Discover why Sissinghurst in Kent is famous as the epitome of the English garden and explore its series of garden rooms, each filled with different planting schemes and unique designs. Praised for its beauty and diversity, the garden is a result of the creative tension between Harold Nicolson's formal design and the exuberant planting of Vita Sackville-West, a successful novelist, poet and journalist also known for her connections with Virginia Woolf. 

photo:courtesy National Trust

What is there to see and to enjoy?

1. Sissinghurst Castle Garden claims to be a symbol of love and horticultural ambition, created by Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson in the early 1930s. Designed in a series of 'rooms' with summer highlights including the Rose Garden and the White Garden.

2. Vegetable Garden: A No Dig garden bursting with fresh vegetables, herbs and fruit, having achieved Organic accreditation in 2023 from the Soil Association.

3. The Tower with 86 steps: Home to Vita's Writing Room. Vast panoramic views of the formal garden, working farm and 450-acre wider estate from the very top.

4. The Library: Nicknamed 'The Big Room', this atmospheric space was originally used for entertaining by Vita and Harold and is now home to exhibitions throughout the year.

5. Plant Shop: Take home a living piece of Sissinghurst with plants and seasonal vegetables which are grown on site.

6. Secondhand Book Shop: A wide range of donated books ready to start their new chapter in life.

7. Old Dairy Cafe: Serves hot and cold drinks, tasty light bites and cakes. Indoor and outdoor seating available.

The Day at a Glance 

• 09:15  Meet at the Steyning Centre

• 09:30  Coach departs from the Steyning Centre 

• 11:15/11:30 Arrive at Sissinghurst Castle Garden. Maybe start the day’s explorations with a cup of tea or coffee before embarking on a leisurely walk along the garden paths of this stunning property. Lunch can be had at the Old Dairy Cafe with ample indoor and outdoor seating. See the current exhibition, climb the tower and have a browse in the plant and book shop. There are further walks around the property when you fancy it. 

• 15:15  Departure from Sissinghurst: sit back, chat and relax on the coach ride back to Steyning.

• 17:00  Approx. return to the Steyning Centre

___________________________________________________________________

Ticket pricing per person: 

Option SCG1: National Trust members only   £ 25 ▢

Option SCG2: Non-National Trust Members    £ 44 ▢

 Payment: 

If you wish to secure a place and to save our wonderful volunteers time, we would be enormously grateful if you could make payment by bank transfer to:

The Arts Society Steyning         

Sort Code 40-43-48         Account number: 71 23 61 99 

Please remember to add the respective option code in the reference, e.g. SCG1 and your surname.

Alternatively, you’ll be able to pay by card at the next lecture on 9 March 2026.

Please note: 

A reservation is not guaranteed until payment has been received to secure your place. Refunds for tickets are not given, unless the ticket(s) can be resold or the event is cancelled. If you have any questions, please contact Dee Skitch via tassvisits@gmail.com 

Booking form: 

Let's Make Booking a Breeze!

To secure your spot with ease, please:

1. Download the booking form using this link.

2. Print a copy and fill it out at your leisure at home.

3. Please bring your completed form with your debit or credit card for payment to the next lecture on 9 March 2026 where you will be whisked through our priority queue to quickly secure your place on your chosen TASS visit. 

For members who prefer to complete the form on the day, please don’t worry - we will have a separate table set up for you. 

Thank you very much for helping us make everything run like clockwork!

We hope this particular outing will appeal to you as it promises to be a lovely day of history, horticulture, fresh air and good company.

Join us for a special coach trip to London to see the acclaimed Seurat at the Sea Exhibition at the Courtauld Gallery, one of the most significant art exhibitions of the year.

Travelling in comfort from Steyning, this visit offers a wonderful opportunity to experience Seurat’s work in depth, alongside time to explore one of London’s most elegant and accessible galleries.

