Reviews of National Trust - Bateman's. (Museum) in Maidstone (Kent).

National Trust - Bateman's

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396 Comments

Museum

Historical landmark

Bateman's Ln, Burwash, Etchingham TN19 7DS, United Kingdom

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Information of National Trust - Bateman's, Museum in Maidstone (Kent)

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Reviews of National Trust - Bateman's

I. S.

We absolutely fall in love from first site with this place. It is very well kept and beautiful at any season. Was very busy when we visited it, but we have managed to go through house, gardens and Mill. The place is very well signposted. Very knowledgeable guides. Nice cafe there too with good selection of sandwiches, cakes and drinks. Decent car park. This place is the type which you want to come back again and again. Definitely recommend it!

K. S.

Beautiful both inside and out. I particularly liked that the inside was left as Kipling had lived in it rather than the usual NT way of 'bunging in' non-relative items. The gardens are well kept and extensive. The cafe is very good, usual NT fayre, set in a nice garden. The short walk to the mill House and pond is also a nice extra. Recommended.

A. L.

Absolutely beautiful spot, the gardens are tranquil & full of colour. The history of the house & the Kipling family is so interesting, it really is a super place to visit. Cafe, shop & staff are excellent with great service, yet another wonderful National Trust site to while away a few peaceful hours - stunning.

J. Y.

Interesting and beautiful house lots of history and information about world renowned writer Rudyard Kipling & family. Beautiful garden even during Spring imagine how nice it be in the summer. Lovely cream tea at the cafe reasonable priced food & drinks.

C. W.

What a lovely place interesting and beautiful gardens. Great outside space for picnics and to be with nature. Lots of walks around the property. Great cafe for a bite to eat and refreshments. Would definitely pay it another visit.

R. H.

A relatively modest property in National Trust terms but very beautiful. The gardens are well kept and a joy to explore. Relatively good access for disabled visitors but there are steps into the house and up in to the bedrooms of course. A ramp can be provided if you request assistance. The onsite team were helpful.

C. T.

Lovely National Trust place to visit even at this time of year , just before the full flush of Spring. The House feels very lived in and "comfortable" . Hadn't appreciated how large the outer grounds were to walk around. The walled garden were very well kept. Well done to the volunteers in each room of the house. They gave a wonderful critique of how each room was used and who used them.

H. W.

This is a really lovely place, there is so much to see. The house has a very homely feeling and has so much history. The volunteer room guides have a wealth of knowledge and are more than happy to chat. The gardens are amazing with so much colour. There are 3 walks to choose from if you fancy venturi further afield.

M. R.

Very nice place, definitely worth visiting. Well-preserved and full of artifacts. Makes you feel like Mr and Mrs Kipling still live there. Unfortunately I visited Bateman's in January so couldn't fully appreciate the garden but I can imagine what it must look like when all the flowers blossom!

S. K.

Such a beautiful relaxing place pretty gardens and natural green space with a lake and plenty of seats as you go round. To sit outside the cafe in the sunshine is lovely. Disabled access to the house and I use an electric wheelchair with a video of upstairs to watch. Guides and staff in and out of the house very helpful. Plenty of disable parking for in the week with toilets nearby the entrance.

L. S.

Beautiful gardens - wonderful brightly coloured blooms- interesting house & lovely walks around the grounds were we had a tasty lunch. Dog friendly in most areas.

J. M.

Beautiful house nestled in gorgeous countryside. The gardens are delightful with orchards in full blossom and tulips splashing bright in the borders. The house a treasure trove of Kipling family history and memorabelia. Nat Trust guides so knowledgeable and helpful too. Plus a lovely lunch and tea room, with walled garden to sit in the sun. Perfect day out.

W.

Just an amazing place! Beautiful gardens, superb, knowledgeable and friendly staff and an excellent Cafe. I'm a big fan of Rudyard Kipling's poetry and writing. And to visit his home, see the study and lovely gardens was something rather special indeed.

C. A.

We had a great time here, the volunteers in the house were amazing and so helpful and knowledgeable. We came out knowing a whole lot more about Rudyard Kipling than when we went in. The grounds are beautiful and well maintained. The Cafe is good value too. We shared our lunch with a pair of friendly Chaffinches, see photos...

S. G.

A lovely house and superb gardens. Informative guides in each room who are very happy to share their knowledge and answer questions. A very nice café and the cleanest, sweetest smelling public toilets I have ever encountered! 😀 A nice afternoon spent on an overcast autumn day

B. M.

Definitely worth a visit. The gardens need to be seen and enjoyed. The house is amazing and in each room is a guide who can explain matters and answer questions. Car park is large but reasonably busy, it was a weekday too. Walks are available and easily accessible. Refreshments are there too.

D. T.

I took my friend for her birthday. The lady at the kiosk was absolutely lovely 🙂. We had tea and a cheese scone in the tea room first and then visited the house. Later we walked the grounds and had a picnic. It's nice that there are chairs and small wicker tables facing an enormous, magnificent tree, which is where we had our Halloween themed picnic. All in all a lovely day out at a beautiful place.

A. B.

Such a tranquil place to visit. Easy to find easy to park. Very helpful staff and a great selection on offer in the cafe with lovely places to sit and enjoy. This must be one of the most relaxing NT sites to visit. Thank you Batemans 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

H. W.

Not the biggest property, but a lovingly kept house, and the staff know their stuff about Rudyard Kipling's time there! Nice formal and informal grounds to explore which lead to national trust walking paths.

T. G.

Considering I've been a, NT member for several years, I'm not sure how I'd never been here before! It was very interesting, good displays with plenty of information to read. Friendly and knowledgable volunteers to add the personal touch as well. Loved the car display. Very enjoyable visit, and the weather made for a nice stroll through the gardens and down to the mill.

S. F.

Lovely country house to visit. Home of Rudyard Kipling, a small house, easy to get round but very knowledgeable National Trust guides give some lovely snippets of info. The gardens are lovely and there is a small working mill to view. It's a very tranquil location and relaxing. If you want to go for longer walks there are extensive grounds. Small cafe with lovely garden seating. Really enjoyed this visit.

N. L. M.

Visiting the hous and garden brings the writer to life and finding other writings that I was not aware were his. Lovely jacobean farmhouse furnished as if he was returning later. Beautiful gardens with very mature fruiting trees, pods and lakes with long walks that we did not have time for. Very friendly, knowledgeable staff on hand and an excellent tea room, shop and plants sale to complete the visit.

S. S.

Really nice house! Full of history and great stories. The grounds are great on a sunny day. I didn't know this before I visited, but this is the house of the writer who wrote The Jungle Book

a. e. (.

Winter afternoon, beautiful light, wonderful day out, stunning historic building, home of Rudyard Kipling, literature Nobel price, character not without controversy, and lovely countryside park. A gem in the South Downs National Park

J. F.

A hidden gem. A first visit (April). It was sunny. Gently warming. My wife and I arrived early and went straight to the tea room to wait for our daughter and grandkids. The coffee was good, the cake was lovely. We sat outside, with our dog at our feet, looking at a beautiful garden, so full of colour. Once the family arrived we set off to explore. First, the house was left as Kilping would have known (I didn't go in). Next, the lawn and lily pad pond - so lovely with a blue sky above. And the tadpoles! Thousands in the small water feature - all stop for the grandkids to dip their hands and discover. Then on to the walk through a more 'natural' area - trees in blossom, wild flowers showing off their best. Then a slow plod to the old Mill, following a stream, watching goldfinches flit from tree to tree, talking to other chilled visitors. Because that's what we had - a really chilled time (I don't like the expression, but if you are looking for a relaxed day out, this will suit). The carpark costs (£4), I think, and we might take a picnic, next time (as well as enjoy the yummy hot chocolate and coffee on offer). I will return!

S. Z.

On the small side when it comes to National Trust places, so don't expect to spend a full day here. Having said that the house and grounds are lovely. The restaurant is cosy and serves delicious hot food, but only has a few tables inside. This might be an issue on a busy rainy day.

c. l.

As with the majority of National Trust properties a well run place with plenty to interest all. Lovely gardens and excellent tea room.

W. W.

Beautiful house and gorgeous garden. Kipling spent his money wisely. House is amazing, interior is second to none. Loved it!

P. T.

Lovely gardens in a tranquil setting. Good for younger children. Dogs allowed in grounds. Usual NT facilities including shop and cafe. Food was above average for this type of venue. I had the Chickpea curry, which was delicious.

R. R.

The house is amazing with some fabulous exhibits, and all exactly as it was left. Rudyard Kipling was a prolific writer, with a diverse selection of books on display. The Jungle Book display is a must. Lots of walks around the grounds, sadly the gardens are not at their best now, but still a great trip out

D. A.

Bateman's is a 17th-century house located in Burwash, East Sussex, England. It was the home of Rudyard Kipling from 1902 until his death in 1936. The house was built in 1634. Kipling's widow Caroline bequeathed the house to the National Trust on her death in 1939. The house is a Grade I listed building

J. F.

One of our favourites in the area. Most interesting house and very well kept gardens. A 'must visit' if you are in the area!

