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Explore 800 years of history at Michelham Priory House and Gardens, a Tudor house set on a picturesque moated island. 

Founded by Augustinian canons in 1229, the site is steeped in history. During Tudor times the site suffered destruction caused by the dissolution of the monasteries, and in World War Two it was home to evacuees and the Canadian Army.

There are fascinating displays of furniture and artefacts, set in rooms reflecting different periods of Michelham Priory’s rich history. These include an historic kitchen and the World War Two evacuees’ bedroom. Children will enjoy the hands-on activities and outfits to try on.

Outdoors there are seven acres of beautiful grounds and buildings to explore including: a great barn; medieval gatehouse; and the kitchen, physic and medieval herb gardens.

There’s plenty inside and out to entertain the whole family for the day.

A delightful menu of sweet treats, sandwiches, pastries and a barista coffee menu is available on our in-site cafe, run by The Bean Bike Cafe, or visitors are welcome to bring a picnic to enjoy.

Take a walk around the moat, feed our resident ducks, explore the sculptures in the grounds and let off steam at the children’s play area.

We also have a number of special events coming up. Click here to find out more. 

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Learning about Sussex history at Michelham Priory

Michelham Priory Admission Prices

Adult £13.00
Child (aged 5 to 17) / Student £6.50
Senior (65+) £12.00
Family (1 adult + up to 3 children) £22.00
Family (2 adults + up to 4 children) £32.00
Under 5s Free
Essential Carer Free
Members of The Sussex Archaeological Society Free

 

Gift Aid logo Gift Aid the cost of admission to our sites and receive free entry for 12 months.

Select “Add Gift Aid” at checkout or speak to our Front of House teams on arrival. For full details, click here to visit our Gift Aid page.

Group visits

Private, educational and group visits are possible on a pre-booked basis. Please email adminmich@sussexpast.co.uk to check availability and pricing.

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Opening Times

March – May
Thursday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm

June – October
Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm

See what’s on.

Michelham Priory House and Gardens are located in Upper Dicker, near Hailsham and Eastbourne.

Getting here

There is no direct public transport to the site, so you’ll need to visit by car, bike or hike. The site is 8 miles north-west of Eastbourne off the A22/A27.

Accessibility

General access: Gardens, ground floor of the house, barn and courtyard area are all accessible. Wheelchair ramps provided where necessary. 3D virtual tours of the upstairs of the property are available via tablets on site – please ask

Parking: There are dedicated parking spaces for visitors displaying a Blue Badge.

Access aids: We have a range of equipment available including loan wheelchairs and mobility scooters.

Sensory tours: Available by prior arrangement.

Assistance dogs: welcome.

Toilets: disabled toilet on site

Food and drink

A delightful menu of sweet treats, sandwiches, pastries and a barista coffee menu is available on our in-site cafe, run by The Bean Bike Cafe. Visitors are welcome to bring picnics to enjoy in the grounds.

Gifts and shopping

Stop by The Dovecote Gift Shop to browse gifts and souvenirs of your visit. We have a lovely range of hand-selected products, plus plants grown right here at the Priory.

Four-legged friends

We love seeing your four-legged friends but there are restrictions in place (except for assistance dogs).

– Grounds only – To preserve the historic nature of the site, dogs are only permitted in the grounds, not the buildings

– Short-lead at all times – We are home to lots of wildlife, so dogs must be well-behaved and kept on a short lead at all times

– No dogs during events – No dogs are allowed on site during events, because events are especially busy and crowded

Assistance dogs welcome – Assistance dogs are permitted across the whole property and during events.

Group bookings

Are you looking to book for a group of 10 or more? We offer discounted rates for each of our properties. Discover more about our offer by reading our groups brochure here.

To make a group booking contact the team at Michelham Priory by calling call 01323 844224 or email adminmich@sussexpast.co.uk.

Special events

We also have a number of special events and talks coming up. Visit our What’s On page to find out more.

Address: Michelham Priory, Upper Dicker, Hailsham BN27 3QS

Phone: 01323 844224

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From our visitors

"Incredibly stunning place. You get a medieval feel and can imagine being there as a King. They have done well to keep it like this and would highly recommend"

TheoB via Tripadvisor - Lewes Castle

“A Trip Back in Time. Fascinating history of the Roman Palace. Well explained. Lots to see in the museum and the remains. Incredible detail in the layout of the Palace.”

Sue A via Tripadvisor - Fishbourne Roman Palace

“Go Visit NOW! The gardens are genuinely some of the most beautiful we’ve seen. We are going back soon.”

HorshamLass via Tripadvisor - Michelham Priory

“This was such an interesting place to come to. You could really feel the history of this place.”

Fifi582014 via Tripadvisor - The Priest House and Gardens