Herstmonceux Cottages

Holiday cottages and self-catering accommodation in Herstmonceux

Herstmonceux is famous for its castle and its observatory science centre. Located in East Sussex, north of Bexhill-on-Sea, it also has two Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) close by, Herstmonceux Park and Pevensey Levels. Herstmonceux Castle is a picture-perfect edifice of the kind you would expect to see in National Geographic. You can book a guided tour of the castle, however you are free to explore the gardens to your heart’s content. It is one of the oldest existing brick buildings in the UK. There are around 300 acres of woodland and a number of formal and semi-formal gardens to explore. The estate is also home to an amazing observatory, which is also open to the public.

The village of Herstmonceux was first established in the 12th century. In 1441, Sir Roger Fiennes, treasurer to Henry VI, began construction of the castle. The castle has never seen conflict and wasn’t built as a military outpost, but rather a residence. In 1946 the castle was bought by the Royal Greenwich Observatory, but is now owned by Queen’s University – Canada. The Observatory now serves as a museum. Inside the centre, visitors learn about the story of the original observatory, force, gravity and time, optics and the earth. It has about 100 interactive exhibits and restored telescopes that occasionally get used to spy on the cosmos.

Herstmonceux is close to several popular attractions in the area such as Pevensey Levels Nature Reserve, Diggerland, Bedgebury Pinetum & Forest, Bexhill-on-Sea, Beachy Head and many others to explore. Find your perfect Sussex holiday from amongst our collection of Herstmonceux cottages, holiday homes and self-catering accommodation above.