Advertisement
Farleys House & Gallery

Farleys House & Gallery

Farleys House & Gallery
4.5
Art GalleriesPoints of Interest & Landmarks
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
About
Sussex home of Surrealist photographer Lee Miller and artist Roland Penrose. Lee Miller and Roland Penrose came to live at Farleys House in 1949 and for the thirty five years that followed they built up a collection of contemporary art treasures, many of which were created by their friends and visitors including Pablo Picasso, Man Ray, Max Ernst, Leonora Carrington and Joan Miro. The work of these and numerous others are exhibited in the house and gardens giving the visitor a fascinating look into the world of the Surrealists. Farleys is open to the public Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays between April and October each year. All visits to the house are by guided tour. Two galleries show exhibitions from the Lee Miller Archives alongside the work of contemporary artists. Light refreshments are available in Farleys Gallery to enjoy in the Sculpture Garden. Farleys also runs a programme of workshops and events throughout the season. For more information please visit our website.
Duration: 2-3 hours
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

Top ways to experience nearby attractions

See what travelers are saying

  • BigSurLady
    Big Sur, California17 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Experience a Hidden Gem!
    Well worth the trip to get there. Truly an experience to be in a home where Surrealist artists gathered, cooked, talked, laughed and made some art. Creativity does not need a palace; it only needs inspired people and surroundings.
    Visited April 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written April 18, 2024
  • Lizzi B
    Somerset, United Kingdom40 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Authentic not a recreation!
    Such a fascinating morning spent at Farley’s. A great warm welcome delicious coffee and complimentary biscuits while watching a film giving us an insight into Roland and Lee’s lives at Farleys from friends who knew them personally. Then a great guided tour from Judith whose enthusiasm for her subjects was infectious. Great treasures in the house as if the residents had just left the room. So brilliant that Anthony Penrose and his daughter Ami have lovingly left the place in tact this place feels authentic not a recreation! Well done everyone involved. Thank you.
    Visited June 2024
    Traveled with friends
    Written June 3, 2024
  • Amanda T
    32 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Very peaceful and relaxing place to visit
    We visited the galleries and gardens. The staff were knowledgeable about the photographs in the galleries and it was very interesting. They change the photographs every now and then so worth going back. The sculptures were surrealist and not really my taste but I did 'get' a couple of them. The gardens are so peaceful - a great place to come to unwind. The coffee and cake were really good. We will definitely be going back.
    Visited June 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written June 23, 2024
  • JoLovely
    112 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    I feel very humbled to have visited Farley’s House & Gallery. I can highly recommend a visit.
    So wonderful to visit the home made by surrealist Roland Penrose and his wife the World War II photographer Lee Miller. There’s an eclectic collection of art and sculptures within the house and in the gardens. A fascinating insight into the life they shared together after Lee’s time as a photographer in Europe during the war. I was privileged to meet their son Richard who is passionate about sharing his parents story and legacy.
    Visited August 2024
    Traveled with friends
    Written August 23, 2024
  • KAW687
    London, United Kingdom2,589 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Still talking about it
    Have wanted to visit for some time and although it was expensive it was well worth it. We arrived for our tour early and sat and had a cup of tea and excellent cake in the gallery watching the 75 years dvd. The lady in the cafe was very friendly and told us things to look out for in the house. The house tour was so interesting, just the downstairs rooms but the guide was a mine of anecdotes and very well informed and the rooms were packed with interesting and beautiful things. The gardens are also wonderful. The barn gallery had an exhibition with Lee Miller's war photography next to photos from the recent movie about her. We are still talking about the experience weeks later and would encourage anyone thinking about it to visit.
    Visited August 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written September 10, 2024
  • smilerviv
    Bicester, United Kingdom196 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A truly fascinating place to visit
    We visited Farleys House and Gallery because we had just seen LEE the film about Lee Miller, and were blown away by it. The tour of the house (which has to be pre-booked) is about 50 minutes long and the tourguide who escorted the group from room to room was very knowledgable with fascinating anecdotes. This is a no camera no touch zone, which is fair enough. However it really was not long enough to enjoy all the beautiful and fascinating things there were to see in the house. One was left wishing that one had more time just to wander around. I appreciate that this would be very difficult as the rooms are small, but maybe extending the time we were in each room would improve the experience. The gardens were very nice with surreal sculptures dotted around. Time here is unlimited. There is also a Lee Miller Gallery with a display about how the film was made.
    Visited September 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written October 1, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles89 reviews
Excellent
75
Very good
8
Average
1
Poor
3
Terrible
2

