Fun for families at Standen House and Garden

If you're looking to enjoy a family day out, Standen provides the perfect location. Designed to be a family home, you'll find a relaxed atmosphere both indoors and outdoors with plenty of family friendly facilities.

Fun and games indoors

The Little Room was a haven for children's games when the Beale family lived at Standen, with the boys often hanging the girls' dolls out of the window in jest.  There's even a small door which leads out onto a ledge above the conservatory roof, often a favourite haunt of the children.  Family records show that the Little Room was designed on a request from Helen Beale to the architect, Phillip Webb - he charged her sixpence.

Today the tradition of the Little Room is continued, as it is a place for fun and games and there are a range of toys and dressing up for families to enjoy on a visit to Standen.

The Little Room provides a great place to escape from the rain
The little room at Standen
The Little Room provides a great place to escape from the rain

Outdoor play

Let off some steam in the Plantation, the natural play area at the top of the garden, inspired by the family's adventures around the world in the 1920s.  

Find the den building area to build your own den, put on a play in the base camp theatre and get lost in the higgledy-piggledy fence. On Rock Top Walk you can also find Bothy nestled in the trees which is a great place to stop for a rest on your big adventure. Please note that access to the Plantation and Bothy does involve some steps.

Bothy by Will Shannon in winter

Bothy at Standen 

Designer Will Shannon uses Arts & Crafts principles of using local materials and traditional handcrafted skills to make 'Bothy'. Stop for a while as you walk round the garden to discover this small folly like space.

50 things to do before you're 11 3/4

Tick off more 50 things activities in the garden and woodland. You can roll down a really big hill, build a den or track wild animals. Pick up a scrapbook and collect your stickers from visitor reception.

Child building a woodland den

50 things to do before you're 11 3/4 

The house, garden and woodland at Standen offers lots of chances to explore and tick off some of your 50 things to do before you’re 11¾.

Family friendly facilities

  • baby changing
  • highchairs
  • children's menu in Barn Café
  • picnics welcome in the garden and there is a picnic area near the car park
  • 'hippy chick' seats for young visitors in the house and a space to leave buggies and pushchairs whilst you visit the house.

Woodland walks

Get outdoors and closer to nature and explore Hollybush and Rockinghill Woods, or perhaps take a short walk to Weir Wood Reservoir. Pick up a 50p walk leaflet from visitor reception or download a trail below.

Discover woodlands at Standen, West Sussex
Standen House and Garden   West Sussex

Walks at Standen

There are wonderful walks through 100 acres of the original Standen estate, including ancient bluebell woods and meadowland, which can be enjoyed all year round. Dogs are welcome on a lead. Please note normal admission applies to enter the property and car park.

Explore outdoors