Nymans
SussexA garden lovers' home for all seasons, with an extensive yet intimate garden set around a romantic house and ruins.
Handcross, near Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH17 6EB
Important notice
M T W T F S S Open
Closed
Opening times for 19 February 2026
Asset Opening time Garden 10:00 - 17:00 Café 10:00 - 16:45 Car Park 09:00 - 18:00 House Closed Plant centre 10:00 - 17:00 Second-hand bookshop 10:00 - 16:00 Shop 10:00 - 17:00 Riding House 10:30 - 16:00 Main cafe last orders are 15 minutes before closing. No dogs allowed in the garden from Sunday 1 February 2026. Admission to the exhibition in the Gallery while the house is closed is via a back door which will be signposted from the courtyard in front of the Riding House. 11am – 4pm (with last entry at 3.30pm).
Prices until March 2026
Ticket type With Gift Aid Without Gift Aid Adult (18+) £22.00 £20.00 Child (5-17) under 5s free £11.00 £10.00 Family (2 Adults and up to 3 children) £55.00 £50.00 1 adult and up to 3 children £33.00 £30.00 Group (Adult 18+) £18.05 Group (Child 5-17) £9.03 Prices from 1 March 2026
Ticket type With Gift Aid Without Gift Aid Adult (18+) £23.10 £21.00 Child (5-17) under 5s free £11.60 £10.50 Family (2 Adults and up to 3 children) £57.80 £52.50 1 adult and up to 3 children £34.70 £31.50 Group (Adult 18+) £19.00 Group (Child 5-17) £9.50 Become a member and discover more than 500 places
- Assistance dogs only
- Available for functions
- Bookshop
- Café
- Car park
- Electric vehicle charging point
Eight 11kW electric vehicle charging points are available directly as you enter the car park. Chargers can be accessed using the mobile app, RFID card, or contactless payment device. Visit our EV charging partner, RAW Charging's website (www.rawcharging.com/drivers) to download the app before your visit.
- Guided tour
- Kiosk
The kiosk is open during busy times like weekends and school holidays.
- Licensed for civil weddings
- Plant shop
- Shop
- Tea-room
- Toilet
MT Push all Terrain wheelchair available, accessible toilets and Changing Places toilet. Mobility parking near entrance. Wheelchair available for house and garden. Some steep pathways/uneven ground. Buggy tours daily.
- Accessible route and/or map
- Accessible toilet
- Changing Places
More information about Changing Places can be found here: https://www.changing-places.org/
- Drop-off point
- Induction loop
- Level access to food outlet
- Level access to shop
- Level access/terrain
- Narrow corridors
- Photograph album
- Ramped access/slopes
- Seating available
- Steps/uneven terrain
- Wheelchairs available
- By road
- Just off the London to Brighton M23/A23. Follow the brown signs from the A23.Parking: The car park will open at 9.00am and close at 6.00pm. Car parking is free. Electric vehicle charging points are now available. See “Facilities” for more information. Drivers will require their own cables to charge.
- On foot
- 5 miles from Balcombe station
- By train
- The nearest stations are Balcombe 5 miles (no public transport to Nymans available), Crawley 5 miles and Haywards Heath 9 miles. Crawley Train Station can be reached from a variety of locations, quickly and easily. London and Brighton are both within 35 minutes by train.
- By bus
- Metrobus routes 271 and 273 stop nearby, providing an hourly service from Crawley (station) and Brighton, and every two hours from Burgess Hill and Hurstpierpoint. From Crawley it is a short 20 minute bus journey from bus stop F at Crawley bus station which is opposite the rail station. .
- Cycling
- Cycling from Crawley train station to Nymans takes around 28 minutes and covers a distance of 4.6 miles.
Planning your visit
Things to do with the kids at Nymans
Discover natural play in the Play Glade, activities and events in the school holidays and an ancient woodland and garden to discover. Picnic anywhere in the garden, or pick up a snack from the cafe or kiosk. Baby change available by the house and in the cafe and car park.
Events at Nymans
Keep up to date with everything going on at Nymans, from events and activities, to free guided tours.
Group visits to Nymans
Find out how to get the most from your group visit to the stunning country house and gardens at Nymans in West Sussex, as well as how to book and what to expect. Guided tours of the garden may be available if booked in advance, please mention when you make your initial enquiry. To chat through your group visit please drop us a line at nymans@nationaltrust.org.uk or give us a call on 01444 405250.
Nymans map
Find your way round the estate at Nymans with this downloadable map. See where to find the house and gallery, shop, cafe and toilets and which direction to take when setting off for a woodland walk.