Victoria Y
London, UK3 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2021 • Couples
We went to the gallery and fell in love with one of the photos. However, they didn’t have the matted print in stock so we paid the price (£60) there so they can get it printed and matted. Two weeks later, we received a photo which is not matted with a bent corner due to poor packaging. We we’re really surprised how an expensive photo was packaged so poorly.

We reached out and asked them to send the matted photo as that’s what we paid for. They got back and told us that:

“Unmatted prints are £45.75, whilst the matted prints in our shop are £60.00 - the extra costs you pay by ordering online are VAT and postage and packaging. “

On what planet does VAT, postage and packaging costs ÂŁ15?? When we ordered it in store, also no one explained to us that by paying ÂŁ60 (which is the exact same cost as the matted photos in store) that we would only be receiving a damaged and flimsy photo in poor packaging.

We then called the gallery and the person who picked up the phone was also extremely rude and sounded like she’s too good to talk to us about their mistakes.

They were very unhelpful both in emails and on the phone about their own mistakes. They kept pushing the responsibilities away and basically meant that we were lying about everything. Seems like they’re just there for the money rather than providing a good experience for visitors and customers, which for the price we paid we thought we would get.

We felt very disrespected and disappointed.
Written August 17, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Bluebellplasnewydd
Cardiff, UK2,040 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2023 • Couples
This is a review of the farmhouse and gardens although there is also an exhibition hall outside the entrance with old photographs. The house was home to a couple of well known artists and photographers from around 1940/50s. They were obviously well connected as Picasso and others stayed with them. You have to take a guided tour which lasts around 50 minutes although only 3 ground floor rooms are on display. It is the contents that are important rather than there being any significant architectural heritage of the house. It is, of course, full are art in the surreal form together with other artefacts. The tour and artworks are interesting rather than eye opening but give an insight into certain artistic groups of the time. The guide was informative and not inspirational so children would find it heavy going. The gardens are peaceful and contain artwork of the same period. This place is only open on certain days and tours have to be booked in advance.
Written April 11, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Adam S
Oxford, UK131 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2020
I have been wanting to visit Farleys for some years and we finally had the opportunity to do so yesterday as we were in the area.

We were not disappointed! From the wonderful welcome, the great recommendations on how to spend our time there to best advantage and the tour of such an extra-ordinary house, this was a day to remember.

The tour was brilliant, and of huge interest to anyone who likes Surrealism and / or 20th century art and photography. There is so much to absorb in each room that you don't know where to look!

