Northants, Leics &amp; Rutland


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nevill-holt-festival"><a href="https://nevillholtfestival.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nevill Holt Festival</a></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1219" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2025/03/Nevill-Holt-Gardens.jpeg" alt="Nevill Holt sculpture gardens" class="wp-image-56758" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2025/03/Nevill-Holt-Gardens.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2025/03/Nevill-Holt-Gardens-246x300.jpeg 246w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2025/03/Nevill-Holt-Gardens-840x1024.jpeg 840w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2025/03/Nevill-Holt-Gardens-768x936.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Dancers by Allen Jones</figcaption></figure>



<p><a href="https://nevillholtfestival.com/events/nevill-holt-gardens-2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nevill Holt</a> boasts ten acres of stunning gardens designed by Chelsea gold medal winner Rupert Golby and managed by Head Gardener Andy Bretherick. Garden highlights include colourful walled gardens and herbaceous borders showing off an ancient Cedar of Lebanon, whilst visitors can also enjoy outstanding pieces of modern British sculpture including works by Antony Gormley, Rachel Whiteread, Allen Jones, Marc Quinn, Conrad Shawcross and Sean Henry.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="681" height="1024" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2026/06/Manifold-681x1024.jpg" alt="Manifold" class="wp-image-66469" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2026/06/Manifold-681x1024.jpg 681w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2026/06/Manifold-199x300.jpg 199w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2026/06/Manifold-768x1155.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2026/06/Manifold.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 681px) 100vw, 681px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Manifold 2 (9:8) by Conrad Shawcross</figcaption></figure>



<p>The gardens will be open throughout the Festival season (29 May -21 June 2026) in association with the National Open Garden Scheme and opening times vary daily based on the programming schedule, so be sure to check the website&nbsp;<a href="https://nevillholtfestival.com/events/nevill-holt-gardens-2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>. Access to the gardens are included with any show tickets, through if you wish to visit the festival grounds without seeing a show you do need to purchase a garden ticket.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-leicester-city-centre-murals"><a href="https://visitleicester.info/see-and-do/trails/street-art/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Leicester city centre murals</a></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="750" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2026/06/WILD-HIGH-STREET.jpg" alt="Leicester city centre murals" class="wp-image-66458" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2026/06/WILD-HIGH-STREET.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2026/06/WILD-HIGH-STREET-300x225.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2026/06/WILD-HIGH-STREET-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mural by WILD</figcaption></figure>



<p>Transformed by <a href="https://www.bringthepaint.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bring The Paint</a> street art festival, some parts of Leicester act as a massive open-air gallery, with towering murals by international artists, including the tallest mural in Europe and the above portrait by German artist WILD, as well as interactive 3D illusions, and colourful walkways to discover. Head to the <a href="https://visitleicester.info/see-and-do/trails/street-art/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Visit Leicester Street Art Trail</a> for all the details. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-thenford-arboretum"><a href="https://thenfordarboretum.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Thenford Arboretum</a></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="768" height="1024" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2026/06/lenin-Thenford-768x1024.jpg" alt="Lenin's Head Thenford Arboretum" class="wp-image-66461" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2026/06/lenin-Thenford-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2026/06/lenin-Thenford-225x300.jpg 225w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2026/06/lenin-Thenford.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Bronze Head of Lenin by Dzintra Jansone</figcaption></figure>



<p>The beautifully peaceful <a href="https://www.thenfordarboretum.com/garden-open-days/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Thenford Arboretum</a> is the home of Lord and Lady Heseltine, with the extensive gardens open to the public on certain days. You will easily fill an afternoon here, wandering through the woodland, past lakes, over bridges, through the enormous walled kitchen garden, pausing to refuel in the tea rooms. Possibly most impressive of all are the extensive sculpture gardens with a modern British theme, alongside an enormous rendering of Lenin&#8217;s head, removed from a town square in Preili, Latvia after the fall of communism. Check for opening times. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-boughton-house-kettering"><a href="https://www.boughtonhouse.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Boughton House</a>, Kettering</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="750" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2026/06/ORPHEUS.jpeg" alt="Orpheus Boughton House" class="wp-image-66463" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2026/06/ORPHEUS.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2026/06/ORPHEUS-300x225.jpeg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2026/06/ORPHEUS-768x576.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Orpheus by Kim Wilkie</figcaption></figure>