P. B.

This is a National Trust property. If you are planning on visiting more than 2 NT sites a year seriously consider NT membership. This was Ruyard Kipling’s house. I was very disappointed in the exhibition about Kipplings life. Very disappointing. I’ve been to a Lippling related property in India and I learnt more about him there. The house is lovely and the gardens are stunning. The tea room looked great and was very busy. There are kids events during the school holidays and poetry readings. Another NT property, Bodium Castle is close by and also with a visit

A. A.

Comparing it to the other NT properties in this part of England it is quite modest but for any Rudyard Kipling it is a must. Many interesting memorabilia where staff can tell you a lot about the place, people and things.

P. S.

Lovely National Trust property and gardens. Well worth a visit plus lots of walks in surrounding area to explore.

A. M.

A must for fans of Rudyard Kipling, great for everyone with its lovely house and beautiful, peaceful surroundings. A wonderful place to visit. We really enjoyed our visit. Unlike most National Trust properties that contain furniture "of the period", this house genuinely contains Rudyard Kipling's possessions, placed where they would have been when he and his family lived there. The garden and grounds were tranquil and relaxing; the vegetable garden was inspirational.

s. b.

Another gem from the national Trust beautiful building with an amazing historic background dating from the early 17th century ... rudyard kipling wrote many if his books here And the mill which dated back to the 13th century

F. H.

Whilst this isn't a grand manor house this is a delightful place to visit to see where Kipling wrote his books and articles. The remote house is understandably quaint and the gardens are beautiful. Such an inspirational place to write. The volunteers in each room are very knowledgeable of the Kipling legacy and history. Would be very easy to visit again at a different time of year to experience the gardens in full bloom.

B. T.

The National Trust has done a nice job preserving Rudyard Kipling’s house, and it was interesting to see how he furnished and lived here. The house itself could be viewed in about 25 minutes as there is only one room with significant info to read (which also displays his Nobel Prize), but can also visit the lovely tea room with indoor/outdoor seating, gardens, grounds, and mill. Volunteers were helpful and informative in the rooms, and parking plentiful.

M. W.

A lovely day out. Some nice walks along the river. Beautiful flowers and plants.

S. L.

Absolutely lovely grounds, with lots of spring flowers, good cafe and wonderful house full of fascinating facts about the Kipling family.

C. F.

An unusual delightful house was Rudyard Kipling's home from 1902-1936. It is comfortably furnished and packed to the rafters with Kipling memorabilia.

R. C.

Lovely relaxing gardens and easy walks around the grounds. We'll worth a visit.

J. S.

Beautiful house and tea rooms. Don't miss the walks from the mill pond, just fantastic scenery.

*. Z.

A very charming house full of history with beautiful garden. Great place for relaxing.

R. B.

Very interesting tour around a 17th century former home of Rudyard Kipling. Grounds and watermill set in a beautiful location, nice cafe on site for refreshments.

A. C. W.

Historic Jem in the Burwash countryside. I would highly recommend a visit to Batemans and also have a quick pint and bite to eat in any of the local pubs before heading home for the day. Beautiful countryside with lovely residents, great place to take the kids for a day out.

S. B.

Being a member, I'm obviously already keen on history and architecture, so partly reflects my score of 5. However, it's a beautiful, if somewhat smaller than anticipated Tudor style house. Set in amongst beautiful manicured gardens. Very well preserved and with a wealth of artefacts from Kipling's life. Fascinating , journey into his life which at times was very sad. Child friendly, but due to status not easy for disabled. My only criticism, is a general one. I object to the Trust charging people to use their carparks when visiting properties. I think it's a little mean. I don't have to as I'm a member, but I believe passionately if we are to encourage others to join or visit these magnificent places , an entrance fee alone is sufficient , or a rebate for parking against entrance ticket.

J. H.

Very friendly and informative staff and volunteers made a fantastic location even more enjoyable to visit. The property was tastefully and beautifully decorated for the festive season too. We will definitely return in the summer to explore the grounds too.

M. D.

Rudyard Kiplings home is located in the most beautiful setting. With a small garden to the front and a very large garden to the rear of the house. Flowers surround the house from practically every angle. Walk inside to be greeted by a by-gone age. Wood panels on the walls and floor, wooden cabinets and rugs along with countless artifacts from Kiplings lifetime. The house is maintained by the National Trust who have done a fine job of maintaining this magnificent country house. Kipling wrote so many books. His library full of classics of his choice. A prolific reader by all accounts. Most definitely a recommended visit.

M. S.

Great gardens and fascinating walk around RKs House...loads of interesting things to read and absorb. Coffee shop can get busy and expect a wait, but enjoyed the visit.

G. D.

Lovely house with beautiful gardens. The lingering smell of cigarettes, Kipling being a chain smoker, adds to the atmosphere. Very nice café too with good coffee.

P. S.

This is a wonderful place to visit. The house, rather like Chartwell, has a very intimate and warm atmosphere. The rooms are preserved beautifully and contain just enough to give a sense of the past without overwhelming the visitor with too much information. I visited recently and made the most of being one of very few visitors this time of the year. I was able to absorb myself fully in the world of Kipling and begin to understand why his writing and beliefs were either admired or, more commonly these days, misunderstood, which is rather a pity. The gardens are formal and perfect for the style and age of this elegant house. Excellent refreshments and a well presented gift shop.

D. G.

The history of this place is fascinating and the flower borders were fantastic to say there was a drought going on. The kitchen garden was well kept and the cafe/restaurant was a nice place to eat. The stewards were all well informed and when asked very knowledgeable too, without being in your face. A lovely day. Parking us free for members too.

J. S.

Lovely house & gardens preserved family home of Rudyard Kipling. Very helpful, friendly & informative staff & volunteers.

S. C.

Lovely gardens, and nice house. Great to see the mill as well. Kids could run around outside and the volunteers in the house were very informative. If you're there at midday listen to the clock in the entrance hall, although it also chimes at the quarter and half hours 😊 Make sure you pay for parking if you're not a member.

E. B.

Set in the beautiful East Sussex countryside, close to Burwash. Gorgeous jacobean House, set up, so that you can imagine life when Rudyard Kipling lived there. There are beautiful gardens, café and national trust, plus lots of parking and toilets. Highly recommended.

T. K.

I love it here. Great place to take the kids for a little afternoon of fun at the wild play area or to explore the grounds. Plus, obviously if you’re a Kipling fan (and I can’t imagine who wouldn’t be) it’s very interesting to get a bit a bit of history about the author and his life and the times.

K. L.

Nice gardens, interesting house, not too grand and with a sense of being a family home. Plenty of history and information about Kipling. Talking of Mr Kipling, the tea, cakes and savouries are just as you'd expect from National Trust and very tasty. Very helpful and knowledgeable staff as usual. Well worth a visit.

D. H.

Beautiful gardens and interesting house home to the late great Rudyard Kipling. Friendly informative staff with tearoom offering good food and drinks.

M. S.

Beautiful place to visit, the gardens are gorgeous and the house is very interesting. The volunteers were passionate and knowledgeable. The tearoom is well run if a little expensive, the shop well stocked and staff are pleasant and polite. Would definitely visit again

C. M.

A lovely Jacobean house in the Sussex countryside, formerly owned by Rudyard Kipling. Pretty gardens and grounds. Small cafe with plenty of outdoor seating.

L.

Staff were lovely and friendly especially on arrival and very knowledgeable in all the rooms inside the house. Visited with a 6 and 9 year old and was a lovely day. Pretty quiet even though in the holidays and they loved the impressive natural made play area and picnic spot at the end of the car park. Lovely tea and cakes in the cafe too.

C. D.

Easy to find, large car park, free to NT members. Extensive gardens, some shade from the hot sun. Exhibition in the house very good, guides know their stuff. Home made scones in the tea shop are to die for! Very moreish. Good place to buy second hand books.

R. G.

A marvellous 'get away from everything' place. Lovely to hear birds singing, cattle lowing, no traffic noise. The grounds are beautifully kept and the house is relatable, totally welcoming. All staff & volunteers were interested and helpful. Good value but would be good if you could buy a ticket for grounds only on a subsequent visit.

A. G.

Really beautiful gardens. Longer and shorter walk options. Dog friendly. Lovely tea room with outdoor seating if you have a pup. Parking is paid for, cash at machine or card at kiosk where you pay for entry to the park and garden.

A. P.

Beautiful Gem hiding in the Sussex countryside, lovely buildings, beautiful grounds and country walks. Highly recommend a visit to the tea room after

A. J.

Beautiful grounds and building. Staff are so lovely and friendly. Highly recommend!

I. L.

Lovely place. Very interesting. Nice gardens. Good cafe.

W. D.

A beautiful house with knowledgeable guides in each room. The gardens ate just beautiful too.

F. M.

Great place to visit especially at certain times of the year.

D. A.

Amazing experience and I would recommend to anyone, the team are fantastic specially the lady on the rooms with the leather wallpaper with the jungle trees 🌳. She really tool the time to explain us in great detail.

D. V.

Lovely National Trust place with a beautiful house and gardens. Nice tea room. Spent 2 hours here, loved it!

a. j.

A lovely place, with informative guides in most rooms. Fascinating house. Reasonably priced plants to buy and well tended gardens to walkaround. The water mill is interesting too. You will learn a lot about Kipling's life and works.

