Standen was designed by Philip Webb, William Morris's closest friend, for the London solicitor James Beale and his wife Margaret, and finished in 1894 as a family home rather than a showpiece. It is one of the most complete Arts and Crafts houses anywhere, with original Morris & Co. wallpapers such as Trellis in the corridors and electric lighting from the start. The Beales lived here until 1972, when the house came to the National Trust. Outside, the hillside garden drops in terraces past a quarry garden and conservatory to views over the Medway valley to Ashdown Forest, with Adventure Corner for children. Dogs are welcome on short leads outdoors. Reviewers love the textiles, tiles and lamps, the barn cafe and a fairly priced second-hand bookshop. Tips from visitors: parking is free but a couple of hundred yards uphill from reception, the garden has steep slopes and steps, and the nearest toilets to the garden and cafe are by the house.
