Petworth, National Trust

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Petworth, National Trust

Petworth House and park is open. Please see our website for opening times and latest information.
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Immerse yourself in the grandeur of our show rooms containing a world famous collection of paintings, with many works by JMW Turner, Van Dyck, Reynolds and Blake, together with ancient and Neo-classical sculpture and intricate carvings by Grinling Gibbons. In contrast to the opulence of the House, follow in the footsteps of Petworth servants and see what life was like ‘below stairs’ in the fascinating Servants’ Quarters. Petworth House remains a living family home to this day and on weekdays Lord and Lady Egremont kindly open some of their private rooms for our visitors to enjoy.

11/09/2026

Visit Petworth House for FREE this weekend - Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September and discover the extraordinary art, history and stories of Petworth. Part of Heritage Open Days.

🎨Explore the stunning art collection in the magnificent state rooms
☕ Enjoy refreshments in the Audit Room Café or relax with a picnic in the Pleasure Garden
🏛️ Join a free guided tour of the ice house – tickets are allocated on a first come, first served basis
✨Enjoy our free 10-minute highlight talks throughout the day
🚶 Discover Petworth’s fascinating history on a free historical walk through Petworth Town, led by our volunteers. Walks last around an hour and run throughout the day – ask our Reception Team for times and collect your ticket at Church Lodge.
🎁Browse a range of products in the gift shop
💙Explore our exhibition ‘Expressions in Blue: Monumental Porcelain by Felicity Aylieff’, featuring towering sculptures throughout the house and two monolithic obelisks in the grounds.

🎟️No booking required. We look forward to welcoming you!

Do check out the surrounding local heritage sites who will also be opening for free on Heritage Open Weekend.

📷 National Trust Images/Megan Taylor

07/09/2026

With the Bayeux Tapestry going on display at the British Museum this week, we're reminded of the events that would shape Petworth for centuries.

Following William the Conqueror's victory at Hastings, Norman knights and nobles began building new lives across England.

Among them was William de Percy, whose arrival marks the beginning of Petworth House's fascinating family story.

📷 1. Bayeux Tapestry, Scene 39 / Bayeux Museum, via Wikimedia Commons
2. Window shield in the Chapel at Petworth House, which shows the marriage of Jocelin de Louvain to Agnes Percy in the 1150s, which started the Percy association with Petworth.

04/09/2026

Don't miss the last weekend of our summer family activities at Petworth House and Park!

There's still time to enjoy our free family trail in the gardens, crafts and activities in the Battery House, I-Spy in the House, Art Cart, and more.

📅 Running until Sunday 6 September
🎟️ Free with admission
🚶 No booking required

📷Mike Cole

02/09/2026

Tickets are still available for a very special evening at Petworth House.

This late opening on Friday 25 September is a unique opportunity to see Expressions in Blue: Monumental Porcelain by Felicity Aylieff, and hear from the artist behind the exhibition.

Explore the spectacular state rooms, experience the magical evening atmosphere of Petworth House after hours, and discover one of the National Trust’s finest art collections.

The highlight of the evening will be an 'in conversation' event with artist Felicity Aylieff and acclaimed author of The Secret Lives of Colour, Kassia St. Clair. Together, they’ll discuss the exhibition, the collaborative process behind these monumental works, and the fascinating story of cobalt blue.

🏛️ Late opening: 6.30pm–8.30pm
🕖 In conversation: 7pm
🍷 Bar open: throughout the evening
🎟️ £25 per person

Booking is advisable. Call 0344 249 1895 or book via the Petworth House website:
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/sussex/petworth/events/b593f460-4bfe-4011-a967-345af9c5df1e

Expressions in Blue ends on 27 September.

📷 National Trust Images/Megan Taylor/Mike Cole

31/08/2026

Visit Petworth House for FREE on Heritage Open Weekend!

Join us on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September and discover the extraordinary art, history and stories of Petworth.

🎨Explore the stunning art collection in the magnificent state rooms
☕ Enjoy refreshments at the Audit Room Café or relax with a picnic in the Pleasure Garden
🏛️ Join a free guided tour of the ice house – tickets are allocated on a first come, first served basis
✨Enjoy our free 10-minute highlight talks throughout the day
🚶 Discover Petworth’s fascinating history on a free historical walk through Petworth Town, led by our volunteers. Walks last around an hour and run throughout the day – ask our Reception Team for times and collect your ticket at Church Lodge.
💙Explore our exhibition ‘Expressions in Blue: Monumental Porcelain by Felicity Aylieff’, featuring towering sculptures throughout the house and two monolithic obelisks in the grounds.

🎟️No booking required. We look forward to welcoming you!

Do check out the surrounding local heritage sites who will also be opening for free on this weekend.

29/08/2026

Collections care isn’t always delicate dusting. Sometimes it’s a ladder, a bucket and a big urn in need of a good scrub 🏺🧽🪣

27/08/2026

Many gardens and parks across the country are experiencing a ‘false autumn’ this year – and Petworth is no exception.

The summer drought has put our trees under significant stress, causing them to turn brown and shed their leaves early as they conserve water. Sadly, some trees, including our famous Norman Oak, have even shed whole limbs.

The large acer by the Ionic Rotunda is called October Glory – and its glory is arriving well ahead of schedule 🍁

With these challenging conditions, the work of our garden and outdoor teams to look after Petworth's plants and trees has never been more important 🌳

📷Mike Cole/John Miller

25/08/2026

Don’t miss out on our summer trail at Petworth House & Park! 🌈

Join Pipkin the Dragon on a colourful adventure. Pick up your free trail map and explore buggy-friendly paths packed with fun and creativity. There are also activities in the Battery House, I-Spy in the mansion, and plenty of surprises along the way. 🎨

📅 Running until Sunday 6 September
🎟️ Free with admission
🚶 No booking required

Come along and make some magical summer memories!

📷Mike Cole

23/08/2026

For Expressions in Blue, artist Felicity Aylieff took inspiration from Petworth’s historic porcelain collection, which includes some of the finest ceramics in the National Trust.

“For this exhibition I wanted the new works, particularly the soldier jars, to respond directly to the Chinese vessels in Petworth’s collection.”

The story behind the name ‘soldier jars’ is remarkable. In 1717, Augustus the Strong, Elector of Saxony and King of Poland, reportedly exchanged an entire regiment of dragoons for 151 pieces of East Asian porcelain. At the time, the secret of making fine blue-and-white porcelain was still unknown in 17th and 18th-century Europe, making Chinese porcelain hugely sought after.

“Seeing my sculptures within Petworth’s grand Baroque setting is both exhilarating and humbling. The scale and drama of the interiors amplify the physical presence of the works, while the historical surroundings create an unexpected dialogue between past and present.” - Felicity Aylieff.

✨ Expressions in Blue runs until 27 September.
🎟️ Free with admission — no booking required.

📷National Trust Images/Mike Cole/Megan Taylor

Address

Church Street
Petworth
GU280AE

Telephone

+441798342207

Website

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/petworth

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