M. Z.

Wonderful national trust visit. So much to explore and learn in the house and gardens.

Q. K.

Beautiful Bateman's! Glorious gardens and surrounding estate offers short and long walks. The gardens are lovely, attracting bees, butterflies, dragonflies, and as well as froglets we even saw a couple of newts! The house really takes you back in time and the volunteers are knowledgeable and engaging. Highly recommend.

M. C.

Wow! What an experience. Love the house and gardens! We went on a rainy day so must go back again when it's sunny.

w. h.

I always enjoy visiting Batemans. It's fabulous seeing Rudyard's Rolls Royce and the Jungle Book artwork made by his father. The grounds whilst not vast still make a very nice walk. If you are going to the cafe be prepared to spend a lot of money on some pretty average products.

T.

This is the former home of Rudyard Kipling. As its a Jacobean hour all the furniture and art were bought and are period perfect and as such the house is kept very dark. The volunteers in each room are approachable and knowledgeable.

C. F.

Comfortable family home of the era. Car park spaces available. Gardens likely to be much better in spring I would think. The watermill is interesting with an overshot wooden wheel and a hydro turbine generator also.

R. B.

National Trust place where Rudyard Kipling lived. Plenty of garden to wander in and loads of artifacts of his life inside the house. Also a little tea room that you can also have hot food, very tasty.

D. G.

an absolutely beautiful home in a beautiful setting - it was great to be able to visit the house and gardens on a sunny day - the NT volunteers were on hand to bring the house to life - well worth a visit!

K. K.

Beautiful, tranquil grounds. Knowledgeable people within the house and mill.

L. T.

Lovely gardens and excellent cafe ... coffee good, we had a cream tea, scones were generously sized. dogs welcome outside the cafe, in the gardens and larger estate, wheelchair accessible route around the gardens and cafe.

R. K.

Another lovely national trust property. Kipling's House & wider estate. Lovely old building & garden. Lots of good walks from here too. Cafe very good.

R. R.

Lovely spot, super historic, made all the more accessible by the excellent and friendly staff who were very knowledgeable. We had such a relaxing visit on a day off when the kids are still in school. Great little cafe and shop as well. Definitely worth a visit.

K. P.

The house is in a beautiful setting and full of interesting items from Kipling's time there. The guides were very engaging and knowledgeable. We would certainly visit again if in the area.

M. M.

A well kept property maintained by the national trust. Due to covid requirements only the ground floor of the house is able to be visited. The staff working at this site are great, very insightful, friendly and approachable. The gardens at Bateman's are immaculately maintained, the Lilly pond is superb and a beautiful spot to sit by and watch the dragonflies.

R. M.

A really interesting place, Rudyard Kipling’s home. Knowledgable staff as always, a warm welcome and excellent flapjack.

D. E.

What a lovely house with an interesting history. I learned quite a lot about Rudyard Kipling and his family.

D. A.

Wonderful experience with great guides. Well worth a visit, especially if you remember the just so stories and the jungle book. Kipling's house is a remarkable family home as remarkable as the man himself,and left as it was when he lived there. Full of his imagination but tinged with tragedy.

E. T.

Glorious place to visit. Beautifully kept. Had to queue to get into the house but listened to some very knowledgeable staff on the history both outside and inside the house that had a clear love of what they did. Spoilt by a few miserable members of the General Public who couldn't resist complaining instead of just appreciating the beauty of where they were and being thankful.

P. J. S.

Historically important home of Rudyard Kipling well populated by knowledgeable guides in each room!! RK's 2928 Rolls Royce Phantom behind glass in his garage and not only is his house fascinating but the Mill, the grounds, and the tea rooms!! Well worth the trip!! Thanks!

A. D.

Lovely place to visit 😍 really helpful, knowledgeable staff. Will visit again, truly amazing.

A. C.

Great old house with lovely gardens and grounds.

C. B.

Wonderful visit. The house is very interesting with lots of Kipling history. Tea shop staff very good as was the tea. Highly recommend.

H.

A really nice place to visit. The gardens are very pretty and great to explore with kids. The house is really interesting and a real jem. Nice picnic area woth children's play area too

C. H.

Well worth the visit! Beats Beatrix Potters house hands down! What a stunning location to visit. Not only is the house filled with Kiplings original items it is informative, interesting and one can listen to seven recordings of him. There is a whole room set up with samples of his work and a little life history. Adjacent to that is a tiny room set up just for his work, the jungle book. When visiting the kitchen; some home videos are on display. Next to the mulberry tea room is his garage with his car, recordings of his adventures in the cars he used to own and a write up about it. The staff are super friendly and helpful. The grounds are magnificent, worth a walk around. Dogs welcome, however not inside the house. The tea room is well priced (cream to around £6 something). One can visit Kiplings much loved mill and head off for a stroll afterwards. There are lovely footpaths to follow just past the mill.

M. C.

What a wonderful gem this is! The house is stunning and the gardens beautifully manicured. The story behind the place is fascinating and if you are appreciative of the works of Rudyard Kipling, you will be positively spell-bound! There are three walks here that are pretty easy but with spectacular views of the surrounding area. The mill is definitely worth a visit too! Really, really enjoyed a day here!

L. F.

Great place, alot more to see than you think well worth a visit, great cafe serving nice food & drinks. A good day out thoroughly enjoyed it, would go back regularly if we lived in the area.

r. j. r.

Very enjoyable visit. Lots to see inside the wonderful house. Rooms are well furnished and full of interesting artefacts. The staff are friendly and informative. Lovely garden, with acres of parkland. The Mill is worth a look. Fantastic playground for children. Large car park, free for NT members. Spacious cafe with tasty simple food. Great cakes. Lots of sunny outside seating. Easy access.

D. S.

We have been before but love the gardens flowers and vegetables. The highlight was the brillant naration of the life and works of Rudyard kipling , We found it educational and entertaining , I hope it is a permanent feature, the house also reveals His character

G. R.

Beautiful national trust property to visit, wander around the grounds or get lost in the history of the stunning kippling home. Incredibly helpful staff at the house, if you get chance...listen to the gramophone in the cards room!

S. J.

First visit today and thoroughly enjoyed it

Z. R.

Stunning grounds, beautiful cafe, friendly staff, lots of children’s activities during the summer which kept them fully occupied. Abundance of history and an array of walks, fountains and gardens.

T. S. R.

A lovely house, extremely well-kept and with lots of information about its former resident. The garden must be amazing in summer time, obviously not so much in winter. We definitely enjoyed our visit very much and will return.

c. f.

What an amazing house and garden, it portrays Kiplings life and travels, what an interesting man he was. Tea room is pretty good too.

R. M.

Beautiful place where you can discover life of a worldwide famous writer Kipling.

C. E.

Very picturesque, interesting with beautiful gardens. A delight to see beautifully kept flower beds but also wild flowers & weeds for the natural habitat of birds and insects. A lovely sound from them whilst standing by the meadow field. The Mill is outstanding and the house has lots of character. Felt still lived in!

V. S.

Gorgeous NT site. Always love coming here. Beautifully maintained with pleasant gardens and tearooms.

M. B.

Home of R Kypling really enjoyed the visit

H. G.

The staff where very friendly and knowledgeable about the house and the owner Mr Rudyard Kipling, whom wrote The Jungle Book. We had a very enjoyable visit even tho it was raining. Parking is fantastic!! Lots of spaces. We plan to go back in the summer to see the Rose Garden once again , as we have been told it’s worth a look to see the garden in full bloom. It was a very enjoyable afternoon out.

A. B.

Very busy but worth it to get a flavour of the home life of Kipling and his family and friends. Good cafe and beautiful gardens.

T. B.

Home of Rudyard Kipling from 1902. Only the ground floor of the house is currently open (Oct 2020) due to covid, standard queueing system in place. The gardens are quite beautiful and well maintained.

A. C.

Fascinating place to see, have learnt so much about Kipling's life that I never knew - there is so much history within the walls of this incredible place, not to mention the extensive gardens. As with most National Trust properties there are plenty of amenities on hand and as always you are made to feel welcome.

L. D.

Rudyard Kipling's house, was a lovely cosy place to visit. Plenty to see and very informative. Nice cafe, serving lovely food. Shop and toilets. Lots of walking around the spacious ground.

K. O.

The house is nicely decorated for Christmas the watercolour painting exhibition was great so glad we visited

J. H.

Beautiful house and garden. The National Trust need to reflect on changing perceptions of Kipling. There’s no need for his house to be a shrine. Visitors could still appreciate his artistry whilst getting a slightly more comprehensive understanding of his views on race and empire.

L. M.

Beautiful house! Great location, the drive there was beautiful especially with autumn colours.

J. G.

True insight into Rudyard Kipling 's family life. Excellent knowledge from all National Trust people there. Great day well worth a visit. 😊

S. P.

House yet to open but jnderstandable in the current climate - we had a wonderful few hours picnicking by the pond with the family and it was such a peaceful and tranquil place - had a mooch round the grounds and some lovely flowers to be seen - cafe and toilet open all under Covid rules - very well run and will return when the house reopens.

A. H.

Went to see the Christmas decorated rooms. Tastefully done, peacock theme and foliage from garden.

