"West Dean must be the greatest kitchen garden open to the public in the world, with immaculate glasshouses, ferneries, cutting gardens, peach-houses and all in all everything you would expect of a High Victorian set-up in tiptop condition. And the pergola at West Dean (Harold Peto) is for my money also the best in England."

Tim Richardson, Garden Design Journal

West Dean is a period country-style house and working college offering overnight bed and breakfast accommodation through a late-bookings system. Situated within the award-winning West Dean Gardens, run by Head Gardeners Sarah Wain and Jim Buckland, it is the ideal location for garden lovers. The Grade II* Listed House is the former home of Edward James, poet and supporter of the Surrealists. Bedrooms are mostly traditional in style with a small number of recently refurbished rooms decorated with a contemporary edge. All rooms have private bathrooms. Bookings for Bed and Breakfast accommodation are welcome within three months of arrival.

Overnight guests are welcome to explore the Gardens during their stay. Highlights include a 300-foot Edwardian Pergola designed by Harold Peto, 13 restored Victorian glasshouses, a Walled Garden, a Kitchen Garden, orchards, St. Roche Arboretum, ornamental gardens, spring, wild and woodland gardens, and the recently restored Sunken Gardens.

West Dean is home to the world-renowned College offering full time programmes in Conservation, and Creative Arts and over 700 creative short courses. It is set within a private estate at the heart of the beautiful South Downs.

West Dean is located in the South East of England and six miles north of the historic city of Chichester and within easy reach of the south coast harbours and beaches. There is convenient road access from London and from Gatwick, Southampton and Heathrow airports. It is within reach of the Eurotunnel connections as well as cross channel ferries from Portsmouth, Dover and Newhaven. The nearest railway station is Chichester (from London Victoria).

FURTHER INFORMATION

A weekend at West Dean College starts from £75 per room per night on a bed & breakfast basis. To book up to three months in advance visit. /www.westdean.org.uk telephone +44 (0)1243 811301 or email [email protected]k.

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Notes to editors

• West Dean College is part of the Edward James Foundation, a charitable trust No. 1126084, also comprising West Dean Gardens, West Dean Estate and the West Dean Tapestry Studio.
• Free car parking.
• The outdoor swimming pool is open May to September.
• West Dean Sunken Garden was awarded the Sussex Heritage Trust Landscape & Gardens Award 2014.
• All photography is free to use for editorial purposes.