Opening times  

The Upfest Art House exhibition is open daily, Monday – Sunday. First entry is 9.30am, last entry is 4.30pm, with the gardens closing at 6.30pm.

The Live Painting Day on 4th August opens from 9.30am – with last entry at 4.30pm. Your ticket allows you entry at any time.

Whether you're looking to unwind after work or simply enjoy the warm summer evenings, we will offer late evening timed tickets on select days. Please check our website and See Tickets for availability.

Where can I buy tickets?  

Tickets can be bought via our website, and are on a first come, first served basis. We kindly ask for all ticket holders to arrive at the time stated on their tickets. Doing so helps us with the flow of visitors throughout the day, ensuring everyone has an enjoyable visit. Once on site we want you to have a relaxed, entertaining, and joyful day out, so please feel free to stay and enjoy the art for as long as you like.

Can I buy tickets on the door?  

Tickets can be purchased at the door on a first-come, first-served basis. While we will make every effort to announce sold-out dates, we cannot guarantee ticket availability on the day. To ensure everyone can experience this unique event and avoid disappointment, we highly recommend pre-booking your tickets online.

Can I bring my carer?  

All visitors with accessibility needs can bring a carer/essential companion into the event for free. Essential Companion tickets must be bought with an Adult, Child (4-15) or Family ticket. On arrival you will be asked to provide documentation to validate your essential companion ticket. Accepted documentation includes: Entitlement to Disability Living Allowance for children under 16 or Personal Independent Payments for those ages 16-64.

How accessible is Upfest Art House?  

This outdoor event features artworks placed at various points around our Grade II* listed gardens. We have taken every step to make as many areas as possible accessible to visitors. However, due to the scale and nature of the gardens and grounds, we cannot always guarantee full accessibility. On arrival, please refer to our map which will indicate accessible routes.

Please note, it is a short walk from the car park to the entrance of the gardens. Paths may be uneven. If you think you might require any further assistance, please do get in touch with us.

What do I do if it rains?  

Upfest Art House is an outdoor event. With the unpredictable nature of the British weather, please be prepared for all weather conditions and wear suitable footwear and clothing to splash in puddles and embrace the joy of getting your boots wonderfully muddy. Please note, there is minimal shelter, so don’t forget your brolly!

If you wish to change your ticket dates due to the weather, please visit See Tickets where you will have the option to change your visit. Your date change is subject to availability. All tickets are non-refundable.

I can no longer attend my chosen date?  

If you can no longer attend your booked date and wish to visit another day, please visit See Tickets where you will have the option to change your visit. Your date change is subject to availability. Tickets are non-refundable.

Group tickets  

We would love for you to bring a large group to Upfest Art House. For groups of 10 or more people, please do get in touch with us.

Can I use my Garden Annual Pass?

As a annual pass holder, you have free entry to Upfest Art House. Free entry is only available for the person who holds the annual pass, and is only given when showing a valid Ashridge House annual pass. An annual pass does not include free entry for any friends or family.

This also applies to the family garden annual pass.

Is there parking?  

There will be free onsite parking within an easy walk to the entrance of Upfest Art House. Please listen and watch out for our stewards who will guide you on arrival. Disabled parking spaces are allocated on a first come first serve basis and you will need to show your blue badge on arrival to the steward and leave this on display.

Can I get to Ashridge House by public transport?  

Berkhamsted train station, is the closest station to Ashridge House and is a 5-minute journey by taxi.

Alternatively, you can also pre-book the Hertfordshire Lynx, an on-demand bookable bus service, offering a flexible way to travel by bus. For more information on pick up locations and to book your Hertfordshire Lynx, please click here.

Can I bring my dog?  

At Ashridge House, we love our four-legged friends, so you're welcome to bring them to Upfest Art House! Our furry friends deserve a fun-packed day out too, so we welcome all well-behaved dogs and responsible dog owners into the gardens.

We do remind all visitors with dogs to be mindful of others when enjoying their day out, your dog must be kept on a lead at all times and please remember to pick up after them. There will be bins onsite.

