Summer kicks off on Thursday 19 June with our Summer Live Music Late, featuring live music from Apollo’s Cabinet. Start your evening with a relaxed, self-guided tour of the house, then head outside for live music and Pimm’s. Pack a picnic and enjoy a relaxed evening with friends while Apollo’s Cabinet brings to life the songs of Kitty Clive, a good friend of Horace Walpole. Want to make it extra special? Pre-order a Roots & Berries picnic hamper.
Can’t make it on the 19 June? Join us on Thursday 17 July or Thursday 21 August for one of our Summer Candlelit Lates. Here you can enjoy a self-guided tour of the house followed by a complimentary glass of Pimm’s & an evening with friends in the gardens at Strawberry Hill House, again you can pack a picnic and make an evening of it.
On Saturday 5 July, 6pm-8pm, get ready for music, costume changes, and a whole lot of mistaken identity when Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing comes to Strawberry Hill performed by the internationally renowned HandleBards.
The Summer programme ends on Saturday 24 August with a magical open-air concert from the Pasadena Roof Orchestra. Featuring the unforgettable sounds of the roaring 1920s and elegant 1930s, this is your chance to enjoy an evening of vintage music, beautiful surroundings, and summer night enchantment. Bring a picnic, relax, and let the music take you back in time.
Starting this May half-term and running all summer, we’ve got two Faery Trails for the kids, one in the house and one in the garden.
First, hunt for the fairy doors & houses hidden around the gardens. Creep around the base of trees and explore our secluded historic gardens. Make discoveries twisted in gnarled old oak, or nestled under bushes. All designed and carved by a very talented pixie. Pick up your Faery Trail Guide for £2 in the café and once you’ve completed your adventure return to pick up your fairy treat.
Next come inside to spot faeries in the magical rooms of Strawberry Hill House. Entrance to the house is free for under-5s and £7.25 for kids aged 6-16. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Dress up in your faery or wizard gear, and don’t forget to snap a magical #FaerieSelfie to share with the world!
On Wednesday 25 June, Strawberry Hill House joins the celebration of Pride with a special LGBTQ+ tour. Join this thought-provoking tour as it explores Horace Walpole’s identity and sexuality through the lens of his correspondence with friends and acquaintances, offering new perspectives on how we interpret his home and collection.
On Sunday 29 June, Strawberry Hill House joins with the Strawberry Hill Residents Association to celebrate two special anniversaries – the 15th anniversary of reopening the house and the Association’s Diamond Jubilee – with the Strawberry Hill Community BBQ & Picnic.
Visitors can bring a picnic or enjoy BBQ fare provided by Roots & Berries –see BBQ menu here. The event will also feature children’s activities, live music, and a kids’ entertainer, making it a perfect family day out, with adult tickets just £6 and free entry for kids.
We are delighted to announce that during the Summer Holidays (22 July – 31 August), we’ll be open 7 days a week. The house will be open from 11am to 4pm, with last entry at 3pm, while the garden and café will be open from 9am to 4pm- Book Here.
Whatever your summer brings, Strawberry Hill House offers something for everyone – from Summer Lates with live music to farcical Shakespearean fun, magical faery trails to community celebrations.
Summer Live Music Late with Apollo’s Cabinet
Thursday 19 June, 6pm-7:30pm
Explore Strawberry Hill House at your own pace with stories from our expert guides. Then enjoy live music by Apollo’s Cabinet – blending acting, dance, poetry, and drama. Relax with a Pimm’s, bring a picnic, and make an evening of it with friends.
LGBTQ+ House Tour to Celebrate Pride
Wednesday 25 June, Doors open 6:30pm tour begins at 7pm
This tour will reveal how Strawberry Hill enabled Walpole to build a unique identity for himself by his radical use of architecture, design, and antiquarianism.
The Strawberry Hill Community BBQ and Picnic
Sunday 29 June, 3pm-6:30pm
Join us for The Strawberry Hill Community BBQ and Picnic in the gardens of Strawberry Hill House. Bring your own picnic or enjoy the Argentinian style BBQ run by Roots & Berries and enjoy an afternoon of fun, live music and kids entertainment.
Much Ado About Nothing – Handlebards
Saturday 5 July, 6pm-8pm
Performed by the internationally renowned HandleBards, this high-energy version of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing will have you laughing and cheering.
Pasadena Roof Orchestra open-air concert
Sunday 24 August, 6pm-6pm
Enjoy an evening of vintage music, beautiful surroundings, and summer night enchantment. Bring a picnic, relax, and let the music take you back in time.
Summer Candlelit Late
Thursday July 17 and Thursday August 21. Tickets available for arrival in slots from 6:00pm – 7:30pm.
Explore Horace Walpole’s enchanting Little Gothic castle at your own pace and then join us in the gardens for a glass of Pimm’s. Bring a picnic and make an evening of it with friends.
