Charleston, Lewes

I did not know what to expect, but I can honestly say that Charleston Farmhouse is one of my all time favourite places. If I did not live so far away I would go there every week. Our tour guide Pennie was so inspiring and made the house come alive. If you are in East Sussex do go there. You will not be disappointed.

Beautiful place with such unique interior designs. Truly a pleasure to see, I was only saddened not to be allowed to take photographs and that the books on the gift shop didn't really capture what I saw there. The staff are wonderful.

I don't wish to scythe my way through throngs, but a highly civilised thing to do is to park at The Ram in Firle, walk the loop to Charleston and then sink a hard earned locally brewed Burning Sky pint, in said Ram. If there weren't kids involved, one of which, the weak willed sap I am, I carried nigh on 2 mile, I may have been able to become more culturally involved. I hope it's good. All this goes to prove you can be oldish in a vaguely youthful fashion, reminding you gently it's perhaps a little too early to be bereft of hope.

Visit often. Why to the Small Wonder Festival for the first time this year and enjoyed it very much.

Vsiting is by prearranged time slots for limited numbers about 100 people per day in guided groups. Slightly off putting, unhelpful and condescending reception for return visitors from the days when entry was free range and unguided. Well worth the entry fee though, and there are stone advantages to guided tours; and it is being redeveloped so should soon be a more polished tourist venue, not necessarily a good thing, but rather inevitable.