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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
Important notice
Weekends are particularly busy over the festive season and a midweek visit is a quieter time to visit.
Opening times for 21 December 2024
Asset Opening time House 11:00 17:30 Café 11:00 - 18:00 Garden 10:00 - 16:00 Shop 11:00 - 18:00 Secondhand bookshop 10:00 - 15:00 Last entry to the house is 3pm and it closes at 3.30pm. Last orders in the café are 3.30pm during the winter with closing at 4pm. On Twilight evenings the last entry to the house is at 5pm and the cafe closes at 6pm with last orders at 5.45pm.
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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 Prices from 1 March 2025
Ticket type Gift aid Standard Adult £18.70 £17.00 Child £9.40 £8.50 Family £46.80 £42.50 1 adult and up to 3 children £28.10 £25.50 Group Adult £16.15 Group Child £8.08 Become a member and discover more than 500 places
Bookshop
Second-hand bookshop open 10am - 5pm.
Guided tour
Café
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 allowed
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
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Family-friendly things to do at Standen
Find family-friendly things to do at Standen, from walking in the woodland and building a den, to seasonal trails 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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Christmas at Standen
Arts and Crafts style rooms are dressed with softly lit Christmas trees and decorations inspired by the Beale family's wishes for Christmas. During 'Twilight Lates' weekends in December, see the house atmospherically lit for Christmas. From 16th November see the Standen Christmas tree in the Courtyard and for families, don't miss booking your session to meet Father Christmas.
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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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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
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Family-friendly things to do at Standen
Find family-friendly things to do at Standen, from walking in the woodland and building a den, to seasonal trails 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.
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Christmas at Standen
Arts and Crafts style rooms are dressed with softly lit Christmas trees and decorations inspired by the Beale family's wishes for Christmas. During 'Twilight Lates' weekends in December, see the house atmospherically lit for Christmas. From 16th November see the Standen Christmas tree in the Courtyard and for families, don't miss booking your session to meet Father Christmas.
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
See the house decorated for Christmas
Make your festive visit to this imaginatively decorated Arts and Crafts home which will be atmospherically lit and filled with twinkling lights and Christmas trees. Be inspired by the centrepiece Christmas tree in the Hall, festooned and sumptuously decorated, ready for a family Christmas. Sat 16 Nov – Sun 5th Jan 2025: 11am – 3.30pm.
A Christmas Surprise Family Trail
Fun for all the family with a festive trail around the garden. £4 including a gift, normal admission applies. Sat 16 Nov – Sun 5 Jan: 10am–3.30pm
The Courtyard Christmas Tree by Siobhan Murphy
Decorated by interior designer Siobhan Murphy, designer, plus size influencer and advocate for body positiviy. Siobhan is a regular presenter on 'Steph's Packed Lunch' as well as appearing on 'Lorraine' and 'Good Morning Britain'. She will design two unique fabrics inspired by Arts and crafts motifs to decorate the Christmas tree. Listen to local choirs sing around the Christmas tree during our twilight evenings.
Twilights at Standen
Listen to local choirs as they sing around the Christmas tree. Wander inside the house magically lit for the evening and experience its atmosphere as night falls. Sat 7 & Sun 8 Dec, Sat 14 & Sun 15 Dec, Sat 21 & Sun 22 Dec: 3.30pm–6pm. Last entry to house is 5pm. Choirs start at 3:30pm and finish at 5pm. Performers: Sat 7 Dec: Lisa Lake Vocals, Sun 8 Dec: Community Choir from Cobham, Sat 14 Dec: Bletchingly Community Choir, Sun 15 Dec: One Voice Community Choir, Sat 21 Dec: Rock Choir from Farnham and Sun 22 Dec: Choirpower, in combination with the Greenstede Singers.
Christmas Selling Exhibition
Look no further if you’re after that elusive present for a special someone. The Sussex Guild will be at Standen every day for some inspired Christmas shopping. Sat 16 Nov – Mon 23 Dec: 11am–3.30pm. Normal admission applies.
What's on the menu this Christmastime?
From yule log and pumpkin spiced muffins, to winter vegetable tagines and traditional pies, fill up and refuel in the Barn Cafe. Warm your toes in front of a roaring fire, lit on a chilly day.
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
Twilights at Standen
Late open evenings with local choirs carol singing around the Courtyard Christmas tree. See the house magically lit for Christmas and a do some late night shopping in the shop.
Event
SOLD OUT Finding Father Christmas at Standen
Follow the trail through the garden to visit Father Christmas in his woodland den.
Event
A Christmas Surprise Family Trail
Fun for all the family with a festive trail around the garden. £4 including a gift. Normal admission applies. Sat 16 Nov – Sun 5 Jan: 10am–3.30pm
Event
Christmas at Standen
See twinkling lights and Christmas trees in the Arts and Crafts home of the Beale family. Take inspiration for your tree at home from the courtyard Christmas tree, decorated this year by TV interior designer Siobhan Murphy.
Event
Wagging Walkies
Dress up your pooch in a bow tie, winter coat or cute hat and visit us for a wagging walk. Dog treat with admission.
Event
Storytime with Tawny Owl Wood
Be captivated by the tales of Tawny Owl Wood with author, Louise Shaw, reading her stories. Meet talking animals, brave heroes and hear about their fantastical adventures. 10.30am and 11.30am. Free sessions NAA.
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Finding the Old Oak Tree Adventure
Embark on an exciting adventure to find the Old Oak Tree and discover who lives inside.
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Half Term: Tawny Owl Wood workshop and Finding the Old Oak Tree trail
Join us for Half Term from 15-23 February. Embark on an exciting adventure in Finding the Old Oak Tree' with traditional fun activities and a nature-inspired craft workshop. £4, includes trail sheet, gift and workshop session.
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
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.