Nymans Family Map
Sometimes it's the little things that make the best family memories, like building a den, spotting a red kite and having an ice cream at the end of a family walk. Our new family maps are free to pick up when you arrive at Nymans and explain exactly how hop, totter or dash over to the Play Glade and more.
Venue hire
Weddings at Nymans
Welcome to Nymans in West Sussex, where the atmospheric house and ruins provide the perfect backdrop to our romantic Loggia and surrounding Sunk Garden where your ceremony will take place. It's the perfect setting for a memorable, stylish and unique wedding. To arrange a viewing, please call 07732 063906 or email sophie.sherriff@nationaltrust.org.uk
Highlights
Nymans
A convincing creation of a medieval manor house remodelled in the 1920s and now a partial ruin.
Garden
Grade II* listed garden with rare and unusual plant collections and views across the Sussex Weald.
Woods
Ancient woodland with an industrial past featuring a lake and cascades.
Play Glade
Natural play area for den building and children's games with a mini stage.
Café
Café near the entrance serving a range of refreshments with indoor and outdoor seating. Open from 10am daily. The Riding House cafe is set in the heart of the garden with a relaxed and contemporary setting.
Retail
Large shop and plant centre with locally sourced artisanal products, home accessories and plants from the Nymans nursery.
Second-hand bookshop
Based in the former Potting Shed, the second-hand bookshop offers a wide selection of books.
Gallery
Small gallery upstairs with a changing programme of exhibitions throughout the year.
Things to see and do
Things to do with the kids at Nymans
Discover natural play in the Play Glade, activities and events in the school holidays and an ancient woodland and garden to discover. Picnic anywhere in the garden, or pick up a snack from the cafe or kiosk. Baby change available by the house and in the cafe and car park.
Visiting Nymans garden
Romantic ruins, intimate gardens and internationally recognised plant collections, all set against a backdrop of the woodland and far-reaching views over the Weald.
Explore Nymans house
Explore Nymans’ medieval style manor, part house, part ruin following a devastating fire in 1947. It now offers romantic ruins and charming rooms to explore.
Explore Nymans’ woodlands and wider estate
Nymans’ ancient woodland is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), nature reserve and home to a variety of plants and wildlife. Stroll along shaded woodland paths, cool down at the side of the lake and listen to the soothing sound of nature.
Spotlight events
Three Cheers for Pooh! Centenary Exhibition and Story Trail at Nymans
Sat 14 Feb – Sun 28 June (exhibition closes 31 May) Extracts from the beloved stories of Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne are accompanied by iconic illustrations by E.H. Shepard on this fun, family-friendly trail, and exhibition in the gallery, which focuses on some of Pooh’s best-known adventures.
Sociable walks with the Ranger team
Join us for a gentle 3-mile, 2 hour walk through Nymans' woodland, lakes and streams, a perfect way to explore nature and meet new people. Meet at reception at 11am for this free walk which finishes by 1pm. If you want to visit the garden and house afterwards, normal admission applies. Dates: 18 Feb, 25 Mar, 29 Apr, 20 May & 24 Jun 2026.
Easter Egg Hunt at Nymans
This spring, treat the whole family to a world of adventure at Nymans on an Easter trail. Make your way along the trail and find activities for the whole family. Discover all the fun of the festival by finding your festival name, telling a joke at comedy corner or trying mindful yoga poses. Sat 21 Mar 2026 until Sun 12 Apr 2026, from 10am to 5pm, with last entry at 4.30pm. Prices are £3.50 per trail which includes an Easter trail sheet, bunny ears and dairy or vegan and Free From* chocolate egg. *Suitable for people with milk, egg, gluten, peanut and tree nut allergies.
The Art of Illusion: The Theatrical World of Oliver Messel
From interior design to theatre props and film work, Oliver Messel’s life in design was influenced by a childhood spent at Nymans. He became Britain’s leading stage designer of the mid twentieth century with his lavish designs. Please note that the exhibition is upstairs in the Gallery. Sat 13 Jun – Sun 1 Nov: 11am–3.30pm. Normal admission applies.
Eating
Eating at Nymans
If you're after a meal or just a quick pit-stop, try our winter menu with freshly prepared food inspired by the season. Quick snacks and delicious cakes available too.
Shopping
Shopping at Nymans
Browse local and artisan products in our shop, with a wide range of plants including some grown on site in ‘The Nymans Collection’.
Places to stay
Stay in Woodlands Cottage nestled in the centre of Nymans woods. A cosy, comfortable cottage which was built in 1868 for the estate’s gamekeeper at the time now hosts a pleasant stay with two bedrooms and room for two dogs. A 10-minute walk away through the woods is Chodds Farmhouse, an inviting farmhouse on the main road in the bustling village of Handcross. The farmhouse dates back to the 1300s, with low ceilings and doorways, a big boot room and a second muddy entrance with a dog shower and utility room. The cosy sitting room has a log burner, and the dining room has a huge inglenook fireplace dating from 1690.