About Georges Seurat and the Exhibition

Georges Seurat (1859–1891) was a pioneering figure in late 19th-century French art and the founder of Neo-Impressionism. Working in Paris during a period of rapid industrial, social, and scientific change, Seurat sought to apply order, structure, and modern theories of colour to painting.

He is best known for developing pointillism, a revolutionary technique in which small dots of pure colour are applied methodically to the canvas, creating vibrant and luminous images when viewed from a distance. His most famous works capture scenes of modern urban life, leisure, and the changing rhythms of Paris.

Although Seurat died at the age of just 31, his influence was immense. His ideas shaped the work of artists such as Paul Signac and later figures including Matisse and Picasso.
This exhibition at the Courtauld brings together key paintings, drawings, and studies, offering insight into Seurat’s working methods, his intellectual ambitions, and his lasting contribution to modern art.

The Day at a Glance

08:45 – Meet at the Steyning Centre
09:00 – Coach departs from the Steyning Centre
11:15 – Arrive at the Courtauld Gallery

After arrival there will be time for mid-morning tea or coffee, followed by entry to the Seurat exhibition with a pre-booked timed ticket. Visitors are free to explore the exhibition and the Courtauld’s permanent collection at their own pace.

Lunch
Lunch is available in the Courtauld Café, located on the ground floor (not included). The café offers a range of light lunches, sandwiches, salads, cakes, and hot and cold drinks, with seating available.

15:15 – Depart the Courtauld Gallery
17:30–18:00 – Approximate return to the Steyning Centre (traffic dependent)

About the Trip

• Comfortable coach travel

• Timed entry to the Seurat Exhibition

• Free time to explore the gallery

• A relaxed and well-organised day out for art lovers

If you wish to reserve your place, please email Dee Skitch at: tassvisits@gmail.com  

Places are limited so early booking is essential to avoid dissapointment.
For booking details and further information, please contact: Dee 

Our Day Out on Tuesday, 14 April 2026

This springtime adventure takes us to Uppark House & Garden, a magnificent 17th-century National Trust property in West Sussex. Built around 1690 for Ford Grey, 1st Earl of Tankerville, it is a beautifully preserved William & Mary-style house designed by William Talman.

Enjoy a guided tour to see

• Elegant interiors: 18th-century furniture, paintings and ceramics 

• Grand Tour collections: Discover where the Fetherstonhaugh family roamed.

• A dramatic restoration story: Learn how the house rose phoenix-like from the 1989 fire.

• Gardens and views: Enjoy the glorious South Downs vistas - perfect for stretching legs and lungs.

We then continue by coach to the Pallant House Gallery for the William Nicholson exhibition - a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the work of this celebrated painter and illustrator. William Nicolson, often overlooked in favour of his more famous son, is coming out of the shadows in this fabulous exhibition!   

                                     The Day at a Glance 

• 0845 Meet at the Steyning Centre

• 0900  Coach departs from the Steyning Centre

• 1015  Arrive at Uppark House & garden, time for coffee/tea and a guided tour

• 12:30  Depart from Uppark House: sit back and relax on the coach

• 13:15  Arrive at Pallant House: enjoy your lunch (not included) 

• 16:00  Depart for Steyning

• 17:00  Approx. return to the Steyning Centre

Ticket pricing per person: 

For National Trust members only 

Option 1: with Pallant House or Museum Assoc. discount  £24 ▢

Option 2: with Art Fund discount            £33 ▢

Option 3: without above concessions £42 ▢

If you are NOT a National Trust member:

Option 4: with Pallant House or Museum Assoc. discount  £34  ▢

Option 5: with Art Fund discount £43  ▢

Option 6: without above concessions      £52  ▢

_________________________________________________________________

Book Your Place:

If you wish to reserve your place, please email Dee Skitch at: tassvisits@gmail.com  

AND also complete a booking form available online now - and bring along to our next meeting.

photo: Courtesy National Trust

Join Us for a Wonderful Day Out at Tate Britain

We’re pleased to announce a special coach trip to the Turner & Constable: Rivals & Originals exhibition at the Tate Britain on Thursday, 26 February 2026. The coach will depart at 0845 and return at approximately 1800

This major exhibition brings together two of Britain’s most celebrated landscape painters—J. M. W. Turner and John Constable—artists who, despite working at the same time, approached the natural world in strikingly different ways.

