What’s On This Month…
Discover what’s on this month as there is always something new to discover at the Weald & Downland Living Museum. Just as life in the past changed with the seasons, our demonstrations and hands-on activities vary from day to day, reflecting the rhythms of the people who once lived and worked in our historic buildings.
Our interpretation team, supported by visiting specialists and our fantastic, knowledgeable volunteers, brings different parts of the Museum’s collection to life each day, offering fresh stories, skills, and insights to enjoy.
Alongside our regular programme, a range of additional interpretation activities and demonstrations will be taking place. Please be aware that these may change due to circumstances beyond our control, so if there’s something you’re particularly keen to see, we recommend checking on the day of your visit and keeping an eye on our social media channels for any news.
**Please note: due to the extreme temperatures forecast in the current heat wave, we will not be operating any of our interpretation that involves fire-based activities in the Bakehouse, Forge or Tudor Kitchen. (Updated 11 August).**
August:
Monday, 24 August
Discover a day packed with traditional skills and heritage. Explore Tudor farming life, meet Pete the Tudor Games Maker, watch fletching and natural dyeing, visit the Tudor kitchen and hear the story of the Museum’s working watermill. Ideal for families looking to make the most of the summer holidays.
Tuesday, 25 August
Taste, explore and experience the Tudor world. Meet skilled lacemakers, discover life in a Tudor household, compare women’s lives across the centuries and enjoy delicious Georgian dairy tastings throughout the day. Perfect for curious visitors of every generation.
Wednesday, 26 August
Step into the rhythm of historic village life. Meet Meg the Pedlar, watch flax processing and knitting demonstrations, discover life inside a tin tabernacle and enjoy traditional maypole dancing before exploring the Museum’s forge and historic gardens. A fantastic day for families and history lovers alike.
Thursday, 27 August
Enjoy a relaxing summer day surrounded by history. Wander through a Tudor farmhouse, explore a bustling Tudor kitchen and soak up the atmosphere with traditional live music echoing around the Market Hall. Perfect for anyone looking to slow down and enjoy the past.
Friday, 28 August
Discover the fascinating stories behind everyday life. Meet the Mistress of the House, explore Tudor cookery, learn about the history of midwifery from Anglo-Saxon England to today and uncover the importance of spices in Tudor kitchens. A brilliant day for anyone who enjoys social history.
Saturday, 29 August
Experience one of the Museum’s most atmospheric heritage weekends. Watch the spectacular Charcoal Burn in action, meet the Chichester Beekeepers, discover Saxon weaving and explore a bustling Tudor farmhouse. It’s an unforgettable celebration of traditional countryside skills. Perfect for anyone who loves heritage crafts and rural history.
Sunday, 30 August
Enjoy a celebration of traditional countryside life. Experience the Charcoal Burn, hear folk songs and stories, meet local beekeepers, watch natural indigo dyeing, play Tudor games and meet Meg the Pedlar as history comes alive around every corner. Perfect for families looking for an unforgettable summer adventure.
Monday, 31 August
Make the most of the final day of the summer holidays. Visit the Charcoal Burn, meet local beekeepers, explore Tudor farming life, discover the working watermill, learn about Tudor spices and watch traditional flax processing in action. A fitting finale for anyone who loves history, heritage and great family days out.
September:
Tuesday, 1 September
Love discovering the stories behind everyday life? Watch traditional lace-making, step inside a 16th-century yeoman farmhouse, meet a 17th-century barber surgeon and compare a woman’s life in 1540 with today. You can even explore Georgian dairying and sample flavoured butters! Perfect for curious history lovers who like to get a real taste of the past.
Wednesday, 2 September
Looking for a hands-on day out with plenty to discover? Meet Meg the Pedlar, uncover the daily chores of a churchwarden, see replica clothing being knitted and have a go at maypole dancing. There are also short introductions to Southwater Smithy and our historic gardens. A brilliant choice for families who want to experience history rather than just read about it.
Thursday, 3 September
Tudor fans, this one’s for you! See a 16th-century kitchen in action, discover how flax was traditionally processed and experience everyday life inside Bayleaf Farmhouse. Then find out how Tudors really dressed in our special timed talks. Perfect for anyone fascinated by Tudor life from food to fashion.
Friday, 4 September
Love traditional crafts and the more unusual side of history? Discover willow weaving, flax processing and rag rugging, step inside a Victorian railway worker’s cottage and hear fascinating stories of midwifery from the Anglo-Saxon period to today. Ideal for craft lovers and anyone who enjoys discovering the hidden stories of everyday life.
