Autumn Festival at Blickling Estate

Lady in a red coat taking a photo of the autumn colour

There's nothing quite like experiencing autumn at Blickling Estate. The dazzling displays of colour are a sight to behold throughout the gardens and parkland, so here are a few ideas to ensure you get the best seasonal views and make the most of autumn at Blickling.

Autumn festival

Wednesday 19 September - Friday 19 October | Daily

We welcome the season of mellow fruitfulness with a celebration of our famous apples and pumpkins. Enjoy a stroll through the garden and see dazzling displays of autumn colour. Discover our heritage apple varieties by picking apples in the orchard and visiting the Walled Garden.

Apple harvest

Tuesday 2 October | 11am - 1pm

Join us for our annual apple harvest in the orchard. Enjoy hand-picking apples and taking some home for yourself, as a reward for your hard work. All are welcome, so come and say hello and experience this autumnal highlight in full splendour. 

Visitors enjoy picking apples in the orchard at Blickling.
Enjoy apple picking in Blickling's orchard.
Visitors enjoy picking apples in the orchard at Blickling.

Apple Weekend

Saturday 6 - Sunday 7 October | 10am - 5.30pm

Come and celebrate our apple harvest by joining us in the walled garden and enjoy juicing demonstrations and tastings.  

Discover the estate's heritage apples, with pop-up talks from our garden team and learn more about a special variety that has been re-introduced from the diary of a nineteenth century Blickling gardener.  

Try a sample of our freshly pressed apple juice and buy autumnal produce to take home with you.  The wonderful display of colourful pumpkins and squashes growing in our walled garden is not to be missed.

Free admission to the orchard and parkland. Normal admission applies for the house and garden, with National Trust members free. £5 parking charge for non-members.

A colourful array of squashes and pumpkins can be found growing in Blickling's walled garden.
Squashes in the glasshouse at Blickling Estate
A colourful array of squashes and pumpkins can be found growing in Blickling's walled garden.

Autumnal delights

As the trees start to turn towards the end of September, come and see a stunning display of autumn colour in the garden until early November. Relax with a take-away hot drink and a piece of cake and soak up the last of the summer sun in one of our many beauty spots around the formal gardens. 

" The iconic view of Blickling Hall reflected in a calm lake surrounded by trees in all shades of earthy autumn tones is hard to resist, but there are so many great views across the estate you could easily lose days exploring."
- Justin Minns, Photographer
Tweet this
Blickling Hall bathed in autumn sunlight
The view of the lake and Blickling Hall in sunshine
Blickling Hall bathed in autumn sunlight

Discover the great outdoors

Explore the wider estatle and follow the route around the lake for perfect reflections in the water, or perhaps take a stroll up to the Mausoleum for striking views across ancient woodland. The estate walk of 4.5 miles takes in all the best bits of Blickling's ancient woodland with beautiful autumnal colours throughout the parkland. 

A family walk to the Mausoleum

Guided estate walks

Would you like to find out more about the ancient woodland, fascinating landmarks and secrets of the wider estate at Blickling? Meet us outside Estate Barn visitor reception every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 11am for a guided walk. This hour and a half stroll is a great way to see some of the most stunning views across the estate and to learn about its incredible history.

Three walkers and their dogs at Blickling Bounders

Blickling Bounders 

Walkies! If you’re here with your dog on a Monday, why not join the Blickling Bounders – a dog-friendly walking group meeting every Monday at 10am in the main car park. If you'd like further information, please call the Ranger team on 01263 731994.

A family enjoy cycling by Blickling's lake

Cycle hire at Blickling Estate 

In partnership with British Cycling and HSBC UK, our cycle hub is open every day from 10am - 2pm. We have a variety of bikes, including tag-alongs and children's cycles, so there's nothing to stop you from venturing further afield on two wheels. All bikes must be returned by 4pm at the latest.

Explore the house

Daily until Sunday 28 October | 12pm - 5pm

Daily from Tuesday 30 October | 10.30am - 3pm

Did you know that your visit is helping to look after Blickling's eighteenth century, Long Gallery library, which contains the finest book collection held by the National Trust? This November, you'll be able to see some of the work that goes into preserving this impressive collection first-hand. 

The library at Blickling Hall, Norfolk

Imagine a world without books... 

We are currently in the midst of a five-year conservation project to catalogue every book in the library. Containing over 12,500 volumes, the impressive eighteenth century Long Gallery library is the most prestigious book collection held by the National Trust. 

Come and discover Blickling's vast and impressive collections. Our helpful room guides will be here to answer your questions and help you to find out more about our on-going conservation work to preseve these precious items.

Last entry to the house is one hour before closing. Please be aware that the house will be closed on Monday 29 October as we dismantle our temporary art installation 'The Word Defiant!'. The gardens, shops and cafes will still be open, but with our new winter times from 10.30am until 3pm.

Enjoy Blickling's woodland in the autumn
Blickling woodland filled with autumn colour
Enjoy Blickling's woodland in the autumn

Autumn menu

Sample our walled garden produce and enjoy seasonal favourites from our restaurant's menu. You'll find apple and pumpkin flavours in our soups and baked goods in all three of our eateries, ready to keep out the approaching winter chill. 

A rich and fruity carrot cake made with scrumptious, walled garden carrot and topped with crunchy mixed seeds.
Blickling Estate's carrot cake.
A rich and fruity carrot cake made with scrumptious, walled garden carrot and topped with crunchy mixed seeds.

Our top autumnal walks

A footpath surrounded by trees and a rape field

Download the estate walk 

The estate walk is 4.5 miles long and takes in all the best bits of Blickling’s ancient woodland with stunning views. Watch out for barn owls, seen regularly hunting for food across the park.

Reflections of autumn colour in the lake

The lake walk 

Walk around the lake for perfect reflections of the autumnal colours in the water. The season will bring on crisp mornings and beautiful misty sunrises by the lake.

Nature spotting

Fungi on the Blickling Estate
A close up of autumn leaves on a tree
A vast quantity of apples in crates during Blicking's apple harvest.

Fascinating fungi 

As we gradually move through autumn, fungi is popping up all over the place. See how many different types you can spot across Blickling Estate and take part in our #NTAutumnChallenge...

Time to ponder 

The vivid variations of leaves are quite the sight to behold at Blickling Estate. Why not take some time to watch them blowing in the breeze and absorb the rich autumn colour. You can also take part in our #NTAutumnChallenge...

Apples and pumpkins 

Join us in the walled garden this autumn and see dazzling displays of autumn colour, as well as seasonal produce, including apples, pears, pumpkins and squashes...