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October half-term fun at Ham House and Garden
Make the most of the autumn holidays with a family adventure at Ham House and Garden in Richmond, where history, imagination and the great outdoors come together.
Ham House’s unique cabinet collection will be unlocked during the October school holidays. Step inside this extraordinary 17th-century house (open 11.30am–3.30pm) for a rare chance to discover these fascinating objects using all your senses. What might a piece of furniture sound like? Listen to music etched onto a cabinet, smell precious spices that could once have been kept inside these beautiful objects, and look around the house to see if you can spot all the lost cabinet keys.
There’s plenty more to enjoy from 10am, making the gardens and coffee shop a great place to start your day. Explore the maze-like Wilderness, with its hedged compartments and wooden summerhouses, or wander through the Kitchen Garden before stopping at the Orangery Coffee Shop for hot chocolates, light lunches and seasonal treats. Don’t forget to pop into the shop and second-hand bookshop for pocket-money-friendly goodies.
Little explorers can also enjoy the family-friendly Garden Room, open 10am–5pm, with activity sheets, colouring and toys.
Saturday 24th October to Sunday 1st November. Activities are included in normal admission. Free entry for National Trust members and under-5s. Visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ham-house for details.
Image credit: © National Trust Images/Megan Taylor