Turner, known for his dramatic use of light, atmosphere, and bold colour, pushed landscape painting towards the poetic and almost abstract. Constable, by contrast, focused on close observation of the English countryside, capturing its everyday beauty with honesty, clarity and meticulous detail. While Turner chased storms, sea-spray and sunlight, Constable preferred fields, farm tracks, and clouds studied with scientific precision. Their differing backgrounds also shaped their work: Turner rose from modest beginnings and travelled widely, while Constable, rooted in Suffolk, drew deep inspiration from the places of his youth.

Seen together, their paintings reveal a fascinating contrast in temperament, technique, and vision — and this exhibition offers a unique chance to appreciate their achievements side by side.

There will also be time during the visit to enjoy lunch. The Djanogly Café in the basement offers light meals, sandwiches and cakes, perfect if you simply want a quick bite or a proper sit-down lunch.

The Day at a Glance:

• 08:30 – Meet outside the Steyning Centre

• 08:45 – Coach departs for London

• 11:00 – Arrive at the Tate Britain

• 11:30 – Entry to the Turner and Constable Exhibition

• Free time for lunch and exploring the museum

• 15:30 – Depart from the Tate Britain

• 18:00 (approx.) – Return to the Steyning Centre

___________________________________________________________________

Total Cost for one Exhibition Ticket and Coach Travel:

• Option1: £44 per person for Museum Association members

• Option 2: £56 per person for Art Fund members

• Option 3: £67 for all other TASS members

___________________________________________________________________

Book Your Place:

If you wish to reserve your place, please email Dee Skitch at: tassvisits@gmail.com  

AND also complete a booking form available online now - and bring along to our next meeting.

A Festive Day Out to Winchester Cathedral & Christmas Market 

As the festive season approaches, we’re heading to Winchester Cathedral for a truly special day out. Winchester isn’t just any cathedral — it’s one of the largest in Europe, with over 1,000 years of history tucked inside its ancient walls. From medieval treasures to magnificent architecture, there’s plenty to see (and plenty of pews if you’d like a sit down while you take it all in!).

Of course, no Christmas trip would be complete without a little seasonal sparkle. Right outside the cathedral lies the famous Winchester Christmas Market, often voted one of the very best in Europe. Picture the scene: pretty wooden chalets, twinkling fairy lights, the smell of mulled wine and roasted chestnuts in the air… and perhaps a chance to pick up a unique Christmas gift (or three) for loved ones — or for yourself, we won’t tell.

The day has been planned with comfort and enjoyment in mind, with a relaxed pace so there’s plenty of time to explore, shop, or simply people-watch while enjoying a mince pie. Whether you’re drawn to history, Christmas cheer, or simply the joy of a good day out with friends, this trip promises something for everyone.

The Day at a Glance

Date: Friday 21st November 2025

• 9:45am – Gather at Steyning Centre, Fletchers Croft. Bring your best Christmas cheer (and maybe a warm scarf).

• 10:00am – Depart by coach for Winchester. Sit back, relax, and maybe hum a carol or two (quietly, so the driver stays focused).

• 11:30am – Approximate arrival in Winchester. Time to stretch legs and soak up the atmosphere.

• 12 noon – Optional guided tour of the Cathedral — a wonderful chance to learn some fascinating history without needing to read all the information boards yourself.

• 3:30pm – Depart from Winchester. Hopefully with shopping bags that still fit under your seat.

• 5:00pm – Arrive back at Steyning Centre, just in time to put your feet up and admire your festive finds.

