fees.
Drawn to Trees: tree trail
7 Oct–31 Dec (another 83 days)
Explore an outdoor trail through Stourhead’s landscape garden, featuring 17 trees and the myths, folklore and reflections associated with them across different cultures and centuries.
Alfred's Tower is a 49-meter high folly tower located in Somerset, England, commemorating King Alfred the Great and historic events from the 9th century. It features a viewing platform accessible by spiral staircase and offers panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. The tower is part of the National Trust and stands on the historic Stourhead Estate.
Guided fungi walk
8 Oct, 15 Oct…
A guided walk around the A la Ronde estate, where a knowledgeable guide helps identify the fungi species found across the grounds. The event is not a foraging activity.
A la Ronde is an 18th-century, 16-sided historic house near Exmouth, Devon, notable for its unique octagonal design, intricate Shell Gallery, and beautifully crafted interiors. The site includes Grade II listed gardens and the adjacent Grade I listed Point-in-View chapel. Owned by the National Trust, it offers a blend of indoor and outdoor historic experiences.
Exmouth is a historic seaside resort town in Devon known for its long sandy beaches, marina, watersports, and status as the western gateway to the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. It offers Victorian architecture, walking and cycling routes, and a vibrant town centre with leisure and cultural amenities.
Mucky Pups
16 Oct, 13 Nov
Mucky Pups is an outdoor session for children aged 2–5 and an accompanying adult, featuring seasonal activities, crafts and stories at Wicken Fen.
Wicken Fen is a historic biological nature reserve in Cambridgeshire featuring fenland habitats, rare species, bird hides, walking trails, and a visitor centre, managed by the National Trust and open year-round to the public.
Journeys – Global Textiles from the Karun Thakar Collection
22 May–1 Nov (another 23 days)
An exhibition at Blickling Estate presents textiles from the Karun Thakar Collection, including garments and embroidered pieces from around the world. It explores the histories of trade, migration, craftsmanship and cultural exchange connected to the textiles and the estate.
Blickling Hall is a Jacobean stately home in Norfolk with a significant historic library and extensive gardens, managed by the National Trust with on-site exhibitions including a WWII RAF museum.
Winter Birdwatching Walks
17 Oct, 29 Nov…
A guided winter walk through Newtown’s meadows, saltmarsh and creeks, with opportunities to learn about over-wintering birds, identify species and pick up birdwatching techniques.
Newtown National Nature Reserve on the Isle of Wight offers a unique blend of ancient woodlands, wildflower meadows, and a picturesque harbour filled with diverse birdlife. Visitors can explore peaceful walking trails, enjoy guided historical and wellbeing walks, and take part in water activities like canoeing. The 17th-century Old Town Hall nearby adds a historical element to the natural setting. The site is dog-friendly, wheelchair accessible on certain paths, and has food available at the Visitor Point.
Cattle grazing walk and talks
7 Oct, 12 Oct
Join a Formby ranger for a walk and talk about the conservation benefits of grazing English longhorn cattle on the dunes, with an opportunity to ask questions.
National Trust Formby is a coastal nature haven in Liverpool known for its significant sand dune habitats, rare wildlife including natterjack toads and red squirrels, prehistoric footprints, and shipwrecks. The site offers accessible paths, woodland and beach exploration, and horse riding opportunities. Major conservation work impacts some facilities through 2026.
Autumn seal pup walks
5 Sep, 11 Sep…
Join a National Trust ranger for a two-mile walk to observe Atlantic grey seals and their pups in their natural habitat below the Deer Park cliffs. The ranger will explain how to view the seals safely and answer questions.
Marloes Mere is a protected biological site of special scientific interest in Pembrokeshire, Wales, known for its rare wet acidic vegetation, wintering wildfowl, and diverse insect species, set in a flood-prone pasture area on the Marloes peninsula.
Dreaming up a castle
7 Oct–1 Nov (another 23 days)
A display in Castle Drogo’s Study explores the origins of the castle and the work of architect Sir Edwin Lutyens, featuring plans, drawings, sketches and objects from the collection.
Stone Lane Garden is a tranquil woodland and water garden near Dartmoor National Park featuring national plant collections, wildflower meadows, woodland walks, and annual sculpture exhibitions. It offers a peaceful outdoor experience with a seasonal tea room and plant sales.
