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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 25 May 2025
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 Last entry to the house is at 4pm for a 4.30pm closure and from Saturday 25 October, last entry to the house is at 3pm for a 3.30pm closure.
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Ticket type With Gift Aid Without Gift Aid Adult (18+) £18.70 £17.00 Child (5-17) under 5s free £9.40 £8.50 Family (2 Adults and up to 3 children) £46.80 £42.50 1 adult and up to 3 children £28.10 £25.50 Group (Adult 18+) £16.15 Group (Child 5-17) £8.08 Become a member and discover more than 500 places
- Bookshop
Second-hand bookshop open 10am - 5pm.
- Café
Lunches, snacks and freshly made cakes using produce from our Kitchen Garden when in season.
- Car park
Open 10am - 5pm.
- Dogs allowed
Well behaved dogs on short leads are welcome.
- Guided tour
- Plant shop
- Shop
Arts & Crafts and Morris & Co. inspired gifts, textiles and ceramics.
- Toilet
Mobility parking near entrance. Partly accessible grounds with slopes and steps. Adapted toilets.
- Accessible toilet
- Narrow corridors
- Ramped access/slopes
- 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.
- Cycling
NCN21, 1¼ miles
Planning your visit
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Family-friendly things to do at Standen
Find family-friendly things to do at Standen, from activity based trails in the school holidays and walking woodland paths to building a den and running off steam in Adventure Corner. Download a copy of our family map to plan ahead with your family visit.
Events at Standen
Stay up to date with all our events here at Standen and plan your visit before you arrive. From children's trails in the school holidays and music on a Sunday afternoon, to Arts and Crafts exhibitions and demonstrations, find out more about our year round seasonal events.
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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.
Family map for Standen
Sometimes it's the little things that make the best family memories, like having a swing, playing in the grass or spotting bugs on a family walk. Our new family maps are free to pick up and show how to best enjoy your family visit.
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PDF
Standen House and Garden map
Take a look at the map of Standen House and Garden to help you plan your visit.
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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, book a Standen history tour with one of our friendly guides, then stop off for lunch or refreshments in the barn cafe. Visit the Arts and Crafts house, walk around the hillside garden or explore further afield in the woodland. Browse the range of William Morris products in the shop and find a gift for a special someone, or even just treat yourself. Group discounts are available. To chat through your group visit please email standengroups@nationaltrust.org.uk or call 01342 323029.
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 family-friendly things to do at Standen, from activity based trails in the school holidays and walking woodland paths to building a den and running off steam in Adventure Corner. Download a copy of our family map to plan ahead with your family visit.
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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
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
Material Things VXIII
Weds 8 Apr - Tues 27 May. Wendy Dolan and Louise Bell return to Standen with their handmade quilts and stitched textile designs. Open Daily 11am - 4pm.
Half term workshop and family trail: Ruby Plants a Radish
Tues 27 May, Weds 28 May, Fri 30 May & Sat 31 May. Make your own paper pot and plant a radish to take home, care for and eat when ready. Have a go at the Ruby the Rabbit adventure trail around the garden too, inspired by the book of the same name written by Kate Petty and illustrated by Axel Scheffler. £3 for the activity, free trail and normal admission applies.
Family Trail: Ruby Plants a Radish
Sat 24 May - Sun 22 Jun. Join Ruby the Rabbit for a garden adventure inspired by the book of the same name. This family trail is free to enjoy and no booking is needed. Written by Kate Petty and illustrated by Axel Scheffler. Trail runs daily 10am until 4.30pm.
Wild and Wonderful Sculpture: Alison Catchlove
Weds 4 Jun - Thurs 10 Jul: 10am - 4pm. An exhibition of flora and fauna metal sculptures by Alison Catchlove. This is a selling exhibition as well as a trail around the garden for all to enjoy. Alison specialises in metalwork and spends most of her time creating sculptures inspired by nature and wildlife, she is particularly known for her intricate and often comical birds. Working mainly from her studio in Shere, in the beautiful Surrey Hills, Alison uses fairly basic tools to cut, hammer and weld sheet steel to create her sculptures. Free trail/exhibition, normal admission applies.
