A grand place for a truly entertaining day out

Discover

Ickworth

Information for groups

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/Ickworth

A distillation of classical Italy given an individual English touch - The Rotunda staterooms

Begun in 1795 by the 4th Earl of Bristol, the Rotunda was a bold vision and stands today as a striking presence at the heart of this Suffolk estate.

The Rotunda holds the grand state rooms, used solely for entertaining by generations of the Hervey family. Today, all rooms on the ground floor are open to the public while the first floor showcases the west bedroom, dressing room and bathroom, as well as the silver room.

Bedazzling silverMarvel at one of the finest, and largest, collections of Georgian silver in the National Trust. Imagine the glittering aristocratic banquets and discover the story behind this splendour.

Treasured artMeet the idiosyncratic Hervey family through their splendid portraits painted by the finest 18th and 19th century painters including Reynolds, HogarthGainsborough and Vigée-Lebrun.

The Servants’ basement

Restored and opened to the public in 2012, the service quarters beneath the Rotunda were buzzing with life whenever the family were entertaining. Explore the vast finishing kitchen and servants’ hall as well as the more intimate sitting room and estate office, and see how visiting staff worked and were accommodated at Ickworth.

Living HistoryImmerse yourself in the 1930s experience with our Living History days where the staff busy themselves with their daily domestic tasks. Hear their stories and share their secrets.

To find out when our next Living History days are taking place, please check our website.

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The Italianate Garden and Pleasure Grounds

This is the earliest Italianate garden in England - Italian evergreen trees, shrubs and other topiary with scents of the Mediterranean - and was created by the family, for the family.

The garden rooms include a stunning spring garden, elegant Victorian border and dramatic, mysterious stumpery.

As well as many Italian and other specimens trees we have an amazing display of naturalised snowdrops and carpets of historic daffodils plantings in our cedar meadow.

Parkland and Woods

Discover a classical English landscaped parkland of over 1800 acres bounded by semi-ancient woodland and cut through by the River Linnet.

Waymarked walks and cycle routes range from a gentle stroll to the 7 mile Grand Tour. We also have a range of self-guided walks taking you off the beaten track and deeper into the park’s past.

A deer park since 1253, herds of fallow deer still roam the estate while flocks of Suffolk sheep graze the park grassland.

The Walled Garden

With the Earl’s Summer House and much of its walls built a century before the Rotunda, the Walled Garden is one of the oldest parts of the estate’s history that is still standing.

Originally an ornamental garden aligned with the old Manor House, the garden became a working kitchen garden in the late 18th century to serve the new house. Much of the area is currently sown as a wild flower meadow but we are beginning to restore the garden to its early 20th century glory days.

Don’t miss....Ickworth Church has been restored and re-opened 2013. The final resting place of generations of the Hervey family, parts of the church date from the 13th century.

Park and gardens

Guided Tours

Please note: tours must be pre-booked and paid for at least four weeks in advance of your visit.

Tours of the Rotunda state rooms and life below stairs in the basement.

Discover the history of the fascinating Hervey family and their collection of treasures or go below stairs to learn about the life of the housemaids and hall boys.

Groups can pre-book a tour to begin at 10.45am or 11am on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays when the house is open, excluding Bank Holidays, weekends and school holidays.Tours last approximately 45 minutes. Please note that unfortunately groups may not join the public tours due to limited spaces being available. Tours are priced at £3 per person.

Tours of the Italianate Garden, Pleasure Grounds and Walled Garden

Inspired by their love of Italy, the Hervey’s created the earliest Italianate gardens in the country. With serene, Mediterranean planting, a mysterious stumpery and the national collection of Box, there’s more to this garden than meets the eye.

Bespoke garden tours can be arranged at a time to suit and are priced at £3 per person.

Please call us on 01284 736121 or email ickworthgroupbookings@nationaltrust.org.uk to discuss your tour requirements.

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Wining and dining, tea and cake

West Wing CaféOpen every day, the licensed café serves seasonal lunches from locally sourced produce as well as teas, coffees, sandwiches and cakes.

Porter’s Lodge CaféServing drinks and snacks, the café’s seating area is outdoors - perfect for a sunny day and very dog friendly.

Perfect for picnicsWe have a picnic area with tables close to the car park, or strike out into the park and find your own secluded spot.

On busy days, the Squash Court Cafe opens to serve teas, coffees and snacks.

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Shopping

The West Wing gift shopOpen every day, this is the perfect place to choose a National Trust gift for friends or family.

The plant and garden shopOpened in May 2014, our new shop is located next to the car park, stocking a wide range of plants and garden accessories for the green-fingered.

Find a hidden treasure within our second hand books located in West Wing Recpetion and outside of Porters Lodge.

An unusual gift...A National Trust membership makes a fantastic gift for family or friends - or treat yourself. An annual membership gives you free entry to over 500 special places throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Call in at the Porter’s Lodge where the team can give you more information.

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Planning your visit

How to book

Please contact us on 01284 736121 to discuss your plans in detail or email:ickworthgroupbookings@nationaltrust.org.uk and we will help you to plan your visit and make it a success.

Group prices 2016(For groups of 15+):

House, Park and Gardens: £11.00

Park and gardens only: £5.50

Winter: park and gardens only: £3.60

PaymentAn invoice payment may be arranged in advance of your visit.If you would like to pay on the day, the Group Organiser should have one cheque made payable to the National Trust or card payment or one sum of cash ready for collection by the Visitor Services Staff on arrival at the Porter’s Lodge Reception.

