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Find out when Ickworth is open, how to get here, the things to see and do and more.
Luke Jerram's Helios at Ickworth Estate
Visit Ickworth Estate in Suffolk during 2-5 or 8-11 May to see renowned artist Luke Jerram’s brand-new 7-metre diameter sculpture, Helios. This unique and immersive experience invites you to explore the sun's hidden beauty and power up close. Luke, who is known for creating other large installations like 'Museum of the Moon' and 'Gaia', is using Helios to introduce a new and personal way to appreciate and rise up for nature.
Please note, Helios is a free event but you will still need to pay admission fees to enter Ickworth Estate. National Trust members are free.
What is Helios?
Running 2-5 May and 8-11 May
This May, you will have the opportunity to experience a unique sight at Ickworth Estate. Helios is the latest, awe-inspiring piece of artwork from Luke Jerram. Named after the sun god in ancient Greek mythology, Helios succeeds Luke's previous large scale installations, Museum of the Moon and Gaia. This seven-metre spherical sculpture of the sun combines light, solar imagery and sounds recorded by NASA to bring the sun's intricate details to a new light.
This year, Helios is embarking on a tour of National Trust properties and other locations. It comes to Ickworth in early May where it will be on display from Friday 2 - Monday 5 May, and then Thursday 8 - Sunday 11 May. Ickworth is the only location in Suffolk to host Helios, and also the first location to display the illuminated spectacle outside! Ickworth's iconic Rotunda will make for an unforgettable backdrop for the large, glowing sun. There will even be the chance to see the sculpture in twilight during special evening timeslots on the opening night.
Luke Jerram's innovative installation is lit from within and has a detailed surface made up from solar imagery. One centimetre of this impressive sculpture represents 200km of the sun's surface. Together with the soundscape created from NASA recordings, this immersive experience allows you to explore the intricacies, power and scale of the sun's surface in a way you never have before.
Helios has been co-commissioned by National Trust, Cork Midsummer Festival, Liverpool Cathedral, Old Royal Naval College and University College London.
We all know that it is very dangerous to look directly at the sun, as it can damage our eyesight. Helios provides a safe opportunity for the public to get up close to, and inspect, its extraordinarily detailed surface including sunspots, spicules and filaments.
A quote by Luke Jerram Artist of Helios
How to see Helios
Helios will be on site at Ickworth between the 2-5 May and the 8-11 May.
It is a ticketed event and, while there may be spaces available on the door, to avoid disapointment it is recommended that you book in advance on our website. Tickets are available on our events page.
Luke's sculpture will be suspended on the north terrace in front of the Rotunda. Visitors will be able to enjoy a 360° view of the sizzling spectacle from a walk around the North Lawn. Pass directly underneath Helios as you cross the terrace and gaze up at the sun from below. This is the first time Helios will have been displayed outside, bringing this symbol of art and nature into the great outdoors. It will be a great experience for the whole family.
Time slots for Helios will be every half an hour from 9.15am - 3.30pm each day the event is running.
In addition to this, on 2 May there will be extra evening tickets from 4.15pm - 7.45pm. During this time the West Wing Café and Shop will also be held open for evening access. Sit in for a bite to eat, or grab a take away coffee and amble the grounds to enjoy a view of the sun from afar.
General admission to Ickworth Estate applies for all visitors. National Trust members enter for free. There is no additional fee to pay for the Helios installation but you can book your timed entry below. Non-members who have booked their tickets online will still need to pay admission for Ickworth Estate on arrival.
What can you expect?
There should be a great atmosphere on site during the days Helios is in position. There will be three food and beverage outlets: the main West Wing Café, Porters Lodge dog-friendly café and the takeaway trailer that is positioned by the deerpark gates. During the first Helios weekend there will be an additional churros van on site from 11am-4pm. On the second Helios weekend there will be an additional pizza van on site from 11am-4pm.
Friday 2 May
During the evening opening of Friday 2 May, the Rotunda, Porters Lodge and Welcome Point will be closed. The West Wing café and shop will remain open and there will be a takeaway trailer for drinks and snacks. For non-members, there is a reduced entrance fee to Ickworth Estate this evening, and this is paid in advance when you book your ticket.
The Athenaeum Astronomy Association will be on site between 6.30-8.30pm on Friday 2 May. They are bringing equipment with them for stargazing and safe viewing of the sun. Why not pop along to meet them and hear about what they do?
Sunday 11 May
Yoga under the sun will be taking place early morning on the North Lawn in front of Helios on Sunday 11 May. Amy's class provides a unique opportunity to find your flow in the beautiful parkland at Ickworth, complete with the rising sun. The session starts at 8am and there are limited slots so please book on the events page of our website, here.
Please be aware that Helios will not be in position on Tuesday 6 and Wednesday 7 May, but Ickworth Estate will be open as usual.
Accessibility at Helios
Ickworth Estate is an accessible site with blue badge parking spaces and accessible toilets located in the main car park and basement of the West Wing.
There are mobility scooters and wheelchairs available for hire. They are very popular, so we do recommend you book them in advance by calling 01284 735270 which is the line for Ickworth's Welcome Point. Our mobility scooters are large and, therefore, not permitted in the Rotunda or West Wing. Wheelchairs are accepted in both areas. Pushchairs are not permitted inside the Rotunda, but we can provide hip seats for you.
There is surfaced, level access from the car park to the Rotunda and West Wing, as well as along the path around the North Lawn, so Helios is accessible for wheels and people with limited mobility. There is slope access to the Rotunda and the West Wing. The Café and Shop are step-free.
Are dogs welcome?
Yes! Ickworth is very welcoming for your four-legged friends and there is 1800 acres for them to explore on leads. We have a dog friendly café at Porters Lodge with indoor and outdoor seating, serving hot and cold drinks and snacks as well as pasties and sausages rolls. We ask that dogs do not enter the Rotunda, West Wing shop or café, and Italianate Garden as these are Grade I listed spaces. Dogs are to be kept on a lead at all times across the parkland so we can keep the countryside a safe, healthy, and enjoyable place for all visitors, wildlife, and livestock.
As Helios is outside, people with dogs will be able to experience it in the same manner as everyone else. Please note that during the evening opening, Porters Lodge café will be closed, but there will be outdoor food consessions that everyone can access.
What else is there to see and do?
Ickworth offers a range of attractions including walking and cycle routes.
Bike Hire
The Cycle Hub is very popular among visitors. It is located in the main car park and offers a range of bikes of different sizes and trailers or balance bikes for youngsters. You can find out more about cycle hire here.
Open Thursday - Sunday, 10am - 4pm (last hire 2pm)
Operated on a first come, first served basis:
- Bikes/ Trailers - £6 for two hours or £12 all day
- Balance bikes: £3
- Electric 'e' bikes: £14 for two hours and £7 for an additional hour
Ickworth House
This year Ickworth House is showcasing a new exhibition as part of our 2025 programming. Ickworth on the World Stage picks up the themes of travel and inspiration as a series of exhibitions, events and activities are rolled out across the year. We are exploring the impact that the Hervey family had on the world, and the way that their time abroad is reflected in how we experience Ickworth today. Hosting Helios gives us the wonderful opportunity to continue our goal to inspire people with art and nature, and explore some of the themes and stories from Ickworth's past.
The house opens every day for free-flow entry from 11am - 3pm. There is no additional cost to enter the house, it is included in your admission price or National Trust membership. Find out more about the house and Ickworth on the World Stage here.
"...my common course is a Circle, & like a Planet, a vagabond star, I almost turn round my own axis whilst I make another revolution round the Sun.'
A quote by Frederick Hervey The Earl Bishop