Handcrafted Histories: Exploring the Arts & Crafts Movement
Sat 19 Jul - Sun 26 Oct. Delve a little deeper into the Arts & Crafts movement, as told through a selection of special pieces from the historic collection at Standen. From exploring intricate detail in craftsmanship, to the wider social impact, the exhibition explores the eclectic influences and social ideology that made this movement so powerful and unique. Last entry to the house is at 3.30pm. Exhibition included in general admission.
Globetrotters Crazy Golf at Standen
Sat 19 Jul - Sun 31 Aug. Challenge friends and family to a game of crazy golf at Standen this summer. Globetrotters Golf bring a 9 hole crazy golf course to the croquet lawn where whoever scores the lowest wins the game! Negotiate your way around obstacles on the course to score your winning points. Booking is essential and can be booked online. There are plenty of sessions available throughout the summer holidays and each session lasts for around 45 minutes.
A Summer of Play at Standen
Between Sat 5 Jul and Sun 7 Sept join us for a summer of play at Standen. Explore the garden, its hidden corners and winding hillside paths, play in Adventure Corner and discover activities in the woodland den. All activities are free. Pick up your family map when you arrive, or download it from our family page, and see if you can spot where the bees live or if there are llamas grazing in the field at the top of the garden. You can even play a game of Crazy Golf on the Croquet Lawn (paid for activity). Book your session on our events page. Summer of Play activities are daily 10am - 4pm. Sponsored by Starling Bank.
East Grinstead Spinners and Weavers at Standen
See the East Grinstead Spinners at Standen on the first Friday of every month. Watch as they spin and weave and find out about the wool dyeing process. The East Grinstead Spinners are a small, enthusiastic group who enjoy sharing ideas, learning new skills, and spinning, weaving or dyeing among friends. Join them at Standen on the first Friday of every month from 18 Feb until 31 Oct.
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
Experience how it felt to live in an Arts and Crafts house and stay The Morris Apartment, a one-bedroom apartment in trademark Arts and Crafts style on the second floor of Standen House. After all the visitors have left, explore the gardens at Standen at your leisure.
The Morris Apartment
A one-bedroom apartment in trademark Arts and Crafts style, on the second floor of Standen House.
Upcoming events
Event
Ruby Plants a Radish garden trail
Sat 24 May - Sun 22 Jun: 10am - 4.30pm. Join Ruby the Rabbit for a garden adventure inspired by the book of the same name. This family trail is free to enjoy and no booking is needed.
Event
Material Things XVIII
Weds 8 Apr - Tues 27 May: 11am - 4pm. Wendy Dolan and Louise Bell return to Standen with handmade quilts and stitched textile designs.
Event
Half term workshops: Plant a Radish
Tues 27 May, Weds 28 May, Fri 30 May & Sat 31 May: 1pm - 3pm. Make your own paper pot and plant a radish to take home, care for and eat when ready. £3 and normal admission applies. (No need to book ahead).
Event
Wild and Wonderful Sculpture: Alison Catchlove
Weds 4 Jun - Thurs 10 Jul: 10am - 4pm. An exhibition of flora and fauna metal sculptures by Alison Catchlove.
Event
Spinners and Weavers at Standen
1st Fri of the month from Mar - Oct: 11am - 4pm. See the East Grinstead Spinners at Standen on the first Friday of every month. Watch as they spin, weave and find out about the wool dyeing process.
Event
Summer of Play
Sat 5 Jul - Sun 7 Sept: 10am - 4pm. Explore the garden, its hidden corners and winding hillside paths, play in Adventure Corner and discover activities in the woodland den.
Event
Storytime at Standen
Mon 7 Jul & Mon 14 Jul Storytime with Tawny Owl Wood author Louise Shaw. Choose from 4 timed sessions throughout the day. Booking is essential, £3.50 per child including an activity book to take away.
Event
Crazy Golf at Standen - July Weekends
Sat 19 Jul - Sun 31 Aug: 10.30am - 3.30pm. Family fun playing Globetrotters 9 hole crazy golf course. Booking essential.
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 self assured, and was 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
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Restoration of a Victorian Quarry Garden at Standen
Created in Victorian times, the Quarry Garden at Standen is in need of urgent restoration. Shoring up and rebuilding are planned in the coming years before it can be replanted and reopened. Once a main feature of the garden with a small pond used by the Beale children to sail their toy boats, it's historic drainage system has failed and it's fallen victim to a changing climate with more frequent bouts of intense rainfall which have led to its partial collapse.
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
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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.