Fascinating Fungi Tour
13 Oct (next Tuesday)
Join expert forager Marlow Renton on a guided walk at Brockhampton to learn about fungi, where to find it and how to forage with more confidence. Mushrooms will not be collected for eating.
Brockhampton Estate is a National Trust property in Herefordshire featuring a late 14th century timber framed manor house with moat, extensive farmland, parkland, and woodland. Visitors can explore both the historic interiors and outdoor grounds including an archaeological site of a medieval village.
Black History Month: Sinners, Spirituality and Ancestry Talk
17 Oct (next Saturday)
Dr Michelle Asantewa gives a talk and reflection on the film *Sinners*, exploring African spirituality, ancestry, ritual and cultural memory. The event does not include a screening of the film.
Morden Hall Park is a large National Trust park in Morden, London, featuring historic buildings including Morden Hall, snuff mills, and a garden centre, set on the River Wandle with extensive parkland, footbridges, and a dog-friendly café.
Verdigris
7 Oct, 10–14 Oct…
An exhibition by artist Kathryn Poole brings together flower paintings, botanical etchings and lithographs of foxgloves from the grounds of Allan Bank. The works explore the foxglove’s life cycle, regeneration and the contrast between its poisonous and medicinal qualities.
Great Langdale is a scenic valley in the Lake District National Park, renowned for hiking, climbing, and outstanding natural features like the Langdale Pikes and Dungeon Ghyll waterfall. It also has historic significance for Neolithic stone axe production and offers outdoor activities for all ages.
Metal Embroidery Workshops
30 Sep, 8 Oct…
A three-session course introducing metal thread embroidery, also known as goldwork. Participants learn and practise embroidery techniques, with Thursday sessions for beginners and those with some basic experience, and Wednesday sessions for those looking to develop existing skills.
Dream House Tours
6–9 Oct, 12–16 Oct…
A guided tour around the outside of Nymans house, exploring the building and how it developed after Ludwig Messel purchased it in 1890.
High Beeches Woodland & Water Garden in West Sussex is a 27-acre botanical garden featuring rare and exotic plants, woodland glades, water gardens, and an ancient wildflower meadow. Visitors can enjoy seasonal displays, owner guided tours, a picnic area, and accessible facilities in a peaceful outdoor setting.
A Regency Romance
7 Oct–23 Dec, 27–31 Dec
An exhibition at Oxburgh Hall about Agnes and Thomas Bedingfeld’s relationship and their Regency-era honeymoon, featuring their restored portraits, extracts from letters and diaries, and objects from the collection.
Walks & Talks tours
7 Oct–1 Nov (another 23 days)
Join a volunteer-led walk along the historic route taken by the Hoare family and their guests, and hear about the history of Stourhead and its landscape garden. Tours last approximately 1 to 1.5 hours.
Bradley House is a traditional estate and family home of the Dukes of Somerset for over 300 years, featuring a stone house and ancient church in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, open to visitors by appointment only.
The Pikachu Art Adventure at Kingston Lacy
7 Oct–8 Nov (another 30 days)
Explore 30 Pikachu trading cards illustrated by different artists, discover facts about the character and design your own Pikachu card as part of an art adventure at Kingston Lacy.
Badbury Rings is an Iron Age hill fort in east Dorset notable for its extensive earthworks, nearby Roman road junction, and adjacent Romano-British town site. It is an outdoor site managed by the National Trust with free public access and offers historical insights into Iron Age and Roman Britain.
Guided Tours at Stowe Gardens
31 Mar–2 Apr, 7–9 Apr…
Join a volunteer-led guided tour at Stowe Gardens to learn about the gardens’ history. Tours last approximately one hour to 90 minutes and begin at Bell Gate.
Stowe Gardens in Buckinghamshire are a prestigious English landscape garden featuring extensive parkland, architectural monuments, classical temples, and historical structures designed by prominent 18th-century architects and gardeners. Managed by the National Trust, the gardens offer a significant outdoor visitor experience with preserved landscapes and classical architecture, a visitor centre, and a rich heritage of garden design.
