Exploring Ickworth by tours

Visitors on tour guide Ickworth

Ickworth House was designed to impress and entertain on a grand scale. It was built as an 18th century palace to showcase the many treasures and art collected by the Earl Bishop. Visitors can explore Ickworth with daily tours

Life below Stairs - Discover the different staff that lived and worked at Ickworth in the 1930s. Learn about how Theodora ran the House, her relationships with servants and some of the housemaids personal lives.

Torchlight - Ickworth houses one of the finest collections of 18th century family portraits in the National Trust by renowned artists such as Reynolds, Gainsborough, and Hogarth. Using our ‘magic torches’ discover another side to our magnificent paintings and learn how they came to be at Ickworth. Explore Theodora's role as a custodian and collector, and the legacy she left Ickworth.

'Conservation Wednesdays  - These tours are a fascinating opportunity to learn about the conservation works that goes into looking after a grand house.

Our Conservation Assistant protecting our collection for the future
Kirsty conservation cleaning
Our Conservation Assistant protecting our collection for the future

State Rooms - Learn how the 4th Marquess and Marchioness of Bristol developed Ickworth for their staff and future generations.

Ickworth Voices - Explore the unique experience of hearing the voices of many of the people who lived and worked at Ickworth in the 1930’s. Listen to their living conditions, their relationships with one another and with their employers, the Hervey family. Learn about the social changes that were happening at the time and the changing attitudes of the people who worked “in service”.

Ickworth is full of treasures such as these exquisite silver fish scent bottles
A selection of tiny silver scent bottles in the shape of fish
Ickworth is full of treasures such as these exquisite silver fish scent bottles

Afternoon Garden tour - Discover the world outdoors and learn about the garden and estate, from the largest Walled Garden in the East of England to the earliest surviving example of an Italianate garden. The 1st Marquess designed the gardens as pleasure grounds for his family and guests to enjoy.

The ever changing walled garden and canal lake are wonderful places for a picnic
A view of the walled garden and canal lake
The ever changing walled garden and canal lake are wonderful places for a picnic

All tours subject to availability – self-led by volunteers.