ASHDOWN FOREST LLAMA PARK

See over 100 friendly llamas and alpacas. Watch them in the fields, or get close to them in the barns; reindeer too. Exceptional views, farm walk, museum, picnic area, coffee shop and adventure play area.  Our shop has an exciting range of alpaca knitwear and accessories as well as South American crafts and toys.  Take a llama for a walk! – over 14 year olds only, pre-booking required.
See website for details/charges.  Sorry no dogs.  Free entry to Coffee Shop and Shop.

OPEN: daily (except 25/26 December) 10am - 5pm.

Ashdown Forest Llama Park
Wych Cross, Forest Row, East Sussex RH18 5JN
Tel: 01825 712040
Email: info@llamapark.co.uk

Website: www.llamapark.co.uk

BENTLEY WILDFOWL
and Motor Museum

One of the largest collections of swans, geese, ducks, cranes and flamingos.  The Motor Museum has over 100 Veteran, Edwardian, Vintage and Classic cars and bikes.  Lovely gardens, a Woodland Trail, Adventure Playground, Picnic Area, Tea-room, steam mini-railway and Craft Workshops.  Assistance dogs only (except in the reserve).

OPEN: daily 17 Mar. to 31 Oct. 10.30am-5.30pm. (House 12noon from 21 Mar).  Open winter weekends and holidays/half terms Nov. to Mar. 10.30am. - 4pm.

Bentley Wildfowl and Motor Museum
Halland, near Lewes BN8 5AF
Tel: 01825 840573

Website: www.bentley.org.uk

The Bluebell Railway is a preserved all-steam railway.  See over 30 locomotives plus Victorian, 1930s and 1950s period stations.  Free car/coach parking (not at Kingscote) and picnic areas.  Sheffield Park has loco sheds, restaurant, shop, museum and model railway. School parties and groups welcome.  Also available, a joint ticket with the National Trust Gardens at Sheffield Park.  Various special events throughout the year including Santa Specials, Bluebell specials and Autumn Tints (book in advance).  A bus service (Metrobus 473) at weekends connects East Grinstead main line station with Kingscote Station.  We welcome dogs except in food areas.

TRAINS OPERATE: weekends throughout the year; daily April to October plus school holidays.
Pullman Dining Service: Saturday evenings, Sunday lunches or private charter/weddings – Tel: 01825 720801.
Talking Timetable – Tel: 01825 720825.
Enquiries – Tel: 01825 720800.

THE FUN FINDING OUT DAY OUT!  Every day is a Thomas Day at Drusillas – the first UK location to have Thomas as a permanent attraction 362 days per year.  But Thomas is only half the fun; Drusillas is widely regarded as the best small zoo in the country with hundreds of exotic animals from monkeys and crocodiles to penguins and meerkats.  Get nose to nose with nature in our walk-through Lemurland.  Then it’s on to Playland to let your little monkeys go wild!
And don’t miss Amazon Adventure, Monkey Kingdom, Panning for Gold*, Penguin Plunge*, Dino Dig*, the Wacky Workshop* and lots more.
*Open weekends and East Sussex school holidays

OPEN: all year except 24th 25th and 26th December.

Fir Tree House was originally part of the Penshurst Estate owned by the Sydney family and was a tied or rented cottage with a little land.  Built in the 16th century in the Kentish style, it retains many original features such as the inglenook fireplace and wide oak floorboards.
Early in the 20th century it was the saddler and harness maker’s shop, and about 1930, with the demise of horse drawn transport, the saddler’s wife set up the Tea-rooms.  Taking afternoon tea was a popular activity and there were no less than five tea-rooms in the small village of Penshurst at that time.
In 1985 the Estate sold Fir Tree House to the present owners who continue, with a little modernisation, to serve home baked fare in the house and garden.

OPEN: weekends in March 2pm. - 5.30pm. until Easter. From Easter onwards Wednesdays - Sundays 2.30pm. Open Bank Holiday Mondays.  The Tea Rooms are closed in February

Gardens to enchant and excite – featuring a series of magnificent 17thC formal walled gardens plus the quirky, mysterious environment of the Enchanted Forest – challenging the imagination of young and old alike.  Birds of prey flying displays, restaurant, picnic area and gift shop.  Plus a great packed programme of special events.  No dogs except guide dogs.

OPEN: daily 21 Mar. to 8 Nov. 10am-5.30pm..

Groombridge Place Gardens & Enchanted Forest
Groombridge, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN3 9QG
Tel: 01892 861444
Email: office@groombridge.co.uk

Set in 100 acres of beautiful parkland, Heaven Farm is steeped in 600 years of farming history and includes the Bluebell nature trail featured many times on BBC TV, wallabies and Rural Life Museum.  Our Organic Farm Shop has a wonderful selection of organic treats including fresh local produce.  The Stable Tea Rooms provide light lunches, cream teas etc. Craft Shop.  Caravans and Camping.  Guided tours of Ashdown Forest and Lewes area from your own coach. Free entry into farm.  Dogs on lead.
Near the Bluebell Railway and Sheffield Park Garden on the A275.

OPEN: daily 10am - 5pm.

