Introducing the Honeybridge Estate, West Sussex
The luxurious 17-acre Honeybridge Estate, located in West Sussex, is a slice of true luxury – located just a stone’s throw from the South Downs National Park.
A quintessential countryside retreat, Honeybridge offers large groups or families the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. In fact, once you step onto its sprawling grounds, you’ll have very little reason to leave.
The grounds are filled with endless activities and experiences, including your very own fishing and wild swimming lake, a zip wire, cricket pitch, tennis courts, tree house, games room, bike hire, football, outdoor hot tubs and – the jewel in the crown – a jaw-dropping 14m indoor heated pool.
Although our fleeting two night stay at Honeybridge was simply a taster of all that the Estate has to offer, below is my honest review of the Honeybridge Estate.
From the quality of the accommodation, to the heritage-filled area surrounding it, here’s why I think the Honeybridge Estate is the perfect luxury family-friendly UK destination.
Accommodation on the Honeybridge Estate
The Honeybridge Estate comprises of 3 luxurious properties that can be booked independently or together, which allows you full run of the Estate.
As we were based at The Barn during our stay, this review will focus predominantly on this lovely spot, which (even as a standalone accommodation), surpassed all my expectations. However, and as we were lucky enough to be the only guests on the Estate during our mid-week visit, we were very kindly allowed full access the swimming pool and the Estates other amenities – which I’ll touch upon throughout.
Waking up alone on my own private estate with my three-year old was definitely a pinch-me moment, and a memory I’ll never likely forget.
The Barn, Honeybridge Estate
The barn sleeps up to 8 adults and four children, but for comfort, I’d probably suggest 6 adults and 2-3 children (with additional cots if necessary).
The Barn was the last of the buildings on the Honeybridge Estate to be converted into guest accommodation – and I’m going to say that they saved the best until last. Once the old workshop, The Barn is now a beautifully designed ‘upside down’ living space.
On the ground floor, you’ll find 4 main bedrooms, all named after the various animals you’ll find on the Estate.
My daughter made an immediate beeline for the cosy kids’ room, which boasts a unique 3-bed bunkbed, nestled amongst the old beams of the barn. Surrounding the bed were children’s books and soft toys, which (again) my daughter took swift ownership of. It was the most perfect set-up for her and the team at Honeybridge had thought of everything we might need as a young family.
We opted for the master bedroom, which had an ensuite (although we also had access to the large family bathroom). The room felt incredibly cosy, while benefiting from views of the vibrant green trees outside.
There are a further two bedrooms on the ground floor, all with access to the outdoor patio area and sun loungers.
The ground floor also offers a spacious utility room, which is vital for any family visit. It was the small details of the Barn, however, that made our stay feel extra special – such as a box of shiny new flip flops for use by the hot tub, anoraks for the kids, and beautifully branded dressing gowns that can be found hanging in all of the rooms.
The Barn has been designed in an upside-down manner, in order to make the most of the spacious living space on the first floor. Upstairs there’s a generously appointed kitchen, with large central island and dining table. Again, it has everything and more a family might need during their stay, including children’s cutlery, plates and bowls.
The cosy lounge, with large L-shaped corner sofa and impressive fire, was a lovely space to snuggle down in, in the evening (if we weren’t in the hot tub, of course).
However, and as a mum, perhaps the most exciting room in the barn was the enormous playroom.
Yes, this barn comes complete with its very own playroom, which my daughter was obviously overjoyed with. The room had IKEA storage boxes brimming full of toys, a small table and chairs ideal for colouring, a TV and giant bean bags. It really was heaven-sent as a parent and meant we didn’t need to worry about packing toys for our trip.
Up a small staircase in the playroom, you’ll find the final room; a small snug on a mezzanine floor, complete with its own TV. This is a brilliant place for older children to escape their parents to watch a film, or alternatively, the sofa bed provides a snug sleeping place for another 2 adults.
Outside, you’ll find hammocks swinging lazily between the trees, plenty of outdoor furniture and even a 6-seater hot tub. This was the piece-de-resistance for us weary parents and a very welcome addition to the barn.
Homely yet luxurious, offering a safe space for young children, we could have moved in and set up home at the barn without bringing much more than a suitcase.
The House, Honeybridge Estate
For those looking for a large holiday rental in Sussex, the house at Honeybridge is for you.
Sitting at the top of the hill, overlooking the South Downs, the house sleeps up to 12 adults and 4 children. I was lucky enough to have a tour of the house during our stay and was suitably blown away.
