c. Lee Robbins
Charleston
Charleston in Firle
The modernist home and studio of the painters Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant, Charleston was a gathering point for some of the 20th century’s most radical artists, writers and thinkers known collectively as the Bloomsbury group.
It is where they came together to imagine society differently, and has always been a place where art and experimental thinking are at the centre of everyday life. Today, Charleston presents a dynamic year-round programme of exhibitions, events and festivals.
Book ahead to see inside the house and exhibitions, but the cafe, garden and grounds are free to visit, and offer a varied experience throughout the seasons.
Charleston in Lewes
Charleston in Lewes is a cultural centre housed in a former local authority municipal building from 1939, serving as a home for art exhibitions, community projects, workshops, and educational programs.
It is not a new idea for the Bloomsbury group to explore creating a cultural centre in Lewes. During the Second World War, the economist John Maynard Keynes, alongside Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant, worked on a project for the precursor of the Arts Council, making designs for a theatre and art gallery for small towns across the country, using Lewes as a model.
Don't miss
|
Explore the famous farmhouse and gardens
|
|
|
A year-round programme of exhibitions
|
|
|
World-renowned festivals, including Charleston Festival and Festival of the Garden
|
c. Lee Robbins
c. Lee Robbins
When to visit
Charleston is open to visitors all year round. This includes Charleston’s cafes, shop, exhibitions, house and garden.
While you’re in the area
- Monk’s House (National Trust) – the Sussex home of Virginia and Leonard Woolf
- The Ram Inn, Firle
- The Star, Alfriston
c. Lee Robbins
c. Lee Robbins
c. Lee Robbins
Add to Favourites
View on Explore MapYou may also like
Hastings Seafood and Wine Festival
Events | Wine
Fish fresh off the boat and world-class wines reel in the crowds.
The story of British Modernism in four Sussex homes
Art | Story
A condensed history of British modernism, as told via the story of four iconic Modern House homes in Sussex.
5 under-the-radar days out near London
News
Looking for a break from the stresses of London life? A day trip to Sussex is just the ticket, says travel writer Emma Fast-Field.
Culture by the Coast
Turner Prize 2023
Explore the varied and dramatic Sussex coastline, where artists, makers, and creators have long been drawn by the light and the landscapes, forging creative communities along the shore.
Cissbury Ring
Landscape
Cissbury Ring, in the South Downs National Park, is the largest hill fort in Sussex and has a history dating back over 5,000 years. Set high up on a chalk promontory, on a clear day you can see forever, with views across to the chalk cliffs beyond Brighton and as far as the Isle of Wight.
Gravetye Manor
Accommodation | Overnight | Self-catering
Gravetye Manor is the quintessential English manor house hotel and a centre for culinary and horticultural excellence.
Seven of the best Sussex vineyards
Wine
If you’re looking to visit a Sussex vineyard for a tasting, a tour or a bite to eat, these exceptional wine estates are a great place to start.
Rye Harbour Nature Reserve
Landscape
Sussex Wildlife Trust’s nature reserve is a 465 hectares mosaic of coastal habitats – shingle, saltmarsh, saline lagoons, coastal grazing marsh, freshwater ditches and gravel pits, and reedbeds. It is home to 4,500 species of plants and animals of which more than 300 are nationally rare or endangered.
Bonfire Night
Events
Remember remember - it’s not just about Lewes.
