Things to see and do

Things to See and Do

Looking for a fun family day out? As one of the greatest sights of East Anglia, with a spectacular stately home and outstanding, spacious grounds, we've got something for all of the family. 

Explore life below stairs in the service wing, meet the horses in the stable yard and run around in our children's play area. You could even join us at one of our fantastic events from our thrilling jousts to half term activities. 

Book your visit

What you need to know

We've made some changes to help keep you safe, and things might be a little different when you visit. Here's everything you need to know.

  • Do we need to Book?

    Advance booking is now essential. We have introduced limits on visitor numbers to help keep everyone safe, and you won’t be able to visit without your booking confirmation. If you’re a Member, your ticket will be free, but you still need to book in advance. Make sure you've read our ticketing FAQ before you book.

    Book Tickets

    Booking FAQs

  • What parts of the site are closed?

    To comply with the latest government guidance, all indoor areas of Audley End are currently closed. This includes:

    • The House
    • Servants Wing
    • The Stables

     

  • What changes have you made to your facilities?

    Cafe - The Cafe will open for takeaway service only with a selection of toasted sandwiches, paninis and hot breakfast baps available.

    Toilets - Our toilets are open with additional hand sanitising station available across the site.

    Shop - Our shop is open.

    Plan your Visit

  • Visiting after 16 May

    Audley End's interior spaces will open after 16 May, in line with government guidelines. At Audley End this includes the Great Hall, Saloon, Library, Lower Taxidermy Gallery, picture gallery and coal gallery.

    The café will open with indoor and outdoor seating, and it will also offer takeaway. Audley End's shop will also open.

    Face coverings are required within all of our interior spaces.
    We have additional Covid-secure measures in place including social distancing, enhanced cleaning and limits on visitor numbers.

    Two ticket types will be available from 17 May until 30 June. These are the house and grounds ticket, and the grounds-only ticket – which is available at a reduced rate.  

     

  • Keeping you Safe

    We've made a number of changes to help keep you safe. Although things might be a little different when you visit, you’ll still be able to enjoy exploring the places where history really happened. And you’ll still be given a warm and safe welcome by our friendly – if socially distant – staff and volunteers.

    You can visit our reopening page for information on general safety measures we've taken to help keep you safe.

    General Safety Information

  • Do I need to wear a face covering?

    Face coverings must be worn in all indoor areas. We won't be able to provide you with a face covering, so please come prepared so you don't miss out.

Explore one of England's greatest mansion houses

Step inside the Mansion House and admire the interiors of one of the largest and most opulent houses in Jacobean England. Discover our history as you wander through the impressive great hall, magnificent state apartments, intimate dressing rooms and 18th century gothic-style chapel. You can even take a seat and relax in our library or play your favourite piece on our piano.

Look out for the state bed, one of the most important surviving late 18th century beds in the country, commissioned in anticipation of a royal visit in 1794. And don’t forget to take a look at the Braybrooke’s unique natural history collection.

Enjoy our Glorious Gardens

Take a stroll around our idyllic gardens to see the work of the influential ‘Capability’ Brown who swept away the remnants of a declining formal garden to create extensive views, a serpentine lake, and more natural planting. Don’t miss the elegant garden buildings, such as the bridge of the River Cam, which are the work of Robert Adam.

Don’t miss the beautifully restored parterre and our walled kitchen garden which is run entirely on organic principles. Discover the garden seasonal highlights and see something new with every visit.

Wander through acres of parkland

Perfect for a dog walk or a day out in the fresh air with the family, enjoy a stroll through acres of spacious parklands. Admire the stunning views of the Essex countryside while your little ones wear themselves out playing hide and seek and exploring the grounds. See if you can spot our mature tree collection, including a stunning Cedar of Lebanon next to the house planted in 1762.

Discover the life of a Victorian Servant

Experience a world of hierarchy, discipline, long hours and hard labour in the 1880s Service Wing and Coal Gallery of this bustling country estate. Step back in time and wander through a world of ‘below stairs’ that was not intended to be seen as you discover what it would have been like to be a Victorian servant.

On special weekends throughout May to September, you can even meet our costumed interpreters as they Bring Audley End back to its Victorian heyday. Characters you may meet include Mrs Crocombe as she prepares a meal for the family, the stable hands while they’re grooming the horses and our gardener Mr Vert as he tends to our gardens.

Discover more

Gallop over to the Stable Yard

It’s time to horse around and say ‘hello’ to our friendly resident horses in our Victorian stable block. Have a go at dressing up like Victorian stable workers and explore our interactive exhibition to find out the story of the estate at work and play. You can even see the horses in action as they show off their skills in our riding displays throughout the day.

Find out more

Play in our Nursery and discover the coal gallery

Take a visit to our restored 1830s Nursery Wing where nothing is out of bounds. Parents can relax and learn about the Braybrooke family while children can explore the indoor family play area - have fun with the toys and dress up as a Victorian child. You can even climb on the beds!

You can also explore our Coal Gallery to discover how the busy household staff would have kept the Braybrooke's bedrooms serviced with fresh linen, coal and hot water.

Let off steam

Enjoy a family day out in the fresh countryside air and let the children burn off steam in our fun play area inspired by the property with its very own mansion to climb and wooden horses to ride. Our spacious grounds are also a great way for your little ones to let off steam in the fresh, countryside air. 

See our family guide

Feeling peckish?

Top up your energy and head to the Servant’s Hall Tea Room with its locally sourced delicious hot and cold meals, drinks and snacks. Or grab a light refreshment at the Cart Yard Café, handily located next to Children’s Play Area so you can enjoy a coffee while the kids play.

'step into englands story