Set in 80 acres of countryside, the Park offers a wide range of different outdoor and indoor activities.  A large adventure playground, go-karting and indoor soft play area, or relaxing activities such as a family rowing boat on the 3 acre lake.  The children’s farm keeps small friendly animals and the Birds of Prey Centre stages impressive daily flying displays.  New attractions include the Bungee Trampolines, the Demon Drop Slide and Tractor Rides, great for seeing all the animals around the Park from deer to llamas!  Free parking, refreshment outlets, disabled toilets and baby changing facilities.

OPEN DAILY Apr., Jun. to Aug. 10am. - 5.30pm. During May, Sept. and Oct. open at weekends and school holidays. For winter opening times Tel: 01323 442051.

MICHELHAM PRIORY
and Gardens

Enter through the 14th century gatehouse and wander in seven acres of gardens and tour the historic house.  The range of furniture and artefacts on display trace the property’s religious origins and its development over 800 years to a grand country house.  Explore the restored watermill, a working forge, rope museum and a dramatic Elizabethan Great Barn. Plenty of free parking, restaurant and gift shop plus special events.

OPEN: Mar to Oct, Tues to Sun from 10.30am, also Bank Holiday Mondays and daily throughout August.
 

Michelham Priory and Gardens
Upper Dicker, near Hailsham, East Sussex BN27 3QS
Tel: 01323 844224
Email: adminmich@sussexpast.co.uk
 

NEWHAVEN FORT

An award-winning attraction for all the family.  Fascinating exhibitions help visitors experience life in a Victorian Fortress and to learn about World Wars I and II.  Explore the vast underground tunnels, huge gun emplacements, enjoy the stunning cliff top views and have fun in the adventure playground for under 12s.  Excellent on-site gift shop and café selling delicious organic and Fairtrade produce and snacks.  Dogs welcome on a lead.  Pre-booked educational and group visits arranged all year plus a programme of special events.

OPEN: daily Mar. to Sept. 10.30am - 6pm, Oct 10.30am - 5pm.

Newhaven Fort
Newhaven, East Sussex BN9 9DS
Tel: 01273 517622
Email: info@newhavenfort.org.uk

Website: www.newhavenfort.org.uk

Set in the rural Weald of Kent surrounded by picturesque countryside and ancient parkland, Penshurst Place and Gardens has changed little over the centuries.  This mediaeval masterpiece has been the seat of the Sidney family since 1552 and retains the warmth and character of a much-loved family home.
Another of Penshurst's splendours is the 11-acre formal walled garden, with records dating back to 1346.  One of the oldest gardens in private ownership, it remains much as it was when constructed by Sir Henry Sidney in the Elizabethan era.
Apart from the fabulous collections in the house, the Toy Museum contains a wonderful assortment of toys from our bygone childhood.  The displays form a veritable treasure trove of dolls, dolls' houses, teddies, soldiers, mechanical toys and general playthings, mostly from the Victorian and Edwardian eras.
A Woodland Trail around the park is designed to stimulate awareness of the woodland environment, its plants and animals and the need to protect their habitat, as well as the best children’s Venture Playground in the South East.
Throughout the school holidays children will find lots to do with the special activity trails, workshops and events organised at no extra cost.  Please refer to the website.
The Garden Tea Room, adjacent to the house, is open daily during the season from 10.30am to 5.00pm for morning coffee, light lunches and delicious afternoon teas.

OPEN: House and Gardens at weekends from 1st Mar. Daily from 21st Mar. to 2nd Nov.
Grounds, Garden and Gift Shop open from 10:30am. - 6:00pm. House open 12 noon - 4:00pm. The Garden Tea Room is open from 10:30am. - 5:00pm.
The Gift Shop opens daily except 25th Dec. until 3rd Jan. Nov. – Feb. 10.30am - 4.30pm.

POOH CORNER, HARTFIELD
and Piglit’s Tea-room & Garden

This is the place for you if you love Pooh and Piglet, Eeyore, and Tigger too or Rabbit, Owl, Kanga and Roo.

You can read more about Piglit's Tea-room and Tea Garden from the main menu on the home page of this web-site.

The timber framed building is some 300 years old, dating from around the 1690’s.  It has low ceilings and you may have to duck your head to cross the threshold.  Once inside, you can browse amongst the largest selection of ‘Pooh-phernalia’ to be found anywhere in the world.
When Christopher Robin Milne remembered his childhood in his book ‘The Enchanted Places’ he recalled his weekly trips to the village with his Nanny and their visit to the shop for bulls-eyes which were their favourites.  They lived a mile up the road so his Nanny would bring the young Christopher Robin on the back of their family pet – a donkey called Jessica!
Before you start YOUR ‘Expotition’ into Pooh Country, buy a guide sheet or guide book from the shop and find all ‘The Enchanted Places’, including the famous Poohsticks Bridge. And, if you take the 50p ‘Expotition Certificate’ with you, you can return to Pooh Corner, have it endorsed and become ‘Certified’.
Hartfield village has two pubs (each with a restaurant and car park), and a well stocked general store.Situated: where the B2119 and B2026 join and cross over in Hartfield village.

POOH CORNER IS OPEN: Monday - Saturday 9am - 5pm.  Sunday & Bank Holidays 10.301am - 5pm. Closed 25th/26th December.

PIGLIT’S TEA-ROOM & GARDEN OPEN: Everyday 10.30am – 4.30pm.  Both closed 25th/26th December.

Pooh Corner & Piglit’s, High Street, Hartfield, East Sussex, TN7 4AE
Tel: 01892 770456
Email: info@poohcorner.co.uk

Website: www.pooh-country.co.uk