The Children's Country House at Sudbury

About the museum

Sudbury Hall was built by George Vernon, who inherited the estate in 1660 at the age of 25. He rebuilt his family's smaller mansion, moved the village of Sudbury to its present site and spent about 42 years creating the house. His accounts survive and record no payment to an architect, so the National Trust believes that he designed it himself. The result is a Jacobean house that keeps the traditional Tudor layout, with state rooms on the east side and service rooms on the west.

The interiors are known for painted ceilings by Louis Laguerre, carved wood in the style of Grinling Gibbons in the Drawing Room, and a very grand staircase. The house stayed with the Vernon family, who became Lords Vernon in 1762. Several heirs married wealthy brides, and the fortune of the 7th Lord's American wife paid for a new stable block and coach house.

The house is now cared for by the National Trust. The property also houses a museum of childhood, which shows toys, games and everyday objects from different centuries, a Victorian classroom with costumed teachers and a chimney climb. The National Trust now calls the whole property The Children's Country House at Sudbury and designs the hall as well as the museum, the garden and the stableyard for family visits.

Highlights

• Jacobean hall built by George Vernon
• Painted ceilings by Louis Laguerre and carvings in the style of Grinling Gibbons
• Great Staircase
• Museum of Childhood with a Victorian classroom and a chimney climb
• Hands-on activities in the Long Gallery, Saloon and Drawing Room
• Gardens with a lake, woodland and play area

Permanent exhibitions

• Sudbury Hall – The historic home of the Vernon family, with painted ceilings, wood carvings, the Great Staircase and interactive activities for families in the Long Gallery, Saloon and Drawing Room.
• Museum of Childhood – Hands-on galleries about growing up through the centuries, with toys and games, a Victorian classroom with costumed teachers and a chimney climb.

Operated by

National Trust

Admission & discounts

The prices are for the hall, museum and garden without Gift Aid; with Gift Aid the adult ticket costs £24.20, the child ticket £12.10 and the family ticket £60.50. National Trust members enter free. Tickets can be bought on the day, with no need to book. Car parking is free.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

There are 20 designated disabled parking spaces, and a free wheelchair-accessible electric vehicle takes visitors between the car park and the entrance. Manual and all-terrain wheelchairs can be borrowed at Visitor Services. The ground floor of the hall is step-free and has a ramp, but the first floor and the basement are reached by stairs. A lift serves the two floors of the museum and the café, although the Space Room in the museum has steps and can be seen on a virtual tour. Accessible toilets and a Changing Places toilet (radar key available) are in the stableyard, and there is a sensory room with ear defenders. Induction loops are at reception and the till points, and large print and Braille guides are available. Paths in the stableyard are cobbled and the gardens have uneven ground. Assistance dogs are welcome.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly
• Baby changing facilities
• Playground / play area

The whole property is designed for families. Children can practise deportment, pose for a portrait and dance in the hall, learn in the Victorian classroom, take the chimney climb in the museum and build dens in the garden woodland or use the small play area. Pushchair-friendly paths lead from the car park, and a buggy store is provided for prams, pushchairs, bikes and scooters. Baby changing facilities and a sensory room are in the stableyard, high chairs are in the café, and a children's picnic box costs £5.50. Seasonal family events run in school holidays.

Getting there & parking

The property is 6 miles east of Uttoxeter, at the junction of the A50 (Derby to Stoke) and the A515 (Ashbourne). Sat nav postcode DE6 5HT. National Cycle Network Route 54 passes nearby, and there is cycle parking near the café.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Lockers

The café serves hot and cold drinks, sandwiches, scones and light meals, with indoor and outdoor seating; a coffee van runs in school holidays. A second-hand bookshop supports conservation. Free lockers are in a bag store beside the hall.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit