Things to do

"We liked the proximity to Lewes, a lovely town with nice cafes, restaurants, easy access to supermarkets and nice pubs.
The location is great for exploring the area and visiting the Seven Sisters Country Park and castles. Thanks so much for a lovely weekend." R & D, London
Here are some of our highlights, we have also compiled a map of our favourite places to eat, walk, visit and shop which can be seen here

Glyndebourne Opera
The world famous Glyndebourne Opera House is 3 miles from Upper Lodge, with its summer Festival and touring performances in October.

If you are planning a visit there while staying with us we can provide you with everything you might need; a picnic kit, a programme and even lifts. We can also recommend places to fill your hamper up with local food and one of the many award-winning regional English Sparking Wines.

Art & Literature
Sussex has always been a haven for artists and writers, with many homes and festivals to visit;

• Charleston's Literary Festival and Small Wonder Short Story Festival
• Farley Farmhouse the home of Surrealist Roland Penrose & photographer Lee Miller
• Walk in the footsteps of artist Eric Ravilious
• Rudyard Kipling's home at Batemans
• Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft our award winning local museum and gallery
  

Food & Drink
There are so many fine producers including;
award winning cheeses from High Weald Dairy and Golden Cross. Wineries producing fine sparkling wine at Breaky Bottom, Ridgeview and the new Rathfinny Estate. Drink your way through the Cider and Perry Collection at Middle Farm Shop, the beer at Harveys Brewery, or at one of the many wonderful pubs in Lewes and the surrounding villages.

We have also compiled a map of our favourite places to eat, walk, visit and shop which can be seen on Google Maps here
Click on the different categories to view

Bloomsbury in Sussex
The country homes and haunts of the Bloomsbury Group are all on our doorstep;

• Leonard & Virginia Woolf's final home at Monk's House in Rodmell
  
• The home of Duncan Grant and Vanessa Bell at Charleston Farmhouse
• Their paintings at Berwick Church
• Vita Sackville-West's Sissinghurst Castle is less than an hour away

National Trust & History
There are many beautiful houses and places to visit, but our top picks would be;

• Batemans - Rudyard Kipling's house
• Bluebell Railway - Historic steam railway
• Bodiam Castle - Moated c14th castle
• Michelham Priory - Medieval moated priory
• Nymans - Romantic ruin & garden
• Penshurst Place - Medieval house & garden
• Sheffield Park - Repton / Brown landscape
• Standen - Arts and Crafts house and garden

Walks
We are at the foot of the South Downs National Park and the South Downs Way stretches from Winchester to Eastbourne. Near us at its eastern end are the iconic Seven Sisters, Beachy Head and Cuckmere Haven. Alternatively you could opt to hire bicycles from the Cycle Shack in Lewes and in spring the Arlington Bluebell Walk should not be missed.

We are members of the Cyclist's and Walker's Welcome Scheme and offer a warm welcome to both. We can help with maps, advice and even a bicycle pump. If you are new to hiking there's a beginners guide here.

Lewes & Downland Villages
Our county town of Lewes is ten minutes away, with its historic high street, independent shops, Norman castle and Bonfire celebrations. Excellent for antique hunting, flea markets and auction houses. There are many surrounding Downland villages worth exploring, notably;

• Alfriston
• Ditchling
• Firle                                                                     
  

Gardens & Plants
We love gardening and if you do too you won't be disappointed with what the area offers;

• Kew Garden's country base and Millennium Seed Bank at Wakehurst Place
• Graham Gough's wonderful nursery, Marchants Hardy Plants
• Sarah Raven's beautiful garden at Perch Hill 
• The landscape gardens at Sheffield Park
  
• Plus the world famous gardens at Sissinghurst Castle and Great Dixter are less than an hour away

Sport and Leisure
We can highly recommend a local day spa called
The Reading Rooms if you'd like to be pampered. The oldest freshwater public swimming pool in the country is in Lewes with other wild swimming options nearby. You can hire a canoe or paddleboard at Cuckmere Haven, or if golf's your thing the East Sussex National golf course is 5 minutes away with others at the Royal Eastbourne, Lewes and Piltdown.  Paragliding is a common sight over the Downs, and other activities to consider include horse riding, fishing and tennis.