Events at Local Properties

 These events have been given to us by Local NT properties.

 Please check that they are still going ahead as we are not told of cancellations.


Anglesey Abbey

Anglesey Abbey has periods in the year with something to offer, free for national Trust members or where normal admission prices apply.

 This is our normal programme but please check what is on offer at our web site.

February - our gardens are transformed into a sea of white as over 270 varieties of snowdrop herald the arrival of spring.

March – see spring bulbs as they emerge in the gardens.

June/July – our Herbacious border at its best and our rose gardens in bloom.

September - see the beautiful colour and varieties of dahlia in our garden. The House will also be decorated with beautiful displays.

Dunwich Heath

You do not need to book a parking space. Our car park is open daily from 10am to 4pm and locked outside of opening times. The car park machine by the visitor Information Centre is in use for scanning your membership card to gain free parking. The tea room is open each day and the kiosk is open at weekends.

2026

"Our well-being walks, known as Walk With Us, are free and no walking experience is needed - just book a place online, strap on your boots and join us. They next take place on Saturday 21 February and Saturday 21 March and both start at 10.00am. By the time you read this, we’ll have returned to seven-day opening and our Easter preparations will be in full swing - in fact, they’ve already started! Our team has been planning, painting and making since the start of the year, and we’re delighted to say that Bunny and Chick, our mischievous characters from last year’s trail, will be making a welcome return. This year's trail will take place from 28 March until 6 April. Prices are £3.50, which includes a trail sheet, bunny ears and dairy or vegan and Free From (which is suitable for people with milk, egg, gluten, peanut and tree nut allergies) chocolate egg. We’re keeping our fingers crossed for good weather! We’ve also got a number of walks and nature-themed events coming up in 2026 - as well as the return of our much-loved dog show on Sunday 10 May. We do hope to see you at one of them!" 

Other dates for your diary 

Photography workshops, Saturday 21 February 

Little Rangers: Searching for Spring, Saturday 28 February 

Walk with the Ranger, Friday 13 March 

Website: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dunwich-heath 

Flatford

The site is now open again. There is no need to book. The car park and walking routes will remain open for local exercise. 

Last year Flatford dropped the £3.50 guided walk charge, however they would appreciate donations to make up for the loss of income.

The tea room is open every day and the shop Wednesday – Sunday. 

Please see Flatford NT website over the next few months for full details of events.

Ickworth

Important notice - The house, parkland, gardens, shops & cafés at Ickworth are open. Please check opening times for detailed opening. Our quieter times to visit are weekdays & after 1pm. 

We look forward to welcoming you back.

2026

February Half Term: Adventure Mini Golf 14-22 February, 10.00am-2.30pm, £4.00 per person 

Costumed Interpretation 22 February and 15 March, 11.00am-3.00pm 

Various House Tours Daily between 2 March-1 November, 10.45am-11.30am 

We have a variety of tours available to join when visiting Ickworth for those who wish to delve a little further into Ickworth’s history and collections. We have a range of tours to suit your interest, from hearing the stories of the servants who lived and worked here, to seeing the collections through the eyes of the collections team who care for them. Schedule: • Monday: A Life Below Stairs Tour • Tuesday: An Introduction to Ickworth • Wednesday: A Conservation Tour • Thursday: An Introduction to Ickworth • Friday: A Life Below Stairs Tour • Saturday: An Introduction to Ickworth • Sunday: An Introduction to Ickworth Tours are pre-bookable online from our website, with limited walk-up availability on the day.

Active Ickworth: Social Walk 3, 17 and 31 March, 14 and 28 April, 10.30am-11.3 

The Best of Books 5 March, 11.00am-3.00pm 

Easter Egg Hunt at Ickworth Estate 21 March-12 April, 10.00am-3.30pm 


Melford Hall

Important notice - We’re open Wednesday- Sunday and we have removed the booking system so you no longer need to book in advance. 

Summer opening times:

Wednesday - Sunday: 12:00 - 16:30 

Please note, last admission to the site is 3.30pm. Last orders in the tearoom at 4.00pm. 

