Museums and venues re-open as lockdown restrictions ease

July 9, 2020

A huge thank you to everyone who has taken care when enjoying the National Park over the last few weeks by following Government guidelines.

As lockdown eases this month, a larger number of businesses, museums, pubs and accommodation providers will be re-opening over the coming weeks. Our absolute priority remains the safety of our visitors, as well as the 117,000 people living and working within the National Park, and it’s important to remember that social distancing remains in place.

Anooshka Rawden, who leads Cultural Heritage in the National Park, welcomed the re-opening of museums and said they had been working extremely hard to be able to provide an enjoyable and safe experience for visitors.

“Now, more than ever is a time to support cultural heritage in the South Downs given the impacts of COVID-19 on our creative and cultural organisations,” she said.

“Please plan your visit in advance, remembering that many venues require pre-booking. I hope people enjoy getting back to our treasured museums and discovering more about our wonderful heritage.”

Some of the museums and galleries within the National Park and close to the boundary that are re-opening include:

Weald and Downland Museum (6 July)
Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft (16 July)
Gilbert White and The Oates Collection (4 July)
Butser Ancient Farm (4 July)
Chawton House (4 July)
Hinton Ampner (6 July)
Petworth Park (gardens re-opened 15 June)
Uppark House (gardens re-opened 15 June)
Pallant House Gallery (5 August)
Towner Art Gallery (22 July)

Please check the websites of venues for further details on re-opening arrangements.