East South Downs Accommodation

Glynde Place Village & Festival Virginia Woolf Monks House Bloomsbury Group Charleston

The East Sussex South Downs around Lewes is home to some of the best arts centres in the region including the famous Opera House at Glyndebourne and numerous festivals and events at the Elizabethan manor house Glynde Place.

The country retreat of famous British novelist Virginia Woolf, Monk's House, is at Rodmell to the south of Lewes in the heart of the Downs. Fans of the Bloomsbury set of artists and writers which included Virginia Woolf, E.M.Forster and the artists Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant will want to make a pilgrimage to the beautiful 17th century Charleston Farmhouse near Firle Beacon off the A27 road. Charleston is an exquisite work of art decorated throughout by Bell and Grant who were influenced by Post-Impressionist artists like Picasso and Cezanne.

Featured Sussex Accommodation

Freedom Holiday Homes - Sussex Weald

Selection of self catering holiday accommodation in Sussex Weald area. Families welcome and many properties accept pets.

£207 to £675 Per week (seasonal)

Glynde Place & Festivals

Spectacular Glynde Place, home to Viscount and Viscountess Hampden, sits south of Lewes within the South Downs with views across to the Weald. The Glynde Manor House is Elizabethan, dating from 1589 with extensive renovations carried out in the 18th century. Other historic buildings on the Glynde estate include a stable block, church and the famous wyverns on the pillars situated at the end of Glynde's drive. Treasures await inside Glynde Place including numerous portraits, china and embroidery collections, historic furniture and silver collected over the centuries by the three families that have lived here.

The surrounding gardens are equally spetacular and include a sculpture garden and wooded copse with South Downs backdrop. The renowned Glynde Place Food & Drink Festival takes place annually over a weekend in September and Glynde Place holds various events through the year. For forthcoming events and details on the history of the Manor House and Gardens see the Glynde Place webguide.

Glynde Place, Glynde, East Sussex BN8 6SX. Tel.01273 858 224.

Glyndebourne Opera House

The legendary famous opera house in the South Downs, Glyndebourne has a history stretching back over 70 years.

The award winning opera house at Glyndebourne was rebuilt in the 1990s followed by the additional Jerwood Studio in 2001. Acclaimed for its opera worldwide, Glyndebourne is one of the most famous opera houses in Britain and commands the most beautiful setting here within the South Downs. See the forthcoming programme and details of Glyndebourne's touring dates and annual summer festival via the Glyndebourne webguide.

Glyndebourne, Lewes, East Sussex BN8 5UU. Switchboard Tel. 01273 812321. Box Office Tel.01273 815000.

Monks House Virginia Woolf's Home (NT)

The famous country retreat of British novelist Virginia Woolf and her husband Leonard is located to the south of Lewes in the Downs at Rodmell. Monk's House is run by the National Trust and was home to Virginia Woolf until her death in 1969.

A visit offers a fascinating insight into the novelist with diaries and various photographs on display in Virginia Woolf's garden writing room. Further insight into Woolf is via a visit to nearby Charleston, famous meeting place of the Bloomsbury set of artists and it's well worth pusing into the West Kent Downs to visit Knole, birthplace home of Vita Sackville West, and into the Kent High Weald to visit Sissinghurst Castle Gardens created by Vita. Virginia Woolf's relationship with Vita Sackville West was a key inspiration for her novel 'Orlando'.

Monk's House, Rodmell, Lewes, East Sussex BN7 3HF. Tel. 01323 870001. Open April to October, 2pm to 5.30pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays. See the National Trust webguide for detailed directions.

Charleston Farmhouse & the Bloomsbury Group

Charleston Farmhouse, country retreat of the Bloomsbury artists, sits just off the A27 near Firle Beacon. This stunning 17th century house set within the South Downs was the home of artists Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant from 1916 who, influenced by Post-Impressionists such as Picasso and Cezanne, transformed Charleston into the glorious place you see today. The house is essentially a work of art with painted doors, walls, exquisite furniture and textiles. Equally stunning is the surrounding walled garden crammed with colourful flowers, mosaics, ponds and sculptures.

Charleston served as a country retreat and meeting place for the Bloomsbury group of writers, artists and intellecturals who included Virginia and Leonard Woolf, E.M.Forster, Roger Fry, Clive Bell and John Maynard Keynes. The decorative art by Bell and Grant here at Charleston is particularly special as this is the only domestic decorativee art of theirs which survives.

A huge selection of events and exhibitions take place at Charleston through the year including the Charleston Festival in late May annually.

The Charleston Trust, Charleston Firle, Lewes East Sussex BN8 6LL. Visitor Information Tel. 01323 811265. For opening times and details on exhibits and events see Charlton's comprehensive webguide.