Opening Date Confirmed for Guildenacre
An exciting new woodland adventure playground at Helmingham Estate is set to open its gates to visitors for the first time this summer.
Guildenacre, a brand-new immersive play experience nestled within four acres of woodland at the Suffolk estate, will officially welcome families from Saturday 27th June.
Designed and built by internationally renowned playground specialists CAP.CO (Creating Adventurous Places), the attraction represents a significant addition to Helmingham Estate's visitor offering and has been carefully created to encourage children to connect with nature through imaginative outdoor play.
The experience is centred around four themed play zones, each inspired by one of Guildenacre's guardian animals - a badger, fox, owl and stag - and the habitats they call home.
Edward Tollemache, custodian of Helmingham and co-founder of Guildenacre with his wife Sophie said:
“We host a number of popular family-orientated events throughout the year, including our sell-out Illuminated Garden Trail at Christmas, so to be able to expand this even further with a permanent immersive experience is an exciting new step for us.
“We were keen for our next venture to be centred around nature and the great outdoors and this impressive play experience, which has been carefully entwined within natural woodland, is exactly what we were hoping for and more.
“All of us at Helmingham can’t wait to welcome visitors to Guildenacre and see their enjoyment as they create family memories together. It’s going to be a momentous occasion for everyone involved.”
Guildenacre's largest play structure is The Elderglade, a multi-level adventure zone packed with climbing walls, tunnels, bridges, ladders and exhilarating slides. Elsewhere, children can climb among the treetops in Eira the Owl's Canopy Keep, explore burrows and hidden passages within Flint's Hollow, or enjoy the more adventurous challenges found in Vex the Vixen's Ember Den.
Edward added:
“We’ve worked closely with CAP.CO to ensure that Guildenacre has something for children of all ages to enjoy – whether they’re an adrenaline seeker or prefer a more exploratory approach.
“For those who are looking for a heart-pumping experience, there’s an adrenaline-fuelled zip line, several impressive slides to race down, a rope ladder and climbing walls to scale, tunnels and balance beams to conquer. But if you’re looking for more of an explorative time, there are talking tubes to discover, wooden walkways to traverse, two-storey lookout spots and a stargazing deck to scour the skies.”
The woodland attraction has been designed to blend seamlessly into its natural surroundings, with timber-inspired structures and pathways creating an immersive environment that encourages exploration and discovery.
Families will also find a dedicated den-building area, where children can create their own woodland hideaways, alongside themed trail sheets and interactive stamp stations that add an educational element to the adventure.
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All four play areas are connected by accessible bark pathways, while visitor facilities include toilets, seating areas and a refreshment kiosk.
Visitors can also make use of the newly restored Grade II listed Wades Barn and adjoining buildings, which will house a retail space, toilet facilities and a café operated by Suffolk-based food specialists The Black Dog Deli. A new car park has also been created and will be free to use for both Guildenacre visitors and walkers.
Following its opening on Saturday 27th June, Guildenacre will operate on weekends before opening daily for the summer holidays from Saturday 18th July until Monday 31st August. Weekend opening will then resume after the school holiday period.
The attraction has also announced reduced summer ticket prices following the Government's temporary reduction in VAT for certain attractions, with the saving being passed directly on to visitors.
Until Monday 31st August, advance online tickets are priced at £11.50 for children aged five and over, £8 for adults and £6 for children aged three and four. Children under three can visit free of charge.
On-the-day tickets will cost £13 for children aged five and over, £9.50 for adults and £7.50 for children aged three and four. Seasonal events will be priced separately.
For further information and to sign up for Guildenacre updates, visit: www.guildenacre.co.uk