I. C.

Beautiful house and gardens set in lovely countryside. Once the home of Rudyard Kipling and is pretty much as he would have known it. The cafe is very good as was the date loaf. Highly recommended

A. B.

Such a wonderful place, the grounds are well kept and beautiful and the walks in the estate are lovely.

I. C.

Probably my favourite NT property. Set in beautiful countryside this house is just a joy to visit. There is a very nice shop and cafe here too

A. A.

Great day out the gardens are beautiful. The house is amazing the staff are excellent giving you the history of each room.

M. S.

I was a bit let down by the chilli lunch, which was unexpectedly vegetarian (I'm a fussy vegetable eater, and the main ingredient was courgette), but the rest of the family had no complaints about the food, and the cakes looked amazing. I find Bateman's to be a bit underwhelming. The gardens have some interest, and the house full of Rudyard Kipling's memories is great for a one-off. The kid's play area is pretty unique in a good way. That said, I don't feel compelled to revisit it, and with stiff local competition for gardens, even if we only include National Trust, I don't feel like that's a loss for me.

I. m.

Great NT place to visit this Autumn Grounds are very colourful with the leaves turning this Autumn If you go on the estate walks make sure you got wellies or good boots as it's very muddy

S. P.

Rudyard Kipling's Country estate is quintessentially English. Set in a beautiful valley in the Sussex countryside. The house is Jacobean and has lovely orginal features. The rooms are as the family left them (except the exhibition room). A real cosy home. The gardens are beautiful, and this season (weather permitting) the National Trust are holding recitals of Kipling's poetry outside under one of the trees. There's a new adventure playground for children too.

A. W.

Full of wonderful nostalgia and interesting history on the life of Rudyard Kipling and his home. With an added bonus of exploring his hidden treasure of acres of land. Highly recommended!

G. G.

Former home of Rudyard Kipling. Beautiful house full of lots of original things belonging to Kipling. The gardens are also lovely with lots of quiet corners to relax and the surrounding countryside is great for beautiful walks.

J. B.

I found this a very enjoyable visit. This lovely house is set in delightful surroundings. Its contents are very interesting and the guides very informative about the life and works of Rudyard Kipling. The available refreshments were also delicious.

W. C.

Had a lovely visit here while on a holiday down south. The gardens were lovely, perfect for a stroll around and a picnic.

T. M.

Batman's is a lovely place. We visited just after a bad downpour and part of the garden was underwater but we've been before and found it amazing! The tearoom is only doing takeaway at the moment. There are some great walks nearby.

A.

Wonderful, tranquil gardens. One way system around the grounds made for feeling of safety. House not open, but beautiful on the outside to look at. Plenty of seating and tables at Mulberry tea room.

E. D. R.

I love this place for a casual stroll in any season. Thanks to having a prior commitment as a toddler wrangler, I haven't actually made it into the house yet, however the gardens are lovely, with a lily pond, vegetable garden and formal rose garden Food-wise - cream tea on the lawn under the apple trees in summer or snuggled into a decorated cafe while the frost makes the grass crunchy in winter are both highly recommended.

J. R.

Our first visit to Bateman's. Remember that even NT members have to get a car park ticket for their car (free from machine). We arrived early and had a peaceful walk around the gardens. The visit to the water mill was educational with friendly and knowledgeable staff / volunteers to tell us all about its history. Some paths were fenced off due to the wet weather but this did not stop us enjoying the garden. We found a seat in a sunny spot and had a lovely chat and rest. Later we visited the house and again had a very enjoyable and educational tour. The staff/volunteers were very friendly and knowledgeable. There was the usual book shop, shop, and cafe. I saw a great Rudyard Kipling book from the 1920s on display in the house and managed to get hold of a copy later in the week which made everything all the more special.

A. W.

Beautifully maintained gardens. Lovely countryside walks. Fabulous Jacobean house where Rudyard Kipling lived and worked. Snacks and cake available at reasonable prices. Car park is extra to the entrance fee. Very peaceful afternoon soaking up the sun.

R. C.

Lovely national trust property and fun and enjoyable afternoon with a Easter egg trail for the kids.

g. h.

What a beautiful house and grounds. Plenty of parking- lots of entertaining and informative talks from the volunteers. Fab library of donated books of Kipling that the Trust sells to help with the upkeep. Lovely formal gardens and pond then a great mill a short walk away followed by cream tea under the shade of another oak tree

L. A. J.

Loved it beautiful weather roses are my favourite flower so enjoyed them and wow so many fish in the pond . Surprised there was a mill there witch was great to see round. It's a smaller place bit still plenty to see and on such a lively day was very relaxing and enjoyable experience

G. E.

It's well off the beaten track but a nice place to visit. The ground are very well maintained and easy to navigate. The house is presented as it was when Kipling and his wife lived in it. Personally I found it a rather uninviting and uncomfortable place to be in, very dark and just not somewhere I felt right about being in. That said it is mostly open and the NT volunteers were very friendly and knowledgeable about the property and it's history. The restaurant facilities are very nice and of weather permits had two good outside areas to sit in. Not sure I'd revisit I've been to other far nicer NT properties but it's worth going even if it's just once to experience it.

B. M.

A really lovely place with bags of atmosphere and a sense of intimacy in the wood panelled rooms.

M. G.

Batemans is a lovely place but add in the Kipling story and you have a great place to visit.

K. S.

A very pleasant afternoon at Bateman's.Garden borders full of colour.House did not disappoint.Stewards on duty in most rooms for additional info.Cafe very busy looked to me like a staff or two short at lunchtime.

M. E.

Fabulous building, surrounded by gloriously planted and maintained gardens.

R.

Great gardens, house and Mill beautiful walks too, everyone working here so well informed about the property its history and rudyard kipling.

R. L.

Beautiful grounds, will defimitely return when the house and mill are open (closed at present due to Covid).

K. G.

Spent a couple of hours at this lovely NT house and garden. Well worth a visit.

H. G.

Lovely house and gardens, we did the short hour and a half walk that took just under an hour. Tearoom had a queue for drinks and food. Plants good value for money

W. C.

Excellent NT house, gardens and mill. Amazing to walk through Rudyard Kipling's home and see where he wrote.

P. C.

Lovely herbaceous border and pond gardens, some interesting artefacts inside the house too

K. L.

The house was brilliant the staff very good as well , the restaurant brilliant too. Shame about the car it's behind glass very hard to get photos off. The garden was very good too.

T. C.

Really friendly. Mary the guide in the main room was lovely and very knowledgeable. Lovely garden. Well worth the visit.

L. R.

Really beautifully maintained, staff at the entrance were very friendly and helpful. Nice cafe with a decent food selection. We stayed about 3 hours which was plenty to see everything and relax outside!

M. K.

Not very impressed. Typically for the time, all the woodwork was very dark. Even had the walls in the dining room lined in dark brown leather. Lovely gardens, pity we went so early in the season. A lot not grown yet. The coffee shop was the usual efficient. Gift shop the usual expensive things. Good variety though.

D. G.

The staff were very informative and the gardens were beautiful especially as there was a hosepipe ban due. The shop and cafe were good value too.

J. S.

Lovely place to visit with ever changing gardens. Return regularly for new growth, shapes and colours. Very inspirational for a budding gardener when it comes to borders. One of the better National Trust cafes and very reasonably priced. Worth a trip even if only for a coffee on the terrace.

S. B.

Loved learning more about Rudyard Kipling. The gardens are beautiful and we had a lovely circular walk around the estate - the ‘Pook’s Hill’ walk. The path was well signposted and took us through woods and fields, through gates and over stiles and gave us some fabulous views en route.

I. S.

Bateman's is a country house, built in in Jacobean style, in 1634. It was the home of Rudyard Kipling from 1902 until his death in 1936. It is now a National Trust property with beautiful buildings and gardens. Inside is a museum with fascinating memorabilia from Kipling's life, including original signed documents, his Nobel Prize medal and certificates and various objects from his everyday life, such as pens and watches. You can even listen to an original gramophone recording of Mandalay. The facilities are good with plenty of car parking space.

P. F.

Lovely House and gardens today. Had a picnic by the pond. Covid19 rules apply thou the toilet situation could be readdressed.

M. 5.

Loved the history of the place. Had lunch there too which was good value.

M. H.

Beautiful house, lovely gardens and countryside. Great walks provided around the property.

C. B.

Such a lovely place. Was so pleased the downstairs was open to view. (A little tricky when people in front think they can spend ages in each room and the queue of people is growing in the rain.... not The National Trust's fault, just people with poor social awareness!)

J. S.

Gorgeous house and compact gardens. Lovely tea room in a sheltered courtyard. Perfect for an hour or so afternoon walk.

S. A.

Have been to Bateman's several times before,still very interesting. One thing did anger me though,the charging non members £4 to park as well as their entrence fee....this is a rip off.

G. H.

An enjoyable afternoon spent at Batemans in Burwash.

S. O.

Batemans is relatively close to us so we visit quite often. Kipling's history here is fascinating & a walk around the beautiful grounds is a must.

M. T.

Small but perfect. Gardens are exceptional and flowers and colours amazing.

