Visiting Ickworth with the family

Children look down into the dry moat from the steps in the ITalianate Garden at Ickworth — Children peer into the dry moat from the steps in the Italianate Garden | © David Levenson

There are loads of different family activities designed to help you explore and discover Ickworth estate. However you choose to spend your day with us, your adventure starts here.

Head outside and enjoy all that Ickworth Estate has to offer this summer. Explore the Albana woodland with its leafy trails, or take a stroll through the parkland to discover the breathtaking views across the canal lake. Spend time with friends and family in the Italianate Garden and surround yourself with the season's warm, colourful blooms.

Planning your family visit at a glance

There are toilets, accessible toilets and baby changing facilities at the Welcome Point and on the lower ground floor of the West Wing near the second-hand bookshop.

All of our parking spaces in the main car park are the same size, with the exception of blue-badge parking spaces.
The multi-use trail, Geraldine's, Erskine's and Albana walks are pushchair and buggy friendly. The Italianate Garden also has accessible pathways that are suitable for wheels.

The West Wing has step-free access to the shop and cafe, and a lift that can take you down to the second-hand bookshop, or up to the Gallery.

Please note that when visiting the house, pushchairs will need to stay outside to protect the historic floors, but hip seats can be provided in the Entrance Hall.

The team at the Welcome Point are always happy to provide maps and advice or point you in the right direction.
The Adventure Play Area is located at the end of the main carpark and there is a large grass area with picnic benches located near by.

Bike hire and trailer hire is available from our cycle hub in the main carpark.

Both the Porter's Lodge dog-friendly cafe and the West Wing cafe provide a selection of snacks, cold drinks and hot drinks, children's sandwiches and ice creams.
During school holidays there will often be additional programming for children. This can change seasonally from outdoor self-led games or activity sheets, to craft workshops in the gallery and things to spot in the house. Check the Events page of the website to keep updated with what's coming up.

Check out upcoming events

Two girls play giant Jenga in the Walled Garden at Ickworth — Challenge your friend to a game of Jenga | © Tom Soper

Summer of Play

19 July - 2 September

Are you ready for a Summer of Play at Ickworth? This year 'An Ickworth Playcation' is travel-themed and it will weave throughout the activities and games taking place this summer.

Summer of Play is running at Ickworth from 19 July - 2 September for the school Summer Holidays. Those of you who came last year will be familiar with our large Walled Garden, which will once again be trasformed into an adventurous and colourful play garden, with room for children to run and explore, games to challenge them and activities to keep a range of ages entertained.

Summer of Play is sponsored by Starling Bank

What to expect

Key elements in this year's Summer of Play will include active areas with sports aimed at teens, where they can blow off steam and get a little friendly competition going; there will be a sensory play area with mud kitchen ideas or loose parts play for the younger children. A stretch tent is a new addition this year and will host the creative zone, where a mix of performances and hands-on crafts will ignite curiosity and encourage self-expression.

How to get involved

While usual admission charges will apply for entrance to Ickworth Estate (members of the National Trust are free), there will be no additional charge for the Summer of Play activities. The play garden is located down through the estate past the church. It is about 10 or 15 minutes walk from the Welcome Point. There will be a little shuttle running for those with extra mobility needs.

Spend the day

There will be seats and covered areas down in the play garden so you will have plenty of shade if you want to spend the day down there. There are toilets located at the corner of the Walled Garden and a food and beverage trailer, along with a BBQ will also be located down in this area for the summer.

Family walking in the park at Ickworth, Suffolk, in summer — Family walking in the park at Ickworth | © National Trust Images/David Levenson

Enjoy a Summer of Play

Coming up at Ickworth

July 4, 5 & 6

Outdoor Cinema

Film enthusiasts get ready! This July a series of nine films will be showing on the big screen from Ickworth's North Lawn.

A large screen will be positioned infront of the beautiful Rotunda so you can kick back and settle in for an evening in the great outdoors with a good film. Feel free to bring picnics, chairs, blankets, food and drink and make a day of it. There are different genres to choose from, you can find them all on our events page. Children's films include The Little Mermaid (1989), Paddington in Peru, Mamma Mia! and Wicked (2024).

A crowd sits in front of a large cinema screen at Ickworth Estate — Outdoor cinema at Ickworth Estate | © Jim Woolf

Discover our upcoming events

What to do when it's raining

We know that the British weather can often be unpredictable but we don't want to let a bit of rain spoil your visit to Ickworth. If you don't want to don your waterproofs and brave the rain then you can get out of it by visiting our hands-on and child-friendly basement in the historic house. You can open the drawers and discover the tools and materials that would have been used by the servants, seeing how they lived and worked. There are even some games you can try out in the servants' hall.

What to do when it's a bit warmer

We have plenty of shady spots to keep you cool in hot weather during your visit to Ickworth Estate:

The Servant's Quarters in the Basement are nice and cool and there's lots to keep youngsters entertained.
The Albana Walk is dense with trees and has plenty of leaf cover. There are always birds chirping and squirrels scampering around.
The outdoor seating area behind Porter's Lodge is great if you want to sit with a coffee or a bite to eat.
The Stumpery in the Italianate Garden offers cool dark relief from the sun when it's too hot. There are hardwood stumps, evergreen trees and shade loving ferns here all year round. (Sorry assistance dogs only).