Christmas at Standen
Visitors can wander through the historic family home dressed in festive splendour with softly lit Christmas trees and Morris & Co. interiors. The seasonal displays bring playful storytelling to life, with patterns escaping from wallpapers and peacocks leaping from curtains. Guests can also enjoy festive food in the Barn Café and browse seasonal gifts and decorations in the shop.
What to Expect
Festively decorated Arts and Crafts home inspired by Beale family stories.
Event Details
Ages
All ages
Timed Entry
No
Organizer
National Trust
Food & Drink
The Barn Café serves festive food, hot treats, lunches and freshly made cakes.
Local Insight & Ratings
Family Friendly
Best For
Families and arts and crafts enthusiasts
Vibe
Playful and festive
Energy Level
Moderate
Budget
££
Photo Friendly
High
Weather Sensitivity
Moderate
Location
Know Before You Go
- Tickets: National Trust members: free entry. Adult (18+): £19.80 with Gift Aid or £18.00 without. Child (5–17): £9.90 with Gift Aid or £9.00 without; under 5s free. Family (2 adults and up to 3 children): £49.50 with Gift Aid or £45.00 without. 1 adult and up to 3 children: £29.70 with Gift Aid or £27.00 without. Group adult (18+): £17.10 without Gift Aid. Group child (5–17): £8.55 without Gift Aid. The page does not explicitly state whether these general Standen admission prices apply to Christmas at Standen.
- Hours: House open 11am–4pm; last entry at 3.30pm. A second listing for the same festive house opening says house open 11am–3.30pm; last entry at 3pm.
- Parking: Free parking, 200 yards from reception, café, house and shop.
- Accessibility: Offers mobility parking near the entrance, adapted toilets, ramped access, and partly accessible grounds with slopes and steps.
- Pets: Dogs are welcome in the garden; they should be left outside when visiting the house. Well-behaved dogs on short leads are welcome in the formal gardens.
Tips & Advice
- Come any day except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, when Standen is closed. On every other day of the run there's no need to book ahead.
- Pick a Twilights weekend in December if you'd like to step inside and see the decorated rooms lit up as night falls.
- Dress your dog in something festive between 26 December and 3 January for Wagging Walkies, when dressed-up dogs get a treat.
- Wear sturdy shoes, since the hillside garden has slopes, steps and uneven terrain, and the upper gardens are reached via the bookshop steps.
- If you're coming by bus, the Metrobus 84 from East Grinstead stops at the end of the drive and leaves a half-mile walk. It doesn't run on Sundays.
Special Events & Promotions
- Twilights at Standen: see the house lit and decorated for Christmas in the evening on Sat 5 & Sun 6, Sat 12 & Sun 13, and Sat 19 & Sun 20 December.
- The Merry Mice Christmas Trail runs around the garden through 4 January, for an extra fee that includes a small gift.
- Christmas Selling Exhibition: the Sussex Guild is at Standen every day from 21 November to 23 December.
- Wagging Walkies in the garden runs from 26 December to 3 January, with a doggie treat for festively dressed dogs.
Quick Actions
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to book ahead?
No. Christmas at Standen is open daily and you don't need to book. It is closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Can I bring my dog?
Well-behaved dogs on short leads are welcome in the garden. Please leave them outside when you visit the house.
Is there anything special for children?
Yes. The Merry Mice Christmas Trail around the garden costs extra and includes a small gift. There's also a natural play area with a willow maze, wooden swing and balance beam.
Where can we eat?
The Barn Café is in a converted 18th-century barn. It serves lunches, snacks and freshly made cakes, using Kitchen Garden produce when it's in season.
How accessible is Standen?
There's mobility parking near the entrance, and adapted toilets. The grounds are only partly accessible, with slopes and steps, and the house has narrow corridors.
More Christmas Events Near East Grinstead
More Christmas Events near East Grinstead
Always check the official website for the most current information.
We've done our best to keep details up-to-date, but event schedules, prices, and policies can change. For the latest updates, please visit the official website or contact the organizers directly. Christmas Events Near Me is an independent guide and isn't affiliated with the events we list.