Two new Beatrix Potter experiences have opened at Hill Top today, Saturday 15 August 2026, bringing The Tale of Two Bad Mice into the rooms of the author's famous Lake District farmhouse.
Pets to Page: The Tale of Two Bad Mice explores the real objects, animals and ideas behind Beatrix Potter's 1904 story, while Mischief in Miniature hides needle-felted versions of Hunca Munca and Tom Thumb throughout the house.
Both experiences run through to 13 December 2026 on Hill Top's operating days and are included with normal property admission rather than requiring a separate event ticket.
The Tale of Two Bad Mice at Hill Top at a glance
- Location: Hill Top, Beatrix Potter's House, Near Sawrey
- Dates: 15 August to 13 December 2026
- Pets to Page: exhibition centred on the story's origins, artwork and dolls' house
- Mischief in Miniature: hidden needle-felted mice and miniature scenes around the house
- Separate event charge: none; normal Hill Top admission applies
- Booking: Hill Top currently says pre-booking is required for everyone, including National Trust members
What is Pets to Page: The Tale of Two Bad Mice?
The exhibition looks at how Beatrix Potter drew inspiration from animals and people around her when developing her stories.
Visitors can see material connected with The Tale of Two Bad Mice, including the manuscript, original sketches, finished artworks and dolls' accessories that helped inspire the book.
The centrepiece is Beatrix Potter's recently restored dolls' house. It returned from specialist conservation work in 2025 and includes interactive lighting that allows visitors to highlight individual rooms.
The display also uses projected animations, and a modern dolls' house gives younger visitors something more hands-on to explore.
Beatrix Potter's restored dolls' house
The dolls' house is particularly important because its tiny food and accessories directly connect the real Hill Top collection with the world Potter drew in The Tale of Two Bad Mice.
National Trust conservation specialists restored the house and its contents before it returned to Hill Top. A behind-the-scenes film explains some of that conservation work.
What is Mischief in Miniature?
Mischief in Miniature turns the visit into a mouse hunt through Hill Top.
Needle-felted versions of Hunca Munca and Tom Thumb are hidden in nooks and corners around the farmhouse, placed in playful scenes inspired by the original story and imagined adventures at Hill Top.
Tiny candles and lanterns are used as part of the miniature scenes. The experience is designed to accompany Pets to Page rather than operate as a completely separate visit.
How long do the Hill Top mouse experiences run?
National Trust currently lists both experiences from 15 August to 13 December 2026, across more than 120 operating dates.
Opening times change later in the year. The current event calendar generally shows 10am to 5pm through most of August, September and October, moving to 10am to 4pm from late October into the winter programme.
Always check the Hill Top calendar for the date you intend to visit rather than assuming the house is open until the same time throughout the season.
Do you need to book?
The two individual event pages describe the experiences as not needing a separate event booking, because they are included within a normal Hill Top visit.
However, Hill Top's main visitor page currently states that pre-booking is required for everyone, including National Trust members. In practical terms, book your Hill Top arrival slot before travelling and then enjoy the two Bad Mice experiences as part of the visit.
Accessibility
Pets to Page is on the upper floor of Hill Top. The National Trust states there is no wheelchair or step-free access to that floor.
Hill Top has uneven historic surfaces and steps in parts of the house and garden. Braille and large-print guides, ear defenders and a tactile tour are available, and a ramp is available for the shop entrance.
Visitors with specific access requirements should contact Hill Top before booking.
Is it suitable for children?
Yes. Both experiences have strong family appeal. The hidden felt mice provide an easy activity for younger visitors, while the dolls' house, projected animations and story connections give families something to focus on as they move through the historic rooms.
Hill Top is still a small historic farmhouse rather than a large interactive museum, so families should expect limited space and follow the property's visitor flow.
Why Hill Top is the perfect setting
Beatrix Potter bought Hill Top in 1905 and used the farmhouse and surrounding countryside as inspiration for many later books. Real rooms, furniture and architectural details appear in her illustrations.
That means the Bad Mice programme is not simply an exhibition installed in an unrelated gallery. Visitors are exploring the same house and objects that fed directly into Potter's creative work.
What else can you combine with Hill Top?
Near Sawrey is close to Hawkshead, while Beatrix Potter fans can also continue the theme at The World of Beatrix Potter in Bowness-on-Windermere.
For the practical property details, see the Cumbria Guru Hill Top guide.
Two experiences, one visit
The strongest way to think about the new programme is as one layered Hill Top visit. Pets to Page provides the heritage and original-material side of the story; Mischief in Miniature adds a playful trail that encourages visitors to look closely around the house.
Because the programme runs until December, it also gives visitors something new to see well beyond the summer holidays.
Information checked against the current National Trust Hill Top and event pages on 15 August 2026. Opening times and booking availability vary by date.
Gallery
Tap any photo to open the full gallery.
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