Saturday, 5 September
Want to see the countryside’s working past come alive? Threshing Weekend begins alongside 16th- and 17th-century farmhouse life, traditional flax processing and the fascinating history of the victualling house. Add live performances from the South Downs Folk Singers and there’s plenty to fill your day. Perfect for lovers of rural history, traditional skills and folk culture.
Sunday, 6 September
Families looking for a full day of living history will love this one! Enjoy Threshing Weekend, try Tudor games, meet Annie the Pedlar and discover an Elizabethan musical instrument maker, alongside historic kitchens and farmhouses spanning the centuries. A fantastic family day for anyone who loves seeing, hearing and experiencing the past.
Monday, 7 September
Fancy starting the week with arrows, pedlars and a working watermill? Discover the traditional skill of fletching, meet Meg the Pedlar and explore life in both a Tudor farmhouse and a Victorian railway worker’s cottage, with a short introduction to Lurgashall Water Mill too. Perfect for visitors who enjoy traditional skills and everyday history.
Tuesday, 8 September
Foodies with a taste for history, don’t miss this! Compare women’s lives in 1540 and 2026, experience a 16th-century kitchen and farmhouse, then discover Georgian dairying, complete with flavoured butter tastings. Perfect for food lovers who want to taste their way through history.
Wednesday, 9 September
Ever wondered how ordinary people worked, dressed and lived in the past? Discover a 16th-century kitchen, churchwarden’s chores, replica knitting, flax processing and Victorian cottage life, plus short talks at Southwater Smithy and in the Museum’s historic gardens. Ideal for anyone fascinated by the skills that shaped everyday life.
Thursday, 10 September
Step straight into the world of the Tudors! Explore life inside a 16th-century farmhouse and kitchen, watch flax being processed and discover the layers, fabrics and fashions behind Tudor clothing. Perfect for Tudor enthusiasts and lovers of historic fashion.
Friday, 11 September
Interested in the stories of women, families and domestic life through history? Meet the Mistress of the House, discover how childbirth and midwifery changed from the Anglo-Saxon period to today, and see the traditional craft of rag rugging. Perfect for visitors who love uncovering the personal stories behind history.
Saturday, 12 September
Love the stranger, more colourful corners of Tudor history? Meet the Cunning Woman, discover Elizabethan musical instruments, watch Renaissance silk work and Regency hat making, explore a Tudor kitchen and learn how people dressed in the 16th century. Perfect for history lovers looking for something a little different.
Sunday, 13 September
Creative families and craft lovers, there’s plenty for you today! Play Tudor games, explore a 16th-century kitchen and farmhouse, discover natural dyes and watch beautiful Renaissance silk work, while Victorian domestic life awaits at Whittaker’s Cottages. A colourful day out for families, makers and lovers of traditional crafts.
Monday, 14 September
Want to discover the sights, smells and skills of Tudor England? Experience farmhouse and kitchen life, see traditional fletching, visit a Victorian railway worker’s cottage and learn about both Lurgashall Water Mill and the spices of the 16th century. Perfect for history lovers who enjoy discovering the details of everyday life.
Tuesday, 15 September
Craft lovers and foodies, today has a bit of everything! Watch traditional willow weaving, explore Tudor and Victorian homes and sample flavoured butters while discovering the story of Georgian dairying. You can also hear about ornamental dairies, Cowfold Barn and the history of basketmaking. Perfect for anyone who loves traditional crafts with a tasty bit of history on the side.
Wednesday, 16 September
Love seeing historic skills brought back to life? Watch replica clothing being knitted, discover a churchwarden’s daily chores and explore Tudor kitchen and farmhouse life, with short introductions to Southwater Smithy and our historic gardens. Perfect for curious visitors who want to discover how people once lived and worked.
Thursday, 17 September
Calling all Tudor enthusiasts! Step inside a working 16th-century kitchen and yeoman farmhouse, see flax processing in action and discover exactly what went into dressing as a Tudor. A must for anyone fascinated by Tudor homes, clothing and everyday life.
Friday, 18 September
Domestic history fans, come and experience the Tudor household up close! Meet the Mistress of the House, see a 16th-century kitchen brought to life and discover the thrifty traditional craft of rag rugging. Perfect for anyone interested in historic homes, crafts and the people who kept them running.
Saturday, 19 September
Looking for a simple taste of Tudor life? Head into Winkhurst Kitchen and discover how food, fire and household work came together in a 16th-century kitchen. Perfect for foodies and families wanting a fascinating glimpse into Tudor life.
