Sudbury Hall

Sudbury Hall is a stately home in Derbyshire which has now been re-labelled as ‘The Children’s Country House’ by the National Trust which runs it. The hall has always been a family home and one notable owner had 10 children. As such, children were always a key part of the hall’s past and it is particularly geared towards them when you visit today. Sudbury Hall was home to various generations of the Vernon family. Around it they built an entire estate including their own gasworks, church, school and railway station. The house is beautiful and after entering through the main doors you soon reach a sumptuous staircase with paintings and frescoes.

Upstairs there is a beautiful compact library, a guest bedroom suite and smaller bedrooms to see. In the main bedroom there’s a game for the kids to play about spotting features around the room. Then in the long gallery (pictured below), the focus is even more on children. Each of the portraits have amusing speech bubbles which makes it look like they are communicating with each other. It reminded us of the Hogwarts paintings in Harry Potter. Each of the bay windows then has a play table with old-school games from the past to play. There are toy chests with pull along toys inside and then at the end of the room two photo booths which are great fun. You can draw curtains behind you with different Sudbury rooms pictured on them and some dressing up hats and clothes to make you look authentic. Every time we have been to Sudbury, the adults are having been using these photo booths as much as the children!

On the ground floor you can explore more formal rooms with more dressing up to enjoy. There’s also a children’s library where you are encouraged to choose a book and relax in a reading chair. You then get to see the family dining room from the Victorian era, the kitchen and some of the head servants offices. Make sure you call into the ‘quiet room’ which was the Butler’s Pantry. What makes Sudbury Hall even more different is what is located in the newer wing of the house, accessed from the stables courtyard (pictured below). Here there is a museum dedicated to childhood and it’s packed with toys and games from yesteryear. You’re bound to see something from your own past here. Our little boy particularly loved the Victorian chimney where you can climb inside one fireplace and come out at another. There’s also a room which has a space shuttle projected onto one wall so you feel like you’re flying through space.

Outside there are formal gardens to wander around and a small play area. Beyond the National Trust property is another courtyard accessed through a small doorway. Here you’ll find another café, artisan crafters and boutique shops. The Children’s Country House – Sudbury Hall – is generally open Friday to Monday each week. Adult admission to the hall, museum and gardens is £24 (2024 prices). A family ticket is also available. Admission is free for members of the National Trust.

LOCATION & MAP

Address: Sudbury Hall, Main Road, Sudbury, Derbyshire DE6 5HT
Phone: +44 1283 585337
Email: cchsudbury@nationaltrust.org.uk

Sudbury Hall is 15 miles from Derby located just off the A50.

There’s a lovely little Airbnb nearby which we’d recommend if you want to stay overnight. It’s in the picturesque village of Tutbury and is packed with original features. It was also very affordable! Check out prices here:
Glassworker’s Cottage, Tutbury