Comments from Melford:

"Our local NT Supporter Groups are some of our most regular donors and they have funded a huge variety of things over the years. We have had everything from benches, collections conservation materials, garden tools, UV film for windows, plants for the gardens, Braille guides and croquet sets funded. We also had a three-year project with the East Suffolk NTA to conserve the Dominic Serres naval paintings at Melford. This collaboration allowed us to clean the paintings, conserve damage and replace the picture lights with bespoke LED picture lights. All of this transformed not only the condition and appearance of the paintings, but also the experience of those viewing them." 

Orford Ness

Important notice - Due to boat capacity you'll need to book your visit in advance. If you arrive without a booking, you'll unfortunately be turned away. To book please visit the What's On section on the Orford Ness NT website. Tickets are released 2 weeks in advance and are in high demand. 

Open Saturday and Sunday 


2026


"we’re busy readying the site for reopening, which is slightly later this year, on Monday 4 May. Between now and then, we’ll be making sure that everything is ready for our first visitors of the year, moving WE177-A, our decommissioned bomb, out of storage, and pulling our events calendar together. You’ll be able to find this year’s events, including nature walks and our ever-popular Island of Secrets tours, on our website." 


Please note

The first ferry is at 10am and runs every 15 minutes outbound until 12:45. Tickets are for a timed ferry.    

National Trust Orford Ness, Quay Street, Orford, Suffolk IP12 2NU

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Oxburgh Hall:

2026

"We have just launched a new exhibition at Oxburgh called ‘A Regency Romance’, the inspiration for which came from the portraits of Agnes and Thomas Molyneux-Seel that were painted on their year-long ‘grand tour’ honeymoon around Europe circa 1823. 

The exhibition is open daily from 10.30am-3.00pm (last entry at 2.15pm) until the end of the year. 

Please check our website for further details: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/oxburgh-hall


We have received this message of thanks from Oxburgh, following ESNTA donations:

"You recently provided funds to the Oxburgh Estate for three items: an accessible picnic bench, interpretation panels for the Parterre project and interpretation panels for the West Park project.

 

I have some images for you, which I hope to come of interest.( -- which are reproduced at the bottom of the page)

 

We are still in need of creating the West Park interpretation panel (this is the next job on the list). Once created, I would be delighted to send over additional images.

 

However, we have purchased and built 2 new accessible picnic benches. These benches have extended panel edges to allow for use of a wheelchair. It has been very nice to see our visitors enjoying them in the sun. 

 

The parterre panels have been hugely successful and have correctly informed our visitors of the essential work that is happening to the Parterre and what they can expect over the next few years. We have seen a reduction in our visitor comments in regards to the Parterre since they have been in place, which is fantastic, it shows they are correctly informing our visitors. We have placed them in two ‘acorn boxes’ which we found in the workshop. 

 

Thank you once again for your kind generosity. We greatly appreciate you support, and the items purchased have made a huge difference to our visitor experience on site.


Sutton Hoo:

The Dig: A Story Unearthed, opened in early May. This new exhibition shares the true stories of the real people featured in the Netflix film The Dig including Edith Pretty, her son Robert Pretty, archaeologists Basil Brown and Peggy Piggott, as well as two of the key photographers of the excavation, Mercie Lack and Barbara Wagstaff. Alongside these stories will be some of the original costumes, jewellery and props used in the film. The exhibition opened on 8 May in the Treasury room of the High Hall and runs until 25 January 2026. 


Our temporary exhibition, The Dig: A Story Unearthed, has been extended and will be on show for another year. Entry to the exhibition is free with admission and is now on until Sunday 24 January 2027. 


2026

 "World Book Day® is on 5 March, but our activities will be running from February half term through to 15 March, at which point setting up for the Easter egg hunt will begin. The Easter egg hunt, an annual tradition for many families, takes place between 21 March and 12 April. Prices are £3.50 per trail which includes an Easter trail sheet, bunny ears, and dairy or vegan and Free From (suitable for people with milk, egg, gluten, peanut and tree nut allergies) chocolate egg."


full seven-day opening, this year runs through until 15 November.  


- Josh Ward