Events

House Tours
Strawberry Hill House is internationally renowned as one of the finest examples of Georgian Gothic Revival architecture. We invite you to a 60-minute guided tour of Horace Walpole's architectural masterpiece, where you'll delve into its rich history, explore its unique interiors, and uncover the stories of Horace Walpole, who not only designed this "little Gothic castle" but also wrote "The Castle of Otranto," recognised as the first Gothic novel.
Tours departs at 10am and lasts an hour. Booking is essential. If you are a group of 15 persons or more you may be interested in booking a private guided tour for preferential rates. Please e-mail [email protected]
This tour price does not include re-entry to the house.
Book now
Come along to our drop-in Volunteer Drop In Session to find out how you can get involved at Strawberry Hill House & Garden. Volunteers have the opportunity to work in a magnificent Gothic Revival setting, learn about the history of this unique heritage property as well as making new friendships by becoming a part of our vibrant community of like-minded individuals.
We offer different opportunities depending on your interests. If you are interested in sharing knowledge with others, then volunteering in our historic rooms or training to be a tour guide might pique your interest. The House is often used as a venue for wedding receptions, filming, and specialty tours. If you have ever been curious about what is involved in managing these activities in a historic space then joining Event, Learning, or the Tour Support team could provide an opportunity to expand your skillset.
At the Volunteer Drop In Session, you’ll have the chance to chat with a member of staff, tour the House, and meet some of our lovely volunteers. We will also help you with the application process and fill you in on all the benefits of volunteering.
We look forward to seeing you there.
Book now
On Friday 31 October, the house takes on its most uncanny guise. Wander long corridors heavy with shadow, look up to fan-vaulted ceilings looming in shifting candlelight, and sense objects whispering of lives long past. A Moonlit Elixir will steady your nerves as Walpole’s vision unfolds around you.
Standard ticket: £25
Students: £17.50
Tickets available for arrival in slots from 6:00pm-8:00pm
Book now
Halloween Bat Walk at Strawberry Hill
Friday 10th October Tuesday 14th October & Friday 17 October
As a prelude to Halloween, join us on for a one-of-a-kind Halloween Bat Walk in the grounds of Strawberry Hill. With local conservation experts from Habitats & Heritage, you’ll step into Walpole’s wooded landscape at twilight, using bat detectors to tune in to the eerie calls of pipistrelles and other nocturnal hunters.
The evening will begin with a Gothic-themed introduction to Strawberry Hill and its gardens from one of our expert guides, setting the scene for your twilight adventure. You’ll then enjoy a short talk on bats, learn how to use specialist bat detectors, and discover fascinating facts about our local bat population before heading into the grounds at dusk.
Tickets: £10 adults | £5 children
All proceeds will support both the Strawberry Hill Trust and Habitats & Heritage, helping to care for our historic house and protect local wildlife.
On Friday 10th October or Tuesday 14th October please arrive at 5.30pm for a prompt 5.45pm start; on Friday 17th October please arrive at 5:15pm for a prompt 5:30pm start.
Online booking is essential due to limited capacity.
Under 18's must be accompanied by a paying adult.
Additional information: This walk will be along woodland footpaths which in some areas will be unlit. Torches are advisable. The walk will be at a leisurely pace. Please come suitably attired for the weather and wearing appropriate footwear.
Book now