Please assist us with the booking and ticketing process by confirming with your group in advance the number who are currently National

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Access - how to find us

If you are significantly delayed, please let us know while you are still en route, so we are forewarned and can make adjustments as necessary for your arrival. 01284 736140 / 736121

We are 4 miles south-west of Bury St. Edmunds. By road, coming from Cambridge or Newmarket, leave the A14 at junction 44 and follow the brown signs to Ickworth on the A143 from Bury towards Haverhill. Entrance to Ickworth is in the village of Horringer.

The nearest train station is Bury St Edmunds. Buses 14 and 15 run from Bury bus station through Horringer.

Please make your coach driver aware. The easiest way to access Ickworth if using a satellite navigation system is to enter ‘Horringer’ and NOT the Ickworth post code as this may take you on unmade roads and across private land.

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When to visit

Don’t forget: Groups must book their visit in advance. Please bring a copy of your booking form with you on the day of your visit.

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House 4 Mar--29 Oct* 11--5 31 Oct -- 31 Dec**

M T . T F S S

West Wing reception, gift shop and café 1 Jan--3 Mar 10:30--4 M T W T F S S 4 Mar--29 Oct 10:30--5 M T W T F S S 30 Oct--31 Dec 10:30--4 M T W T F S S Parkland, woods and children's playground Open all year 9—5.30 M T W T F S S Italianate Gardens Open all year 9--5:30 M T W T F S S Plant and garden shop 4 Mar--29 Oct 11--5 M T W T F S S 31 Oct--31 Dec 12--3 . . . . . S S

Porter's Lodge Outdoor Café 1 Jan – 31 Dec 11--4 . . . . . S S

11--3 M T W T F S S

4 Mar -- 29 Oct 10--5 M T W T F S S30 Oct -- 31 Dec 12 --3 . . . . . s s

*Tours only between 11am to 12pm and 4pm to 5pm, free flow 12 to 4pm every open day. Also open Wednesdays in Suffolk School Holidays. **Tours only weekdays and basement only weekends. Last entry to the house 45 minutes before closing. Property closed 24 & 25 December. Italianate Garden and Plant & Garden Shop may close earlier in winter. Porter’s Lodge outdoor café may close in adverse weather. Parkland at dusk if earlier.

On arrival

Welcome

From the ticket kiosk, your coach will be directed to the coach bays in the car park. A member of Ickworth visitor services team will join you on the coach to welcome you and give a brief introduction to Ickworth. Your tickets and any other information will be distributed to your group at this point. Please request that all members remain on the coach for this introduction.

PaymentIf you have not pre-paid for your group visit, a member of the visitor services team will take payment from the group leader at the Porter’s Lodge following your welcome.

Don’t forget: Groups must book their visit in advance. Please bring a copy of your booking form with you on the day of your visit.

Our visitor services team will be on hand throughout your visit to help make your day run smoothly.

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Access - getting around

Need a hand?We offer free use of Batricar mobility scooters which can be driven from the car park to the house entrance and along the firm path to the church and walled garden. Wheelchairs are also free to borrow on arrival or from the West Wing reception.

Please note: fire and evacuation regulations only allow one wheelchair on the first floor of the House at any one time. Due to the structure of the house, disabled access is limited in some areas. We realise this is not ideal and are constantly trying to improve our facilities.

Jump on!We run an 8-seater buggy which runs between the car park, Porter’s Lodge, house and West Wing entrance, church and walled garden.

Ladies, gents and accessible toilets, as well as baby changing rooms, are located in the West Wing and at the car park .

The Rotunda staterooms, servant’s basement and West Wing reception, shop and restaurant are all wheelchair accessible.

Many of the routes around the park and gardens are suitable for prams, wheelchairs and Batricars. We are happy to suggest a suitable route for your group.

Foreign language guides We can provide a written introduction to Ickworth as well as room guide sheets for the house in French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian and Chinese.

Guide dogsWe welcome guide dogs accross the estate, including in the house and the West Wing restaurant and shop.

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Ensuring your visit runs smoothly

Help us to preserve Ickworth for everyone for ever. Please…..

• leave large bags on your coach; bulky items can cause accidents• do not take flash photographs or videos in the house• wear flat shoes, not high heels when visiting the house as this

helps to protect our historic floors• take litter home

House staff and park wardens are always pleased to help and advise.

The National Trust reserves the right to change or cancel this booking at any time in which case a refund of any fee or deposit already paid may be given at the discretion of The National Trust.

The National Trust or its representatives will at no time be in loco parentis.

Visiting Group Leaders remain at all times responsible for the safety and discipline of adults and children in their groups.

The National Trust reserves the right to refuse entry to groups who in the opinion of the National Trust: - are not suitably dressed- are larger in number than previously agreed- are likely to cause unacceptable damage or disturbance

Ickworth, Horringer, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP29 5QE01284 735270 / Ickworth@nationaltrust.org.uk

Follow us... @IckworthNT www.facebook.com/IckworthNT

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If your group enjoy visiting National Trust properties why not consider visiting some others in the area too.

The Theatre Royal in Bury St Edmunds is one of Ickworth’s portfolio properties; why not visit there for a guided tour or to see a show?

Please look at the website and contact them for more information. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/theatre-royal-bury-st-edmunds/features/things-to-see-and-do-at-theatre-royal-bury-st-edmunds

Some other properties in the region are Lavenham www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lavenham Melford Hall www.nationaltrust.org.uk/melford-hall and Anglesey Abbey www.nationaltrust.org.uk/anglesey-abbey-gardens-and-lode-mill .

For a full list of properties please visit the main National Trust website www.nationaltrust.org.uk