Skip to main content

Hylands Estate Open Day


Join us for our Open Estate Days every third Sunday of the month from 10am to 3pm!

Hylands Estate is fully open for you to explore and enjoy at your leisure. Discover more about the history of Hylands House at the monthly exhibition in the library and guided morning tour.

Urban Food Fest will be joining us with delicious street food available just outside the house. There will also be handmade gifts and freshly baked goods for sale from local traders.

Enjoy our delightful vintage afternoon tea experience in the Terrace Room (on select months, booking is essential).

The Artist Studios in The Stables are open for you to browse, with its vibrant community of artists, designers and makers. Stay and enjoy the live music programme in the courtyard provided via a Grassroots Music grant from Arts Council England.

Upcoming dates for 2024

18 August
15 September
20 October
17 November
15 December

Hylands Open House

Hylands House opens its doors free of charge to reveal the secrets behind its history, with an rotating monthly exhibition displayed in the library. Browse the house at your own leisure throughout the day, or join us for our guided tour at 10am.

Take a walk through the gardens of the Estate and learn even more about the history with our new multimedia tour. You can borrow a handset from The Stables Information Point or use your own smart phone.

The Stables & Artists Studios

The Stables, which is home to a vibrant community of artists, designers and makers, will be open to explore. Take a walk through the downstairs and upstairs studios and meet our resident creatives. Discover unique handmade pieces available to purchase, or get creative yourself and book one of our experiences or workshops.

Relax with a cup of coffee from The Deli in the courtyard and enjoy live music throughout the day. Our live music programme at The Stables is provided via a Grassroots Music grant from Arts Council England.

Events for 18 August

This month, we are celebrating National Radio Day! We’re delighted to be sharing the day with groups from across Chelmsford, which you might have heard is the birthplace of radio. With lots to be proud of, we hope you can come down and join us for a free day of activities as well as our usual favourite events.

Joining us in the National Radio Day celebrations is Chelmsford Community Radio, a station committed to Chelmsford stories and encouraging the next generation of radio enthusiasts. They will be in the Terrace Room running a foley table where kids can make their own sound effects, as well as have a go at reading their own news, weather and travel reports.

Get your hands on radio objects and artifacts straight from the Chelmsford Museum collections. They will be coming along with their friendly volunteers to chat to visitors in the Small Dining Room about the objects that you can handle and learn about.
Chelmsford Theatre Workshop will be using microphones and recording equipment to create a radio drama, live in the Banqueting Room! Eager voice actors should come along to learn the techniques and watch the drama take place.

In addition, we will have our usual selection of activities in the house, as well as croquet, quoits and boccia on the back lawn.
A volunteer will be on hand to take you on a guided tour of the ground floor of Hylands House. You can enjoy the tour at 10am and 1pm.

Join us in the Drawing Room for storytelling by Mike Dodsworth at 10.30am, 11.30am, 12.30pm and 2pm.

This month’s exhibition in the Library will be all about previous Hylands House owners the Pryor family, and the Friends of Hylands House will have more information about their membership in the Saloon.

Food & Craft Market

Urban Food Fest are back, bringing together a fantastic selection of outdoor traders and vendors again for the street food and craft market outside of Hylands House.

Enjoy the Hot Box DJ set outside in the market whilst you’re here.

The Stables

Our resident artists throw open their studio doors and welcome you to see into their working spaces – explore upstairs as well as downstairs!

Hot Box Live provide the tunes in The Stables courtyard. Join them for live music from 11am.

Find unique items #MadeAtHylands in the Artist Shop and discover hidden gems in the Friends of Hylands House second hand bookshop.

Please note that there will be no horse & carriage rides this month.

Visit the Stables Information Point and pick up your handset to explore the Pleasure Gardens in a brand-new way! Our Hylands History & Gardens multimedia tour will be available for you to hire or scan the QR code and listen along with our new tour about the Estate and how it came to be.

Our popular new café The Deli will be open at The Stables all day!

An aerial view of Hylands House with the Urban Food Fest market taking place outside,
People enjoying the courtyard area of The Stables.
Arts Council England logo

Vintage Afternoon Tea

On select months, enjoy afternoon tea in the beautiful Terrace Room, with delightful views of the back lawn. A wonderful treat for friends and family.

With a vintage theme and traditional menu for you to enjoy in the idyllic setting of Hylands House, what better way to spend a Sunday afternoon!