An exclusive after-hours series combining candlelit exhibition viewing, drinks, and talks by leading experts.
From November 2025 to February 2026, Strawberry Hill House opens its doors after hours for a special programme of expert talks connected to Henry VIII’s Lost Dagger: From the Tudor Court to the Victorian Stage.
Friday 21st November 2025 – Strawberry Hill After Dark: Walpole, Wolsey and the World Beyond
Arrive from 6.00pm to enjoy a rosewater spritz — a delicate nod to Ottoman courtly flavours — and explore the landmark exhibition in the hush of Walpole’s candlelit castle. In the Tribune, encounter two dazzling sixteenth-century Ottoman daggers reunited for the first time. Continue into the Great North Bedchamber to discover how Victorian actor Charles Kean reimagined Walpole’s dagger for the stage.
At 7.00pm, gather in the Long Gallery for an expert talk on Walpole, Wolsey and the World Beyond, with Prof. Glenn Richardson (St Mary’s University), exploring Walpole’s internationalist outlook and how it compared with Cardinal Wolsey’s vision of England’s place in the world.
Tickets: Standard £25 | Students £17.50
(Includes rosewater spritz, exhibition entry, and lecture.)
----
Glenn Richardson is Professor of Early Modern History in the School of Arts and Theology at St Mary’s University. He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and is an Honorary Fellow of the Historical Association. He is President of the Society for Court Studies, established in 1997 to study the history of royal and princely courts. Its journal, The Court Historian, is published twice yearly.
Glenn has published extensively on Tudor England's political and cultural relations with Continental Europe and on aspects of European Renaissance monarchy. He is the author of Francis I (2025) a biography of the sixteenth-century king of France, and Renaissance Monarchs at War: The Battle of Pavia 1525 (2025). In addition to journal articles and chapters in edited collections, his other books are: The Field of Cloth of Gold (2013 and 2020); 'The Contending Kingdoms': France and England 1420-1700 (2008); Renaissance Monarchy: The Reigns of Henry VIII, Francis I and Charles V (2002) and Tudor England and its Neighbours [co-edited with Susan Doran] (2005).

An exclusive after-hours series combining candlelit exhibition viewing, drinks, and talks by leading experts.
From November 2025 to February 2026, Strawberry Hill House opens its doors after hours for a special programme of expert talks connected to Henry VIII’s Lost Dagger: From the Tudor Court to the Victorian Stage.
Thursday 22 January 2026 – Strawberry Hill After Dark: Henry VIII’s Kunstkammer
Arrive from 6.00pm to enjoy a rosewater spritz — a delicate nod to Ottoman courtly flavours — and explore the landmark exhibition in the hush of Walpole’s candlelit castle. In the Tribune, encounter two dazzling sixteenth-century Ottoman daggers reunited for the first time. Continue into the Great North Bedchamber to discover how Victorian actor Charles Kean reimagined Walpole’s dagger for the stage.
At 7.00pm, gather in the Long Gallery for an expert talk on from Timothy Schroder (FSA) on Henry VIII’s Kunstkammer (cabinet of curiosities) at Whitehall Palace, and the role of treasures like the dagger in Tudor collecting.
Tickets: Standard £25 | Students £17.50
(Includes rosewater spritz, exhibition entry, and lecture.)
----
Book now
An exclusive after-hours series combining candlelit exhibition viewing, drinks, and talks by leading experts.
From November 2025 to February 2026, Strawberry Hill House opens its doors after hours for a special programme of expert talks connected to Henry VIII’s Lost Dagger: From the Tudor Court to the Victorian Stage.
Thursday 5 February 2026 – Strawberry Hill After Dark: Shakespeare Rediscovered
Arrive from 6.00pm to enjoy a rosewater spritz — a delicate nod to Ottoman courtly flavours — and explore the landmark exhibition in the hush of Walpole’s candlelit castle. In the Tribune, encounter two dazzling sixteenth-century Ottoman daggers reunited for the first time. Continue into the Great North Bedchamber to discover how Victorian actor Charles Kean reimagined Walpole’s dagger for the stage.
At 7.00pm, gather in the Long Gallery for an expert talk on from Professor Robin Simon (UCL) ”Nothing is but what is not”: historical authenticity in the theatre 1700–1850’.
Tickets: Standard £25 | Students £17.50
(Includes rosewater spritz, exhibition entry, and lecture.)
---
In the theatre, historical authenticity was a long time coming. After the Restoration in 1660, Shakespeare’s plays were rewritten. Sets bore few indications of any specific date. Plays such as Macbeth were performed in contemporary court dress. It all began to change in the second half of the 18th century, under the influence of antiquarians such as John Carter…
Robin Simon is Editor of The British Art Journal and Honorary Professor in the Department of English, University College London. He has just retired as Chairman of the Works of Art Committee of the Garrick Club. His most recent book is Shakespeare, Hogarth and Garrick: Plays, Painting and Performance (2023).
Book now