Stanmer Park restoration project

We introduced car parking charges at Stanmer Park on 1 April 2021. There is more information in the updates below.

About Stanmer Park

Stanmer Park is Brighton’s largest park. It is a gateway between the city and the South Downs National Park. Designed in the 18th century, it is a grade II registered landscape which is historically and nationally significant.

The park includes Grade I listed Stanmer House, plus 25 Grade II listed buildings and structures.

Project vision

To ensure this important 18th century designed landscape is conserved and restored and will be available and meaningful to future generations of residents, businesses and visitors. Our landscape vision also aims to balance the competing demands on the estate. 

What is the Stanmer Park Restoration project

Brighton & Hove City Council secured £5.1m for this project to restore 20 hectares of the 485-hectare park. Construction work was carried out by Buxton Building contractors and is now complete.

The project is now providing, via project partners, a range of new activities and engagement opportunities including volunteering and learning.  

The construction element of the restoration project has focused on:

• the Walled Garden and surrounding areas
• the 18th Century landscape and historical features (including the entrance and parkland to Stanmer House)

The project is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the BIG Lottery ‘Parks for People’ scheme, as well as Brighton & Hove City Council, Plumpton College and the South Downs National Park Authority.

The Walled Garden has been transformed by Plumpton College and the Project into an attractive expertly designed garden, One Garden Brighton.

The park’s historic Frankland Monument has been restored. A new information and welcome kiosk called Circa in the Park is now open. It offers snacks, refreshments and  public toilets and park bike hire. A new off-road pathway has been created alongside the main driveway as part of the project’s aim to improve access for all.

New cycle parking stands are provided in the Lower Lodges west car park, the new Patchway car park, and by the restored Walled Garden.

What are the project outcomes

As well as restoring 20-hectares of landscape, the project is protecting and rejuvenating Stanmer Park in a number of ways, including: 

• providing hundreds of education, training and volunteering opportunities - plus other activities as part of our Activity Plan
• improving park-wide access and movement for all
• explaining and celebrating the park's history and importance, such as through our Oral History Project, education and learning, 'listening posts' and interpretation signs
• planting over 500 more native trees
• creating a long-term management vision for the park for the next 10 years, including an estate-wide Woodland Management Plan
• providing a dedicated onsite team to deliver the 10 year vision and beyond

The Stanmer Restoration project plans are explained in this video

One Garden Brighton

The restored Walled Garden includes a farm shop (“market”) and a café (“the kitchen”). It opened to the public at the beginning of April 2021. Development of a range of new opportunities for horticultural teaching, learning and volunteering is well underway.  Find out more, and sign up for the One Garden Brighton newsletter.

Read the latest One Garden Brighton newsletter to register your interest in taking part in future planting and other volunteering opportunities, including future activities for schools in the Walled Garden

Activities in Stanmer Park

We have launched a Family Learning Resource Pack with activities to encourage everyone to get out and about in Stanmer Park and other green spaces. 

Tree planting at Stanmer Park

We've planted 500 new trees in Stanmer Park. The young trees, a selection of different species, have been funded by the Stanmer Park Restoration Project and PayByPhone's 'Green Christmas' campaign.

Find out more about how Stanmer Park and Madagascan reforestation project benefit from parking payments.

Stanmer Park playground

The playground at the Lower Lodges end of the park is open.

New information and welcome kiosk

This new building, by the Lower Lodges entrance, is now open. It is operated by Circa in the Park. It offers drinks and snacks, public toilets and park bike hire. 

Public events at Stanmer

Please check individual event organisers' websites for information on public events scheduled to take place at Stanmer Park.

If you are interested in running a public event at Stanmer Park, please send an email to the Events team at eventsinfo@brighton-hove.gov.uk first.

How to access the park, transport to get there and parking

Public transport links

Throughout the year, our ‘Breeze’ buses link the city with some of the most popular countryside destinations within the South Downs National Park. This includes Stanmer Park. 

The 78 service goes into the heart of Stanmer Park to and from the city centre

The 79 service to Ditchling Beacon enables you to access Stanmer Park from Ditchling Road and the Upper Lodges car park. There is a bus stop on Ditchling Road directly outside this car park.

The services run every Saturday, Sunday and bank holiday (except Christmas Day.)

In addition, the 25 bus provides a frequent 7-days-a-week service linking the city centre and Lewes Road with the Stanmer Park entrance – and the 23 service offers links to the park entrance from Eastern Road and Queens Park.

Find out about Brighton & Hove buses

‘Breeze’ bus timetables

Timetables for the 78 and 79 services which serve Stanmer Park:

• Route 78 to Stanmer Park

• Route 79 to Ditchling Beacon - from 4 September 2021 until Easter 2022.  

View the Summer 2021 issue of ‘Breeze up to the Downs and Beyond’, which features a number of local countryside destinations which you can reach by public transport, and also includes a section on Stanmer Park.

Find out more about Breeze buses.

Car parking at Stanmer Park - charges, availability and arrangements

Charging for car parking began at Stanmer Park on 1 April 2021.

There are 6 designated car parks at the park:

• Lower Lodges east
• Lower Lodges west
• The Patchway
• Church car park
• Upper Lodges
• Chalkhill

Please make sure you use the correct, signed parking areas only. 

You are not allowed to park your car on the grass, park roadways, verges or pavements.

The charges vary depending on time and location, and range from £1 for an hour to £6.50 for 11 hours.  A full listing of the charges appears below.

There are pay by card machines at the Lower Lodges West car park and at the Patchway. All other locations are PaybyPhone, using the app, or by calling 01273 458 458.

You could get a parking ticket if you do not follow the rules. 

Parking at Stanmer Village is only allowed for Stanmer residents and deliveries with authorised parking permits, and for Blue Badge holders.  Any unauthorised vehicles in this area will be at risk of parking enforcement.  

Income from car parking is ringfenced for the management and maintenance of Stanmer Park.

Car park charges

Chalkhill Car park, Church, Lower Lodges East and West, Upper Lodges

Monday to Sunday 9am to 8pm (upper Lodges 9am to 5pm)

Patchway car park and overflow

Moday to Sunday 9am to 8pm

Parking places in car parks away from designed heritage features have been increased and the provision of overflow parking exists for peak periods.

New cycle parking for all, including BTN Bikeshare Bikes, next to the Walled Garden, in the Patchway car park, and near the Kiosk at Lower Lodges West.