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Standen House and Garden
Arts and Crafts family home with Morris & Co. interiors, set in a beautiful hillside garden
West Hoathly Road, East Grinstead, West Sussex, RH19 4NE
Opening times for 2 May 2024
Asset Opening time House 11:00 - 16:30 Café 10:00 - 17:00 Garden 10:00 - 17:00 Shop 11:00 - 17:00 Secondhand bookshop 10:00 - 16:00 The house is now open free flow every day. Last entry to the house is at 16:00pm - the house will then close at 16:30pm. Last orders in the café are at 16:30.
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Ticket type Gift aid Standard Adult £16.50 £15.00 Child £8.30 £7.50 Family £41.30 £37.50 1 adult and up to 3 children £24.80 £22.50 Group Adult £14.25 Group Child £7.13 Become a member and discover more than 500 places
Book shop
Second-hand bookshop open 10am - 5pm.
Guided tour
Cafe
Lunches, snacks and freshly made cakes using produce from our Kitchen Garden when in season.
Plant shop
Car park
Open 10am - 5pm.
Shop
Arts & Crafts and Morris & Co. inspired gifts, textiles and ceramics.
Dogs
Well behaved dogs on short leads are welcome.
Toilet
Mobility parking near entrance. Partly accessible grounds with slopes and steps. Adapted toilets.
Accessible toilet
Ramped access/slopes
Narrow corridors
Steps/uneven terrain
By road
2 miles south of East Grinstead, signposted from town centre and B2110 (Turners Hill Road)
Parking: free, 200 yards from reception, cafe, house and shop
By train
East Grinstead mainline station 2 miles away. Taxi rank at station.
By bus
from East Grinstead station to Crawley (passing Three Bridges station), Metrobus service 84 alight at the end of drive, ½ mile walk to entrance along drive. No service on Sundays.
Planning your visit
Article
Family-friendly things to do at Standen
Find out the family-friendly things to do on a day out at Standen, from taking a walk in the woodland and building a den to seasonal trails to follow in the house and garden.
Events at Standen
Stay up to date with all our events here at Standen and plan your visit before you arrive.
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Visiting Standen House and Garden with your dog
Bring your dog for a walk at Standen and explore acres of woodland paths. Dogs are also welcome in the formal garden so you can explore more with your four-legged friend. Standen House and Garden is a two pawprint rated place.
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Group visits and tours at Standen
Standen is a great place to visit with a group. For a day to remember, enjoy a group discount, take a pre-booked tour to discover more, and stop off in the café and shop. To chat through your group visit please email standengroups@nationaltrust.org.uk or call 01342 323029.
PDF
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Standen House and Garden map
Take a look at the map of Standen House and Garden to help you plan your visit.
Highlights
House
One of the finest examples of Arts and Crafts workmanship, with Morris & Co. interiors.
Gardens
Hillside garden for all seasons, with an award-winning plant collection and views across the Sussex countryside. Features an orchard, kitchen garden and rosery.
Countryside
Footpaths from the estate lead to High Weald woodland and Ashdown Forest.
Play area
Our natural play area has reopened and features a willow maze, wooden swing and balance beam for children to enjoy.
Barn Café
Converted 18th-century barn, serving seasonal lunches and homemade cakes, some made with produce from the kitchen garden.
Retail
Arts and Crafts and Morris & Co. inspired gifts, textiles and ceramics with a range of seasonal plants and pots to fill your garden.
Second-hand bookshop
Second-hand bookshop with a variety of books on offer, from fiction to fantasy.
Things to see and do
Article
Family-friendly things to do at Standen
Find out the family-friendly things to do on a day out at Standen, from taking a walk in the woodland and building a den to seasonal trails to follow in the house and garden.
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The house at Standen
Explore the family home of the Beales, designed by Philip Webb and furnished throughout by Morris & Co fabrics and wallpapers. An Arts and Crafts inspired comfortable country retreat.