Friendly Notes

• Please wear comfy shoes (Winchester’s charm comes with cobblestones).

• Wrap up warm — cathedrals are beautiful but not known for central heating.

• Don’t worry if you lose us in the market — just follow the smell of roasted chestnuts and we’ll regroup.

To book your spot please download and complete this Booking Form

Treat yourself to a truly glamorous day out on Tuesday 28th October 2025 travelling by coach to the Cartier exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. 

From tiaras to timepieces, this dazzling display celebrates over a century of iconic jewellery design, elegance, and royal sparkle. Whether you are a lover of fashion, history or just a bit of sparkle, this trip is the perfect excuse to enjoy a touch of luxury – and a lot of good company. 

Photo by Gary Yost on Unsplash

What is included:

• Entry to the V&A Museum and the Cartier Exhibition, showcasing some of the world’s most exquisite jewels.        https://www.vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/cartier

• Free time to explore the museum’s other treasures, shop in the gift shop or linger over lunch or afternoon tea.

• Great company, plenty of laughter, and a warm, sociable atmosphere.

  Let’s enjoy a glittering day of culture, cake, and Cartier – all wrapped up in wonderful company. We hope to see you there, looking fabulous as ever.

The Day at A Glance

• 08:45 – Meet outside the Steyning Centre

• 09:00 – Coach departs for London

• 11:30 – Arrive at the V&A Museum

• 12:00 – Entry to the Cartier Exhibition

• Free time for lunch, gift shopping, or exploring the museum

• 15:30 – Depart from the V&A

• 18:00 (approx.) – Return to the Steyning Centre

Total Cost for one V&A Exhibition Ticket and Coach Travel:

• £30 per person for V&A members

• £40 per person for Art Fund members

• £50 For all other TASS members

To book your spot please download and complete this Booking Form

Day Coach Trip to Hatchlands Park
 

Join us for a relaxing day out to the beautiful Hatchlands Park in Surrey. This elegant 18th-century country house, built in 1756, was designed by architect Stiff Leadbetter and later transformed by Robert Adam, with grounds influenced by famed landscape gardener Humphry Repton. It has a rich and varied history, including time as a boarding school, and is now owned by the National Trust.

Highlights of the Visit:

• Special Summer Exhibition: See eight original works by Titian, on rare public display.

• The Cobbe Collection: A fascinating display of 40 historic keyboard instruments, some associated with composers like Mozart and Beethoven.

• Beautifully Restored Interiors: Explore six stunning rooms redesigned by Robert Adam.

• Peaceful Gardens: Stroll through the Grade II listed gardens, partly landscaped by Humphry Repton.

 Itinerary:

• 09:45 – Meet in front of the Steyning Centre

• 10:00 – Prompt departure by coach

• 11:30 – Arrive at Hatchlands Park (refreshments and toilets available)

• 12:00 – Entry to the house, gardens, and exhibition

• Lunch: Enjoy at your leisure (not included in the price – café available)

• 15:00 – Depart from Hatchlands

• 16:30 (approx) – Return to the Steyning Centre

 Cost (includes coach travel and gratuities):

• £22.50 – for National Trust members

• £34.85 – for non-members

 To Book Your Place:

Please contact Dee Skitch at: tassvisits@gmail.com
Include whether or not you are a National Trust member in your message.

We look forward to a lovely day exploring this historic gem!

photo: courtesy National Trust

Ightham Mote and Chartwell, Kent

Gabrielle Chanel - Fashion Manifesto' - Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Members and guests are invited to visit the Parish Church of St Andrew and St Cuthman where its historian, Sarah Leigh, will give a talk about the history of the church. Sarah has carried out extensive research into the church's very lively history and has written an illustrated guide on the subject, available for £4.

2:30-3.30 pm in Steyning Parish Church, Vicarage Lane, Steyning BN44 3RS  (About 2 minutes walk from the Steyning Centre)

No charge, although donations welcome. 