We can’t wait to see photos of your adorable pups in the gardens!

How long does the trail take?  

There will be 18 incredible artwork points across the gardens to visit, this equates to approximately 1.5km of walking. If you are limited on time or wish to take a brisk walk to get your steps in, then the trail could be completed in an hour. If you wish to spend the day with us, the trail has several stops along the way to revel in the artwork, enjoy a picnic, or grab a bit from one of our many food and beverage vendors.

Can I bring a picnic?  

You are welcome to bring a picnic, however we would ask that you only consume your picnic in our designated picnic area. There will be no seating or picnic tables in the picnic area so we encourage you to bring a blanket.

Picnics are not allowed in our public café seating area. BBQs, gazebos, and garden furniture are not permitted onsite.

At Ashridge House we take sustainability very seriously and for this reason we encourage you to take all rubbish home with you to be correctly recycled and disposed of. 

Can I purchase food and drink?  

We have a great selection of delicious food and drink options onsite.

Our onsite café, The Bakehouse, will be open daily as usual, offering a delectable selection of breakfast and lunch options. Open 8.30am – 5pm, Mon – Sun.

The Art House café is a pop-up café and will include a selection of hot and cold beverages and tasty snacks. Open 9.30am to 5.00pm, Fri – Sun.

Dough with the Flow, an artisanal pizzeria, with real firewood and a stone oven to give your pizza that expert Italian style. Open 12pm to 5pm, Fri – Sun. (until 6.30pm on later opening days)

Our pop-up bar will have a selection of tasty tipples for your walk around the gardens. Open 12 – 5.00pm, Fri – Sun. (until 6.30pm on later opening days)

Our stunning cocktail bar, The Vault, with its warm and intimate atmosphere, offers the perfect setting for winding down at the end of a great day out in our gardens. Open Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 4pm – Midnight. Open to adults 18+ only.

Please note there is limited seating in the pop-up café area and The Bakehouse. Seating cannot be pre-booked and is on a first come, first served basis. You are welcome to take food around the garden with you as you explore the artworks.

Photography and filming  

The Upfest artists are happy for their work to be photographed. Please make sure to tag and credit the artist, and if possible, also tag Upfest and Ashridge House on any photos and videos you post online for us all to enjoy.

@ashridgehouse

@upfest

We will be taking photographs and filming throughout the event. By entering the event you consent to your image being used in any Ashridge House promotion. If you do not wish your image to be used, please make a member of staff, or the photographer aware.

Will there be any talks or tours of the artwork? 

Guided tours will be available at selected times throughout the day, to all those wishing to have a deeper dive into the artist and their artwork. Look out for timings and meeting spot when you arrive and hear from our team of street art guides. Available Wed – Sun.

Can I also book tickets for the House?  

For this event entry to the house is not included in Upfest Art House due to corporate events and weddings. We understand the excitement at the possibility of seeing inside the House, however we hope that both our Grade II* listed gardens and the incredible art works within will captivate you and provide a memorable day out.

Restrictions  

Your ticket allows you to view all art works around the garden. Please note there may be certain parts of the gardens and grounds which may be inaccessible for limited time periods. We ask all visitors to be respectful to any closed and roped off areas.

How do I get to you?  

Ashridge House is in the Hertfordshire countryside, just 30 minutes from London Euston and 34 miles from Central London.  

By Car - Ashridge House, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, HP4 1NS  

By rail –  Berkhamsted Station – 5 minutes by taxi to the House | From Ashridge House to London Euston - 32 minutes | Trains from Birmingham to New Street - 90 minutes. 

By plane – Luton Airport – 30 minutes by car | Heathrow Airport – 45 minutes by car | Gatwick airport – 90 minutes by car.

You can pre-book the Hertfordshire Lynx, an on-demand bookable bus service, from Berkhamsted station, to bring you to Ashridge House, Upfest Art House.

Tickets can be purchased by clicking below.

Please contact us at +44 (0) 1442 843491 or concierge@ashridge.hult.edu