Group and school visits to Erddig

School children looking up in the Great Hall at Knole, Kent — A group of school children enjoying their visit | © National Trust/Ciaran McCrickard

Erddig is a much-loved home, garden and 1,200-acre estate filled with the stories of a family and their servants. There’s plenty to captivate groups of all ages with a range of topics, from social history to gardening and parkland walks.

Self-guided visits

At Erddig we offer self-guided group visits so you’re in control of your own itinerary. Our website contains lots of information to help you plan your day and there are plenty of National Trust staff and volunteers available throughout your trip to answer any budding questions.

Educational group bookings

From school parties to holiday clubs, scouts, guides and youth clubs, Erddig is a fantastic day out for any educational group with plenty of space to play, explore and discover. There are many links to the topics pupils and students are studying to bring meaning to their learning.

To book your visit:

Firstly, read the FAQ’s on this page, then download our school's information pack for more information related to your visit.
Next, complete a booking form and return it to erddig@nationaltrust.org.uk. All educational group visits must be booked at least seven days in advance. Erddig is very popular so we recommend booking early to avoid disappointment.
Once your booking is confirmed it’s time to plan your visit. We’ve put together this useful downloadable school's activity pack which includes activities for indoors, outdoors, in the garden and parkland.

Group bookings

Groups and coach parties will love discovering the stories of Erddig. Step back in time through the house, comparing the lives of today with those in the past, discover the beauty of the gardens and explore the wonderful wildlife living on Erddig’s 1,200-acre estate. And because your visit is self-led you can spend time wherever interests you most.

To book your visit:

Please read our FAQs on this page and then download our group information pack to learn more about group bookings at Erddig.
Next, complete a booking form and return it to erddig@nationaltrust.org.uk. All group visits must be booked in advance. Erddig is very popular so we recommend booking early to avoid disappointment.
Once your booking is confirmed you may want to plan your itinerary. We’ve put together the top things to see during your visit for you to find out what piques your interest, or simply show up and see what captivates the group.

A group of visitors tour a garden in front of a red-brick house, led by a man holding a red folder. — A group visits Erddig's garden | © National Trust Images/Arnhel de Serra

FAQs

Opening times

Erddig's opening hours vary throughout the year. Visit our homepage to see all opening times.

Please note, we’re currently experiencing staff and volunteer shortages and therefore you may not be able to access all the floors of the House during your visit. Thank you for your understanding.

Pricing and payment

Group must be a minimum of 15 people (including teachers or accompanying adults) to qualify for group rate entry prices. Normal admission rates apply for groups fewer than 15 people and prices can be found on our homepage.

Groups with Education Group Membership receive free entry to Erddig.

Coach drivers receive free entry plus a voucher for 1 x free tea or coffee (this offer does not apply to educational group bookings).

Members of the National Trust and National Trust for Scotland enjoy free entry.

Group members will receive a 10% Off voucher redeemable in the shop only with a minimum spend of £10 (excludes educational groups. Not applicable for National Trust staff and volunteers).

Please be ready to pay for your group in one transaction at the Ticket Office when you arrive using credit or debit card, or cash. We no longer accept cheques. Payment can also be made by voucher but only if your company has a Credit Agreement with National Trust. In this instance we will send you an invoice. Any Credit Agreement must be approved and be in place prior to your visit.

Coach parking

At Erddig, we have free coach parking on site which is located approximately 100 yards from the entrance and Ticket Office. There’s also a drop-off point 20 yards from the entrance.

We recommend that the organiser first visits the Ticket Office to check in, make payment and collect maps and vouchers. Your party may then want to enter from the drop-off point, rather than walking from the coach park.

Please note, double decker buses may have difficulty negotiating the drive due to low hanging tree branches.

Accessibility

Please let us know in advance if anyone in your group would like to use one of our wheelchairs.

The garden, ground floor of the house, restaurant and shop are all accessible. Unfortunately there are no lifts in the house, so to see the upper floors we recommend our virtual tour for visitors unable to use the stairs. The virtual footage includes areas not open to the public and an interactive opportunity to open and close special items of furniture.

Eating and shopping

Your group are free to choose from our licensed Hayloft restaurant, tea parlour and outside tea garden. Each group member (excludes educational groups) will receive a 10% Off voucher redeemable in the shop only with a minimum spend of £10 (excludes educational groups. Not applicable for National Trust staff and volunteers).

Planning your visit

We encourage you to make a pre-visit to Erddig to undertake your own risk assessment. Please let us know when returning your booking form so we can arrange for free admission to the property on your chosen day. There’s nothing quite like seeing or experiencing somewhere for yourself to help you plan a successful visit.

On average visitors stay with us for 2.5 hours to explore both the house and gardens. We recommend that you plan to spend at least one hour visiting the house.

Visiting the garden may also take an hour, but if you have a particular interest it may take longer. The gardens are best from March to October.

In severe weather conditions we may close the property for safety reasons and your group will be contacted as soon as possible if this will affect your visit.

Please note, we do not have any indoor spaces available at Erddig in which to store bags and have lunch.

Visitors on a group tour leaving the coach at Cragside, Northumberland — Visitors on a coach tour leaving the bus | © National Trust Images/Arnhel de Serra

What is there to see at Erddig?

Real life below stairs

For nearly 200 years, Erddig’s servants were recorded in portraits, photographs and verses. Nothing of such breadth exists elsewhere. Explore the servants’ quarters and discover walls filled with paintings and photographs of servants who worked below stairs; celebrating loyalty, length of service and hard work.

John Meller's rooms of parade

Meller extended Erddig in 1714, creating a set of elegant rooms facing the garden, each leading into the next with their doors arranged in a straight line. All the furniture was ordered from fashionable London cabinetmakers and upholstered in the latest fabrics.

Formal gardens and parkland

Our superb 18th century Grade I listed formal gardens are brimming with life and colour all year round. There is even more to explore in the parkland. Follow one of our waymarked walks and uncover the ‘Cup and Saucer’, a unique landscaped feature and waterfall. Or, walk along Watt’s Dyke to the remains of a Norman Motte and Bailey Castle. The River Clywedog is perfect for anyone that may want to learn about river systems, the power of water and the wildlife that thrives in it.