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The garden at Standen
Stroll around the Arts and Crafts inspired hillside garden at Standen, explore themed outdoor rooms and find a rare collection of plants including ones grown by Margaret Beale.
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Explore the estate at Standen
Enjoy self-guided walks through 100 acres of West Sussex countryside on the Standen estate, including ancient woodlands, wildflower meadows and links to the Bluebell Steam Railway.
Trail
Bluebell walk at Standen
A 3-mile walking route around the Standen Estate and Rockinghill Wood that can be done at any time of year but is especially glorious in April and early May when the bluebells are flowering.
Trail
Walk from Standen through Rockinghill, Jenkins Shaw and Hollybush Woods
A moderate three-mile walk that takes in the whole Standen estate and wider countryside.
Eating and shopping
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Eating at Standen House and Garden
Treat yourself to a seasonal meal or snack from the Barn Café at Standen House and Garden.
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The Shop at Standen
Take a piece of Standen home with you when you visit our shop in the old Scullery.
Spotlight events
Forest bathing morning retreat
These sessions with forest and nature therapy guide, Emma Weaver, explore the wonders of the natural world through guided meditation. Entrance to the Arts & Crafts house and garden is included, alongside a hot drink from the Barn Cafe. You're welcome to explore after your relaxing 2.5 hour session. Weds 8 May, 5 Jun and 10 Jul. £38 per adult. Booking is essential.
Guided Walk with our Head Gardener
On this walk, Head Gardener James Masters will give a brief history of this classic Arts and Crafts garden, pointing out details and areas of interest along the way. James began his career as a Gardener for the National Trust in 1987, at neighbouring Nymans where his father was Head Gardener. In 2000 he became a Head Gardener himself at Standen and has overseen a significant garden revival project which led to the 12 acre garden becoming grade II listed. He heads up a dedicated team of over 50 staff and volunteers. His particular favourites in the garden are the collection of Japanese maples started by Margaret Beale in the early 1900’s, and the Quarry, a magical area adjacent to the house, full of ferns, bulbs and azaleas.
Of earth and air sculpture by Alison Catchlove
Fri 17 May - Mon 1 Jul: 10am - 16.30pm. An exhibition of bird and flower inspired metal sculptures by Surrey based artist Alison Catchlove. Working in metal, Alison creates quirky, brightly coloured sculptures. The 20 pieces in this exhibition are inspired by the designs and patterns she’s found in the Arts and Crafts house and garden at Standen.
May Half Term at Standen
This May half-term become a nature explorer at Standen with a trail and nature journal to take home. Have fun in the woodland den too with nature themed fun. £3 per trail and journal.
Bluebell walks in Rockinghill Wood
Enjoy a sea of blue at Standen where the bluebells will carpet Rockinghill Wood in a sea of purple in April and early May. For a perfect spring walk, try out this 3km self-guided route through the Standen estate and wider Sussex countryside. It passes through tracts of ancient woodland that are carefully managed by National Trust volunteers to aid and increase biodiversity.
Top trails
Trail
Standen to Selsfield Common walk
An 8.5-mile walk for more experienced walkers, from Standen to Selsfield Common and back, that takes in woodland, heathland and open-country paths.
Trail
Walk from Standen to Kingscote Bluebell Railway
Walk to and from Kingscote Station and Bluebell Railway, where connecting steam trains can be taken to Sheffield Park or into the historic town of East Grinstead.
Trail
Standen Hollybush Wood walk
A short walk around Standen's Hollybush Wood, a haven for ancient woodland indicator plants.
Places to stay
The Morris Apartment
A one-bedroom apartment in trademark Arts and Crafts style, on the second floor of Standen House.
Upcoming events
Event
Material Things XVII
Weds 17 Apr -Sun 2 Jun: 11am - 3.30pm Wendy Dolan and Louise Bell return with their handmade quilts and stitched textile designs.
Event
East Grinstead Spinners
Demonstrations of the traditional craft of spinning, dyeing and handweaving.
