St. Mary's House & Gardens
BEST FOR
Ages 6+
ENTRY
from £6
SETTING
Outdoors
WHERE
Steyning
What it’s like
A Tudor house with five acres of gardens to wander, from topiary animals to a Victorian pineapple pit, open just two afternoons a week.
The house itself dates back to around 1470, and you can walk through the rooms before heading out into the gardens, which is really where a visit here earns its keep. Five acres cover a Jubilee rose garden, the terracotta garden, the King's Garden and an English Poetry Garden, plus a Landscape Water Garden that's worth saving for last. Keep an eye out for the animal topiary dotted around, and the Victorian fruit wall with its old pineapple pits, an odd little detail that sticks with kids more than you'd think.
This isn't a place you drop into on a whim. It's open Thursdays and Sundays plus bank holidays, May to September only, 2pm to 6pm, with last entry at 4:30pm. No booking needed for those standard afternoons, which is one less thing to organise. The trade-off is a short season and a narrow window, so it pays to check the day of the week before you set off.
Entry is £17 for an adult and £10 for a child aged 6 to 16 for house and gardens, or a family ticket at £42 for two adults and up to three children. If the house itself doesn't appeal, garden-only tickets are cheaper at £11 adult and £6 child. Under 6s go free, and the site notes the minimum recommended age is 6, so this suits school-age children more than toddlers who'll want to run at things rather than look at them. Allow 2 to 3 hours for an unhurried visit, tearoom stop included.
The tearoom keeps its own hours and you don't need a ticket for the house and gardens just to sit down for tea, which is handy if half your group wants a wander and the other half wants a cup of tea and a sit. Wheelchair users can get into the ground floor rooms and gardens via a gate at the far end of the car park, though the garden paths are uneven in places.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- Ages 6 and up; under 6s go free but it's a garden-wander day
- Last entry
- 4:30pm
- Booking
- Walk-ins welcome Thurs/Sun. Private group visits and events available by advance booking
- How long to allow
- 2 to 3 hours for an unhurried visit
- Wheelchairs
- Ground floor rooms and gardens accessible
- Parties
- Birthday parties and celebrations available
- Worth knowing
- Adult ticket includes 2 free garden visits anytime in 2026
- Open Thursdays, Sundays and bank holiday afternoons only, May to September
- Last entry is 4:30pm even though the site is open till 6pm
- Garden paths are uneven, so think twice if mobility or a buggy is a factor
- The tearoom runs its own separate hours and needs no ticket
- Adult tickets carry over into two free garden visits in 2026
Plan your visit
Do we need to book ahead?
Not for the standard Thursday and Sunday afternoons, you can just turn up. Private group tours and events need booking by email or phone.
How much does it cost?
£17 for an adult and £10 for a child aged 6 to 16 for house and gardens, or £42 for a family of two adults and up to three children. Garden-only tickets are cheaper, £11 adult and £6 child.
What age is it suitable for?
The site lists a minimum age of 6, and under 6s go in free. It suits children old enough to enjoy a garden wander rather than very young toddlers.
When is it open?
Thursdays and Sundays, plus bank holiday afternoons, from May to the end of September, 2pm to 6pm with last entry at 4:30pm. It's closed the rest of the year.
How long should we allow?
2 to 3 hours for an unhurried look round the house and gardens, with time for the tearoom.
Is there food?
Yes, there's a tearoom on site, and you don't need a house and garden ticket just to visit it for refreshments.
Can we visit just the gardens?
Garden-only tickets are available at a reduced price, £11 for an adult and £6 for a child.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
Wheelchair users can visit the ground floor rooms and the gardens, entering via a gate at the far end of the car park. There's an accessible toilet next to the tearoom, though garden paths are uneven in places.
Can you have a birthday party there?
Birthday parties and celebrations can be arranged, best done by emailing the office for details.
Is there anything for repeat visits?
An adult ticket includes two free garden visits any time in 2026, so it's worth holding onto if you'll be back.
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