Finally, I can't finish without mentioning the legendary gluten-free lemon drizzle cake which we ate in the gardens with a cup of tea. What a wonderful way to spend half a day!
Written September 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Stay787533
16 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2020 • Solo
Home to Lee Miller and Roland Penrose, when the house is open it's fascinating to find works by the surrealists dotted about. At present, exhibitions of Lee Miller's photos are great to see. She was an amazing person! Interesting sculpture in the garden too. And you always receive a warm welcome, quite possibly from Anthony Penrose or his daughter Ami. The re-discovery of Lee Miller's work, and indeed her life, is itself remarkble.
Written August 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Brian R
92 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2021 • Couples
A fascinating and massively interesting guided tour of the house is a must which gives a thorough insight into the lives and work of both Anthony Penrose and Lee Miller as well as other artists. The explanations of connections these two had with other notable artists and photographers all adds up to a very informative hour.
The changing exhibitions are also worth looking out for and a few hours spent sitting the the garden is a delight.
Written October 21, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Lois
Kent, UK100 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2024 • Couples
We booked the house tour for 10:30 , Ian was our guide and was brilliant at bringing the house and art to life with his enthusiasm and expert knowledge. The tour lasted 50 minutes, which was I think about right.
It would be great if in the future there would be further tours to follow on from the initial introduction to the house and artists to explore more aspects of the house , art residents and visitors.
We recommend the tea shop worth - we had a delicious slice of chocolate homemade cake with tea.
The current extra exhibitions in the cafe were very good and the Lee Miller Gallery with current exhibition around the Lee Film is good.
Gardens have interesting works of surrealist artwork .
No photography allowed inside the house - but lots of books and cards available to purchase.
Allow 2-3 hours for visit.
Written October 7, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Julie W
London, UK21 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2022
The inside of the house tells the domestic story of Lee Miller and Roland Penrose, but it is a work of art in its own right. Everywhere you turn, amazing pieces, decorations and artefacts help you imagine the happy socialising that happened here. The garden embraces the house and the staff are so interested and informative. If you take a picnic, save room for the cake available.
Written May 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Karlotta
London, United Kingdom9 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2023 • Couples
This place is an absolute pleasure on every level!

Easter treat to visit Farleys House at last, as a life long fan of the work of Lee Miller I had wanted to see her home for some time.
Yet this place exceeded all my expectations!
Very often houses of well known people are not exciting and can lack authenticity , but this is a real home, and so much love and talent here over the years makes it so special.

Firstly, the staff are so welcoming, special shout out to Steve and Jane, so friendly and knowledgable.
We were early so had a look around the extra gallery of unexpected exhibits.
The surrounding area is picture postcard English countryside.

The house tour was informative and engaging.
The house, as indeed, the whole place has some special kind of warmth. One can only assume as in family hands it is all done with love. I was so happy to discover so much of Roland Penrose' art which I was not aware of and what a treat! New fan!
The place is not gimmicky or touristic, and definitely not boring. It is informative, relaxed and you will not want to leave! We didn't!
There is a little coffee shop within the other gallery, also with wonderful staff, where Lee's work is displayed, some of her hard hitting photographs alongside photos of their famous surrealist guests.
The gardens are quiet and so beautiful, we could have stayed forever! Though we were v lucky with sunny spring weather.

The absolute icing on the cake was meeting with Anthony, Lee and Roland's son.
He seemed happy to talk with us and answer our questions and it really is a testimony to his wonderfully talented parents how well he manages this house. After all, this is his home and we are honoured to be able to share with him his parents' legacy in this way.
He is also a real adventurer and there are wonderful things to explore there to do with his travels.
Even the little shop has such well curated treasures befitting his parents' talents, and love for one another.
Now we are working out when to return as they offer some interesting art/music or workshop days. We cannot wait, it is an absolute gem of a place to discover!

Don't change a thing Farleys House, you have it just right!
Written April 10, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Nancy S
Castle Pines, CO98 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2023 • Solo
The extraordinary talents and stories of Lee Miller and Sir Roland Penrose are aptly presented at Farleys House & Gallery at Muddles Green. The staff is first class, presenting the extraordinary collection with knowledge and passion, interacting with each visitor professionally and kindly. Stepping back in time in the Home, Sculpture Garden, and in the Collections shouldn’t be overlooked.
Written June 1, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kevin S
Ampthill, UK32 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2022
A very interesting tour of the ground floor of Roland Penrose and Lee Miller's country house, with works of theirs and their guests (including Picasso) on show, and an insight into their lives. The tour lasts about 50 minutes and you must book.

There is an exhibition of Lee Miller's postwar photographs, taken around the property and the local area, in a nearby barn. They are not as interesting as her earlier work, but still worth a look. Another barn has a small cafe, a shop, and a guest exhibition. There are also grounds to enjoy - but not our visit, as it was raining!
Written May 16, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

…
Showing results 1-10 of 86
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing

Farleys House & Gallery - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

RestaurantsFlightsVacation RentalsTravel StoriesCruisesRental Cars