Further details from the Friends of Steyning Parish Church

Note that this event is on the afternoon of the July lecture, The English Country Church. 

The recently re-opened Brighton Dome Corn Exchange is hosting an extravagant, immersive Van Gogh event. Impossible to describe in words - you have to see it to believe it.

Our entry is booked for 11:30 a.m. and tickets are at a reduced rate of £18.

If you are interested, e-mail me, Peter Hicks, at peterahicks4@virginmedia.com or text me on 07757 404657 and book a place. 

The gardens of Edwin Lutyens and Gertrude Jekyll are the subject of our June lecture, so what better way to prepare than to visit the delightful House and Gardens at Great Dixter, just outsde Northiam in East Sussex. Through his association with Jekyll, Lutyens acquired a reputation for welding houses and gardens together and indeed popularising a completely new approach to English gardens. He was the ideal choice to lead the restoration and enlargement of the house at Great Dixter, where work began in 1911. He oversaw the purchase of an early 16th-century timber house called the Old House at Home, in Benenden, some nine miles from Northiam, and had it dismantled, then reconstructed at Great Dixter. The result is spectacular - this is a visit not to be missed.   

On our return from Great Dixter, we will stop off at the modernist De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill on Sea, designed by Erich Mendelsohn and Serge Chermayeff and built in 1935.

We will leave Steyning at 9:30 a.m., and be back by about 5 p.m.

Cost: £46 (including entry to Great Dixter)

If you are interested, e-mail me, Peter Hicks, at peterahicks4@virginmedia.com or text me on 07757 404657 and book a place.

The first visit of 2023 is a visit to the Pallant House Gallery in Chichester to see the excellent 'Sussex Landscape: Chalk, Wood and Water' on Wednesday, 25th January 2023. Turner, Ravilious, Bell, Grant, Hitchens, Nicholson, Piper and many more!

If you are interested, e-mail me, Peter Hicks, at peterahicks4@virginmedia.com or text me on 07757 404657 and book a place.

A Trip to Worthing -  Downs, Town and Sea
Exploring the many facets of Worthing over the last two centuries
 

Museum Visit

is one of those small, but perfectly formed exhibitions that crop up every so often. Acting on a tip off, I visited it last week and it is an absolute gem. Some wonderful paintings, drawings and etchings of the Downs, the seafront and Worthing are on show, but it is much more! Photographs, film and costume of the period shows Worthing's change from fishing hamlet to seaside resort and  makes this an impressive combination of social history, fine art and fashion.

My favourite is the stunning painting of the Downs at Amberley by James Merriott that became a classic British Rail poster! Bring a camera.

If you haven't seen it yet and you want to, meet me at 1420 for 1430 on Thursday 16th June outside the Worthing Museum and Art Gallery, Chapel Road, Worthing. 

Admission free, but I'm sure the Gallery would appreciate a donation. Enjoy the exhibition and don't miss the  Archaeology galleries with the superb Alan Sorrell re-construction of Bramber Castle and the model of a Cissbury Ring neolithic flint-mine. After visiting the shop and  all the excitement, we can adjourn to the Thieves Kitchen, 10, Warwick Street for refreshments.

The Gallery can easily entertain up to 30 of us, so if you are interested, e-mail me, Peter Hicks, at peterahicks4@virginmedia.com or text me on 07757 404657 and book a place.

Image: Eric Ravilious Chalk Paths 1935 watercolour-on-paper private-collection © Bridgeman-Images

Regretfully this visit has been cancelled and all monies paid will be refunded as soon as it's practical to do so.

 The Wallace Collection and Leighton House in London 
**SOLD OUT**

The Wallace Collection is a national museum which displays the wonderful works of art collected in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries by the first four Marquesses of Hertford and Sir Richard Wallace, the son of the 4th Marquess.

It was bequeathed to the British nation by Sir Richard's widow, Lady Wallace, in 1897.

