Things to See and Do at Wrest Park

There’s so much to see and do on a day out at Wrest Park. Below you’ll find a list of highlights, including the hidden gems in the gardens; the sculpture gallery; the children’s play area; the FOUR different tours on offer at Wrest (gardens, wallpaper, behind-the-scenes, archeological collections) and the all-important shopping and eating opportunities for visitors enjoying a day out at Wrest Park.

A group of smiling women walk through gorgeous red, yellow and purple flowers in the parterres at Wrest Park.

Explore the parterres and woodland

Discover more than 90 acres of beautiful gardens showcasing French, Dutch, Italian and English styles side by side. Look out for fancy French curves and bold Italian geometry in Wrest Park's dynamic bedding displays.

Explore Wrest Park's sweeping landscapes and woodland walks. From an explosion of colour in spring to the lush greens and browns of summer and autumn, Wrest Park changes its remarkable hues every season.

Find hidden garden gems

Keep an eye out for the hidden gems in Wrest Park's gardens. These include an ornate marble fountain, the 18th-century Bowling Green House, a Chinese Temple and Bridge and more than 40 statues dotted around the grounds. Can you find them all?

Wander Capability Brown’s pathways to the Chinese Bridge and Chinese Temple, and stroll the intricate woodland paths of the Duke of Kent’s 18th-century Great Garden. Visit a dogs’ cemetery for de Grey family pets, the secluded Ladies’ Lake and the splendid 1830s Orangery (which you might recognise from its starring role in the popular Netflix series Bridgerton.

Walk around the Long Water and look for the spectacular Archer Pavilion. This baroque pavilion, with its stunning interior, is the centrepiece of the whole site.

A man wearing a red checked shirt and a woman in a grey sweatshirt look up at the Portland Stone Neptune in the Dairy Sculpture Gallery at Wrest Park. There are other statues around them, and stained glass windows in the background.

Visit the dairy sculpture galley

Take a trip to the Dairy Sculpture Gallery, which showcases some of Wrest Park’s most beautiful statues, now restored to their former glory.

The dairy used to supply butter and cream for the de Grey family. Later, it was converted into a sculpture gallery bringing together those precious garden statues which were too fragile to remain outside.

Look out for a magnificent Portland Stone Neptune and an elegant bronze sundial from 1682.

A smiling boy wearing a cap, trainers, cut-off jean shorts and a blue t-shirt sails very high on the swing at the Wrest Park playground.

Enjoy the children's play area

Make the most of the outdoor space at Wrest Park and play!

Families with energy to burn can grab an activity backpack and an audio trail designed for kids, and head out to explore the grounds.

Bring a picnic and wear the children out playing hide-and-seek. They will be thrilled to discover the fantastic play area inspired by the property, which includes its very own pavilion to climb, and even a zip wire.

The playground at Wrest Park is right next to the café so parents, carers and grandparents can relax with a cup of tea while keeping an eye on their little ones.

The sweeping French gardens at Wrest Park, filled with red and purple flowers, dotted with white sculptures. The house is in the background, looking lovely in a bright blue sky.

Take a garden tour

Join a Wrest Park volunteer guide for a tour around the gardens. These tours are free with admission, and cover one of a variety of routes, taking in the delights of either the Upper and Great Gardens or one of our popular Tree Tour routes. Please ask a member of staff at the admission point about booking a tour (subject to availability).

Garden Tours take place on Wednesdays and Sundays at 11.30am and 13.30pm

Statue Tours take place twice a month on the second Friday of the month and the last Saturday of the month at 11.30am and 13.30pm

Tree Tours take place on the first Friday and third Saturday of the month at 11.30am and 13.30pm starting in May

You can also enjoy an audio tour of Wrest Park by picking up a handset at our admissions point.

A man wearing a dark coat and glasses looks up at the wonderful French 'Eldorado' wallpaper, produced by Zuber, at Wrest Park. The wallpaper features the Pyramids of Egypt, palm trees and exotic flowers and birds.

Go on a wallpaper tour

Join us on the first Sunday and third Thursday of the month between April and October at 11am and 1pm for a unique peek inside the mansion house at Wrest Park as we explore rooms rarely open to visitors – the amazing wallpaper rooms.

See the stunning 'Eldorado' papers in the French Room and the intricate hand-painted papers in the Chinese Room as our knowledgeable volunteer guides explain the history of these rooms and the family's use of them.

Wallpaper Tours are free with your admission ticket and booking is not required. However, we recommend arriving early to ensure a space on the day.

Sunlight streams through three huge windows at Wrest Park. The room is decorated with golden wallpaper, golden light fittings, with a sumptuous, colourful rug on the polished wooden floor.

Head behind the scenes

Join us on Thursdays and Saturdays at 11am and 1pm for a unique peek behind the scenes of Wrest Park.

Please note that the Wrest Park Behind the Scenes tours are first-come, first-served. Book your place in the shop on the day of your visit. Please arrive early to avoid disappointment.

Two young boys and their mum look at items in the Wrest Park archaeological collection with an English Heritage volunteer.

Delve into the archaeological collections store

Join our collections team in the Archaeological Collections Store and discover a treasure trove of unique and special objects spanning 2,000 years of England's history.

These are objects not normally on display, and form around a third of English Heritage's total stored collection.

Tours take place from April to October. Booking is essential. Tours cost £5 for both members and non-members in addition to the normal admission price.

Find out more

Take a break

Feeling peckish? Head to the Wrest Park café with its selection of delicious hot and cold meals and snacks, including a homemade soup of the day and freshly made sandwiches.

Take inspiration from history at the shop where you can pick up jams and chutneys, wines, beers, books, garden gifts and more.

Looking for a new book or have a few books you'd like to donate? Visit Wrest Park's secondhand bookshop in the Bothy building, located in the visitor car park. During Wrest Park's opening hours, the bookshop will be open from 10am to 4pm.

Thank you! Every cuppa, souvenir, book or kids’ treat you buy helps the charity look after England’s heritage.

A woman browses books at the Wrest Park second-hand bookshop.

Pick up a good book

Looking for a new book or have a few books you'd like to donate? Visit Wrest Park's secondhand bookshop in the Bothy building, located in the visitor car park.

During Wrest Park's opening hours, the bookshop will be open from 10am to 4pm. All proceeds go towards projects at Wrest Park.

Why not pop in and have a look? We've got lots of perfect reading spots in our stunning grounds.