Historic Houses in South East England

52 Southover High Street, Lewes, East Sussex

Anne of Cleves House is a 16th century timber-framed Wealden hall-house that formed part of Anne´s divorce settlement from Henry VIII in 1541. There are wide-ranging... more

Arundel, West Sussex

The medieval Arundel Castle, dating back to the Norman Conquest has been and is the home of the Dukes of Norfolk and Earls of Arundel. There are amazing artefacts to see,... more

Burwash, Etchingham, East Sussex

Bateman´s (Kiplings House) is a 17th century Ironmaster´s house, the former home of Rudyard Kipling from 1902 to 1936. This family house is as it was in Kipling´s day, with... more

Belmont Park, Throwley, Faversham, Kent

Belmont House has remained the seat of successive Lords Harris from 1801 until 1995. The house contains family mementoes, fine paintings, furniture and the finest private... more

Firle, Lewes, East Sussex

Virginia Woolf´s sister, Vanessa Bell, moved to Charleston in 1916 with fellow artist Duncan Grant and their unconventional household. They transformed the house with... more

Westerham, Kent

Chartwell was the family home of Sir Winston Churchill from 1924. The rooms are kept as they were during his lifetime and offer an insight into both his domestic and political... more

West Clandon, Guildford, Surrey

Clandon Park was built by the Venetian architect Leoni in the 1730s and is considered to have one of the finest Marble Halls in Europe. The house is filled with an amazing... more

Cobham, Gravesend, Kent

Cobham Hall is one of the largest houses in Kent. It has been occupied since the 12th century that owes its architechural style to Inigo-Jones and James Wyatt. Cobham Hall is... more

Godinton Lane, Ashford, Kent

Godinton House & Gardens, described as `An ancient estate in a magnificent park with thrilling formal gardens now splendidly restored - one of Kent´s finest´ - The Times.... more

Goodwood, Chichester, West Sussex

Goodwood House, home to the Dukes of Richmond for over 300 years, is open to the public for 60 days a year. The Regency State Apartments house some astonishing treasures... more

Hall Place, Bourne Road, Bexley, Kent

Hall Place is a Grade 1 listed country house built in 1537 for former Lord Mayor of London, Sir John Champneys. The Tudor house boasts a panelled Great Hall with Minstrels´... more

East Clandon, Guildford, Surrey

Hatchlands is set in a beautiful 430 acre Repton Park, open everyday offering a variety of way-marked walks. The house was built for the naval hero Admiral Boscawen in 1756... more

Edenbridge, Kent

Hever Castle, a romantic 13th century moated castle, was the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII´s second wife - inside there are prayer books signed and inscribed by... more

Luxted Road, Downe, Kent

Down House was the home of Charles Darwin for the last 40 years of his life. It is here that he worked on his theories of evolution and wrote `On the Origin of Species by... more

Ivy Hatch, Sevenoaks, Kent

Ightham Mote is a superb moated manor house dating from the early 14th century. It was bought in 1953 by American, Charles Robinson, who had first seen the house on a tour of... more

Sevenoaks, Kent

Knole, a 15th century house was enlarged and embellished in 1603 by Thomas Sackville, 1st Earl of Dorset, and has remained largely unaltered ever since. There are thirteen... more

Maidstone, Kent

Leeds Castle, known as `the loveliest castle in the world´ and is listed in the Doomesday Book. Rising from two islands in the centre of a lake, this castle has been a Norman... more

Guildford, Surrey

Loseley House, built in 1562 to entertain Elizabeth I, is a fine example of Elizabethan architecture. The gallery of the Great Hall houses some rare Italian painted canvas... more

Upper Dicker, Hailsham, East Sussex

Dating back to the 13th century, Michelham Priory boasts the longest water filled medieval moat in England. Of particular interest are the remains of the former Augustinian... more

Parham Park, Storrington, Pulborough, West Sussex

Parham House: This beautiful Elizabethan house is set in the heart of a medieval deer park at the foot of the South Downs. The foundation stone was laid in 1577 by the two... more

Penshurst, Tonbridge, Kent

Penshurst Place is one of Kent´s loveliest historic houses with family history going back to the 14th century. The oldest part of the house is the Baron´s Hall, built in 1342... more

Petworth, West Sussex

Petworth House is a magnificient late 17th century mansion, housing the finest collection of pictures in the care of The National Trust with numerous works by Turner, Van... more

Great Bookham, Dorking, Surrey

Polesden Lacey, originally a Regency house, was extensively remodelled in 1906-09 by the Hon Mrs Ronald Greville, a well-known Edwardian hostess. Her collection of fine... more

Preston Drove, Brighton, East Sussex

Preston Manor is a delightful old Manor House evoking the atmosphere of an Edwardian gentry house both `upstairs´ and `downstairs´. Dating from c.1600, rebuilt in 1738 and... more

North Lane, West Hoathly, West Sussex

Built in the 15th century, The Priest House has been open as a museum since 1908. Its furnished rooms contain a fascinating array of 17th and 18th century domestic furniture,... more

4/5 Pavilion Buildings, Brighton, East Sussex

The Royal Pavilion, the famous seaside palace of King George IV, is one of the most exotically beautiful buildings in the British Isles. Originally a simple farmhouse, it was... more

Bramber, West Sussex

St Mary´s House is a magnificent medieval house with fine panelled interiors, including the unique Elizabethan ´Painted Room´ with its trompe l´oeil murals, giving an air of... more

Smallhythe, Tenterden, Kent

Smallhythe Place is an early 16th century half timbered house, which was the home of the Victorian actress Ellen Terry from 1899 until her death in 1928. It contains many... more

Westerham, Kent

Squerryes Court is a 17th century manor house that has been the home of the Warde family since 1731. In the hall is a portrait of Sir Patience Warde who became Lord Mayor of... more

West Hoathly Road, East Grinstead, West Sussex

Standen is a family house built in the 1890s, a showpiece of the Arts & Crafts Movement designed by Philip Webb and decorated throughout with original William Morris carpets,... more

Titsey, Oxted, Surrey

Titsey is one of the largest surviving historic estates in Surrey, dating back to the mid 16th century. The interior of the house was designed by William Atkinson in the... more

South Harting, Petersfield, West Sussex

Uppark is a fine late 17th century house set high on the South Downs. The disasterous fire in 1989 and its restoration add to the magic of this romantic house. The elegant... more

Kingsdown Road, Walmer, Deal, Kent

Walmer Castle was one of a chain of coastal artillery forts built by Henry VIII that has been transformed into an elegant stately home. It was the official residence of the... more