Belton opens doors to house and brand-new exhibition

Visitors outside Belton House ©National Trust Images/Annapurna Mellor

Belton House is reopening its doors and inviting visitors in to explore hundreds of years of history once again. From Saturday 1 March, everyone will be welcome to discover this 17th-century mansion near Grantham, which has starred in the BBC’s Pride and Prejudice series and Netflix’s recent Bridgerton spin-off Queen Charlotte. 

The opening of the popular National Trust property will also see a brand-new exhibition unveiled, titled Artistic Journeys: Crafting a New Narrative. This will be a self-led celebration of arts and design, exploring global influences and featuring stories for all visitors. Focussing primarily on four pioneering creative women from Belton’s past – Marian Alford, Elizabeth Cust, Nina Cust, and Sophia Cust – it will include the chance to enjoy previously unseen items from the collection.  

 A portrait of Marian Alford in Belton House library ©National Trust Images/Robert Thrift

Temporary highlights of the Artistic Journeys exhibition will include collection items relating to Pride and Prejudice’s author Jane Austen in June to celebrate 250 years since her birth, and there are plans to feature a wedding dress designed by Mary Donan and worn by Caroline Cust in autumn. 

The whole family can enjoy the exhibition, with a fun trail sheet enabling younger visitors to discover the art of curating, learning how treasured objects are protected and cared for. Visitors are also encouraged to write their own label about a favourite object, either from home or from Belton’s collection. 

The house, and new exhibition, will be open from Thursdays through to Mondays between 11am and 4pm with last entry at 3.30pm (7 days a week during school holidays). Tuesdays and Wednesdays see bookable Spotlight on Conservation tours in different areas of the house, led by Belton’s knowledgeable volunteers. 

Charlotte Beaver, Visitor Operations and Experience Manager at Belton, said: ‘We’re really excited to open up a brand-new exhibition and share more of our incredible collection with you. It feels particularly meaningful to be launching this female-led exhibition in the month of International Women’s Day and we hope that visitors are inspired by the unique pieces selected by our wonderful team. There is so much to see in the house and across the garden and parkland and we look forward to welcoming you soon.’  

The opening of the house also coincides with the launch of Belton’s Deer Trail. Spanning across the parkland, this trail leads visitors between life-size models of the six deer species found in the UK, many of which have been spotted at Belton alongside the property’s herd of fallow deer. Offering a sensory experience, these striking visual models are accompanied by sound boxes where the different calls of each species can be heard, alongside fascinating information panels about the deer. This is a great chance to explore the parkland, with wellies or other appropriate footwear a must.  

With the tranquil sea of snowdrops starting to give way to a burst of bright yellow daffodils, the garden has so much to offer at this time of year too and visitors can now make a day of it, exploring everything that Belton Estate has to offer. 

Find out more, including details about admission and becoming a National Trust member, at nationaltrust.org.uk/Belton. 

A needlework designed by Marian Alford in the new Artistic Journeys exhibition at Belton House