Midhurst and Petworth: Petworth deer park in spring, with trees around the lake

Un mini-guide de

Midhurst and Petworth

Petworth House and its deer park, the Cowdray ruins, the Weald & Downland Living Museum and Bignor's Roman mosaics

Bienvenue dans le quartier

Petworth House and its deer park, the Cowdray ruins, the Weald & Downland Living Museum and Bignor's Roman mosaics

Midhurst is a small market town on the River Rother and home to the South Downs Centre, the National Park Authority's base and visitor centre. Across the river are the ruins of Cowdray, an early Tudor house visited by Henry VIII and Elizabeth I and gutted by fire in 1793. To the east, Petworth House holds a large art collection, with many paintings by J. M. W. Turner, in a deer park landscaped by Capability Brown.

South of Midhurst, the Weald & Downland Living Museum at Singleton has more than 50 rescued historic buildings, and West Dean Gardens have restored Victorian glasshouses. Bignor Roman Villa keeps some of the most complete mosaic floors in the country. Uppark, high on the Downs near the Hampshire border, and the Bronze Age barrows of the Devil's Jumps lie to the west.

Points forts

Par où commencer

Si vous n'avez que quelques heures, voici de bons endroits pour commencer.

Voir les 9 lieux à visiter

S'orienter

Sur la carte

The map shows Midhurst and Petworth and the streets around it. The Getting there page lists nearby stops and stations.

Agrandir la carte →

Bons plans d'initiés

Avant de partir

1

Cowdray Ruins by event only

The Cowdray Heritage Trust says the ruins are closed for general visits but open for heritage events and guided tours. Check the events page.

2

Book Woolbeding Gardens

Pre-booking is required for everyone, including National Trust members. The gardens reopen on 15 April 2027.

3

Petworth: allow time to walk

The National Trust says it is a 10 to 15 minute walk from the car park to the house; last admission to the house is 3pm.

4

Start at the South Downs Centre

The centre in Midhurst has leaflets on walks and places to visit, OS maps and staff who can help plan your visit.

Les conseils de la rédaction d'Britlens

Crédits photos

Photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under the licences shown. All photo credits