This is a brilliant property for a family celebration or wedding, and as I wandered its many rooms, it had me dreaming about hosting my own 40th birthday party here – mainly due to the surprise found beneath the house.
Take the staircase down from the kitchen and you’ll discover a huge, 14-metre heated swimming pool, complete with sauna, changing rooms, showers and enough inflatables and games to entertain a small army of children.
During our stay, we were fortunate enough to have full access to the pool and, for obvious reasons, it soon became our most visited part of the Estate thanks to our water-loving 3-year old.
As I watched my husband and daughter play in the pool, while I smugly relaxed in the hot tub, I imagined just how much fun the Honeybridge Estate would be for a big birthday party, with all my friends and family around.
The Cottage, Honeybridge Estate
The Cottage on the Honeybridge Estate is a beautiful Tudor style, rose-clad property that was actually transported from a nearby village and rebuilt on the grounds.
This cosy cottage has 3 bedrooms and sleeps up to 5 adults and 3 children. It’s also as equally as luxurious as the other two properties on the Estate. As with the barn, the cottage also has its own beautiful garden, comfy outdoor furniture, BBQ and private hot tub.
Booking the Honeybridge Estate
If you’re looking for a truly memorable holiday or family celebration, you can book the entire Honeybridge Estate. This would offer accommodation for up to 25 adults and 11 children, making it the ideal place for a multi-generational get together (or wedding).
To make your stay even more memorable, concierge can be booked, alongside luxurious additions such as spa treatments, cooking classes and fishing classes.
Activities on The Honeybridge Estate
One of the key selling points of the Honeybridge Estate is the huge variety of activities and experiences available to its lucky guests.
1. Private Fishing and Wild Swimming Lake
My favourite experience during our stay at the Honeybridge Estate was taking my first ever wild swim in the private lake. With my daughter and husband as cheerleaders, I sunk into the cold depths of the lake and set off at speed – half panting from the cold, half screaming at the things that kept touching my feet.
Once the initial adrenaline had worn off, I had an unexpectedly lovely swim in the lake and as I got out, I felt the happy buzz that so many mention when waxing lyrical about wild swimming.
I can imagine that if we’d stayed longer, I’d have made the most of the tranquil lake in the early mornings, before the demands of my 3-year old filled the rest of the day. Swimming aside, fishing classes can also be booked on the lake and there’s also a beautiful decking area for those making the most of an afternoon the water.
2. Sports Facilities
For cricket, tennis, basketball and football lovers, The Honeybridge Estate boasts its own private cricket pitch, tennis court, basketball court and large field with football goals. I can imagine that if you visited with a large group of adults and children, these activities would take up a large portion of the day – with lengthy competitive matches taking place.
3. A Magical Treehouse
A lovely spot for kids (and big kids) on the Estate is the treehouse, which is located in woodland just by the barn. This soon became my daughter’s ‘house’ and we were ordered to leave the property as soon as she’d made herself at home.
If we were with more children during our stay, this would be an ideal, safe place to leave the kids to play while the adults enjoyed some local wine on the deck chairs.
4. An Amazing Games Room
As if The Honeybridge Estate couldn’t boast anymore, we discovered a barn dedicated entirely to games.
Again, if you have a large group of kids with you during your stay, the games room is another ideal place for them to escape to. With a pool table, football table, TV and plenty of other games to be found, there’s plenty to keep them occupied while you enjoy the hot tub (and a glass of fizz, of course).
5. An Enormous Private Pool
As mentioned earlier in my review of The Honeybridge Estate, the crowning jewel of the grounds is its private, 14m indoor pool, alongside its hot tub, sauna, private changing rooms and showers.
As we were staying in the barn, we weren’t expecting use of the pool, which is reserved for exclusive use by those staying in the house. Fortunately, however, as no one else was staying during our visit, the incredibly kind team handed us the keys to the pool on our arrival.
As my daughter adores swimming, I’d barely put our suitcases down before she was bouncing across the lawn, making her way towards the main house and its underground pool.
Opening the swimming pool doors, our jaws dropped as we took in the glistening pool, and its beautiful surroundings. As Zoe, the Estate Manager, showed us round, I slowly lost the ability to talk, as we were shown the private sauna, hot tub, fully-stocked fridge, changing rooms and showers.
There were even inflatables sitting ready and waiting, which nearly caused my daughter to self-combust with excitement.
We spent far more hours in the pool than I expected, and with the sun shining in and not another soul on the Estate, this setting felt a real privilege.
Indeed, the pool is unquestionably a huge draw for the Estate and would be an ideal spot for a large family party. To make it extra special, therapists can be booked for relaxing massages and other treatments.