J. H.

Has to be my favourite national trust property in the area. We have had some great days out here

Y. S.

As usual Batemans didn't disappoint us. Cafe costs are very high and National Trust should offer same incentive as English Heritage 10pc off in cafes snd shops for members only.

s. t.

You will enjoy the experience if you love literature and admire the works of Rudyard Kipling. Was an eye opener to learn about RK's craze for cars

R. P.

Lovely old house a beautiful gardens went there last year at different time to see different flowers.

V. B.

Great day out, fabulous gardens and detailed history of the house and Mill. Great cafe too.

D.

Plenty to see and do. Lovely gardens, and interesting history (aka Rudyard Kipling of The Jungle Book fame).

M. G.

A fascinating place that explores a complex person. The grounds are lovely, and the cafe does gluten-free cream teas!

B. P.

Well worth the visit. The gardens are gorgeous and the house very well preserved.

L. B.

Peaceful, wonderful gardens and property. As a bonus the cafe is also very good!

M. D.

Excellent. It was informative, interesting and fun. Great outside space with Cafe, nice house of Mr. Kipling and shop.

S.

this would be a lovely place when the gardens are in full bloom. We still enjoyed the visit. The place was busy and there were extensive works going on in the grounds close to the house. We had lunch here the food was wonderful. We intend to re visit late spring early summer

S. B.

Fantastic house and gardens where Rudyard Kipping wrote his books. I have been many times. Highly recommended.

S. H.

Excellent gardens and house. Although we had a timed booking, we chose not to queue for access to the house as we had other NT properties to visit that day.

G. M.

Lovely house and gardens. We went on the purple long walk out through the woodland and fields which took about an hour. Very nice, well worth doing.

D. H.

Beautiful place, lovely walks and a perfect way to spend Saturday afternoon.

R. D.

Lovely (if quite expensive) place to go for an afternoon walk. Although there were wheelchairs to use, the house was inaccessible and some of the paths were obviously not built for them! We were disappointed with the food on offer in the cafe (although it tasted good) there was not much choice.

A. P.

Beautiful place to visit but currently the house is closed due to covid restrictions

J. F.

Love this place and its history. Walk to the end of the garden and around to the water mill. Bateman's was built in 1634 by an iron master, John Britten, and then, much later, the Kiplings bought it in 1902 for £9,300. Although, back then, it was a farmhouse in desperate need of repair. In 1939 it was left to the National Trust.

G. C.

Loved this place, spent exploring with my family. So much history. Grounds impeccably kept and the volunteers around the house cannot do enough for you. Beautiful natural play area too, at the other end of the car park and great facilities all in all

T. G.

We've been here for many years. It is a lovely NT property, the house has lots of interesting artefacts and information. It is a lot smaller than Scotney Castle, both in terms of grounds and the house but this makes it much more accessible. The play area is great fun but you need to head to the top of the car park to find it, along with the picnic area.

R. F.

Lovely house and gardens. All facilities. Detailed map provided by the Nation Trust. Walks around the estate to the quaint village of Burwash are very well signposted. Dont miss the RR Phantom and the mill.

c. m.

Fabulous, peaceful place to visit. Had a cup of tea and a scone in the cafe to start our visit.. !

P.

Lovely weather for our Autumn visit Was very moved by the sad story of his son and poignant being 100 years since the end of ww1. Gardens bit shabby apparantly work in progress . House is one of the smaller NT I've been to but full of the man you can feel his presence. We went on one of the signposted walks this had nice views but the final part of it meant walking on a country road. no path with fast cars with a child I found this bit dangerous, the blue walk. oh and a field had a bull in it with no warning signs. for that I drop a star should be 2 but I liked the house so much .also cafe had sold out of cream teas and it was still early afternoon Why is food so expensive at NT places

D. M.

Very interesting house packed with an enormous amount of historical artifacts relating to Kipling and life at Batemans. The staff posted around the site were very informative and friendly. The gardens and old mill were also well worth the visit. A super day out.

s. b.

My most favourite national trust house, can imagine living here also always loved Rudyard Kipling.

G. G.

As with all NT properties beautifully preserved, interesting and superbly set up to engage with the children.

A. M.

Beautiful gardens, long walks and a very nice café. Lovely place to visit

S. S.

Had lovely walk around lawns,flower beds and wild garden. Had coffee and ice cream. First visit we will be back.

P. H.

Bateman's has an interesting mix of things to see such as wildflower garden, vegetable and orchard gardens and a water feature. Rudyard Kipling's former home is a joy to see among such wonderful surroundings

T. F. F.

Small yet interesting property with extensive gardens and a wider estate. A beautiful place and an exemplary example of a period of East Sussex life

G. G.

Charming place with stunning grounds.

s. O.

So beautiful the house was closed because of the plague but gardens were great.

a. h.

Fascinating house and grounds. Parking ample. Gardens lovely.

D. W.

Nice place to visit, and staff really helpful. Interesting history. Formal areas well kept. The odd sign for the longer estate walks would be appreciated. We were confused as to where they started. No Paws sign where we thought one started!

B. D.

Beautiful gardens, orchards and flowers. Well maintained. Lovely tearooms. Friendly staff.

J. C.

Beautiful gardens and house in rolling countryside setting. Amazing flower borders. Unfortunately, there were rather too many people allowed at one time in the house for comfort especially in current pandemic circumstances. Typical National Trust tea room fare on offer. Very pleasant walks around the gardens and down to the mill.

C. B.

The Natural play area is great fun for our grandson 👍

g. l.

Rudyard Kipling's house was very interesting with filled with his furniture, ornaments, books, etc. Lovely old house with scenic views from the windows.

P. G.

Rudyard Kipling's house is an interesting visit with lots of artefacts associated with Kipling and his works. Largish tea room with usual National Trust fare. Plenty of parking with a bit of a walk to the tea room and main house. Extensive gardens and countryside to explore. Remarkable Rolls Royce on display in the garage behind the tea room. Well worth a visit on a sunny afternoon.

l. m.

Such a lovely place to visit , 3 great walks around the wider estate , very informative staff , great day out with hubby and the puppy.

V. C.

Kipling’s study, the exhibition room, and the drawing room are the highlights of Bateman’s. Picturing where Rudyard wrote the stories we still cherish is a treat. Gardens are pretty. Be sure to take the short walk down to the Mill House, where Kipling was able to generate enough electricity for 10 light bulbs in the main house for 4 hours!

C. E.

Nice couple houts out visiting Batemans and the gardens

P. C.

Lovely house and gardens especially if you are a Kipling fan (the author - not the cakes or monkey bags!)

N. T.

Garden was looking great. Only the downstairs of the house was visitable.

S. C.

Lovey to walk round, very kind friendly gentleman greeted on arrival. An asset to the 1st impressions thank you.

l. g.

Delightful. Lots of passionate staff happy to tell you lots of stories. Wonderfully well kept.

D. S. (.

A great building that whisks you away to a time passed. Even though we got their late, everyone was extremely informative and helpful. What's more it was great to see my two young children (8 and 6) engage with the stories within.

a. g.

Great visit lovely house real history nice gardens happy helpful staff

R. K.

Such a beautiful house. Pay attention to the leather wall paper in one of the rooms, painted by hand.

S. B.

Like with all National Trust places, it was a lovely visit and the guides were all very informative

D. K.

I love to visit Batemans it has nice grounds which are not too big so nice to go for a few hours, if you want a longer visit you can take the estate walks, and of course a visit wouldn't be complete without popping into the wonderful mulberry tea room for a scone and a coffee served by the amazing staff that work there.

M. M.

Very interesting home of Rudyard Kipling. Lots of info on him and his family. Nice tearooms. Well worth visit.

K. H.

An amazing insight into Rudyard Kiplings personal life. The house is preserved as if the family still lived there. National Trust staff are very informative as you tour the house. Notably the Rolls Royce Kipling drove is on display. Gardens best enjoyed Spring onwards.

b.

Wonderful. Just the right size property and grounds for a sunny afternoon.

j. y.

A really interesting visit. The house was full of Rudyard Kipling's belongings, his works, history, furniture and mementos. The gardens were not at their best in November but the associated mill has been restored and was worth looking around to see the mechanics of flour making. We spent 5 hours there including a coffee and lunch in the tea house.

C. F.

Fantastic house and gardens. As one of Rudyard Kipling's homes, it is full of trinkets from his travels and has a great ambience of a different era

S. B.

The wood panelling and the decorative gold leather wall covering is stunningly-beautiful, quite apart from the Indian ephemera and beautiful clocks will stay in my memory. A great house to visit. I cannot wait to return.

S. C.

Had a lovely walk around gardens and ground. Very friendly staff.

S. S.

A beautiful house and grounds. Volunteers are excellent in each room, keenly bringing things to life. Kiplings study was magical. A real treasure, really worth the visit even though it is a quite small estate.

G. V.

A very interesting place with many things to learn about Kipling and the family. The gardens are amazing with a number of different areas to explore.

K. M.

Lovely little house nestled away in a valley. Nice walks around the estate and a reasonably priced tea room.

N. W.

Fantastic history of a brilliant author in stunning grounds. Particular attention should be paid to Rudyard Kipling's letters to his daughter, which are hilarious and touching. Seek them out!

M. F.

Great leisurely paced garden and property with very knowledgeable guides.

s. c.

