If you love to craft and discover gorgeous handmade objects for your home, to wear and to give as gifts, then you’ll want to check out the ultimate craft-lovers fair coming to Hatfield Park from Thursday 9 – Sunday 12 May, Living Crafts. Here’s why you should book!

1. Shop from independent crafters

Living Crafts is handmade heaven – a one-stop creative shop and fabulous fair that celebrates and showcases the amazing talent of acclaimed designer-makers from across the UK. You’ll have the chance to buy unique pieces for your home and garden, created using both innovative contemporary skills and traditional heritage crafting techniques. You can even commission a special personal piece at the show.

2. Watch craftspeople at work

Not only will you be able to buy from the talented artists and makers at Living Crafts, you’ll be able to see them in action – glassblowing, hand throwing in clay, stone carving, metalworking and more. Check out the Living History display where there’ll be demos of longbow making and leatherwork, enjoy meeting the makers and hearing their stories. Don’t miss the Masterclass Pavilion and watch experts in stonecarving, stained glass, ceramics and upholstery.

3. Try a workshop

And if you’re itching to have a go too, the good news is, you can! Just make sure you book one of the dozens of workshops on offer. Get stuck in and create your own masterpiece to take home with you, (and maybe even spark a new hobby!). There’s something for everyone from Raku firing, enamelling and spoon carving to clay sculpture, willow weaving, block printing and silversmithing. There are child-friendly workshops and activities too, so make it a whole family day out.

4. Celebrate 50 years of Living Crafts

To mark this anniversary milestone in style, there’ll be a ‘Fifty Fabulous Years’ Special Showcase Pavilion and fabulous live music creating a vibrant seventies’ festival atmosphere. Plus, for the first time you can get your hands on a four-day festival pass to make the absolute most of the show and the incredible range of British Crafts on offer.

5. Explore the grounds

Tickets to Living Crafts also include admission to the award-winning gardens surrounding the Jacobean Hatfield House. Take the free shuttle bus over to the West Gardens and enjoy a walk around the beautiful parkland – there’ll be hourly tours. Plus you can visit the Old Palace (once the childhood home of Queen Elizabeth I) for a small supplementary charge. Or, just pull up a picnic blanket and soak up the festival-style atmosphere over some tasty food from the artisan fayre in the Food and Drink Pavilion and live music. The choice is yours!

Here’s everything you need to know about going to Living Crafts: 

Dates and location: 10am – 5pm on Thursday 9 – Sunday 12 May (10am – 5pm) 2024 at Hatfield Park, Hatfield, Herts AL5 5AB.

Ticket prices: Advance tickets: £12 (adult), £10 (senior), £6 (child). On the day tickets: £14 (adult), £12 (senior), £8 (child). On the day four-day festival pass: £24 (adult), £20 (senior). Book here or call 02392 863871.

How to book a workshop: Some workshops are drop-in sessions on the day, while others can be pre-booked at Living Crafts. 

Inside or outside and how do you get there?

The event takes place in large pavilions on the show ground and there are plenty of places to sit and relax. Hatfield Park is a beautiful setting and easy to find. The event is fully signposted, or just pop AL5 5AB into your sat nav. 

Want to win one of 5 pairs of tickets to Living Crafts on a day of your choice? Head to our Instagram to enter!