Bateman's Park Mill in action
7 Oct, 14 Oct…
Visitors can meet the millers at Bateman’s Park Mill, watch them demonstrate traditional grain grinding, and ask questions about the flour-milling process.
East Sussex
East Sussex is a scenic ceremonial county in South East England known for its historic landmarks, dramatic cliffs like the Seven Sisters, vibrant coastal towns, and rich cultural festivals.
Near Bateman's
Bateman's is a 17th-century Jacobean house in Burwash, East Sussex, known as the home of Rudyard Kipling. Visitors can explore the house preserved as it was in Kipling's time, including his study and collections, as well as the garden and the historic water mill on the estate.
Folde Deeper – Wellbeing Retreat
17 Oct (next Saturday)
A full-day wellbeing retreat led by movement teacher Carl Faure, combining guided movement, breathwork and relaxation with a seasonal lunch, woodland sauna and cold plunge, time outdoors and a closing fire circle. No previous experience is needed.
John Thompson art workshop: Woodland Stream - Sat 17 Oct
17 Oct (next Saturday)
An adults-only, full-day art workshop led by artist John Thompson, where participants create an acrylic painting inspired by nature. The workshop takes place in Nymans’ Potting Shed.
Stranger Folk Adventure at Sheffield Park
7 Oct–15 Nov (another 37 days)
Visitors use the Stranger Folk app to take part in an outdoor, games-based adventure inspired by British folklore. Guided by the Old Crone, teams complete magical tasks to find the Stranger Folk and decide their fate.
Near Borde Hill
Borde Hill is a Grade II* listed English Heritage Garden set within 383 acres of woodland and parkland, famous for its diverse collection of unusual trees and shrubs and distinct garden 'rooms'. Visitors can enjoy scenic views, wheelchair accessible facilities, and family-friendly amenities including a cafe and picnic area.
Object of the month
7–11 Oct, 14–18 Oct…
Visitors can discover collection items linked to the history of Smallhythe Place and Ellen Terry, including theatre props and historic pub objects from the 1800s. The items are rotated monthly and displayed inside the house.
Moat tour with a costumed medieval character
9 Oct, 16 Oct…
Join a costumed medieval character for a guided tour around Bodiam Castle’s moat, hearing about the castle’s construction, landscape and past inhabitants.
2 miles from Great Dixter House & Gardens
Great Dixter House & Gardens is a renowned historic house and garden in East Sussex featuring Christopher Lloyd's renowned horticultural design, accessible grounds, a café, a shop, and educational tours, suitable for visitors interested in gardening and heritage.
Display of Su Blackwell's 'Bateman's Reimagined'
5 Oct 2026–14 Feb 2027 (another 128 days)
An exhibition of Su Blackwell’s paper artwork, a house created from copies of Rudyard Kipling’s handwritten manuscript of The Jungle Book. The artwork is displayed in Elsie’s Room on the ground floor of Bateman’s.
Spell Quest at Bodiam Castle
10 Oct–1 Nov (next week)
Families can follow a magical, Halloween-themed trail around Bodiam Castle, making potions, discovering spells and taking part in activities. On weekends, visitors can also enter a spooky best-dressed costume competition in the castle courtyard.
'Monsters around the Moat' Halloween Half-term Trail
17 Oct–1 Nov
A Halloween half-term trail around Scotney Castle’s moat, where families can search for hidden monsters, complete challenges and solve clues to find the monsters’ party location. Younger children can follow a spotter trail, while older children can try riddles and collect clues.
Meet the gardeners: The Mulberry Garden Project
27 Sep, 8 Oct…
Bateman’s gardeners give a short talk about the Mulberry Garden Project, covering the planned changes, the historical research behind them and how the project reflects the garden during Rudyard Kipling’s lifetime. Attendees can ask questions about the project.
2 miles from Pashley Manor Gardens
Pashley Manor Gardens offers 11 acres of beautifully maintained English country gardens surrounding a historic Grade I listed manor house. Visitors can enjoy seasonal displays of flowers including tulips, roses, and dahlias, art exhibitions, and a café with garden views. The site provides good wheelchair accessibility and facilities including accessible parking and toilets. Admission is free for Historic Houses members, with fees for others, especially during the annual Tulip Festival.
The Big Draw at Monk's House
9–10 Oct, 16–17 Oct…
The Big Draw at Monk's House offers a range of garden-based art activities themed around making marks, including drawing, sketching and creating pictures from natural forms. Activities are open to all ages and abilities.
