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Lamb House
Celebrating 300 years of history and literary connections in a stunning Georgian house
West Street, Rye, East Sussex, TN31 7ES
Important notice
Lamb House is temporarily closed for the next three weeks to prepare to reopen for 'A Mapp and Lucia Christmas' from Monday 25 November.
Opening times for 18 November 2024
Asset Opening time House Closed Garden Closed Lamb House is open Fridays - Tuesdays between 11am - 4pm, last entry 3:30pm
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Ticket type Gift aid Standard Adult £9.40 £8.50 Child £4.70 £4.25 Family £23.40 £21.25 One adult family £14.10 £12.75 Become a member and discover more than 500 places
Assistance dogs only
Only assistance dogs are allowed at Lamb House.
Toilet
Toilets are located in the courtyard and on the ground floor of the house.
No onsite parking. Toilets in the courtyard and on the ground floor. Assistance dogs only. Three steps to entrance of building. Ground floor has steps, small rooms. Two flights of stairs to first floor. Partly accessible grounds, some steps, uneven, narrow and loose gravel paths.
Seating available
Steps/uneven terrain
There are three steps to the entrance of the building. The ground floor has steps and small rooms. There are two flights of stairs to the first floor. The grounds are partially accessible but please be wary of steps and uneven, narrow gravel paths.
By road
Parking: No parking available at the property, multiple car parks around Rye.
By train
Rye main line station, (Southern Railway) short walk up hill. Rye Station Building, Station Approach, Rye TN31 7AB Walk north-east on Rye Platform 2 Turn right towards Station Approach Turn right towards Station Approach Turn left onto Station Approach Station Approach turns slightly right and becomes Market Rd Turn right onto High St Turn left onto West St and arrive at Lamb House on right at the top of hill.
By bicycle
Highlights
House
Red-brick fronted Georgian house with literary associations.
The White Parlour
Historic exhibition space currently displaying 300 years of history at Lamb House.
Walled garden
Walled garden with roses, lilies, spring bulbs and many herbaceous varieties bordering the lawn.
Vegetable Garden
Award-winning Vegetable Garden during its Victorian origins, filled with seasonal produce.
Spotlight events
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Christmas at Lamb House
Step back in time to the jazz age for our 2024 Christmas offer that will see Lamb House transformed into the fictional Mallards residence from E. F. Benson's 'Mapp and Lucia' book series.
Things to see and do
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Explore inside Lamb House
Look behind the Georgian façade and see how this house inspired writers such as Henry James and E.F. Benson. Step inside their favourite writing room or see the bed fit for a king.
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The garden at Lamb House
Discover an evocative garden tucked away behind the walls at Lamb House. It has an intimate, tranquil feel with borders packed full of flowers, a vegetable garden and shady trees.
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Christmas at Lamb House
Step back in time to the jazz age for our 2024 Christmas offer that will see Lamb House transformed into the fictional Mallards residence from E. F. Benson's 'Mapp and Lucia' book series.
Upcoming events
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'Tilling Art Society' Exhibition (25 Nov - 22 Dec)
We're hosting our very own Tilling Art Society Exhibition this Christmas, as seen in Benson's Mapp and Lucia book series.
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Christmas at Lamb House (25 Nov - 22 Dec)
Step back in time to the jazz age at Lamb House to celebrate a Mapp & Lucia Christmas with us.
Event
Lucia's Lobster Trail (25 Nov - 22 Dec)
Miss Mapp is hoping to steal Lucia's infamous lobster recipe for her Christmas party. Can you find all 10 lobsters before her? Suitable for all ages.
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Community Coffee Mornings
Fancy a chat over a cuppa? Come along to our free coffee mornings on the last Wednesday of every month.
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Mapp & Lucia readings
Hear Mapp & Lucia come to life through several favourite excerpts from the books.
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Christmas in Rye: Art Competition (7 Dec)
Do you fancy yourself an art critic? For the Christmas in Rye Festival, visitors can vote for their favourite artworks on display in Lamb House.
About Lamb House
Red-brick fronted house with literary associations - both Henry James and E. F. Benson lived here.
The garden
Lamb House has a walled garden, one of the largest gardens in the old town of Rye; it was designed as we see it today by a friend of Henry James called Alfred Parsons.
Find roses, lilies, spring bulbs and many herbaceous varieties bordering the lawn which ensure continuous colour and interest throughout the year.
Also to be found in the garden are the graves of James’ much loved dogs. The garden is a tranquil contrast to the busy streets of the town in the summer and sitting beside the pond one can fully understand why James had such affection for his garden. Today the garden is a refuge for visitors and local people alike.
History
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The history of Lamb House
Find out about this Georgian house and walled garden nestled in the heart of Rye. Discover the decades of inspiration it gave literary greats such as Henry James and E.F. Benson.
Our work
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Our work in the garden at Lamb House
Read up on the literary inspiration that guides how we look after the garden of Lamb House in Rye.
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Mapp and Lucia filmed at Lamb House
Find out about filming Mapp and Lucia at Lamb House, in Rye, through the experiences of those on set for the BBC comedy drama.
Support us
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Volunteer opportunities at Lamb House
Find out about volunteering with the team at Lamb House. With various opportunities in the house and garden, you could help us protect this special place.