National Trust - Standen House and Garden — Attraction in Mid Sussex

Standen House & Gardens: a truly beautiful grade 1 listed house located south of East Grinstead, West Sussex. Site was chosen by James & Margaret Beale for it's breathtaking views of Ashdown Forest & Medway Valley, a perfect location for their planned country "arts & crafts" house. Standen House is of Wealden vernacular style designed by architect Philip Webb; it's construction commenced end of 1891 & was completed 1894, using locally sourced bricks, tiles & sandstone. Webb was friend to William Morris, who's inspiration is evident throughout house (carpets, tapestries, wall paper etc), as are the Beale's visit to Japan where Japanese crockery & vases are prominent. Standen House boasts attention to detail, where each fitting etc was designed individually & ran on electric with central heating from start. There are many artefacts displayed throughout house, making it a worthwhile experience. Guides are available on site to provide further historical information & facts. (Note little silver "seed & pips" scallop shaped dishes, delicately attached to plates in dining room, or various cactus & hot house plants, with their pretty, vibrant flowers). Signage throughout house, enables visitors to see each room.

Standen Gardens are equally impressive & were strongly influenced by Margaret Beale & William Morris, that a garden was a continuation of a house & which both should compliment each other. This is visible in each garden's very careful layout, a truly artistic floral display, with a rich decadent Morris theme running throughout.

Many walks can be taken & if in need of refreshments, visit Barn Café, with both indoor & outdoor seating. (Pea & Mint Soup served with rustic bread was particularly good & piping hot).

Parking available on site with assistant to guide you to next bay. Toilets also on site, as are gift & garden...

Overall a very nice experience, out first visit. I felt the staff were a little on edge, we were rushed through at the beginning although we told them we hadn't been before and wanted to find out what to and what to see. It was quite a busy morning for them I think. The grounds are gorgeous and we really enjoyed the trail, which as it was our first time led us through the gardens beautifully. Lots of the kids to do and see and interact with. In contrast to our experience just entering the house. The lady there was a bit stand off-ish and we didn't feel welcome. We just stuck our heads into the first room and left. Understandably the rooms are precious and big backpacks could be problematic, be warned you'll be asked to carry or wear on your front. Not ideal when you've got young kids also to carry. We just didn't feel like we could enjoy viewing the house with a young family for fear they would touch something. There was a toy mouse hunt, the gmfiest being by the front door, which she also really told me daughter she isn't to touch. Perhaps not using toys would be a better option and children wouldn't be inclined to reach for them. Let me comment on the cafe, it was a bit of a disaster ;( I waited 25 minutes all told for four hot drinks, two of which had gone cold by the time the other two had been made, my flat white was a milky and undrinkable coffee flavoured drink! I could see they were busy and training but surely someone should have been supervising the staff. I think in general the service does tend to not be the fastest in national trust cafes but this really was a bit too long. I think next time we would definitely give the...

After a long, tiring week filled with work pressure, we woke up on Saturday feeling drained and in need of something quiet and peaceful. We didn’t make any big plans — the weather was hot, and we just wanted a slow, easy morning. So we decided to take a bus to East Grinstead and visit Standen House and Garden.

The bus journey itself felt like part of the escape. It took us through some of the most beautiful parts of West Sussex — rolling hills, patchwork fields, and sleepy villages bathed in warm sunlight. The ride gave us time to unwind, watch the world go by, and breathe a little deeper.

When we arrived, Standen greeted us like a calm retreat. Nestled in the hills of East Grinstead, this National Trust property is a gem of the Arts and Crafts movement, with its red-brick charm, intricate interiors, and timeless design by Morris & Co.

Walking through the house felt like stepping into a quieter world, full of character and history. Outside, the gardens were alive with color and scent — blooming lavender everywhere, and bees buzzing gently as they moved from flower to flower. The air was warm and fragrant, the paths shaded and inviting.

We hadn’t planned much for the weekend, but this spontaneous visit turned out to be exactly what we needed — a peaceful place to slow down, take in beauty,...