Benchwood House

With an incredible variety of attractions right on our doorstep, you’ll be spoiled for choice - and tempted to fit in as many as you can.

VISITOR TIPS

Seasonality: Some houses and gardens (like Bateman’s) have seasonal opening hours. Please check the National Trust website links before visiting.

Please check websites for opening times, and use this opportunity to make bookings, if necessary.

Combine visits based on locations: Many of these are perfect to pair with other local attractions, for example, Rye Castle Museum – Ypres Tower, with a trip to Lamb House, and enjoy a meal at The George Grill,

or The Union Rye, which was shortlisted in the Michelin Guide 2025.

Spend a day out in Hastings and visit The Shipwreck Museum, enjoy a ride on the East Hill Cliff Railway, and have a meal at Maggie’s Fish and Chips restaurant, all located on Rock-a-Nore Road.

Membership perks: If you consider joining the National Trust, membership often covers entry and encourages repeat visits to these sites.

Battle Abbey

THE HISTORICAL RUINS

Battle Abbey, located 8.8 miles away, stands on the very ground where one of the most defining moments in English history unfolded—the Battle of Hastings in 1066.

Commissioned by William the Conqueror in the years following his victory, the abbey was built both as an act of devotion and as penance, after Pope Alexander II called for atonement for the immense bloodshed of the Norman Conquest.

Rising on Senlac Hill, the abbey marks the climactic end of the battle itself.

Its high altar is traditionally believed to occupy the exact spot where King Harold II fell, making it not only a place of remembrance but also a powerful symbol of the dawn of Norman rule in England.

Today, the site brings history vividly to life.

Each October, a spectacular re-enactment of the Battle of Hastings draws visitors into the drama of 1066, recreating the clash that changed a nation forever.

THE BAYEUX TAPESTRY

Adding to this historic legacy, the renowned 70-metre Bayeux Tapestry—an extraordinary visual account of the Norman invasion—is set to be returned to Britain for the first time in nearly a millennium.

Following an historic agreement with France, from September 2026 to July 2027, it will be loaned to the British Museum in London, and its display offers a rare opportunity to witness this remarkable piece of storytelling.

It is believed to have been crafted originally in Kent (possibly by nuns at Barking Abbey) for the Bishop Odo of Bayeux, William the Conqueror's half-brother.

Bodiam Castle

Bodiam Castle, located 22 minutes away, is a 14th-century moated castle, set in rural countryside near the River Rother, is one of the most picturesque castles in England.

The magnificent medieval castle sits within a mirror-like moat protected by a drawbridge and four castellated main towers riddled with arrow slits.

It was built in 1385 by Sir Edward Dalyngrigge, a former knight of Edward III, with the permission of Richard II, ostensibly to defend the area against French invasion during the Hundred Years' War.

Bodiam Castle has been described by military historian Cathcart King as the most complete surviving example of a quadrangular castle. There are circular towers at each of the four corners, with square central towers in the south, east, and west walls.

Please visit the National Trust website to discover more about the fascinating history of Bodiam Castle.

Rye Castle Museum - Ypres Tower

Step inside Rye Castle Museum – Ypres Tower, 13 minutes away, a Scheduled Ancient Monument, and one of Rye’s most atmospheric historic sites.

Built in the 13th or early 14th century to defend this important Cinque Port, the Tower now offers immersive displays on medieval warfare, local justice, and the town’s maritime past.

Climb to the battlements for spectacular views over Rye, the marshes, and the River Rother, a must-visit for history lovers, families, and curious explorers alike.

Just beside it stands the Women’s Tower, a rare 19th‑century female prison that adds a poignant layer of social history to the experience.

A short stroll away, the museum’s second site on East Street expands the story of Rye with engaging exhibits on the town’s trades, crafts, and everyday life.

From smuggling and shipbuilding to childhood, toys, and domestic history, East Street brings the human side of Rye’s heritage vividly to life.

Hastings Castle

Located 13 minutes away, and perched high on the cliffs overlooking the English Channel, Hastings Castle is one of England’s most dramatic historic sites.

Founded by William the Conqueror in 1066, the castle offers sweeping views across the Sussex coastline, and a powerful sense of the events that shaped English history.