Displayed at Hertford House, one of the family's London properties in the nineteenth century, the Wallace Collection presents its outstanding collections in a sumptuous but approachable manner which is an essential part of its charm.

The Leighton House Museum is an art museum in the Holland Park area in west London. The building was the London home of painter Frederic Leighton, 1st Baron Leighton (1830–1896), who commissioned the architect and designer George Aitchison to build him a combined home and studio noted for its incorporation of tiles and other elements purchased in the Near East to build a magnificent Qa'a (room). The resulting building, completed 1866–95, on the privately owned Ilchester Estate, is now Grade II* listed. It is noted for its elaborate Orientalist and aesthetic interiors.

More details of the day can be found here

The booking form can be found here

*Visit to STANSTED PARK.

STANSTED PARK, near Rowlands Castle, Hampshire has a magnificent House with State Rooms and a fully furnished Servant's Quarters for a real 'upstairs-downstairs' experience.

The tour includes a visit to the historic Chapel of St Paul. We visit the Walled Gardens and Arboretum, Garden Centre, Farm Shop and Pavilion Tearooms where you can buy a meal or snack.

Please wear sensible walking shoes.

The coach will depart the Fletchers Croft Car Park, Steyning at 0900 and depart Stansted at 1630

**Last few ticket available £30.00 per person. 

Please call 01903 761034 or 07720 432164 to book your place

A visit and tours of Whitchurch Silk Mill and Bombay Sapphire Gin Distillery.

Whitchurch Silk Mill is the oldest silk mill in the UK still operating in it's original building. This gem of industrial heritage is in beautiful rural Hampshire It is a Georgian water mill that still weaves silk using 19th century machinery It has produced costumes for Cate Blanchett and Nicole Kidman and hats for the film Titanic and the TV show Larkrise to Candleford.

Bombay Sapphire Gin Distillery is located in a Mill at Laverstoke, which has been in existence since at least 903 AD and official records show that Laverstoke Mill was a corn mill in the Doomsday Book. In 1719 it was leased to a French Huguenot called Henry Portal who converted it to make the finest quality hand-made paper. In 1724 he gained a contract to supply bank note paper to the Bank of England which continued until 1963.

Then in 2010 Bombay Sapphire took over the Mill and developed it into today's distillery. Our tour ends with a visit to the spectacular Botanical Glasshouses and upon departure we will be able to enjoy a free cocktail. (Alcoholic or non-alcoholic)

Coach will leave Fletchers Croft Car Park, Steyning, at 8.30 am and depart the Distillery at 4.30pm

Tickets £48.00 per person.

***Now sold out but you can join the waiting list by calling 01903 761034 or 07720 432164

Refunds for tickets are not given unless event is sold out and your ticket can be re-sold, or the event is cancelled.

Charleston House Home of artists Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant. It was the country retreat of the Bloomsbury Group and is the last surviving example of a complete Bloomsbury-decorated house.   Coffee/Tea on arrival (included)

Guided Tour

·         You will see hand-painted walls, doors, furniture and objects of art and hear about their lives and some of their guests including Virginia & Leonard Woolf, John Maynard Keynes and E.M. Forster.

·         After the tour there will be time to walk around the walled garden and visit the shop.

Lunch at The Cricketers Arms, Berwick Village. (Own cost)  Tables reserved.

Berwick Church  Optional walk from The Cricketers Arms for a quick visit to view murals in the Church painted by Vanessa Bell & Duncan Grant. Allow 30 minutes, to include a 10 minute walk each way.

Farleys House & Gallery Home of Photographer Lee Miller & Surrealist Artist Roland Penrose

Guided Tour

·         See their collection of contemporary art treasures, many created by friends and visitors including Picasso, Man Ray & Joan Miro. 