Event
Forest bathing morning retreats
Designed to give the opportunity to just be yourself for a while, these sessions explore the wonders of the natural world through guided meditation. Entrance to the Arts & Crafts house & garden and a hot drink is included. 2.5 hour session.
Event
Of earth and air
Fri 17 May - Mon 1 Jul: 10am - 4.30pm. An exhibition of bird and flower inspired metal sculptures by Surrey based artist Alison Catchlove.
Event
Guided Walk with the Head Gardener
Join our Head Gardener, James Masters, for a guided tour of the Arts and Crafts garden at Standen.
Event
May half term at Standen
This May half-term become a nature explorer at Standen with trail and nature journal to take home. £3 per trail and journal, house & garden admission applies.
Event
Escape to the Country
Sat 6 Jul - Sun 1 Sept: 10am - 4.30pm. Join us as we imagine the Beale family travelling to Standen for a lovely summer day out in the country. A family trail for all to enjoy.
Event
The Makers Fair
Meet the makers at The Makers Fair featuring high quality artists and craftspeople. Fri 13 - Sun 15 Sept, 10am - 4pm.
About Standen House and Garden
James and Margaret Beale chose an idyllic location with views across the Sussex countryside for their rural retreat. Designed by Philip Webb, the house is one of the finest examples of Arts and Crafts workmanship, with Morris & Co. interiors creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The house is dressed for a weekend stay in 1925, so you can imagine you are a guest of the family.
A major restoration of the 5-hectare (12-acre) hillside garden showcases year-round seasonal highlights and an award-winning plant collection. On the wider estate, footpaths lead out into the woodlands, Ashdown Forest and wider High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Note: Well behaved dogs on short leads are welcome in the formal gardens.
History
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The history of Standen House and Garden
Find out more about this modern home with historic influences and charming Arts and Crafts workmanship, designed and built for the Beale family at Standen in West Sussex.
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Who was Helen Beale?
Helen Beale was the youngest daughter of James and Margaret Beale. She was independent and headstrong, which led her to be involved in nursing, the WRNS and the First World War.
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A history of the Beale family
Discover the Beale family, who commissioned Standen to be designed and built by architect Philip Webb .
Art and collections
Standen was designed in 1891 by Philip Webb for Margaret and James Beale and their family, who lived there until 1972 when the house was given to the National Trust. For the first decade of our ownership, the collection was expanded by Helen and Arthur Grogan who lived in the house and opened it to the public. The collection reflects the creativity and taste of all these people, and features items designed by leading late 19th century artists and craftspeople.
Morris & Co wallpaper
There are several original Morris & Co wallpapers in the house. Philip Webb worked closely with William Morris and recommended the firm’s papers as suitable decoration. ‘Trellis’ was among the first wallpaper patterns to be produced by Morris & Co and was used in the downstairs corridors at Standen. The design reflects the trellis installed by Webb on the south terrace, uniting house and garden.
Portrait of Margaret Beale by William Nicholson
The decoration of Standen and the planting of the garden reflect the taste, creativity and energy of Margaret Beale. She embroidered some of the textiles herself, and is shown in this portrait busy with her crochet. By contrast, in the companion portrait painted to mark his retirement, her husband James is depicted with his hands folded in inactivity.
Larkspur Room Bedroom suite
The chest of drawers, dressing table, mirror, bedside table and clothes press in the Larkspur Room were designed by Ernest Gimson, one of the most influential designers of English Arts and Crafts furniture. The matching pieces are made from figured mahogany and have fine detailing, including chequered beading and silvered metal handles.
Standen's objects and collections
Explore all the objects and works of art we care for at Standen on the National Trust Collections website.
Our work
Project
Project
Our conservation work projects at Standen
Find out about the conservation work that goes into looking after Standen, including major projects, which have restored areas as they would have been when the Beales lived here.
Support us
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Volunteer at Standen
Volunteers are essential to the work we do at Standen. Varied roles include greeting visitors, working front of house in the café or keeping the garden looking its best. If you'd like to talk to us about volunteering, please call 01342 323029 or email us at standen@nationaltrust.org.uk