Audley End House and Gardens

09/09/2026

Visiting Audley End House today? Don't miss out on our special portrait exhibition show! 🎭

Marking the 400th anniversary of the death of Thomas Howard, the exhibition 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 have been working hard to bring these portraits to life. There will be a performance of ‘Monasteries, Mansions, Marriage and Mayhem’ today at 11:30am in the Great Hall, and we'd love for you to come and watch! Hear the fascinating stories of the characters behind the house and discover how each played their part over the years.

Sign up in the Visitor Information Centre when you arrive at the site to claim your seat in the audience! This experience is included in your admission tickets and membership access☺️

🎟‘Monasteries, Mansions, Marriage and Mayhem’, Wednesday 9th September, 11:30am in the Great Hall!

https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/.../audley-end-house.../

09/09/2026

🌿🎟️ WIN TICKETS TO BBC GARDENERS’ WORLD AUTUMN FAIR! 🎟️🌿

Fancy joining us at Audley End for a fantastic day of gardening, shopping and inspiration? 🌸🌱

Our competition is LIVE over on Instagram, where you could win:

🏆 1 family ticket for four
🎟️ 4 pairs of tickets

Head over to Instagram and find our competition post at to enter. All you need to do to enter is leave a comment!

⏰ The competition closes at 12 noon on Friday 11 September, so don’t miss out!

Good luck! 🤞🌿

Full terms and conditions apply.
https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/audley-end-house-and-gardens/gardeners-world-fair-competition-terms-and-conditions/

07/09/2026

It's BBC Gardener's World Autumn Fair week! We can't wait to see everyone at the weekend for all sorts of gardening fun🍂🍁

It's hard work all that exploring though... Book in for a break and recharge with Afternoon Tea in the Victorian Service Wing🫖☕

Visit the website or speak to a member of staff on site this week to add Afternoon Tea to your BBC GWF ticket booking!🍓🍰
https://www.bbcgardenersworldlive.com/autumn-fair/whatson/explore-audley-end/

The BBC Gardeners’ World Autumn Fair returns to Audley End House and Gardens from Friday 11 - Sunday 13 September.

06/09/2026

This year we have had the privilege of hosting a portrait display in the Great Hall, which some visitors will have already had the pleasure of viewing.🖼🪞

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 have been working hard to bring these portraits to life. We are excited to introduce a special performance piece, ‘Monasteries, Mansions, Marriage and Mayhem’, and invite you to come and watch! 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!

https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/audley-end-house-and-gardens/

For more information on the exhibition and the people who feature in it, alongside some sneak peak snippets of the show, check out this episode of the English Heritage Podcast!🎤
'From Monastery to Mansion: The Colourful History of Audley End House' https://englishheritage.lnk.to/podcastwb

05/09/2026

🍓 Afternoon Tea at BBC Gardeners’ World Autumn Fair!🍓

Take a break from exploring the Fair to enjoy a delicious afternoon tea in the beautiful surroundings of Audley End House! 🌸☕🍰

With less than a week to go, book your Afternoon Tea now to avoid disappointment on the day!
https://www.bbcgardenersworldlive.com/autumn-fair/whatson/explore-audley-end/

05/09/2026

Less than one week to go until BBC Gardener's World Autumn Fair kicks off here at Audley End!🍂🍁

Have you got your tickets? Don't miss out on an amazing weekend! 🎟
https://www.bbcgardenersworldlive.com/autumn-fair/

04/09/2026

As we head into autumn, let’s take a look at some of the beautiful flowers that have bloomed in our gardens this summer 🌸
These incredible photographs taken by our amazing volunteer photography team perfectly capture the bright summer colours we’ve been enjoying here at Audley. Which is your favourite?☀️🌻🪻

31/08/2026

Have you played our Summer Fun games yet? ☀️🎪

Bertie needs your help getting the Summer Fun-O-Meter all the way up to Full Summer Fun! Come along for the last week of summer and fill in your Activities Passport, collect stamps, and write a free postcard!

Find out more here:

https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/whats-on/audley-end-great-british-summer-sat-18-jul-to-sun-6-sep/

31/08/2026

It's not just the weather that's been getting hot here at Audley End! 🌶️☀️

As well as our beautiful ornamental displays and other produce, our gardeners have been tending to some spicy plants too! But do you know why chillies taste hot?

It's all thanks to a chemical called capsaicin. When we eat a chilli, capsaicin activates heat and pain receptors in our mouths and stomachs, sending signals to the brain that make us feel like we're experiencing a burning sensation! 🔥

Our bodies can respond to this by releasing endorphins, which creates that familiar (and sometimes addictive!) spicy sensation.

We have several varieties of chilli pepper growing in our gardens, including Capsicum frutescens, which is used to make Tabasco and Piri Piri sauces! 🌶️

So, next time you're admiring our gardens, keep an eye out for our spiciest plants alongside the beautiful flowers 👀