<p>Approaching Bougton House across the vast parkland (there’s over 11 thousand acres of estate in total), the public entrance is somewhat deceptive. Whilst it is obviously grand, the uninitiated visitor might not quite grasp how spectacular this place really is until they round the corner to stand in front of the picturesque colonnades and the restored 18th century <em>Grand Etang</em>, a shimmering pond with its 75ft plume of water, reflecting the the perfectly manicured ground, beyond which the eye is led towards tree-lined avenues and perfectly symmetrical water features and then, hiding from view within the landscape, is <em>Orpheus</em>, a 20ft deep inverted pyramid created in 2009 by artist Kim Wilkie. Check for opening times.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-up-to-the-beacon-sculpture-trail"><a href="https://www.artspace-lboro.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Up To The Beacon Sculpture Trail</a></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2026/06/Beacon-mini.jpg" alt="Up to the Beacon Sculpture Trail" class="wp-image-66465" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2026/06/Beacon-mini.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2026/06/Beacon-mini-300x300.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2026/06/Beacon-mini-150x150.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2026/06/Beacon-mini-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/northantsleicsrutland/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2026/06/Beacon-mini-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Up To The Beacon art trail</figcaption></figure>



<p>Beacon Hill Country Park in Woodhouse Eaves hosts the seasonal Up To The Beacon Sculpture Trail in the summer months. Visitors can wander through ancient woodlands to discover temporary and permanent &#8220;tree-people&#8221; and environmental installations created by local artists. It’s free and open to all, dawn to dusk &#8211; a true celebration of art and nature. You can also get creative and take part in one of the free art workshops at the trail. <a href="https://www.artspace-lboro.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Visit Art Space Loughborough for the latest details</a>. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-over-the-border">OVER THE BORDER</h2>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-head-by-allen-jones-campbell-park-milton-keynes-throughout-the-year"><a href="https://www.theparkstrust.com/our-work/public-art/head/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Head by Allen Jones</a>, Campbell Park, Milton Keynes, throughout the year</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/06/Untitled-design-2023-06-05T144021.867.jpg" alt="Milton Keynes public art " class="wp-image-145963" /></figure>



<p>There are over 30 pieces of public art across Milton Keynes’ parks, which range from the infamous concrete cows to the mysterious gates at Furzton Lake and this striking head by Allen Jones in Campbell Park. All are free and well documented on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theparkstrust.com/our-work/public-art-in-our-parks/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Parks Trust website</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-compton-verney-warks"><a href="https://www.comptonverney.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Compton Verney</a>, Warks</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/06/0U9A2319xa-Edit.jpg" alt="spider by Louise Bourgeois" class="wp-image-53359" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">SPIDER (1996) by Louise Bourgeois</figcaption></figure>



<p>And if your love of sculpture and art in the great outdoors knows no bounds, you need to pay Compton Verney in Warwickshire a visit. In celebration of its 20th anniversary in 2024, a major sculpture park was unveiled in the grounds of the Georgian manor. Eight contemporary artists from around the globe, including Sarah Lucas, Permindar Kaur and Louise Bourgeois with her creepy but amazing arachnid (above), are featured in the <em><a href="https://www.comptonverney.org.uk/event/sculpture-in-the-park/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sculpture in the Park</a></em>. Ongoing, access included with general admission ticket.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-want-more-like-this-try-these">Want more like this? Try these</h2>



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<li><a href="https://northantsleicsrutland.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/arts-culture-things-to-do/nevill-holt-festival-2026/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Culture vulture! Nevill Holt festival is about to land – here’s what not to miss</a></li>



<li><a href="https://northantsleicsrutland.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/sunshine-special/where-to-pick-your-own-in-northants/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Where to pick your own in Northants, Leics and Rutland</a></li>



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The best outdoor art and sculpture trails across Northants, Leics & Rutland

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