Art Galleries And Exhibitions In Bristol & Bath

Join me for a look around Avebury Manor & the sculpture exhibition in its garden, open for free as part of Heritage Open Days. Avebury Manor is a Grade I listed, 16th-century manor house built on the site of a 12th-century Benedictine Priory, with a new experience exploring the people who lived and worked there over the centuries. The sculpture exhibition transforms the manor garden into an outdoor gallery, with works by more than 20 artists displayed among its colourful seasonal planting and garden ‘rooms’.
Around lunchtime we’ll go for refreshments at the Café.

Cost: Free entry to all as part of the Heritage Open Days 2026. **You’ll need to mention the free entry and the Heritage Open Days to them when getting your ticket.**
**Parking is only free if you’re a National Trust member. If not, you’ll need to pay for parking.**

We’ll meet: Near the ticket desk. We don’t use a Meetup sign. I carry a silver backpack handbag, which is easy to spot. If you’re late, you’ll need to find us in the sculpture exhibition.
Please look at the event page the night before and the morning of the event, in case of any updates.

From their website:
Avebury Manor is a Grade I listed, 16th-century manor house built on the site of a 12th-century Benedictine Priory. Following extensive conservation, restoration and repair work, the house has reopened with a new experience called ‘Avebury as Home’, inviting visitors to explore the manor as a place shaped over the centuries by the people who lived and worked there. The experience tells the stories of previous owners and residents through objects, stories, audio and interactive elements.
Highlights include the Great Parlour and Great Chamber, which explore the manor’s long history and changes through the centuries, the Dining Room with its beautiful hand-painted Chinese wallpaper, the Kitchen, and Alexander Keiller’s recreated 1930s drawing office.
The Sculpture Exhibition in Avebury Manor Garden returns in 2026 for its 10th anniversary. The garden becomes an outdoor gallery, with a variety of sculptures and artwork displayed throughout all 11 of the garden’s ‘rooms’, set against colourful seasonal planting. Works by more than 20 artists will be exhibited, including both returning artists and first-time exhibitors, and all the sculptures are available to purchase.
Eating and drinking:
The Circles Café is in the Old Farmyard and serves light lunches, pasties, cakes, pastries and hot drinks. There is indoor seating with a view over the stone circle, as well as picnic tables outside.
Parking:
The main pay-and-display car park is to the south-west of the village on the A4361. Cars cost £8 for all day or £5 after 3pm. National Trust and English Heritage members can park for free by scanning their membership card on arrival. Blue Badge parking and motorcycle parking are free. The car park uses payment machines and the JustPark app.
Address:
Avebury, Marlborough, Wiltshire, SN8 1RD.
What3Words:
///trade.engraving.teacher — location for the main visitor car park.
SatNav, use postcode SN8 1RD for the main visitor car park.

This Event description has been written for me by AI. If you have any queries please message me.

Join me for a look around Newark Park & the New Work At Newark sculpture exhibition. Newark Park is a secluded historic estate with glorious views, featuring a Tudor hunting lodge that later became a family home,. The New Work at Newark exhibition brings together five local sculptors, who have created new pieces inspired by the history, stories, wildlife and landscape of Newark Park.
At some stage we’ll go for refreshments at the Café, in the garden and hopefully catch sight of some peacocks.

Cost: Free entry to all as part of the Heritage Open Days 2026. You will need to mention the free entry and the Heritage Open Days to them when getting your ticket. NB parking isn't free unless you are a National Trust member.

We’ll meet: Near the ticket desk. We don’t use a Meetup sign. I carry a silver backpack handbag. If you’re late, you’ll need to find us in the exhibition.

Please look at the event page the night before and the morning of the event, in case of any updates.

From their website:
Newark Park is a secluded estate with glorious views, providing country house hospitality, garden strolls and woodland walks.
The house began as a state-of-the-art Tudor hunting lodge, built around 1550 by Sir Nicholas Poyntz, an attendant to Henry VIII. Successive owners altered and embellished the house, including the Clutterbuck family, who worked with architects including James Wyatt. Newark Park later became a family home and, after falling on hard times in the mid-20th century, was rejuvenated by American architect Bob Parsons.
Today, the National Trust cares for the house, garden and parkland, providing a place to connect with history and nature.
The estate covers more than 700 acres, with two farms, listed buildings and a variety of habitats. The garden is built over three levels, including a walled garden, woodland glade and lakeside garden, with seasonal blooms throughout the year.

New Work at Newark: A Sculpture Exhibition is a collaborative project between Newark Park and the Cotswold Sculptors Association. Five local sculptors — Ella Daniel-Lowe, Ian Knight, Kate McMahon-Parkes, Shirley Sharp and Tim Wells — have created new work inspired by the spirit, history and natural environment of Newark Park. Their sculptures explore subjects including local wildlife, the history of the house and gardens, Cistercian monks, courtship and historical characters, using materials including local clay, wood and wool. The exhibition is situated in both the house and gardens and runs from 28 August to 1 November 2026.
Eating and drinking:
The Tea Pavilion is on the lawn and has outdoor seating, serving takeaway hot and cold drinks and light snacks.
Parking:
There is a car park approximately 100 yards from Newark House and the main facilities. Parking is £1.10 for one hour or £3.20 for all day, payable using the JustPark app or the pay-and-display machines. National Trust members can park free by registering their membership on the JustPark app or scanning their membership card at the machine.
Address:
Newark Park, Ozleworth, Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire, GL12 7PZ.
What3Words:
///competent.employers.fantastic — Newark Park National Trust car park.

Getting there:
Newark Park is 1¾ miles south of the junction of the A4135 and B4058; follow the signs for Ozleworth/Newar**The National Trust advises visitors not to use SatNav, as it may take you up a very steep single-track country lane. **** The NT say "**If travelling via Wotton-under-Edge, follow the brown signs for Newark Park; from other directions, follow the A4135 (Dursley–Tetbury) and the brown signs for the Ozleworth/Newark Park junction." **I've never found the brown signs helpful as there aren't enough of them and if you can possibly use what three words I think that would be a safer bet (although I haven't used it in this location before). The alternative recommendation would be to study Google Maps and work out the route well ahead of time.**
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This Event description has been written for me by AI(apart from a few notes eg on directions). If you have any queries please message me.