The modernist home and studio of the artists Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant, Charleston was a gathering point for some of the 20th century’s most radical writers, artists and thinkers known collectively as the Bloomsbury group.
Open all year round, visitors can explore the house – every inch painted in iconic Bloomsbury designs - and discover the magical walled garden, nestled at the foot of the South Downs. The shop is brimming with Bloomsbury inspired gifts and homeware complemented by a delicious café from Caccia and Tails.
Explore the galleries showing a full season of exhibitions that bring Charleston’s modernist history into dialogue with today’s most exciting and imaginative art. Currently showing Matthew Smith through the eyes of Patrick Heron and Anne Rothenstein.
Combine and save. Experience the house and exhibitions across both sites at a discounted price.
Prices are shown with / without Gift Aid donation.
House Visit
Adults £22.50 / £20
FREE for Friend, Friend+, Patron and Benefactor supporters
FREE for under 18s
Students £10
National Art Pass £17 / £15.30
Under 30 community £10
FREE for carers
FREE for companions
National Art Pass £17 / £15.30
Concessions available
Exhibitions in Firle
You get access to both exhibitions at Charleston in Firle when you buy a gallery ticket.
Adult from £11 / from £9.90
FREE for Friend, Friend+, Patron and Benefactor supporters
FREE for under 18s
Students £5
Under 30 community £5
FREE for carers
FREE for companions
National Art Pass from £5.50
Concessions available
Combination tickets
Book a combination ticket for Charleston in Lewes and Firle and save 15% on exhibition and house tickets.
As a charity that receives no regular public revenue funding, Charleston relies on donations from charities and generous individuals to fund all areas of its work, from conservation of our house and collection, to education and research. Find out about donating or becoming a supporter on the website.
There are signs to Charleston from the A27 Brighton to Eastbourne.
From the A27, you reach Charleston along a narrow country lane.
Parking is free: follow the signs to the main car park. This is about 200m away from the entrance to the house.
There are a number of accessible spaces closer to the house (a 50m walk). Please follow the accessible parking signs.
Note: some sat navs get confused about our location. To avoid ending up somewhere unexpected, please refer to the directions above.
If you are using the what three words app, please enter angry/final/cotton to find us.
By Train
From London:
There is a regular service from London Victoria to Lewes which is seven miles from Charleston.
At Lewes there is a taxi rank and advance booking is not necessary unless arriving early in the morning or late at night.
Onward journey information from Lewes station can be found on the National Rail website.
From Berwick:
The closest station to Charleston is Berwick, which is around four miles away. There are hourly trains from Brighton and Eastbourne to Berwick.
There is no taxi rank at Berwick.
By Bus
Travel by bus to Charleston is limited and we strongly recommend you plan your journey in advance.
The Sussex Art Shuttle is in operation March–October 2024, a hop-on-hop-off service linking Towner Eastbourne, Charleston and Seven Sisters Country Park. Day tickets cost £3.50.
East Sussex County Council have recently launched FlexiBus. The service is available in more rural areas of the county where traditional bus services don’t quite reach.
Cuckmere Buses run the number 25 calling at Charleston between the station in Lewes to Eastbourne on a Saturday. Call 01323 870 920.
For bus routes and times, follow the links under 'Further Information' on the right of this page.
We offer concessionary rates on entry for people arriving by bus and other green travellers.
By bike or on foot
Charleston is in the heart of the South Downs National Park which is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). We would recommend walking or cycling around the area when you visit us.
If arriving by bike or on foot, we would recommend planning your journey before you set off.
You can find Charleston on OS Landranger maps 198 and 199 and OS Explorer maps 122 and 123.
| Season (1 Jan 2024 - 31 Dec 2024) |
|---|
* Wednesday to Sunday: 10am – 5pm
Monday and Tuesday: closed
The shop, café and gardens are available to visit without purchasing tickets for the House and Galleries.
Opening times for the House:
Wednesday – Saturday: 10am – 5pm (last entry 4pm)
Guided tours available daily
Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday: Self-Guided Entry
12pm – 5pm (last entry 4pm)
To ensure you get the most out of your visit the House is open by timed entry. We strongly advise that you book your tickets in advance online to guarantee entry at your preferred time. Tickets can be booked online until midnight the day before you wish to visit.
On the day, tickets can be purchased in person from 10:00am at the Charleston Shop on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Wednesday – Sunday and Bank Holiday Mondays
The Garden and Charleston Shop are open one hour before the House and close at the same time as the House.
The Café is open 11am – 5pm, serving light lunches from 12pm – 3pm and teas, coffees and cakes throughout the day.
© Visit Lewes 2024. All Rights Reserved
.png){kind=icon}