Love the house and grounds of this lovely place. In the heart of East Sussex with local history at the heart of Batemans

E. I.

It is a nice place but it is a shame that they charge money for entry, rooms were closed due to lack of volunteers and they still don't have money to upkeep the grass and garden...

V. S.

We had a lovely day very interesting and the gardens were beautiful would recommend going.

S. M.

The garden's were gorgeous! The colour was absolutely wonderful. The kids loved finding all the different fruit trees. They all enjoyed the search and find they had. The house was very interesting and kept them entertained.

k. h.

Lovely house and gardens, plenty of walks around the estate to enjoy.

J. K.

This is a lovely compact NT place. The house and gardens are very special, plus there is a working mill. The cafe is friendly and welcoming. Of course, everyone has to distance and eat and drink outside, though it's worth the visit. We didn't do the estate walks this time. They are really good if you feel like stretching out a bit, and the landscape is interesting and not at all flat.

P. A.

Had a great time. Enjoyed the history in the house and grounds

P. B.

Fabulous place, really interesting! Will be back again in the Spring 😊

E. B.

Lovely old house once lived in by the writer and poet Rudyard Kipling. Very pretty gardens and a tea rooms available.

W. R.

Very historical and great day out even if it rains

B. B.

Beautiful place to be on a lovely spring day in the sunshine. Very compact gardens and a great house. Go visit!

M. B.

So much history, a great house and beautiful gardens.

K.

Lovely peaceful place to visit. I found the staff really knowledgeable and happy to take the time to tell you the story of the building and how the rooms would have been used. Batemans itself is virtually as it was left by Rudyard Kipling. The mill is great, I have memories of it working when I visited as a child on a school trip so was particularly looking forward to seeing it. The plans to have it working once more in the future are great.

G. S.

Fantastic property, and a decent cafe in the yard.

A. L.

Have visited the house at least twice before (most enjoyable) so decided to walk the gardens in the beautiful weather on this occasion. They were most attractive with lilly pond, herbaceous borders and lots of dragonflies and other bugs and birds. Didn't walk to the mill as it had rained extremely heavily in the preceding few days and decided it might be a bit wet underfoot. Well worth a visit ti see house, gardens and surroundsing villages.

a. b.

Absolutely beautiful, house and gardens let your imagination run away with you , tranquil lovely setting. Well worth a visit will be even better when the whole house can be seen once the restrictions are lifted . Full of history and a great atmosphere, lovely .

K. S. H.

Lots to offer, walk, cafe, gardens, fascinating house.

J. L.

A very interesting visit , the cafe has delicious food.

L. K. C.

Warm feeling family home. Nice garden and gift shop. The gardens are lovely for a stroll, tea house good

S. C.

We went here with family as a treat and thoroughly enjoyed our visit. We were able to look around the ground floor of the house and had a lovely walk around the gardens. The cafe was not busy when we went there but as time went on it became much busier. Covid measures were in place within the location. Staff were very friendly.

F. R.

Great walks and lots of visual areas to explore

T. C.

Beautiful house and gardens really enjoyed my visit.

A. P.

Beautiful place. Well kept gardens.

K. M.

Beautiful house and mill. Loved watching so many different dragonflies

J. G.

A wonderful house and grounds to visit. Caffee is quite expensive

C. S.

Very good Borders are beautiful and house very interesting

i.

Nice gardens and interesting facts about Kipling's life.

T. R.

Lovely house & garden, beautifully kept. Nice walk up to the mill. Very interesting history.

T. H.

Easy to park. Lovely walk through the gardens to visit the house. An enjoyable and relaxing afternoon.

M. A.

Interesting family home. Lovely gardens and smashing cheese scone!

J. M.

A really lovely day out. Our kids loved playing in the grounds and watching the gold fish in the huge pond. Beautiful rose garden for them to run around. Great walk around the house and lots of interesting facts about Kipling. Really helpful and friendly staff obviously passionate about the history of the place. Great outdoor play area for kids. Highly recommend a visit.

P. S.

Excellent NT property loved the house and gardens lots of onsite parking. Very knowledgeable and friendly guides. Superb countryside walks through the estate

J. L.

Excellent house and staff knowledge, not to busy. Soup was delicious.

A. M.

Excellent food, beautiful grounds and gardens. Very hospitable staff.

M. A.

This is a lovely place to visit, where Rudyard Kipling lived. I learned such a lot about him. There are stairs in the house which could be a problem to some people. They have a lovely cafe and shop, and all the staff were very pleasant and helpful.

A. C.

The gardens were full of colour and we enjoyed a yummy cream tea sitting in the Mulberry Garden. The vegetable garden was bursting with ripe produce and the medlar tree an interesting quirky attraction. All so calm and peaceful at the begining of the autumn flush in these wonderful surroundings.

T. P.

Lovely place to visit. Beautiful gardens.

J. H.

Lovely place beautiful gardens Lovely picnic area in an orchard

N. D.

Well worth visiting this wonderful historic property with acres of gardens, all beautifully preserved for the nation by the NT

R. W.

A really informative day out!! Very knowledgeable staff

A. S.

What a wonderful place to while away a few fabulous hours. Top notch café, house and gardens, great for children with interest enough for the adults too. Highly recommended!

P. S.

Beautiful gardens & house. Excellent guides in house. Very peaceful environment.

S. K.

Third visit to this beautiful house and grounds will definitely be back.

G. H.

Bateman's is a lovely National Trust property, a delightful Jacobean house featuring some wonderful Kipling memorabilia, beautiful gardens and a variety of estate walks. Easy to make a whole day of it. Delightful village of Burwash is close by and can be incorporated into a walk - get your timings right for a lunchtime pint and then back to Bateman's for afternoon tea and cake.

P. O.

Great visit unfortunately ran out of time it seemed the best it seems the best times to go there are when the sun is there are when the sun is shining as they will have more staff available to describe the exhibits and what went exhibits and what went on in various locations around the house

M. G.

Lots of history in a lovely surrounding. Plenty of things to see in the house.

J. T. A.

All in one natural location. National Trust membership always has lovely places. Ideal for: Everyone, families, young and old couples, solo walks and all facilities available. Key Info: a fantastic place for a countryside day out, take your picnic or eat local, no good mobile phone signal so download the map in advance and plan your route well as some country routes are not nice to drive, too narrow and the other drives are not nice. Pros: - Clean toilets available - Countryside views - Coffee shops - Historical places - Countryside walks - No booking required Cons: - No mobile signal at least for Vodafone

T. B.

Guides in the rooms were eager to tell visitors about the house and its occupants which made the visit really interesting. Also liked the gardens with their cheerful displays of flowers and no dig vegetable plot.

S. H.

Lovely and interesting place to visit, very informative about it's previous esteemed owner.

S. P.

The home of Rudyard Kipling. Interesting place to visit.

V. Y.

Lovely gardens, plants for sale and good shop. The gardens looked a little dry; maybe being careful about use of water?? It was heavily controlled...you could only eat in designated areas . On the day I was there some visitors were quite aggressive ...there were few seating areas and I sat on the steps to take a rest (I'm nearly 70) and some people were clearly upset by this, came too close (I was careful to keep me distance all day) in an aggressive way and muttered their disapproval. It took the fun out of our day. It was nice, but I wouldn't go again.

S. S.

Such a lovely place beautiful gardens interesting house & watermill & nice walk through the woods definitely will visit again

s. v.

A beautiful well preserved property. Small gardens but large grounds. Due to covid we could not visit upstairs in the house but the entry system was well executed with a video at the end of the room we couldn't view.

K.

Beautiful gardens. Lovely house. Very interesting Mill. Brilliant walks. Great cafe. Children love it. Been to visit numerous times over the last 36yrs! Would definately recommend.

N. R.

Great place to visit. Wonderful atmosphere.

c. c.

Very interesting place to visit along with some lovely walks ...

s. r.

Lovely house and gardens, highly recommend

M. P.

This was my first visit to Bateman's and on my journey there I was concerned about the lack of any signage apart from a series of large yellow arrows which eventually led to the house. I had an 86 year old lady with me and I was concerned about the lack of any provision to transport the elderly to and from the house which is at the bottom of a steep slope. The gardens looked magnificent and it was clear that the gardeners take great pride in their work. The guides in the house were very knowledgeable and I left with a much better understanding of Kipling and his family. There is an excellent tea shop and a good area outside for eating in the open air. I enjoyed my visit.

j. w.

Beautiful house with gardens and a watermill.

J. W.

Able to see part of house superb gardens

M. D.

Lovely place and lots of lovely and very knowledgeable people. The wooden playground by the playground is lovely, although it was very muddy when we went, our little one still loved it.

I. W.

A lovely venue, and always a pleasure to visit.

S. W.

Absolutely Fantastic day at the home of Rudyard Kipling, highly recommended will definitely be coming back again.

D. G.

Excellent, it was wonderful to turn up without online prior booking. My three grandchildren had a very enjoyable time. Looking forward to my next visit S I only live 10 minutes away.