Woodlands Cottage
This gamekeeper’s cottage is surrounded by woodland on the Nymans estate.
Chodds Farmhouse
An inviting farmhouse in a bustling village, in the heart of the Sussex Weald
Upcoming events
Snowdrop Watch
It's snowdrop season at Nymans, bringing a hint of spring to the garden and woodland. Fri 30 Jan - Sat 28 Feb: 10am - 4pm.
Three Cheers for Pooh! Story Trail at Nymans
Extracts from A.A. Milne's much loved Winnie-the-Pooh stories are paired with E.H. Shepard's illustrations in a family friendly story trail that spotlights some of Pooh's best known adventures. Sat 14 Feb - Sun 15 March.
Winnie-the-Pooh's Centenary Exhibition
Gallery Exhibition that spotlights some of Pooh's best known adventures. Sat 14 Feb - Sun 31 May: 11am - 4pm with last admission at 3.30pm.
Guided Tree Tours 2026
Join one of our expert volunteer Tree Guides for a 90 minute tour showcasing the magnificence of the trees at Nymans throughout the seasons.
Blossom at Nymans
Fri 20 Mar - Sun 31 May. Join the National Trust Blossom celebrations and experience the power of blossom at Nymans.
Easter Egg Hunt at Nymans
This spring, treat the whole family to a world of adventure at Nymans on an Easter trail.
Sociable walks with the Ranger team
Weds: 28 Jan, 18 Feb, 25 Mar, 29 Apr, 20 May & 24 Jun. Join us for a gentle 3-mile, 2 hour walk through Nymans' woodland, lakes and streams — a perfect way to explore nature and meet new people. 11am - 1pm. Meet at Reception.
Sneak Peek Tours
Take a behind the scenes look inside the house on a sneak peek tour. Tours last approximately 30 minutes and are included in general admission. Please go to Visitor Welcome to collect a ticket. (Limited availability).
About Nymans
The comfortable, yet elegant, house reflects the personalities and stories of the talented Messel family. In spring see blossom, bulbs and a stunning collection of subtly fragranced magnolias. The Rose Garden, inspired by Maud Messel’s 1920s design, is scented by hints of old-fashioned roses. (Please note the Rose Garden is undergoing extensive restoration during 2025 / 2026). Dramatic shows of vibrant native tree colour in autumn precede winter’s structural form, with pockets of perfumed daphne throughout the garden. Discover hidden corners through stone archways, walk along tree-lined avenues while surrounded by the lush countryside of the Sussex Weald. The adjoining woodland, with lake and bird hides, has plenty of opportunities to spot wildlife.
Our work
From sustainable gardening practices to woodland management for wildlife, see how Nymans is adapting to climate change.
Latest news from the woodmeadow project at Nymans
Over the next couple of years, the Ranger team at Nymans will be creating a woodmeadow habitat across the estate. We'll be working towards the reversal of a decline in internationally threatened woodland, wildflower and lowland meadow species. We'll be restoring habitats, planting trees to join woodlands together, reinstating hedgerows that act as small mammal corridors and can help bats to navigate the landscape, as well as creating copses, diverse meadows, new orchards and ponds. We've already seen the return of nesting skylarks. Read on for project updates from the Ranger team and how to get involved.
Nymans Rose Garden Project
The Rose Garden is undergoing an extensive restoration project that will last for a couple of years. The aim is to create a diverse and romantic space, with a greater emphasis on soil health and planting that is more resilient to our changing climate.
How we're tackling climate change at Nymans
The gardens at Nymans are one of England’s most well-known; important for their varied beauty as well as an extensive plant collection. The surrounding woodland is rooted in history, with ancient oak and beech trees, rare mosses and ferns, cascades, streams and pools, as well as evidence of the iron industry from the 1300s. Our staff and volunteers have been custodians of this special place for a long time and now they’re being tested by the rapid effects of climate change.
History
The history of Nymans
Under generations of the Messel family, Nymans in West Sussex has been through several transformations since the 1890s to become the house, ruin and garden you see today.
Support us
Volunteering at Nymans
Discover how you can volunteer and become part of the story of the stunning house and gardens at Nymans in West Sussex. From gardening to piano playing and baking to bookshops, there's plenty to get involved with. To chat with us about volunteering, call 01444 405255 or email nymans@nationaltrust.org.uk
Supporter groups in Sussex
National Trust supporter groups across Sussex help to raise funds for places like Nymans and Sheffield Park, while also getting together for days out, talks and volunteering.
