Christmas

Sculpting

Arts & Crafts

Bedfordshire

Central Bedfordshire

This winter, something special is happening at Wrest Park. The Snowman™ has tip‑toed into the gardens – and he’s brought a host of cheerful friends with him.

Bundle up, bring your loved ones and set out on a heartwarming sculpture trail throughout the grounds. There are twelve giant Snowmen to discover with joyful designs created by different artists on the theme of The Twelve Days of Christmas. From partridges to pipers, every Snowman has its own little story to share.

Begin at the visitor centre to pick up your trail map, then wander together to see how many Snowmen you can spot. Keep your eyes peeled – each sculpture hides a secret letter. Collect all twelve and you’ll reveal a magical Christmas word.

It’s a lovely way to enjoy the festive season together. So pull on your hats and scarves and head out for a charming winter adventure, sprinkled with nostalgia from Raymond Briggs’ much‑loved classic.

© Snowman Enterprises Limited 2026.

The trail has been developed in collaboration with Wild in Art, a leading producer of creative events that transform public spaces, connect communities and showcase inspiring art.

Walking With The Snowman™ At Wrest Park

Join the team in the Flaxmill Café as they are hosting regular Supper Clubs at Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings.

This event will then run once a month with upcoming dates to be confirmed soon. Join us on Friday 16 Ocotober for our next Supper Club.

You can choose from 2 or 3 courses of dishes cooked by the inhouse chef Steve. You can have 2 courses for £22.50 or 3 courses for £29.95.

Places are limited for this exclusive opportunity. Booking is essential. Please book in person at the Flaxmill Cafe. Booking is essential. You can also ask about future dates in person too.

View the October menu, (PDF, 271KB)

Supper Club At Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings

Bridgewater Primary School, Scotswood, is proud to present a vibrant exhibition of artwork inspired by the beauty and wonder of nature at Belsay Hall and Gardens.

Bringing together the creativity of children aged 2–11, the exhibition celebrates life in the garden through colour, texture, photography and collage. Every piece reflects the children’s unique perspectives and their exploration of the natural world.

Celebrating Sunflowers

Across the whole school, children explored the sunflower — a flower that reaches towards our star — using a range of artistic techniques and materials. Inspired by a variety of artists and their distinctive styles, the children created their own joyful interpretations of sunflowers: artworks designed to make them smile.

A Rainbow of Trees

Year 2 pupils took inspiration from the ever-changing colours of the leaves on the trees around them. They created vibrant rainbow trees representing the changing seasons. Like the trees in the gardens of Belsay, each of their creations is wonderfully different in shape, size and colour.

The Main Exhibition: Belsay Hall

The centrepiece of the exhibition is a collection created by current Year 6 pupils, inspired by Belsay Hall itself. Working alongside local artist Lindsey Robinson, the children explored the glory of nature through photography. Examples of their photographs can be found throughout the exhibition.

They then transformed their photographs into striking collage artworks, inspired by the work of Brazilian artist Beatriz Milhazes. Using geometric shapes alongside an exciting combination of colours and textures, the pupils created their own artistic visions of Belsay Hall.

Bridgewater Primary Art Exhibition At Belsay Hall

Audley End is celebrated for its magnificence: beautifully furnished rooms and fine objects, carefully arranged and presented for visitors. Yet above these showpiece interiors lies another, lesser-known world.

Running from May to November 2026, Behind Closed Doors is a new exhibition that offers a rare glimpse into the hidden second-floor rooms, long closed to the public. Once guest bedrooms and servants’ quarters, they now function as store rooms, revealing a quieter side of life within the house.

Through the photographs of Lachlan French and Clive Downes, these interiors evoke a faded splendour, carefully preserved as if a moment frozen in time.

In contrast to the rooms below, they offer a more subtle beauty, shaped by memory, atmosphere, and the traces of lives once lived behind closed doors.

This event is included with general admission. Book in advance to save 15%. Members go free.

Behind Closed Doors:

Visit our kitchen garden every Thursday, where we have a selection of fresh produce for sale.

All produce is grown by our volunteer gardeners, and proceeds support our house and gardens. Expect to find fresh vegetables, cut flowers and other seasonal produce.

Join us at the North East corner of Marble Hill Park.

Kitchen Garden Sale At Marble Hill

Join AJ in the beautiful grounds of Audley End House & Gardens, Saffron Walden, for authentic, inclusive yoga in a truly unique setting. This is a third-party event, independently hosted by AJ and taking place at Audley.