Explore atmospheric ruins, discover fascinating exhibitions, and walk in the footsteps of Norman invaders — a thrilling visit where history, legend, and breathtaking scenery come together.

In good weather, the castle grounds make a wonderful spot for a relaxed picnic, where you can soak up the sunshine, fresh sea air, and one of the most memorable views on the Sussex coast.

Historic stone manor house with lush garden and chimney stacks.

Bateman’s (Rudyard Kipling’s House)

Half an hour away in Burwash, is Bateman’s, the tranquil Sussex home of literary great Rudyard Kipling, author of The Jungle Book, and Puck of Pook’s Hill.

Set in the lush High Weald countryside, this 17th-century Jacobean house feels like a step back in time, with original rooms just as Kipling left them.

Explore his study where inspiration struck, wander peaceful gardens and meadows, and enjoy estate walks through woodland and along the River Dudwell that still evoke the landscape that fuelled his imagination.

Please visit the National Trust website to discover more information about Bateman’s.

A brick house surrounded by lush green garden and hedges.

Lamb House

Step inside the elegant world of writers at Lamb House in the heart of historic Rye, East Sussex, 35 minutes away.

This Georgian residence was home to legendary novelist Henry James and later authors including E.F. Benson, and its richly furnished rooms reflect a lifetime of creative endeavour.

The peaceful walled garden, one of the largest in Rye, offers a fragrant, colourful retreat from the bustling cobbled streets, perfect for lingering with a book or imagining the literary conversations that once filled the rooms.

Please visit the National Trust website to discover more information about Lamb House.

Smugglers Adventure

14 minutes away, is St Clement’s Caves, formed around 14,000 BC, during the last known Ice Age.

Since their creation, these mysterious and spooky caves have had a fascinating role to play in the history of the Hastings area.

The caves served as a home, a hospital, an air-raid shelter, and a ballroom – of which even the royal family and The Rolling Stones have visited!

The caves provide the perfect location for a vivid recreation of the fascinating, dark, and often bloody stories of smuggling and piracy along the Sussex Coast.

Ever wondered where buccaneers hid back in the 17th and 18th centuries? Well, look no further, because these caves have stories to tell and you’ll want to hear them!

Hastings Aquarium

Hastings Aquarium is located 12 minutes away, on the idyllic Hastings coastline, surrounded by fishing boats and just a stone’s throw from the picturesque Old Town.

Step inside to head below the waves and discover what’s roaming our oceans.

From our own native UK waters to the tropical seas across the world there is a hugely diverse collection of sea life for you to admire.

Get up close to freshwater species and enjoy a break on dry land as you explore their amazing Jungle Room filled with incredible reptiles!

Their underwater tunnel is an immersive experience, with tropical sharks, rays and colourful fish swimming over your head!

The Shipwreck Museum

If you are a dinosaur enthusiast you can go to The Shipwreck Museum, 12 minutes away, which is also located in Rock– a–Nore Road.

The museum displays fossils of the bones of Baryonyx, Polacanthus, and Iguanodon dinosaurs that lived in Hastings 140 million years ago.

One of their most exciting recent discoveries is a dinosaur trackway of three footprints at Fairlight near Hastings, and a full-size cast will be on display soon in the museum.

And in February 2024, a local family discovered a trackway of eight dinosaur footprints on the beach at Bexill-On-Sea.

Great Dixter House and Gardens

The Great Dixter House and Gardens under half an hour away, is an historic house, a garden, a centre of education, and a place of pilgrimage for horticulturists from across the world.

There are 92 visitor attractions within the High Weald AONB, including nine National Trust properties, and two country parks.

Spa Valley Railway

All aboard for a nostalgic journey through the beautiful High Weald on the Spa Valley Railway, located 52 minutes away.

Travel in lovingly restored heritage steam and diesel trains as you wind through rolling countryside between Tunbridge Wells and Eridge.

Along the way, enjoy delicious dining experiences on board, from classic afternoon teas, and light refreshments, to special themed food trains, perfect for celebrating birthdays, seasonal events, or simply savouring the view.

With scenic landscapes, vintage carriages, and a year-round programme of special events, this charming railway offers a memorable step back in time - perfect for families, foodies, railway enthusiasts, and anyone looking for a relaxed and scenic day out.