6. Bike Hire
Another activity is bike hire, which comes complimentary during your stay. I was so impressed that the Estate had even considered small children, with a tiny bike with stabilisers ready and waiting for my daughter when we arrived.
7. A Zip Wire
The zip wire can be found just up from the Barn and provides endless hours of entertainment for older children (or adults). Finishing just before the tree house, this little area is the ideal playground for children – and a lot of fun.
Things to do Near the Honeybridge Estate
In this review of The Honeybridge Estate, I wanted to include a list of some of the best things to do in the surrounding area.
1. Knepp Estate
The Knepp Estate is a 3,500-acre rewilding project, and just so happens to be sat on the doorstep of The Honeybridge Estate.
I’ve been desperate to visit Knepp for a while, but will wait for a few more years yet for when my daughter is a little older and can appreciate this vital project.
If you’re looking for a family day out, book one of Knepp’s famous safaris to view some of their rewilding projects, or enjoy one of its many walks, which will take you past plenty of animals and wild flowers.
Once you’ve worked up an appetite, be sure to stop by the Wilding Kitchen for a delicious meal – all produce has been harvested from the Knepp land.
2. Visit Arundel
We’ve been fortunate enough to visit Arundel a number of times and so were excited to return now that my daughter is that little bit older. Famed for its 10th century Castle, sat atop a leafy hill and sprawling 40-acre grounds, Arundel is an international destination.
It took us just 20-minutes to reach Arundel from The Honeybridge Estate and were blessed with the perfect sunny afternoon for exploring both the historic castle and the town’s gorgeous independent stores.
Read our full guide to Arundel, if you’re planning a day-trip while staying at the Honeybridge Estate.
3. Visit Steyning
Before becoming a Mum, I must admit that I wouldn’t have been particularly excited to visit Steyning – a market town located just a 10-minute drive from The Honeybridge Estate.
Now in the depths of child-rearing, however, Steyning is in fact something of a pilgrimage destination thanks to one of its local residents.
Which resident I hear you cry? Well, it’s the woman, the myth, the legend that is Julia Donaldson.
Julia’s stories (The Gruffalo, most notably) are a staple of my family’s daily life, and so I was incredibly excited to hear that the Steyning bookshop stocked signed copies of all of Julia’s books.
Making a beeline for Steyning Bookshop as soon as we arrived, we were greeted with an impossibly cute children’s section, filled with Julia’s books. I’m not sure who was more excited by this, me or my daughter, but we picked up a signed copy of Julia’s latest book.
You never know, it might be worth something someday.
Julia aside, Steyning is a beautiful, quintessential English Market town and there are a surprising number of independent shops and eateries to enjoy. I can highly recommend the cafe – Victoria’s Sponge – for a giant slice of cake.
4. Wine Tasting
A fact that I learned during my time at Honeybridge is that Sussex is home to over 1,000 hectares of vineyards and is actually one of the most famous British wine regions.
Renowned for its sparking wine, there are a few vineyards located conveniently close to Honeybridge, including Wiston Estate and Nyetimbe.
I’ve already told my friends that we’ll be returning to Honeybridge for a weekend of sampling wine by day and enjoying the delights of the Estate by night.
6. A Day at the Beach
If you’re longing for some sea air, then you’re in luck.
The nearest beaches to The Honeybridge Estate are Lancing, Shoreham and Worthing, which are just a 20-minute drive from the Estate. If you fancy going a little further afield to make a day of it, then alternatively Brighton is just 40-minutes away, or West Wittering which is a little further along the coastline.
Final Thoughts: Our Honest Review of the Honeybridge Estate
Having run a travel blog for ten years now, it’s safe to say that we’ve been fortunate enough to see a lot of what the UK has to offer.
From luxury hotels to cosy cottages, we’ve travelled the length and breadth of this beautiful island.
I can confirm, however, that The Honeybridge Estate is easily the prettiest and most unique place that I’ve ever stayed.
As Honeybridge say themselves, this place is the closest you’ll get to a luxury hotel, with the added bonus that you’ll also be handed the key on arrival.
In my case, being handed said keys to this sprawling estate was a true “pinch-me” moment.
Honeybridge is a truly extra special spot to enjoy with friends and family, be it a huge family gathering or an intimate stay in the cottage.
The team at the Estate go above and beyond for their guests, and I have no doubt that they will ensure that your holiday is nothing less than perfect.
Pin for later: Our Honest Review of the Honeybridge Estate
My review of the Honeybridge Estate is in partnership with Coolstays but all opinion of my stay is my own.