Sunday, 20 September
Families who like to get stuck into history will love today! Discover Tudor games, watch flax being processed and explore both a 16th-century kitchen and yeoman farmhouse. Perfect for families looking for a fun introduction to Tudor life and traditional skills.
Monday, 21 September
Traditional skills enthusiasts, start your week in the past! Watch the craft of fletching, explore a 16th-century farmhouse and Victorian railway worker’s cottage, then discover the story of our working Lurgashall Water Mill. Perfect for anyone who loves craftsmanship, machinery and social history.
Tuesday, 22 September
Want history you can see, smell and even taste? Explore Tudor kitchens and farmhouses, discover women’s lives in 1540, watch flax processing and step into Victorian cottage life before sampling flavoured butters and learning about Georgian dairying. Perfect for visitors who want an immersive taste of everyday history.
Wednesday, 23 September
For visitors who want variety, today is packed with it! Discover knitting, churchwarden’s chores and Tudor kitchen life, meet Meg the Pedlar and learn about Southwater Smithy, Tudor clothing and the Museum’s historic gardens. Perfect for curious history lovers who want something new around every corner.
Thursday, 24 September
Ever wondered what home life looked like centuries ago? Travel from the Tudor period to the Victorian age as you explore a 16th-century kitchen and yeoman farmhouse alongside a late 19th-century railway worker’s cottage. Perfect for social history fans who love stepping inside homes from the past.
Friday, 25 September
Love discovering the human stories behind history? Meet the Mistress of the House, watch flax processing and rag rugging, and journey from Anglo-Saxon to modern childbirth in our fascinating Call the Midwife! talks. Perfect for visitors fascinated by domestic life, traditional crafts and social history.
Saturday, 26 September
Makers, crafters and lovers of beautiful handmade things, this is your day! Made by Hand brings traditional craftsmanship to the fore alongside lace-making, wood carving, kilt making and replica interpretation goods, with historic homes brought to life across the Museum too. Perfect for craft lovers and anyone inspired by skilled hands and traditional techniques.
Sunday, 27 September
Looking for a family day packed with craft, music and living history? Made by Hand continues with wood carving, lace-making, kilt making and replica goods, alongside folk songs and stories, Tudor games and the baking of the daily loaf. Perfect for creative families and anyone who loves traditional crafts, music and food.
Monday, 28 September
Love the practical skills that kept historic communities running? Discover fletching, Tudor farmhouse and kitchen life and a Victorian railway worker’s home, then hear about our working watermill and the spices that flavoured 16th-century food. Perfect for history lovers who enjoy getting into the nuts and bolts of everyday life.
Tuesday, 29 September
Food lovers, Tudor fans and curious minds, spend Michaelmas immersed in history! Explore a 16th-century kitchen and farmhouse, compare women’s lives in 1540 and today, and sample flavoured butters while discovering Georgian dairying. Perfect for visitors who like their history immersive, fascinating and delicious.
Wednesday, 30 September
Finish September by discovering the people and skills behind everyday history! Explore a 16th-century kitchen, learn about the daily chores of a churchwarden and join short talks on Southwater Smithy and the Museum’s historic gardens. Perfect for curious visitors looking to round off the month with some living history.
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Become a Member and Make the Most of the Seasons
Becoming a Member is the best way to enjoy the Museum throughout the changing seasons while helping to care for our historic buildings, traditional crafts, and beautiful landscape. As an independent charity with no government funding, your support helps protect this special place for future generations. With unlimited visits, seasonal activities, and new experiences to discover each time, membership quickly empowers the joy of returning.
Join as a Member and make the most of everything the Museum offers every season.
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Information for Visitors
The Museum’s 40 acre site, historic gardens and buildings are fascinating places to learn about rural history. Visitors can purchase grain from the Museum shop and feed the hungry ducks on the mill pond. Whilst enjoying the great outdoors and fresh air, look out for our working animals, which can include the Heavy Horses, Sheep and Ducks. There are a number of lovely woodland trails, including a woodland play area for children to explore.
Why not enjoy breakfast, brunch or lunch at our Waterside Café? Visitors can also bring a picnic as there are plenty of picnic areas available on site. Takeaway refreshments will also be available from our seasonal Shepherd’s Huts located around the Museum.
Dogs on short leads are welcome and there is ample free parking. Please note that the Museum is a no-smoking site. Visitors with access needs are advised to read our accessibility page in advance of their visit.
All activities are subject to change.