Near Monk's House
Monk's House is a 16th-century cottage in Rodmell, East Sussex, notable as the home of writer Virginia Woolf and the Bloomsbury Group. Visitors can explore the period interiors, her writing lodge, and the garden with views of Mount Caburn, all operated by the National Trust as a writer's house museum.
Captured by Caricature: Max Beerbohm and Henry James
9–13 Oct, 16–20 Oct…
An exhibition exploring the connection between Max Beerbohm and Henry James, featuring Beerbohm’s caricatures of James alongside sketches by William Rothenstein and John Singer Sargent.
Halloween best dressed costume competition at Bodiam Castle
10–11 Oct, 17–18 Oct…
Visitors can dress up in Halloween costumes, take spooky photos and enter the best-dressed competition in Bodiam Castle’s courtyard.
Conservation Wednesdays
14 Oct (next Wednesday)
Visitors can see conservation work on Bateman’s collection, including ships, and talk with the collections and house team. The session focuses on the ships in the Study.
Sneak Peek Tours
6–9 Oct, 12–16 Oct…
A 30-minute behind-the-scenes tour inside Nymans house, led by a member of the conservation team, offering a glimpse into the house.
Spookiful at Standen
5 Oct–1 Nov (another 23 days)
A Halloween-themed trail around the garden, with spooky features including creepy crows and Standen bats. Visitors can explore the Spookiful Bothy and take part in creative activities in the Witchard den.
Autumnal Foraging Workshop with Megan Howlett
15 Oct, 3 Nov
Join professional forager Megan Howlett for a walk and talk through Sheffield Park’s gardens, exploring seasonal wild foods and learning about their folklore, history, uses and edibility.
2 miles from Wakehurst
Wakehurst is a historic estate in West Sussex featuring a late 16th-century mansion, extensive botanic gardens, and the international Millennium Seed Bank. Visitors can explore the gardens and mansion, enjoy the woodland and wetland conservation areas, and dine onsite. It offers a rich horticultural experience including the largest Christmas tree in England and national plant collections.
Rudyard Kipling introductory talks
6–30 Oct (another 21 days)
A short outdoor introductory talk gives an overview of Rudyard Kipling’s life, family and writing, and explains his connection to Bateman’s before visitors go inside the house.
Autumn Colour Early Morning Self-Led Photography
14 Oct, 21 Oct
Visitors can enter Sheffield Park and Garden before its normal opening hours to enjoy the autumn colours, walk around the lakes and take photographs.
Dream House Tours
6–9 Oct, 12–16 Oct…
A guided tour around the outside of Nymans house, exploring the building and how it developed after Ludwig Messel purchased it in 1890.
Guided Fungi Walk with Senior Gardener Elliot Chandler
18 Oct (next Sunday)
A guided walk through High Beeches Garden led by senior gardener Elliot Chandler, with opportunities to identify autumn fungi and learn how the gardens are managed to support wildlife. Participants can explore the rest of the garden after the tour.
3 miles from High Beeches Woodland & Water Garden
High Beeches Woodland & Water Garden in West Sussex is a 27-acre botanical garden featuring rare and exotic plants, woodland glades, water gardens, and an ancient wildflower meadow. Visitors can enjoy seasonal displays, owner guided tours, a picnic area, and accessible facilities in a peaceful outdoor setting.
Diwali at Bateman's
8 Oct–8 Nov (another 30 days)
Celebrate Diwali at Bateman’s with displays of Indian objects, artworks and decorations, family crafts, and opportunities to browse Indian gifts and books. The event also highlights Rudyard Kipling’s connections with India.
New Ideas and Old Loves: Sissinghurst and Italy
26 Sep 2026–6 Jun 2027 (another 240 days)
An exhibition exploring the influence of Italy on Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson, featuring objects, love letters, photographs and multimedia experiences.
Styling Smallhythe: From the functional to the unconventional
7–11 Oct, 14–18 Oct…
A display at Smallhythe Place traces changes in women’s fashion from the late 1800s into the 1900s, using clothing, photographs and paintings to explore changing attitudes and the lives of some of the house’s residents.
2 miles from Hole Park
Hole Park is a renowned private garden in Kent featuring extensive formal and wild gardens including Bluebell Wood, wildflower meadows, and woodland. The 16-acre site offers seasonal displays of flowers and topiary with a café serving homemade teas and light lunches. Dogs on leads are welcome in the gardens and courtyard.