Garden Tours - Mornings
8–9 Oct, 12–16 Oct…
Join a guided tour through Sizergh’s garden and plant collection. Guides discuss the garden’s history and development, current and future projects, and seasonal highlights.
Autumn Wreath Workshop
13 Oct (next Tuesday)
An adults-only workshop at Hughenden where participants are guided through making a full-sized autumn wreath using seasonal foliage, dried herbs, berries and decorative materials.
Bradenham is a National Trust village in Buckinghamshire located in a broad valley within the Chiltern Hills, featuring historic buildings including a manor house, a Norman church, and beautiful natural surroundings. It offers outdoor exploration with a mix of heritage and nature experiences.
Winnie-the-Pooh Centenary Exhibition
7 Oct–1 Nov, 16 Nov–23 Dec…
An exhibition celebrating 100 years of Winnie-the-Pooh, featuring extracts from A.A. Milne’s stories and E.H. Shepard’s illustrations, and exploring the creation of Pooh, his friends and the Hundred Acre Wood.
Anglesey Abbey is a National Trust property in Cambridgeshire featuring a Jacobean country house built on a priory site, surrounded by 98 acres of landscaped gardens and grounds including a working historic mill. Visitors can explore the richly furnished interiors with art collections and tapestries, as well as extensive outdoor gardens with seasonal events and an outdoor cinema.
'Pumpkin Party' - Community Autumn Display
7 Oct–1 Nov (another 23 days)
View a community-crafted autumn display of knitted, crocheted and handmade pumpkins and gourds in the Victorian Kitchen at Charlecote Park.
Charlecote Park is a historic 16th-century English country house with Tudor and Victorian features, set in extensive deer park and landscaped grounds by Capability Brown. Visitors can explore the richly decorated interiors, including family portraits and historic artifacts, as well as enjoy the outdoor parkland and gardens.
Walls of Wonder
9 Oct–1 Nov (another 23 days)
Walls of Wonder is an exhibition of Laura Andrew’s paintings inspired by the historic wallpapers and textiles of Gunby Hall. The works reinterpret their patterns, colours and stories through contemporary art.
Monksthorpe is a hamlet in East Lindsey, Lincolnshire, featuring a Grade II* listed Baptist chapel and an open air baptismal font, both cared for by the National Trust. It is notable for its historic religious architecture and outdoor heritage setting.
Clumber Park Runners
14 Oct, 21 Oct…
A weekly running group at Clumber Park for people new to running, returning to exercise or training for events such as parkrun. Participants build their fitness and confidence together and can meet for refreshments in the café afterwards.
Mr Straw's House is an Edwardian historic house museum in Worksop showcasing a largely unchanged family home from the 1920s, offering visitors a unique glimpse into period life with original furnishings and personal belongings.
October half term activities
17–19 Oct, 22–26 Oct…
Families can search the woods for the Golden Apple and identify Acorn Bank’s trees using a leaf activity sheet. Colouring materials are also available to use in the café.
Explore the Great Barn
7 Oct, 14 Oct…
Visitors can explore Gawthorpe Hall’s Grade I listed Great Barn with a knowledgeable volunteer and learn about its history, former uses, restoration and future plans.
Gawthorpe Hall is a Grade I listed Elizabethan country house located on the banks of the River Calder in Lancashire. The house features historic architecture with roots as a pele tower, extensive restoration by Charles Barry, ornamental gardens, and serves as a trailhead for the Brontë Way footpath. The site also includes Burnley Football Club's training complex on its grounds.
Burnley is a historic market town in Lancashire, England, known for its industrial heritage as a major cotton production centre and ongoing advanced manufacturing, as well as cultural attractions including historic mills, museums, music festivals, and a lively nightlife scene.
Three Cheers for Pooh! Story trail
7–23 Oct, 26 Oct–23 Dec…
A family story trail through the gardens featuring Winnie-the-Pooh and characters from A.A. Milne’s stories, including Pooh and Tigger.
Quy Hall is a Grade II* listed English country house known for its unique Victorian mural paintings and distinctive architecture. Visitors can enjoy guided tours of the historic interior led by the owner, explore the attractive gardens with seasonal displays, and experience this rare glimpse into life in a private country home.