Audley End

Saffron Walden, Essex

Audley End is one of the most culturally important estates in the UK - once one of the grandest houses in England and set in one of the most beautiful valleys in the Essex countryside. The natural amphitheatre (to the rear of the house) is surrounded by stunning rolling hills, providing a perfect setting for Heritage Live’s summer concerts - nestling between the Concorde Temple at the top of the hill and the beautiful house and gardens below.

The site famously lies on mystic Ley Lines and was originally the home of a Benedictine Abbey, built in 1139. Walden Abbey was suppressed by Henry VIII during the Reformation and in 1538 granted to Sir Thomas Audley, Lord Chancellor and former Speaker of the House of Commons.

Upon Audley’s death, ownership of the Estate fell to the Howards and in 1614, Thomas Howard (1st Earl of Suffolk and Lord Treasurer to King James I), rebuilt the house created by his grandfather on the scale of a Royal Palace. It was so grand that 50 years later, King Charles II, bought it as a ready-made Palace - its location making it perfect for his love of the Newmarket races. But the Howards bought Audley End back in 1701, and gradually reduced it to a more manageable size. The celebrity architect Robert Adam modernised the house in the 1760s for Field Marshall Sir John Griffin Griffin, whilst at the same time, Sir John commissioned ‘Capability’ Brown to sweep away the remains of the formal landscape, to instead create one of England’s finest and most famous flower gardens. The house and grounds are maintained and cared for by English Heritage.

Audley End

Audley End Road, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11 4JF

GETTING HERE

& Other Information

DISABLED/ ACCESS CUSTOMERS

For discounted Accessible tickets, please purchase your tickets online at AXS Ticketing. Please note that if you also require a space on our Access Viewing Platform (AVP) and/or a space in our disabled car parks, you MUST book this option when buying your concert tickets via AXS Ticketing. Spaces on the AVP and within the Disabled Car Parks cannot be booked separately, or at a later date. Please note these tickets are sold on a first-come-first-served basis.

Access Toilets will be provided in the main arena and within the AVP compound.

In addition, ‘Vehicles for Change’ will be providing one of their vehicles for individuals who require either a changing bench and/or hoist or where more space for wheelchair users to access the toilet is needed. The vehicle has either a tail-lift or side-lift with large opening doors which enable the wheelchair user to move straight into the toilet and washroom space. Inside, there is plenty of room for carers or family members who may need to assist or accompany the user. There is a sink at wheelchair height, a toilet with drop down grab rails at either side, a full sized (6 ft) free standing and height adjustable changing bench and an electric ceiling tracked hoist which is compatible with all loop slings. A shower is included with hot and cold running water. They all have heating and consumables such as wipes and disposable gloves and a bin for waste will be provided.

VIP GUEST AREA

Take advantage of a VIP Ticket (purchased on top of your concert ticket) which entitles you to the facilities of the VIP GUEAT AREA.

> VIP toilets, VIP Bar (cards only), unreserved additional relaxed seating areas, plus picnic benches scattered on the grass within the VIP compound, plus 'street artist' entertainment.

> VIP ticket holders will also have early access to the concert arena, when possible.

E-TICKETS

Please download your E-tickets to your mobile phone (or print them off) before leaving for the concert, as Wi-Fi and 4G signals are very limited onsite.

CAR

Access to the Audley End concert site via road on concert days will be very busy - we recommend setting off early and being prepared to wait for parking. Leaving the site will also take a considerable time due to the limited road infrastructure surrounding the estate. We request that customers please be patient and respectful to our staff and neighbours when leaving the venue. Please allow a maximum of 90mins to enter and to leave the car parks.

There is plenty of car parking space in the grounds of Audley End for the Heritage Live concerts but we do advise purchasing a parking ticket in advance - whilst purchasing your concert tickets you will be offered the option to also purchase a parking ticket (priced at £10 per car) to give you fast-track entry into the car-parks upon arrival. It will also be possible to purchase a car park ticket (cash only) on the evening of your chosen concert.

1 mile west of Saffron Walden on B1383 (M11 exit 8 or 10)
Sat Nav Postcode: CB11 4JF

TAXI

BUS

Stephensons 6, 59 & 313
C.J. Myall service 101 (132 Sun only)
TGM 301
Viceroy 34, 59, 590

Please note: All pass within 1⁄4 mile of entrance

TRAIN

Audley End railway station is 1.3 miles from the concert site and takes 5-10 minutes in a taxi.

Please Note: Footpath is beside a busy, unlit, main road, so we strongly advise booking a taxi from one of the firms listed above, in advance of the concert evening

BICYCLE

Find this location on The National Cycle Network

CHILDREN

Children aged 14 and under may purchase a Child Ticket (proof may be required upon entry). All children must be accompanied by an adult. Under 5’s free (no ticket required

WHAT ELSE SHOULD I KNOW?

> Alcohol and soft drinks must be purchased on site and cannot be brought into the concert arena. Prohibited items will be confiscated upon entry.

> You are welcome to bring a camping chair, rug and small picnic

> Please note that a picnic in a small rucksack is permitted. No alcohol, soft drinks, plastic water bottles or knives are permitted within the bag. To reduce waste at the site we strongly discourage single use plastics being brought in. There will be a wide variety of bars and artisan food traders on site.

> Tickets purchased for the Golden Circle are reserved seating directly in front of the stage. All tickets purchased as 'General Admission', are standing / sitting on grass. Deck chairs will be available to hire on the evening at £10 each.

> Single-use plastics are prohibited

> Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

> There is plenty of car parking available, charged at £10 per car (cash or card), but please allow plenty of time for your journey to and from the venue as the local road infrastructure is very limited and there are likely to be some delays. We request that customers please be patient and respectful to our staff and neighbours when leaving the venue. Please allow a maximum of 90mins to enter and to leave the car parks. Car parks will open from midday (concert arena will open at 3pm).

> Please do not set-off to the concert without having first arranged how you are going to get home.

> Please download your E-tickets to your mobile phone (or print them off) before leaving for the concert, as Wi-Fi and 4G signals are very limited onsite.

Please note that the promoter has the right to change the supporting line-up.

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