·         You may also explore the Sculpture Garden and visit Farleys Gallery which houses temporary exhibitions.  Tea/Coffee available in the Gallery (own cost)

Depart   :  9.15 am Fletchers Croft Car Park, Steyning

Return   :  4.30 pm from Farleys House & Gallery.

Note:  There will be a fair amount of walking/standing on these tours.

Tickets at £42 on sale from 14th May at meetings

or phone Visit Secretaries on 01273 554692 or 07942 898732

Refunds for tickets are not given unless event is sold out & your ticket can be re-sold, or the event is cancelled.

Photograph by Tony Tree, courtesy of Charleston House.

Highclere Castle is a Victorian castle built by Sir Charles Barry in 1842 who was also the architect of the Houses of Parliament. Set in parkland designed by Capability Brown it is now home to the 8th Earl and Countess of Carnarvon having been the seat of the Carnarvon family for 300 years, including the seat of the 5th Earl who funded the search and excavation of the tomb of Tutankhamum in 1922 with archaeologist Howard Carter.

An Egyptian Exhibition of several galleries has been opened in the cellars below the Castle.

• The Free Flow Tour of Highclere Castle is self-guided, with room guides in each room and includes the Castle Main Staterooms and Gallery Bedrooms easily recognisable from the Downton Abbey series.
• The Egyptian Exhibition features the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb and includes over 60 replicas, wall paintings of the tomb and photographic archive. 
• Explore the extensive Gardens including Walled Gardens, a Secret Garden, Wood of Goodwill and a Wild flower Meadow.  
• Refreshments. There are three Tea Rooms for light lunches, cakes, scones etc.  The Main Castle Tea Room and Marquee Tea Room sell hot food 12-2.00pm.  (Own cost). 

Depart   :  8.45 am Fletchers Croft Car Park, Steyning

Return   :  4.00 pm from Highclere Castle

TICKETS : £42 available on 9th Apri

To purchase tickets please phone Visit Secretaries on 01273 554692 or 07942 898732

Refunds for tickets are not given unless event is sold out and your ticket can be re-sold, or the event is cancelled.

Photograph courtesy of Highclere Castle and reproduced under licence from © Highclere Castle Enterprises LLP 2014

Tickets £34.50 ​for NT Members or £44.00 for Non NT Members 

are on sale from 12th March 2018

​National Trust Members must bring their Membership cards on the day

• Strawberry Hill House

Tea/Coffee upon arrival (included)

Guided Tour of the public rooms of Strawberry Hill House, founded by author Horace Walpole, youngest son of Sir Robert Walpole, Britain's first Prime Minister.

You will hear the history of the hosue, how it was extended over the years by Walpole and subsequent owners the Waldegrave family, in the Gothic style externally with elaborate decoration internally to impress visitors.

• Ham House and Gardens

Lunch (own cost) on arrival in The Orangery Cafe set in the Kitchen Carden.

Free Flow Tour of Ham House which has collections of paintings, furniture and textiles, some acquired 400 years ago.  The House was transformed by Elizabeth Murray, the Duchess of Launderdale and her husband, into one of the finest Stuart houses in England.

• The Gardens have been restored to their original design and there is an option to join a free 30 minute Garden History Tour at 2.00pm or 3.00pm.

Depart : 8.15 am Fletchers Croft Car Park, Steyning

Return : 4.00 pm from Ham House, Richmond

NB  There will be a fair amount of walking on the tours.

To purchase tickets please call Visits Secretaries on 01273 554692 or 07942 898732.

Refunds for tickets are not given unless event is sold out & your ticket can be re-sold, or the event is cancelled.

Walking Tour of King’s Cross and St. Pancras Stations

guided by Lecturer Andrew Davies. 

You will be shown these two very different Victorian Stations and see:

·  the statues of Sir John Betjeman, Sir Nigel Gresley and 'The Meeting Place’

·  where the beer barrels were stored, where the dray horses worked and find out what happened to the missing columns

·  visit the two new squares

·  go inside the Victorian granary and see the conversion of the 'coal drops'

There is a Visitors Centre where the project is visually and historically placed in context

Lunch available at The British Library.  At own cost.