P. C.

A really beautiful and peaceful place to be heaven on earth lovely gardens well maintained five star rating always love going there

A. &. D. M.

Love this garden, house and café

J. N.

Super day out. Staff very friendly . Gardens beautiful and si well kepted. Cafe great food . Such an interesting place

C. L.

Didn't visit the house - we walked the dogs on the estate and enjoyed a very nice cream tea. Lovely gardens and surroundings.

k.

Popped in unplanned with no idea what to expect and found the volunteers to be welcoming, knowledgeable and so so kind. I'm well aware the volunteers are the backbone of Nationsl Trust and its no exception here. Great afternoon out!

C. 1.

Very pleasant visit on heritage open day

B. R.

Fascinating historical buildings, very helpful and knowledgeable staff, beautiful gardens.

M. E.

Beautiful place. Peaceful. Transported back in time. Cafe in beautiful setting. Good food and service.

R. D.

Very interesting and the volunteers made it a great visit.

W. L.

Despite covid restrictions this was still a great day out. We did the puck walk and would throughly recommend it for the beautiful countryside. The house was very interesting even though restrictions meant we could only visit a few ground floor rooms. And just a mention for the staff who were very informative and friendly

E. W.

Visited for my husband's birthday. As a quieter time of year, many of the exhibits are being conserved and we joined a tour which talked about this. Staff were delightful, knowledgeable and seeing the gardens in winter was still a treat. We hope to visit several times this year to see the house and gardens through the seasons. Love being a member of the NT and seeing first hand what they accomplish. Food in the cafe is delicious and again the staff were delightful.

a. r.

Lovely house and grounds, enjoyed the Kipling m0mentos etc.

C. N.

Beautiful house really chilled atmosphere. Highly recommended for a great day out.

D. O.

Beautiful house and garden to visit. Rudyard Kiplings house.

N. S.

Bateman's is the former home of Rudyard Kipling of Jungle Book fame (and many other books and poems). A favourite National Trust property of ours that we visit on a regular basis. The house and gardens are beautifully situated in an unspoilt Sussex valley, surrounded by pastures along the river and woodlands on the higher ground. The gardens are natural and not over-managed. We particularly like the vegetable garden above the house, and the more recent natural meadow nearer the mill at the opposite end of the site. In between is a mixture of lawns, hedges, trees and shrubs with a large feature fish pond. The house is built from a stone with a lovely warm colour. Inside it is quite dark but it has a lovely feel to it - warm and friendly - a family home. The exhibits and displays are informative, touching and fascinating. You get a real sense that Kipling was a man who loved children and family. The mill and mill pond are being restored (as of early 2019) and I believe the mill will work again once work is complete. This will be a great chance to see a water-powered flour mill in operation. The cafe and shop are very good. The cafe has all the usual National Trust treats and does good lunches, cakes, hot drinks and snacks. The shop is very well presented and reasonably priced. Overall, highly recommended.

S. H.

We did Batemans at Christmas before the pandemic hit. Rich, opulent and gorgeous! It was stunning. I loved the themes, the decorations, the history. I got caught up in conversation with a volunteer for ages in one room, I loved that he had time to talk to a group that grew from 1 to 5 people. The gardens were lovely too, everything was just dying back and it kind of told the story of the end of year. A fitting tribute to the house. I am looking forward to visiting again to see what it gives me next time.

B. L.

Nice gardens. Cluttered dark house. Some effort in gardens to engage children. Mill will be lovely after they finish renovating the mill pond. The house is too dark and cluttered. Hard to see. Items needed better display. Gardens were nice and grounds quite large to walk round. Picnic area, child friendly, by car park.

A. S.

Visited today on our way from Rye back home to Derby. Lovely setting, house most interesting. Lovely gardens and cafe.

C. A.

Always amazing especially the jungle book paintings

J. L.

The lane coming back from the walk was a bit narrow you need to let people know with dogs

M. A.

Bateman's is a superbly kept time capsule in the countryside. Famous for being Kipling's family home it would appeal to both history and Kipling fans. Well worth a visit.

T. H.

Beautiful gardens and house, walking around the mill was brilliant.

N. C.

Beautiful property, so much history. Water mill, 300 acres, gardens and tea rooms.

S. W.

A must visit if you love the works of kiplin

I. J.

Fascinating. One of the best NT properties we have been to. Children all engaged in Kipling's history and loved the grounds. Shame the watermill couldn't sell the flour it was grinding.

M. R.

Interesting place to visit

P. P.

It is a great place to go to for a day out 😊☺️

H. B.

Lovely walk today through Bateman's gardens, then out through to the estate walks 😊 NOTE: it is worth checking at the main entrance as to whether you can access the estate walks via the Mill Pond. If not, you can only access the estate walks from outside the main entrance :) The Frittilaries really put on a good show today, one of my favourite flowers 😊

T. M.

Very nice building, and very interesting information by the guides.

M. A.

Interesting house with enthusiastic staff if you need information. Lovely gardens

P. E.

It was a peaceful and very pleasant property.

l. w.

BATEMANS National trust park is aways great place to visit. Feel so much more relaxed after walking in the park with all the trees and plants.

b. j.

The home of Rudyard Kipling. A great place of history and peaceful setting.

A. B.

This beautiful country house is well presented, and especially interesting because of the Indian links for Kipling, and the beautiful Jungle Book illustrations. I loved seeing the bee hives and walking down to the water mill. In the summer, I sometimes go and sit in the stunning gardens and read, as it's much nicer than my garden! I've been to a lovely Apple Day celebration there. The second hand book shop is full of great quality, vintage books.

H. F.

Fantastic place! A beautifully restored/preserved house and grounds. We first went in the winter and the gardens and bits of the grounds were great for a family walk. The house is in a fantastic condition and it is so beautiful to see some art of the characters of the Jungle book. His study is mesmerising. We look forward to visiting back in the summer!

A. L.

Rudyard Kipling‘s house and garden

S.

Lovely place, even in winter

C. R.

Lovely house and beautiful gardens. Reccomend a visit

C. B.

First visit. Lovely well maintained grounds. House currently closed but enjoyed the country walks. On the edge of the picturesque village of Burwash. We shall be returning again once house open.

J. D.

The house is well kept and lots of friendly volunteers around offering information about Kipling and his life. The shop and cafe are pretty standard National Trust offerings, with all the usual knick knacks and teas and scones on offer. The grounds are the hidden gem here: there is a mill to explore as well as chickens roaming around and lots of wildlife to see. A lovely day out!

M. M.

Beautiful place for everyone in the family, the gardens are just lovely and the children loved exploring the windmill.

B. L.

Love love loved the food at the café. Best hot chocolate of my life and the house and gardens are lovely

A. J.

Great experience. This has to be one of the most authentic National Trust properties. Perfectly preserved, along with very knowledgeable staff.

K. S.

Extremely interesting learning about Rudyard Kipling and his family. The staff on site were very knowledgeable. The house was decorated beautifully for the festive period by volunteers. Delicious cakes in the cafe which we ate outside in the peaceful garden setting. Well worth a visit and nice for a stroll too.

N. H.

Beautiful house, lovingly looked after. Peaceful gardens which are great in the summer. The only reason for a dropped star was the very slow service in the coffee shop. It took well over 5 minutes to serve the customer in front of me with 3 drinks.

N. H.

Genuinely lovely place to visit. Very peaceful and the house very true to how it originally was when it was lived in. We were fortunate enough to be there when some of Rudyard Kipling's pretty was read by one of the volunteers who did it extremely well. Also a nice walk down to the water mill that will hopefully be working again soon

J. N.

Lovely place to spend a Saturday afternoon.

L. P.

I've come here all the time this year to work from my laptop. I just about get 4G on my phone. It's chilled with lots of outside seating East and West for sunshine or shade. It's easy to get to being just off a fast straight road.

J. G.

Interesting gardens and water features, including a mill, in a very attractive setting. The gardens are worth walking around in any season and there are some great walks possible, with a lovely tea room at the end (with best National Trust cakes we've ever had!) . The house is well worth looking around also, it's a great example of a lived-in family home. Check out the pear alley espalier trees also.

D. P.

Small house but packed with lots of collections so very interesting. Homely place. Well worth a visit.

J. G.

One of National Trusts top sites, the house and grounds are maintained to the highest standard, to wander around the house and grounds you can almost feel the presence of the man himself. The volunteer staff are very knowledgeable, helpful and approachable. You will enjoy your visit, and the restaurant and grounds will provide all you could ask to enjoy the final part of your visit.

G. B.

Sush a wonderful place to visit, always friendly staff, plenty to see around the gardens, big area to walk and sit and relax, tea rooms open to take away at the moment. Easy booking a slot. Well recommended.

R. M.

very nice house and gardens . really relaxing sitting in the garden . a MUST visit

A. A.

Beautiful house and grounds. Very knowledgeable, helpful and enthusiastic guides. But very poor interpretation. Nothing to introduce us to Kipling and the main events and works of his life to put everything we saw into a context; nothing about the house, it's construction and owners pre-Kipling; and little information on individual artefacts unless you ask a guide e.g. the magnificent Queen of Sheba tapestry above the stairs. Disappointing.

M. P.

First visit since they reopened. The house and all facilities, except toilets, closed. Despite that the visit was a pleasant afternoon out and much less crowded than normal. Admission by prior booking controls the numbers and a one way system in place at pinch points. Gardens lovely and well worth a visit whilst it's quiet

C. R.

Easy to walk around the gorgeous gardens, interesting history, delightful jacobean house, knowledgeable guides & a scrumpy tea room. A very enjoyable afternoon out.

