Escape the city this summer with a cultural daytrip to explore the major exhibitions taking place just beyond the capital
Lynn Chadwick at Houghton Hall, Norfolk
Until 4 October 2026
Galleries and museums are fantastic places to discover art, but sometimes those clinical white walls can create a rather staid environment. This is not the case with country house Houghton Hall’s major summer exhibition, where the looming, abstract sculptures of post-war artist Lynn Chadwick appear to roam the corridors and grounds. With more than 30 works on display, Lynn Chadwick at Houghton Hall is the most significant exhibition of the sculptor’s work in the UK since Tate Britain’s 2003 retrospective, spanning four decades of his impressive career and including never-before-seen and rarely exhibited pieces.
Dating back to the 1720s when it was built for Britain’s first prime minister, Sir Robert Walpole, Houghton Hall is one of the country’s finest examples of Palladian architecture, and its lavish interiors and sprawling 1,000-acre grounds serve as a unique backdrop for Chadwick’s sculptures, which include the artist’s largest and final work, Ace of Diamonds III, a six-metre long mobile finished in brushed stainless steel which dazzles in the sunlight.
Houghton Hall, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE31 6UE; houghtonhall.com
Daisy Parris and Phyllida Barlow at Wolterton Hall, Norfolk
Until 31 October 2026
You know how it is. You wait for one North Norfolk country estate to host a major summer exhibition and then two come along at once. Fewer than 30 miles away from Houghton Hall is Wolterton Hall, a handsome 18th-century manor commissioned by Horatio Walpole, younger brother of the aforementioned Robert. This summer, Wolterton Hall is hosting two major contemporary exhibitions: Phyllida Barlow: disruptor and Daisy Parris: Fist Full of Dreams. Disruptor is curated by Clare Lilley in collaboration with Simon Oldfield, artistic director and lead curator of Wolterton House, and brings together more than 70 works by the influential artist. Fist Full of Dreams, meanwhile, is the first large-scale textile installation by painter Daisy Parris and is curated by renowned creative consultant Gemma Rolls-Bentley, an advocate of LGBTQ+ artists and carving diversity in the industry.
Wolterton Hall, Wolterton Park, Norfolk NR11 7LY; wolterton.co.uk
Please awake – asked Nature kindly by Hulda Guzmán at Turner Contemporary, Margate
Until 13 September 2026
On a hot summer’s day, there’s nowhere quite like Margate. This Kent coastal town is home to one of the best sandy beaches in the south-east, seriously bougie restaurants and craft beer joints and an old-school amusement park that hosts fantastic gigs throughout the summer – upcoming shows include Fatboy Slim, Nile Rodgers and The Streets, to name a few. Nearby Whitstable may be upmarket and quaint and where a surprising number of the Hollywood A-listers choose, but Margate is its cooler, rough-around-the-edges sibling.
Interest in Margate exploded with the arrival of the Turner Contemporary 15 years ago, and this summer the award-winning gallery is hosting the first European institutional exhibition of Dominican artist Hulda Guzmán. Please awake – asked Nature kindly features new large-scale paintings by the artist alongside earlier works that explore her vibrant, dreamlike worlds.
Turner Contemporary, Rendezvous, Margate CT9 1HG; turnercontemporary.org
Frank Bowling: Seeking the Sublime at The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge
Until 17 January 2026
Cambridge is undoubtedly a city that shines in warmer weather. Lying back in a punt boat, hand trailing into the water of the River Cam… it’s like something straight out of a Merchant Ivory dream sequence. But, for those looking to add a slice of contemporary culture on a day trip to Cambridge, look no further than the Fitzwilliam Museum, renowned for having one of the finest collections of modern art in western Europe.
From now until January 2027, the museum will be displaying the work of Abstract Expressionist Frank Bowling. Seeking the Sublime features Bowling’s large-scale, colourful works, including some early pieces from the 1960s, providing a comprehensive account of one of Britain’s most celebrated contemporary artists, including the nonagenarian’s influences and peers – from Turner to Tracey Emin.
The Fitzwilliam Museum, Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 1RB; fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk
Expressions in Blue: Monumental Porcelain by Felicity Aylieff at Petworth House, West Sussex
Until 27 September 2026
Petworth is an underrated gem set in the gorgeous West Sussex countryside; a picturesque village with tea rooms and independent boutiques lining its cobbled streets. The market town is also home to Petworth House, a country house nicknamed England’s “mini Versailles”, which features works by William Turner and Thomas Gainsborough, as well as being surrounded by a 700-acre deer park. There’s certainly something for everyone in the family.
From 23 May, Petworth House will display works by acclaimed British sculptor Felicity Aylieff across the house and surrounding park. Titled Expressions in Blue, the exhibition will feature new and old works from the artist, which include towering floral vases inspired by Petworth’s own extensive Chinese porcelain collection. The estate’s range of architecture and setting allows Aylieff’s pieces to shine among the other brilliant artworks housed at the estate.
Petworth House and Park, Petworth, West Sussex GU28 9LR; nationaltrust.org.uk