On dry days, classes take place on the lawns beneath the shade of magnificent oak trees. If the weather isn't on our side, we'll move indoors to the elegant Cipriani Room within the stately home, ensuring a welcoming space whatever the forecast.

Classes run at 11:00am and 12:00pm, with each session lasting 50 minutes.

Please enter through the main gate and let the team know you're attending yoga. Then make your way to the North Lobby, where AJ will meet you five minutes before the start of your class.

Bring a yoga mat, towel or blanket to practise on, along with any props that help you feel comfortable. Cushions, scarves and jumpers can all make excellent supports.

AJ's classes are rooted in traditional yogic teachings, creating a welcoming environment to explore movement, breath and mindfulness. Open to all levels, each session encourages you to connect with your body in a way that feels supportive, accessible and authentic.

Book your tickets here.

Yoga At Audley End

Join the Keeper of the Wellington Collection for a specialist guided tour of the first Duke of Wellington’s home and outstanding collection of art.

Tours run on the first Thursday of each month at 11.15am.

Tickets for the tours are available on the door on a first come first served basis. You can book your general admission in advance below to save 15%. Members get free admission.

Tours cost £8 for members and £10 for non-members.

Curators Tour At Apsley House

Step into the fascinating story of Audley End and discover the people and events that helped shape this wonderful house.

To mark the 400th anniversary of the death of Thomas Howard, an exhibition of five paintings tells the story of three generations of a family who played a significant part in the development of Audley End. Two of the paintings have never previously been displayed at Audley End.

Alongside the exhibition, our volunteers invite you to enjoy a special performance, ‘Monasteries, Mansions, Marriage and Mayhem’. Hear the stories of the characters behind the house and discover how each played their part over the years.

Performance dates:

9 September at 11.30am

14 October at 11.30am and 1.30pm

21 October at 11.30am and 1.30pm

22 October at 11.30am and 1.30pm

Sign up at the Visitor Information Centre on the day of your visit. You will need admission to Audley End House and Gardens which you can purchase here. Members go free.

Monasteries, Mansions, Marriage And Mayhem

Enjoy a landscape walk, led by our knowledgeable volunteers. Learn more about Marble Hill's historic landscape and the changes made to it through time.

These tours run every first Friday of the month, all year round.

Please meet outside the front of house at 1pm.

Landscape Tours At Marble Hill

Join us on the first Friday of every month to our board game club in the café with exciting games, including English Heritage Risk, Chess, Snakes and Ladders, and much more.

You can drop in to the cafe at any time over the 2 hours or stay for the whole time, play or attend for the company.

This event is free to attend and there is no booking required.

It does not include admission to Gainsborough Old Hall. If you would like to explore the site as well after your visit, you can purchase general admission in advance online, or on site. Members get free entry.

Board Game Club At Gainsborough Old Hall

Start your weekend feeling refreshed with a session of Community Yoga set against the backdrop of Marble Hill and its beautiful surroundings. A community-based event - just bring a mat and join in!

This event is sutiable for adults and over 12s only.

Visit the Lotus and Laurely Yoga website for more details on how to book in for a session and more information about Community Yoga at Marble Hill.

Community Yoga At Marble Hill

Join experienced BSL Guide Alan Murray for a tour of Apsley House, the home of the first Duke of Wellington.

This tour is included with your general admission to Apsley House which you can book below. Members go free but will need to pre-book tickets too. Select how many tickets you need, then select the date of the tour. There will be an option to add on the BSL Tour afterwards. Please see full booking instructions below.

If you need any help with your booking, or need more information, please email: apsleyhouse@english-heritage.org.uk

Access information:

Meeting Point: outside the main entrance of Apsley House The What 3 Words address is https://what3words.com/foil.wiring.keeps. The closest tube station is Hyde Park Corner.

This tour is not step-free. There are 5 steps into the building and 8 steps to a lift, which can take you to the first floor (avoiding the staircase).

Toilets: There are toilets available but there is no accessible toilet.

Parking: there is very limited parking on site for blue badge holders which must be booked in advance. Drop off is available at the entrance and does not need to be booked.

British Sign Language Guided Tour Of Apsley House

English Heritage

English Heritage cares for over 400 historic buildings, monuments and sites - from world-famous prehistoric sites to grand medieval castles, from Roman forts on the edges of the empire to a Cold War bunker. 

Through these, we bring the story of England to life for over 10 million people each year. 

Walking With The Snowman™ At Wrest Park

English Heritage

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