Helmingham Hall, near Ipswich and Stowmarket, set to host summer events including evening openings and music
This summer, the beautiful Grade I-listed gardens at Helmingham Hall, near Ipswich, play host to a series of special events to delight all the senses.
From fragrant blooms to stunning sights and sounds from the flora, fauna, sculptures and wildlife in the gardens, it’s also a chance to see the gardens after-hours, with special late openings to make the most of longer summer evenings.
Smell the roses on Midsummer Nights as throughout June, July and August, the gardens are open on selected evenings until 9pm. Guests can enjoy the super-sensory fragrance of the Rose Garden and the Hybrid Musk Rose Border as the sun goes down and enjoy the best of ‘golden hour’ watching the estate’s deer herd, often most active at twilight.
To tickle the taste buds, the on-site café Wright’s will also be staying open to cook up a feast over fire in the sun-trap courtyard, alongside a range of drinks.
Midsummer Nights take place on June 26, July 4, 11, 18 and 25, and August 22 and 29.
Open 10am-9pm. Tickets from £9 (children £4.50, under 5s free)
Book at www.helmingham.com
Then swing into summer and rock around the clock with Music in the Gardens.
Spend a relaxing summer Sunday afternoon in the stately surrounds of glorious gardens accompanied by a soundtrack of live music.
Whether you prefer swing, rock and roll, funk or soul, the sounds and setting will make your heart sing.
Guests are encouraged to take a chair, blanket, enjoy a picnic or take advantage of the bar and street food available on site.
Entertainment will be provided by country rockers Jax & Co (June 30), Ipswich-based Swing Machine Big Band (July 14), country and Americana-influenced The Jackson Line (July 28) and the High Points, who cover a range of funk, soul and disco tracks (August 18).
Opening times: gardens from 10am, food and bar from 1.30pm, music from 2.30pm
Tickets: from £10 adults, £5 children aged 5-15. Book at www.helmingham.com
Throughout the 2024 season, the gardens are hosting David Harber at Helmingham, a curated collection of large-scale outdoor sculptures in copper, bronze, stone and steel by one of the UK’s leading garden sculptors.
A feast for the eyes, each piece has been carefully selected by the team at David Harber in collaboration with Sophie Tollemache from Helmingham Hall to reflect and enhance specific areas of the gardens.
From Geminus, an elaborate verdigris bronze finished with gold leaf that will sit in the Knot Garden to the convex curves of polished steel Torus, visitors can appreciate each sculpture and its location.
And while you’re there, you could always browse the hall’s redeveloped shop with a range of garden-related gifts, books, prints, plants and homewares.
Open Sunday-Thursday,10am-5pm, until September 30.
David Harber exhibition included with standard entry price – tickets from £9 (children £4.50, under 5s free). Book at www.helmingham.com