Tour of The British Library to include:

·  the history and design of the building.

· visit to the King’s Library, which once belonged to King George III

·  the Treasures Gallery where some of the Library’s most precious items are on display

·  hearing how they collect and store their collections and move them from the basement storage areas to the Reading Rooms. 

NB  There will be a fair amount of walking involved on the tours.

Depart   :  8.30 am Fletchers Croft Car Park, Steyning

Return   :  4.15 pm from The British Library

 To purchase tickets please phone Visit Secretaries on 01273 554692 or 07942 898732

Tickets on sale 8th January £42.00

Tickets : £40.00

Ticket provides admission to Windsor Castle, the State Apartments, Semi-State Rooms, Queen Mary’s Dolls House, the Drawings Gallery, St. George’s Chapel and Castle Precincts.

The tour of Windsor Castle takes approx. 2 hours and is self-guided with a complimentary Multimedia Guide which includes a set of headphones.

Lunch (at own cost). There are many restaurants/cafes within the Windsor Royal Shopping Centre/”The Concourse” located almost opposite the Castle.

Note : There is a considerable amount of walking on an incline and on stairs in the Castle.

Depart :   09.00 am Fletchers Croft Car Park 

Return :  Assemble for Coach Departure at 3.30 pm

Tickets : £36.00

The ticket provides admission to Jane Austen’s House Museum, Garden and Gift Shop. A short introductory film will be playing in a new building in the garden and you are free to view the collection of Austen family artefacts displayed throughout the house. The house is where Jane lived from 1809-1817 and where she revised unpublished manuscripts and wrote new novels. 

• Special Interest Guided Tour in Winchester Cathedral – “Jane Austen, Her Life and Times”
• Lunch in Winchester (own cost) or perhaps in The Refectory, the Cathedral’s restaurant, which has an outdoor walled terrace. You may like walk around Winchester or the Cathedral Grounds or visit the Cathedral Shop.

Access : There is no lift in Jane Austen’s House Museum and in Winchester there will be a few minutes walk from the coach drop/off pick up point by King Alfred’s statue in The Broadway to the Cathedral.

Depart   :  8.30am Fletchers Croft Car Park

Return   :  4.00pm From Winchester

Tickets : £38.00

The Ticket provides admission to the Royal Botanical Gardens, all Buildings and Attractions within the Gardens which include Kew Palace and Royal Kitchens, The Hive, Palm House, Princess of Wales Conservatory and the Sackler Crossing and Lake plus other attractions, such as :

• A tour on the Kew Explorer, Kew’s land train, with commentary about the gardens and Kew’s work. Hop-on and hop-off at any stop. (Starts just inside Victoria Gate Entrance, the Coach drop off point).
• The Xstrata Treetop Walkway for a view of how trees work underground in the Rhizotron then climb up (either walking up 108 steps or by Lift)  into the canopy for a bird’s eye view of Kew Gardens.
• A visit to the Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art which leads to the Marianne North Gallery

The Location of all of the above attractions, and others, are shown on a Map which will be provided.  The map also shows where restaurants/cafes, shops and toilet facilities are located.

NB Please note there is a considerable amount of walking involved on this visit.

Depart :  9.00 am Fletchers Croft Car Park  (Parking no longer free and time restrictions apply)

Return :  4.00 pm From Victoria Gate, Kew Gardens           

90 Minutes guided tour of the Art Gallery & the Roman Amphitheatre (Included)

Opportunity to visit the Great Hall at the Guildhall Building (Free of Charge)

Opportunity to visit the St Lawrence Jewry – Stained glass windows by Christopher Webb (Free of Charge)

TICKETS: £30

Depart   :  8.30 a.m. Fletchers Croft Car Park, Steyning

Return   :  4.30 p.m. Guildhall Art Gallery