The Art of Illusion: The Theatrical World of Oliver Messel
13 Jun–1 Nov (another 23 days)
An exhibition at Nymans exploring the life and creative work of stage designer Oliver Messel, including objects relating to his work in interior design, film and theatre. A display in the Oriel Room features costumes created by students at Wimbledon College of Arts and inspired by Messel.
Autumn Colour Photography Workshop: Beginners
17 Oct (next Saturday)
A beginner photography workshop at Sheffield Park and Garden, led by professional photographer Roger Bloxham. Attendees can practise in the garden’s early morning light and develop their photography skills and techniques.
Monkey Puzzle trail at Bateman’s
23 May–1 Nov (another 23 days)
A family trail at Bateman’s inspired by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s Monkey Puzzle. Visitors explore the house and garden, helping Little Monkey find his mum through interactive games and challenges.
Autumn Wreath Making Workshop
17 Oct (next Saturday)
Participants make a 14-inch moss-based autumn wreath in a two-hour workshop led by a florist and gardener, using sustainably sourced foliage and seasonal materials. Materials are provided, and the ticket includes refreshments and Garden entry.
We're Going on a Ghost Hunt this Halloween at Nymans
10 Oct–1 Nov (next week)
A Halloween activity trail at Nymans, inspired by the children’s books. Follow the bunnies’ ghost-hunting adventure, try activities including Halloween hoopla and broomstick racing, and collect a sticker at the celebration party.
2 miles from Nymans
Nymans is a Grade II* listed English garden in West Sussex, featuring extensive woodland, rare plants, and the picturesque ruins of a mock-medieval stone manor. Managed by the National Trust, it showcases a variety of historic horticultural styles and plant collections.
Display of the Sir Philip Burne-Jones portrait of Rudyard Kipling
5 Oct–31 Dec (another 83 days)
A portrait of Rudyard Kipling by Sir Philip Burne-Jones goes on display in Kipling’s Study at Bateman’s, alongside the portrait of his wife, Caroline. The display marks the start of a three-year loan from the National Portrait Gallery.
Bodiam Castle tour
6–7 Oct, 12–14 Oct…
A volunteer-led tour in Bodiam Castle’s courtyard introduces the castle’s history and the people who built, lived and worked there.
Photography Display
25 Jun–31 Oct (another 22 days)
A display in the ground-floor rooms of Scotney Castle’s Mansion House presents previously unseen photographs of the Old Castle and the Hussey family, drawn from the estate’s photography collection.
Display of Axel Scheffler's prints from Monkey Puzzle
23 May–1 Nov (another 23 days)
A display of four prints by Axel Scheffler from Julia Donaldson’s book *Monkey Puzzle*, showing the illustrations and their detail in the kitchen at Bateman’s.
3 miles from Merriments Gardens
Merriments Gardens is a creatively designed four-acre outdoor garden featuring sub-tropical and herbaceous borders, water features including ponds and a waterfall, and a wildlife area with bird-hide. It offers a vibrant seasonal display of plants and an organic vegetable garden providing produce for the on-site restaurant.
Book of the Month
9–13 Oct, 16–20 Oct…
Visitors can discover a featured novel inspired by or connected to Lamb House and the history of its notable residents. The featured book changes monthly.
Medieval armour display at Bodiam Castle
7 Oct, 14 Oct…
Visitors can view a display of medieval armour at Bodiam Castle and learn from volunteer experts about how armour evolved during the Middle Ages.
Guided Group Walk - The Dean and Winchester
12 Oct (next Monday)
A guided walk of approximately 4.5 miles from Alfriston, climbing onto the Downs for views across the South Downs before descending to the Cuckmere valley and Lullington Church.
Near Alfriston Clergy House
Alfriston Clergy House is a modest 14th-century Wealden hall house in East Sussex, notable as the first property acquired by the National Trust. It features timber framing, a thatched roof, and a historic cottage garden, offering visitors an authentic glimpse into medieval domestic architecture.
Flapper Fashion
5 Oct–1 Nov (another 23 days)
A display in Scotney Castle’s Mansion House showcases early 20th-century dresses belonging to Betty Hussey and Maud Kerr-Smiley, including a Schiaparelli designer dress. It also presents research into the garments and their owners.
Near Scotney Castle
Scotney Castle in Kent is a National Trust property featuring a medieval moated manor ruins and an early Tudor Revival country house surrounded by picturesque gardens with seasonal floral displays. Visitors can explore both indoor historic house spaces and outdoor gardens with historical and natural highlights.