Standen

     Being a fan of the Arts and Crafts movement, especially the work of William Morris and William De Morgan, I was naturally very interested in visiting the estate called Standen which is a National Trust property in Sussex. This particular property was built in the late Victorian period as a summer home for the family of James Beale, a wealthy London solicitor.  The architect of this project was a man named Philip Webb, who was deeply involved in the Arts and Crafts movement, and naturally the house is a prime example of this particular artistic style.

     From start to finish, I was enchanted by this property:

-There are William Morris wallpapers, fabrics, tapestries, and needlework.
-The architecture is beautiful - natural, homey, and elegant.
-William De Morgan ceramics are dotted throughout the house.
-There are a number of stunning works of art done by numerous Pre-Raphelite artists, including Burne-Jones.
-The grounds are lovely as well, and include formal gardens, a kitchen garden, and lovely wooded walks.

     In short, I had a fantastic time and I would highly recommend this house if you're in the area.  And if you're an avid Arts and Crafts fan like myself, than it is well worth going out of your way in order to see it.

Visiting Tips:
-I ended up visiting in March so the gardens were only just starting to grow.  The house is interesting enough to make a March visit worthwhile, but if I were to go again, I would make sure that it was during the late spring or summer when the flowers would be blooming.
-This property is interesting enough that visiting could take the whole day. If you were motivated, you could see it in a couple hours though (but you might feel cheated if you had such a short time)
-There is a very nice cafe on site, and a wonderful gift shop with lots of William Morris-esque merchandise.


Useful Information:

Postcode - RH19 4NE
Website - http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/standen/
Transportation Requirements - If you don't have a car you will need to use a Taxi at some point, but this property is only two miles from the nearest train station.

Standen, March 2012

How To See Everything

Well, this is a bit of a misnomer, because you can't.  What you can do is really research your destination before you get there, so you know exactly what opportunities there are to take advantage of.  Here are a few helpful tips:

1. Check to see if you're going to be there during a holiday.
Britain has a few unique holidays, and it can be a lot of fun to experience them.  Check guide books or tourism websites to see "what's on" during the year.

2. If you're visiting a larger city, see if there are any concerts, theater performances, or sporting events to take advantage of.  Britain is host to a lot of the most popular musicians, and has fantastic theater opportunities (particularly in London or Stradford-upon-Avon).  Stand-up comedy is an unconventional option but is a British institution, and it might be something you want to experience while you're there.  Also, if you are a celebrity enthusiast you can find regular film premiers in London, and once in a while you'll find that there is a big name performing on the London stage.

I also want to put in a particular good word for taking advantage of the Royal Shakespeare company.  There's nothing like seeing a Shakespearian play performed by this particular company. If you have any interest in theater, do try to go if you have the time.

3. Ask a local.
Take this with a grain of salt, because your idea of a good time (or good food) is likely to be different from said local.  Choose a person whose tastes you trust, and go with their suggestions. It is a calculated risk, but great food, fun shops, and beautiful scenery can be found this way.  Locals will also know where the less touristy areas are (but be careful with this one too, because less touristy sometimes means less interesting - especially to us Americans).

4. And the best, and most effective tip of all... Check local events calendars.
This may take a little searching, but most cities, major attractions, and tourism sites have events calendars that list opportunities that you might have otherwise missed out on.  Imagine visiting an amazing castle the same day as a jousting competition! Or touring a grand estate when they're hosting an antiques show.  You can also get a much better flavor of the culture if you attend a local musical gathering, a farmers market, or a town festival.

Here are a few helpful websites:

National Holidays: http://woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/questions/index/festivals.htm
What's on: http://www.whats-on-guide.co.uk/
London Theater: http://www.londontheatre.co.uk/
Royal Shakespeare Company: http://www.rsc.org.uk/
Performances: http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/
Film Premieres: http://www.premierescene.net/film-calendar.html
Stars on the London Stage: http://www.londontheatre.co.uk/londontheatre/starsonstage/index.htm