Petworth: Art, History and Parkland

Petworth combines art and history with distinctive parkland. The country house, the history of churches and cottages, and a range of cultural attractions shape the town. The park and a variety of walking routes offer further perspectives on the landscape around Petworth.

Country House, Collection and Stories of Its Residents

Petworth House is a 17th-century country house and is home to one of the most significant art collections owned by the National Trust. The house has been associated with a single family for more than 900 years. The Servants’ Quarters offer an insight into the lives of the people who worked there. Alongside the art collection, the history of the house and the working lives of its staff are also in focus.

The Petworth Cottage Museum adds another kind of historical perspective. It is a cottage on the Leconfield Estate, restored and furnished to show how it might have looked around 1910. St Mary’s Church is also part of the town’s history: its story dates back to Saxon times. The church is set aside for private prayer during the day.

Art and Culture in the Town

Newlands House Gallery presents modern and contemporary art exhibitions in a restored Grade II listed Georgian townhouse. The exhibition programme may change, so it is worth checking which exhibitions are scheduled during your visit. Leconfield Hall is in the centre of Petworth and is a cinema and arts centre. Its programme includes films, concerts and performances.

Every summer, the Petworth Festival brings two weeks of performances to unique venues in Petworth and the surrounding villages and towns. Individual programmes and dates change each year. If you would like to plan your trip around the festival, check the dates for the relevant year.

Parkland and Walking Routes

The 700-acre Deer Park near Petworth is an outstanding, preserved and largely unspoilt example of an English landscape designed by Lancelot “Capability” Brown. The park is open to visitors and their dogs every day throughout the year. The Capability Brown Parkland Circular Walk in Petworth is 3 miles, or 4.8 kilometres, long.

The scenic Petworth Way offers a different perspective on the area. This walking route connects Haslemere and Arundel, with historic Petworth as its midpoint; the route includes an overnight stay in Petworth. The two walking options therefore differ in scope: one is a circular walk through the parkland, while the other connects two towns via Petworth.

Region and Getting There

Petworth is in the heart of the South Downs National Park. The nearest railway station is Pulborough, 4.6 miles from Petworth. Compass bus route 99 runs between Chichester and Petworth. If you are travelling by public transport, check the timetable for your travel dates.

South of Petworth is the Coultershaw Heritage Site, 1.5 miles from the town. The River Rother flows underneath the A285 there.

Discover more destinations: Haywards Heath, Madehurst, Rudgwick, Wisborough Green, Balcombe, West Wittering, Funtington, Westbourne.

View the main travel guide: West Sussex.