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Fancy getting a bit of culture in over the Easter holidays? How about somewhere with loads of space so the kids can run around while you top up the grey matter by learning about (arguably) Britain’s most famous composer of the 20th century? Or perhaps you’d just like a look at some nice interiors?
Whatever your answer, there’s good news: the Red House in Aldeburgh, Suffolk is due to reopen on April 2 after being closed for winter renovations.
The house in question was home to Benjamin Britten and his partner, the vocalist Peter Pears, who moved into the property in 1957. According to an official release, ‘shaped by curiosity, hospitality and a love of art, design, music and nature, it is more than a home – it tells their story’.
The Grade II-listed 17th century farmhouse does indeed have plenty to offer all lovers of art and design, as it’s packed with the art they collected, as well as furniture and furnishings that really summon the period in which they called it home. The interiors have been largely preserved since the 1960s and you can check out Britten’s actual composition studio, which includes a piano with which visitors are encouraged to tickle the ivories.
Covering five acres, the grounds of the Red House feature gardens in which you can admire sculptures that the pair collected. You can take general garden tours or tours specifically about the on-site art, while children up to the age of five are invited to take part in the free Mini Music Makers activity session every Friday.
A new exhibition, Before Life and After, explores the people who supported Britten in the final years of his life (this year will mark five decades since his passing in December 1976). The main exhibition, Spiritual Britten, explores his beliefs and Place Weekend will include an archive display about his connection to Suffolk.
It’s set to be a big year all around for the Red House, with the Aldeburgh Festival running from June 12-18. This will include Ending and Beginning, an archive exhibition about Britten’s twilight years, as well as the National Garden Scheme’s celebration of the grounds. Get yourself down there to celebrate all that makes Britten great.
The Red House programme in 2026
- April 2-June 30: Before Life and After exhibition
- April 2-November 1: Spiritual Britten exhibition
- April 10-12: Place Weekend display
- June 12-28: Ending and Beginning exhibition
- June 17: National Garden Scheme
- June 18: Painting Britten: 100 Visions of the Music exhibition
- June 21: Solstice Yoga
Did you see that the UK city that was the birthplace of the Spitfire is hosting a year-long celebration of the World War II plane?
Plus: England’s most famous hike finally becomes an official National Trail this week.
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