Talks, Tours and Workshops
Get more from your visit by coming along to one of our tours. Book your place online or call the Box Office on 01234 718044. Use the promotional code HIGGINS30 to remove any transaction fee.
Concession prices are offered for most events to people over 65, students, those with disabilities plus their carer, National Art Pass members and adults receiving benefits.
Colour & Light Exhibition Tour
17 October 12-12.30pm
Tickets £3.60 per person, concessions £3.05 Booking Essential
Join the Keeper of Fine and Decorative Art for a lunchtime tour of some of the highlights of the exhibition.
Being Human Festival 2025
Mental Health and Wellbeing Fiction Writing Workshop
Saturday 8th November 2 – 4pm,
Free event, Booking Essential
Join writer and researcher Lydia Parker for a creative workshop focusing on stories of mental health and how storytelling can help us understand ourselves and others. We will discuss popular stories that are aimed at teenagers that include representations of mental health struggles and enjoy a creative session where you'll have an opportunity to create storyboards through writing, drawing and collage.
You are welcome to bring any resources you may wish to use for the storyboarding, materials will also be provided. You can use your own experiences of mental health for your storyboards, but you can also use a fictional character, there will be no expectation to share with the group.
Please be aware that this is a creative event only and mental health advice cannot be provided at the session. This workshop may discuss topics some people may find difficult, signposting information can be provided to anyone who feels they may need mental health support.
Please note that due to the content of the workshop, this event is for young people and adults aged 18 and over.
Lunchtime Talk
A Queer Inheritance - Alternative Histories in the National Trust
Tuesday 11 November 12.30-1.30pm
Tickets are Free but Booking is essential
Hear from author Michael Hall about his experience of researching his book A Queer Inheritance: Alternative Histories in the National Trust.
National Trust houses and landscapes might seem to embody conventional family values, but for generations some very different stories were hidden away. These belong to owners now considered 'queer' for defying the norms of sexual orientation or gender identity: sometimes blatantly, occasionally as open secrets, but most often very discreetly.
Fresco by Jack Hastings at Buscot Park, Oxfordshire
Michael explores not only the best-known examples of sexual difference, such as Lawrence of Arabia at Clouds Hill, Vita Sackville-West at Sissinghurst and the 'Dancing Marquess' at Plas Newydd; he also covers more recently unveiled stories, such as the lesbian community at Smallhythe Place and the homosexual scandals associated with Clumber. Then there were the quietly confirmed bachelors, keen to pass their properties and collections to the Trust for posterity.
Michael is a former Architectural Editor of Country Life and Editor of Apollo, and was Editor of The Burlington Magazine (2017-2024).
These events are part of Being Human Festival, the UK’s national festival of the humanities, taking place 6 - 15 November 2025. Led by the School of Advanced Study, University of London, with generous support from Research England, in partnership with the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the British Academy. For further information please see beinghumanfestival.org
Exhibition Tours
5 December, 6 February, 24 April 12–12.30pm
Tickets £3.60 per person, concessions £3.05 – Booking Essential
Join the Keeper of Fine and Decorative Art for a lunchtime tour of some of the highlights of the exhibition.
Talk on Noel Carrington by Joe Pearson
27 February 2–3pm Free – Booking Essential
Join exhibition curator Joe Pearson to learn more about the amazing career of Noel Carrington and the artists he championed. Joe is an established collector and writer on mid-century lithography. In 2015 he founded Design for Today, a press and publisher, with the aim of working with designers and illustrators to create limited edition books and cards.
Archive Session
6 March, 2pm–4pm
£13.25, concessions £10.65 – Booking Essential
Join the Keeper of Fine and Decorative Art for a delve through the Edward Bawden Archive. This is an opportunity to see well known works as well as pieces that have never been on display before.
Exhibition Tour
11 February 12–12.30pm
Tickets £3.60 per person, concessions £3.05 - Booking Essential
Join the Keeper of Fine and Decorative Art for a lunchtime tour of some of the highlights of the exhibition.