Discover more about military history through the ages as it is brought to life by Kentwell's expert living historians.  This interesting event illustrates the everyday lives of those involved with conflict and the lives  of those on the home front, over several periods of history.

The history will be spread out among our 30 acres of gardens and grounds, in separate 'time bubbles'.  Kentwell's Gardens are extensive and provide quiet space for comfortable relaxation in beautiful surroundings.  Visitors should have little problem in keeping socially distant from others!

The event this year will be different in format from our previous War Weekends, due to current restrictions and regulations.  However, the Ministry for Information can confirm that it will still be an interesting and informative day out for the whole family! 

This year, we have Vikings, Tudor Archers, a Regency Recruiting Party and attendant surgeon, a Boer War army camp, an Edwardian hospital, WWI Army, 1919 Hospital Supplies ladies, WWII Home Guard and Suffolk Regiment and the 1960s Peace Camp, all spread out around the gardens and grounds for you to enjoy.

Please pre-book your visit (any time up to 10.30am on the day of your visit) and please arrive in good time to get the most out of your visit.  You are welcome to arrive at any time from the timeslot you book until our last entry at 1.30pm.  The site will close at 4pm. 

Please note that advance booking is essential as we will be strictly limiting numbers on site.  We regret we may not be able to offer tickets to buy at the gate, as we cannot go above our maximum safe numbers.  We ask that you pre-book so we have your full contact details.

If you are Season Ticket holders, or Historic Houses members, please also book your tickets on-line.

Virus Precautions:  Visitors must use the map provided and observe current social distancing guidelines.  Please follow the one-way route around the gardens.  Rules and precautions for visitors are displayed on entry and on our handout/map. Please bring gloves and hand sanitiser, and wear lower face coverings if you choose.

---

Kentwell's Gardens provide a haven of tranquility and beauty in a challenging world.  A feeling of naturalness and they are not over-manicured where visitors can lose themselves in the moment,  The 16th C House and 15th C Moat House are not open (due to the virus) but are ever present.  Their beauty and the usually still waters of the moats, disturbed only by fish and fowl, set the tone.  There is an aura of timelessness created by the mellow red brick and the water of the extensive moats and the ancient trees from our 1000 year-old oak to a lawn guarded by England's most majestic Cedars.

There is also a strong sense of the past which is not surprising given that the Gardens have developed over six centuries and the keen eye will find elements from each.  There's a sense of fun too; from the sculpted tree and courtyard maze to the yew castle and varied topiary, some of it truly massive, encountered throughout.  Topiary here is not a constant dull green but has may hues and as many shapes.  All the shaping is not green; the gnarled arms of the ancient espalier fruit trees, the hornbeam hedge of the magic circle or the long avenue of pyramidical lime trees all as striking bare as when in full leaf.

A twelve year-old boy recently volunteered after spending two hours in the Gardens, having been dragged here by a parent, that he was not bored for a moment.  That's to be expected when the gardens are decorated with a different feeling during events, but he was describing a day without any.  These are gardens to make you smile whatever your age.

---

Refreshments: we are pleased to offer light lunches and refreshments as a take-out service, for our visitors to enjoy outdoors.  We have tea, coffee and cake, as well as home-cooked savoury food.  We also have a selection of cold drinks and bottled water.

Facilities: the loos near the Tea Garden area will be available for use, on a one-family-out/one-in basis.  We ask all visitors to wash their hands upon entering as well as when leaving these facilities.

The Weather: we will open whatever the weather and your visit can certainly fill a rewarding few hours.  Please dress appropriately for the weather!  Kentwell has its own Met Office weather report - please click here to view it.

Accessibility: the majority of the gardens are accessible by wheelchair in good weather, via good pathways and firm, lawned or mown grass tracks.

Disabled Visitor Discount: for registered disabled visitors and their carers: please purchase tickets at the next rate down.  If you are adults, please purchase a senior ticket; if you are seniors, please purchase an older child ticket, and so on.

Dogs: no dogs, except guide dogs, are permitted within the grounds.

Cancellations and refunds: Should Government action at any time cause us to close, we will, of course, refund any tickets purchased for any affected days.  Otherwise, we operate a no-refunds policy.  Tickets are not transferrable to other days, or to other events.  Please always check our website before travelling, in case circumstances or Government Advice has changed.

Covid Precautions: we ask that everyone brings lower face coverings to wear in indoor areas such as our loos.  We also suggest gloves are worn.  Please bring your own hand sanitiser.  Please do not attend if you are suffering from, or displaying any symptoms of, Coronavirus, or if you have recently been in contact with someone who has had symptoms or tested positive for Coronavirus.  

Family Bubbles: While you are welcome to book as many tickets as you like, we ask that you remain in your family bubble, observing current social distancing spacing between groups.