Visit Charleston

Charleston is sign-posted off the A27 Brighton to Eastbourne road, 7 miles east of Lewes, between the villages of Firle and Selmeston.

The access road to Charleston from the A27 is a narrow rural road belonging to the Firle Estate. The road is uneven and has deep ditches on either sides; please take care and use the regular passing points if you encounter oncoming traffic.

There is free parking at Charleston.

All cars and coaches should follow the signs to the main car park which is approximately a 200 metre walk from the House entrance.  There are dedicated accessible spaces in the top car park which is approximately a 50 metre walk from the House entrance.

Post code: BN8 6LL – Please be aware that some Sat Navs may misdirect you if using postcode alone. Please consult our directions above.

There is a regular service from London Victoria to Lewes which is 7 miles from Charleston.
Lewes is a major station where taxis are usually available on a rank. Advance booking is not normally necessary, unless arriving early in the morning or late at night. See here for National Rail onward travel information for Lewes station, including taxi numbers. Taxi journeys are usually calculated by meter, and you can expect a cost in the region of £20 one way.

The nearest station is Berwick, approximately 4 miles from Charleston. There is no taxi rank at this station. If walking from Berwick station, please be aware that some routes will lead you along the busy A27. It is advisable to carry an ordnance survey map of the area.

Travel by bus to Charleston is limited and we strongly recommend you plan your journey in advance. The Cuckmere Community Bus runs on Saturdays. This service stops at both the bus station and Station Street in Lewes.

Please ask the driver to let you know where along the A27 to disembark for Charleston. It is a 15 minute walk up a single track lane to get to the site from the bus stop.

Call 01323 870 920 or view here for more timetable details.

There is no bus service on Sundays or Bank Holiday Mondays except during The Charleston Festival and the Small Wonder Festivals, when a shuttle bus service to and from Lewes is scheduled to operate.

Charleston is situated in the heart of the South Downs National Park, an ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’ (AONB). If you are walking or cycling to Charleston, we recommend using an ordnance survey map. Find Charleston on Ordnance Survey Landranger maps 198 and 199, and on Ordnance Survey Explorer maps 122 and 123.

We offer green concessions for entry to the house and gardens for anyone not arriving by car.

The ground floor of the house is fully accessible, but access to the first floor is via steep stairs. All rooms in the House have one chair for visitors to use and shooting sticks are available upon request.

The Garden and grounds are partially accessible with pathways and viewing points made from bound earth with lime and gravel. Due to the historic nature of the Garden design, some pathways are narrow and irregular and the ground can be uneven.

The café, shop and toilet are fully accessible with ramped entrances.

Dedicated parking spaces are available closer to the House in the top car park, approximately 50 metres from the House entrance.  The main car park is approximately 250 metres from the House entrance.

Charleston is a rural site and the grounds can be uneven. There are gravel paths.

Due to the domestic scale of the house we are only able to accommodate wheelchairs with dimensions less than 115cm (L) X 65cm (W) / 45″ (L) X 25″ (W).

Charleston has two visitor wheelchairs which can be reserved in advance or booked on the day.

For visitors with restricted mobility, we offer Garden and ground floor only tickets for the House.

Mobility scooters can be used in the gardens, shop and cafe, but they usually exceed the dimensions we can accommodate for use in the house.

The Charleston Shop counter is fitted with a hearing loop. Neck Loops and radio receivers for guided tours are available and can be reserved ahead of your visit.

Guide and assistance dogs are welcome in the House, Garden, Shop, Café and throughout the site. No other dogs are permitted, so please ensure your dog is wearing its identifying jacket.

For disabled visitors who would otherwise not be able to visit without a carer or companion, we offer the opportunity to bring a companion or carer for free. If booking your visit online (recommended), please ensure the companion ticket is selected in addition to your ticket as capacity in the house is strictly limited.