The Ickworth House is a beautiful neoclassical house set in the countryside near Bury St. Edmunds. The estate was established in 1467 and the current house was built around 1800. The estate was the Hervey family’s home for 500 years. Presently, there is a hotel on the site, but you can still tour the original house and gardens, which change throughout the year. Ickworth House became a National Trust property in 1998. We may not have stumbled upon this gorgeous place if we hadn’t joined the National Trust. It was one of our first “day trips” (can you call it a day trip when it’s less than an hour away?) in England, and we loved it so much we’ve gone back. We love that with National Trust membership we get in to places like Ickworth for free! Without a membership, it is 14.50 GBP. The grounds on Ickworth boast an Italianate garden, and plenty of paths along the perfectly manicured trees and grass. Ickworth is a great place for a family picnic, but they do have a cafe on site as well. You can even bring your 4 legged friend to walk the trails at Ickworth as well! There are miles of trails to enjoy! Keep an eye out on the website, for special events. They regularly have scheduled walks, crafts, cooking demonstrations, activities for children, and other special events. We loved exploring the lush and green gardens of Ickworth that flank the house, and the walled garden in the back property as well. We even took a longer walk on the property and enjoyed seeing the sheep. Of course touring the house in all it’s splendor is a must. In addition to the lavishly decorated rooms, the house also hosts a silver collection, and fine art as well. Plus, you can see the servant quarters and learn about their life on the estate. Make Ickworth your stop for a family day out!
My Weekend Wanderlusts 