C. h.

Another great NT property and interesting displays of Rudyard Kipling personal affects and life.

V. r.

Bateman's is the house of Rudyard Kipling the famous author. It's a lovely house build in 17th century bought by Kipling in 1902 and lived here until his death in 1936.I loved the way they kept it in original condition dark with some lovely antique furniture and fireplaces. The gardens are stunning and beautiful. We visited the old mill and it was very interesting to see how they used it back than.The coffee shop was great with outdoor tables set right in the orchard where you can enjoy the view of the house. I must say as we drove back it was a very challenging drive,the country road was so narrow we were lucky not to meet any traffic in the opposite direction because there was no place to fit a fly let alone a car.

M. B.

Beautiful place and so fascinating.

R. G. C.

Was a pleasure to visit after a gap of 3 years (covid) .

W. A.

Beautiful national trust. Lovely walks, beautiful grounds and fantastic tea room. Can't wait to visit again.

V. R.

Fantastic day at Batemans. House very interesting and lovely garden and walks

L. R.

I'd only go if you are a NT member just now. It is very expensive for just two rooms if not. The study and other rooms are closed due to covid. The grounds are pleasant, dogs on leads. The gift shop is very good if you are a Kipling fan

D. H.

Lovely day out walking around beautiful peaceful gardens. Café open with reduced menu but still excellent quality and value. Staff as usual for NT very helpful and friendly.

R. G.

home of Rudyard Kipling famous for his stories and poems, lovely to explore each rooms as he originally furnished it when he was alive, pictures depicting his stories,we have been many times and still find new things to see each visit, gardens are pleasant to walk around followed up with cream tea

B. (.

Very interesting house and gardens. Sadness of the loss of two children,1as a toddler and another at only 18 during WW1. Wonderful to see the place where many of RKs books were written. Beautiful gardens, placed to sit and ponder as well as places to wander. Mill a good place to visit. Pond absolutely teeming with fish and very pretty waterlilies.

K. O.

The weather prevented us from seeing the mill and walking round the grounds. We still managed to take 2 1/2 hours going round the house. There are a lot of exhibits . The house is really lovely, 17 th century and Rudyard Kipling and his wife furnished ii appropriately.

R. S.

I had short out of season tour of the house. Will go back when fully open. Tasty tagine in the restaurant, all in all a nice day out in early January.

O.

Peaceful in rolling countryside. Surprisingly few rooms for such an apparently large house, but plenty to see and the room guides were very informative. Gardens beautiful and well kept. Catering efficient and not overcrowded.

A. D.

Love this place. Always find out a new snippet when you visit. Kipling had a great way to get rid of guests that stayed too long. Visit to find out how!

P. H.

The home of Rudyard Kipling. Attractive formal and informal gardens with attractive riverside walks. The house is well worth a visit as it gives a great insight into the Kipling way of life. Very pleasant tea room with outdoor seating ideal on a sunny day. A great place to visit.

K. W.

This is just like walking into someone's home. It is shabby and cluttered in places, but that is just how it was when Rudyard Kipling lived there. Lots of helpful volunteer guides who engage with visitors and who are very knowledgeable on their subject. The gardens are lovely - even though we visited on a stormy day - and the walk to the watermill that is under restoration s worthwhile. Usual NT cafe where, it will be no surprise, they sell exceedingly good cakes - but the usual NT homemade variety, not mass produced. It was a bit busy at 1pm on a Saturday, as the weather meant the outside areas couldn't be used,but an hour later, there was plenty of space. The house is worth a visit on its own merits even if you have no interest in Kipling and certainly recommended

M. J.

National Trust House and grounds. Very good and nice, lots to see and look at regarding Rudyard Kipling.

C. F.

Lovely walks and nice food and drinks. Very enjoyable for a morning or afternoon out. The natural play area is so much fun.

A. J.

The home of Rudyard Kipling, Bateman's is a lovely house and gardens to walk around. The cheerful and informative staff inside the house are willing to share extra information about each room. As with most National Trust places, there is a nice cafe and shop too.

T. H.

A lovely day out. Interesting house and garden, often there are Kipling related activities for children. Plenty of parking and a short walk down a slope through the orchard to the tea room and shop. The walled garden behind the tea room is great for kids to burn off some energy while their parents relax. There is a pretty walk to the old mill and long estate walks through woods and fields. Dogs are welcome in the garden but have to stay on the paths. Take a picnic blanket and enjoy the grassy area by the fish pond.

J. S.

Very well preserved historic house that feels like a welcoming family home.

a. w.

A cold snowy morning but well planned Easter Egg Hunt,followed by hot chocolate then the sun came out and we visited the superb play area. A very exciting and thoroughly enjoyable 4 hours

C. H.

Loved it especially as the weather was warm and sunny but a very interesting house to walk round and gardens are lovely too well worth a visit

C. T.

Great information on the Kipling family home! The house is a bit pokey in places on a busy day. Definetly worth a visit, would be great to picnic on the lawn, the house and garden are pretty, a nice way to spend the afternoon. £10 for non national trust members.

A. V.

Very nice peaceful place. Spend time there especially with the summer coming up, the food is reasonable either for a lunch or for a tea and cake. Many engaging features including Kipling readings outdoors, and the mill is scheduled to reopen this summer

N. W.

Wonderful place to find some shade for a picnic lunch during the heatwave in August 2020

V. S.

This is a very nice place to visit, we weren't going to see the house, and hoped to see some early blooms in the garden. Unfortunately the garden borders were full of green manure, so no blooms to see. It was too early for the veg patch and the roses too. There are still some nice walks you can take around the estate and luckily the one we took was not too muddy. We did avoid Pucks walk, as we were advised this maybe muddy and we did for it once withe the dog, who went in white and came out black!

S. I.

Lovely, family-friendly place with great walks. The Peter Rabbit trail is amazing, as have been previous trails. I'll never get bored of visiting.

P. H.

One of the southeast's most underwhelming National Trust properties. There are better gardens and more interesting houses and better tearooms than this place. Avoid, unless you have membership and are bored of the alternatives.

B. E.

Set in a beautiful location which is secluded and peaceful. One of my favourite national trust places. Love the house as it's not huge lending itself to be cosy. Love the meadow and wildlife pond. I visit all year round.

S. M.

Great place, lovely grounds, fascinating house Mr Kipling’s house (the Jungle Book author, not the cake maker). Plus a working water mill (in summer months)

E. B.

My favourite National Trust site. The house was fascinating! Only downside was the amount of people trying to view it at the same time we were, as it got a bit cramped at times and was hard to view some of the things and to just take in the stunning rooms. The best bit about this property has to be the gardens though, they are beautiful! I shall return again to visit them and also tackle the many walks this property has to offer of the surrounding area. The property also has a lovely little cafe and well stocked gift shop too, with Rudyard Kipling books. The property also has things for children to find, read and learn and I think children would love to visit the garden for picnics.

A. C.

Beautiful place. The house was lovely with elegant furniture and a wonderful atmosphere and the grounds were a delight to walk in. The Oast Cafe food was beautiful, I had a pot of tea, cheese scone and orange and rosemary sponge - delicious.

J. L.

Lovely setting and interesting history of Rudyard Kipling

A. R.

Absolutely beautiful place and very child-friendly. Kipling's stunning Rolls Royce is on extended loan to the NT and can be seen here too. The gardens are great as are the staff, and there is a children's activity pack available encouraging them to find certain characters from the jungle book, set out around the house and Gardens as statues. At the end, they get a medal. The coffee was brilliant - the lad with the man-bun knew what he was doing - and we had excellent weather. There are a few places to picnic on the way, but the food looked delicious so either option is good. Highly recommended.

D. C.

Lovely place to go very good Christmas decorations there

S. H.

Set in beautiful grounds this is a superb house. We visited during the lockdown virus period where booking is necessary to enjoy a day out , we had great weather and lunch next to the lily ponds which were delightful

M. W.

A perfect place to take a picnic to.

M. R. W.

Lovely gardens with perennial beds and Yew hedges. Long walks in the woodland available. Basic cafe and shop. House looked interesting, but currently closed due to Covid.

S. C.

Great place to learn about Rudyard Kipling, they had story telling from the Just So series which was great to relive from when I read them as a child. A nice little fact hunt with the elephants hidden around the grounds made it a lovely day. The cafe serving up a whole host of delights from your usual national trust cream tea to full Christmas dinner!!! Recommend to anyone to go and enjoy for a day.

R. N.

Gardens were nice especially in their Autumn glory and the take- away lunch was warming and tasty. No second hand bookshop sadly. House was gloomy but interesting.

J. B.

Lovely house, and as it was when RK lived here. Lots of background info, very knowledgeable volunteer staff. Beautiful gardens and location. Feel privileged to have been able to visit the great man's home.

C. G.

Provides an interesting insight into the life of well known writer Rudyard Kipling. Nearby water mill currently undergoing exterior renovation but the inside is in good order.

R. C.

Just beautiful...atmosphere, garden, food in cafe, exhibits.

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