Visit The Nest Danehill This Winter
Winter holiday escapes are often overlooked, but can be just as, if not more, enjoyable than a summer getaway. At The Nest Danehill, our holiday cottage is perfectly located for our guests to explore the events Sussex has to offer towards the end of the year.
Whether you’re escaping to our self catering accommodation for a romantic weekend away in October, are looking for the perfect base for your solo November wellness retreat, or want to enjoy the festive celebrations in the area on a family holiday in December, our cosy holiday cottage allows you to explore and enjoy everything the area has available before returning to a beautiful, private, home away from home.
There are many exciting theatre, music, garden, and Bluebell Railway events to look forward to when you book your winter staycation in East Sussex with The Nest Danehill.
Below, we’ve listed some of the most enticing upcoming activities guests can enjoy when staying with us for their Ashdown Forest staycation.
Master Event Schedule (October – December 2026)
October 2026
| Date & Time | Name of Place | Details of Event | Pre-booking / Turn Up | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday 1 Oct 07:30 PM |
Chequer Mead Theatre | Drag Me To Broadway: High-energy musical theatre performance. | Pre-booking required | 7.9 miles |
| Friday 2 Oct 07:00 PM |
Trading Boundaries | Cold Flame (Jethro Tull Tribute): Candlelight live progressive rock tribute. | Pre-booking required | 1.7 miles |
| Friday 2 Oct 08:00 PM |
Chequer Mead Theatre | East Grinstead Comedy Club: Monthly live stand-up comedy showcase. | Pre-booking required | 7.9 miles |
| 3 Oct – 1 Nov 10:00 AM – 03:30 PM |
Standen House & Garden | Spookiful at Standen: Family Halloween garden trail and activity dens. | Turn up | 7.1 miles |
| Tuesday 6 Oct 10:00 AM – 02:00 PM |
Sheffield Park and Garden | Botanical Printing Workshop: Handmade notebook craft session using seasonal leaves. | Pre-booking required | 3.8 miles |
| Tuesday 6 Oct 01:00 PM – 03:00 PM |
Standen House & Garden | William Morris Embossed Copper Ornaments: Autumn craft workshop. | Pre-booking required | 7.1 miles |
| Wednesday 7 Oct 01:00 PM – 03:00 PM |
Standen House & Garden | Strawberry Thief Copper Garland Workshop: Metal embossing craft masterclass. | Pre-booking required | 7.1 miles |
| Thursday 8 Oct 10:30 AM |
Borde Hill Garden | ‘Forest Floor’ Botanical Art Class: Autumn watercolor painting class. | Pre-booking required | 6.9 miles |
| Thursday 8 Oct 01:00 PM – 03:00 PM |
Sheffield Park and Garden | Monthly Craft Club: Informal local group creative meetup. | Turn up (Free) | 3.8 miles |
| Thursday 8 Oct Evening |
Bluebell Railway | Curry Supper Train: Evening steam train journey combined with traditional dining. | Pre-booking essential | 4.1 miles |
| Thursday 8 Oct 07:30 PM |
Chequer Mead Theatre | Think Floyd: Live Pink Floyd definitive musical celebration. | Pre-booking required | 7.9 miles |
| Fri 9 & Sat 10 Oct 07:30 PM |
Trading Boundaries | Los Pacaminos feat. Paul Young: Upbeat Tex-Mex Americana live music. | Pre-booking required | 1.7 miles |
| Friday 9 Oct 10:00 AM |
Ashdown Forest | Bite-Size Forest Bathing: Slow, guided circular mindfulness nature walk at Ridge Car Park. | Pre-booking required | 4.3 miles |
| Friday 9 Oct 07:30 PM |
Bluebell Railway | Murder Mystery Dinner: Classic crime-solving onboard the Golden Arrow train. | Pre-booking essential | 4.1 miles |
| Saturday 10 Oct 02:00 PM |
Borde Hill Garden | Fungi Walk: Educational guided park walk studying wild mushrooms. | Pre-booking required | 6.9 miles |
| Saturday 10 Oct 07:30 PM |
Hever Castle | Vox Lumiere: Metropolis: Live rock concert tracking the silent sci-fi film. | Pre-booking required | 16.1 miles |
| 14, 17, 19, 22, 24, 27, 29 Oct | Glyndebourne Opera House | The Marriage of Figaro (Mozart): Autumn Season operatic masterwork run. | Pre-booking required | 15.8 miles |
| 15, 18, 21, 23, 25, 28, 31 Oct | Glyndebourne Opera House | The Barber of Seville (Rossini): Quick-witted, colorful autumn opera revival. | Pre-booking required | 15.8 miles |
| Friday 16 Oct 07:30 PM |
Trading Boundaries | Lazuli Live: Eclectic, heavy progressive rock performance. | Pre-booking required | 1.7 miles |
| 16 – 18 Oct All Day Event |
Bluebell Railway | Giants of Steam Gala: Large heritage railway historic locomotive festival. | Pre-booking recommended | 4.1 miles |
| Saturday 17 Oct 07:30 PM |
Trading Boundaries | Imaginaerium featuring JADIS: Progressive rock live concert showcase. | Pre-booking required | 1.7 miles |
| 17 Oct – 1 Nov Daily |
Borde Hill Garden | A Spellbinding Halloween: Half-term family mystery trail. | Turn up | 6.9 miles |
| Saturday 17 Oct 10:00 AM |
Borde Hill Garden | Autumn Wreath Making Workshop: Handcrafting a seasonal moss door display. | Pre-booking required | 6.9 miles |
| Saturday 17 Oct 10:00 AM – 06:00 PM |
Forest Row Village Hall | Ashdown Arts Autumn Art Fair: Exhibition showcasing local designers and crafts. | Turn up | 4.8 miles |
| Sunday 18 Oct 01:30 PM |
High Beeches Gardens | Guided Fungi Walk: Specialist-led autumn biodiversity walk. | Pre-booking required | 6.8 miles |
| Wednesday 21 Oct 07:30 PM |
Chequer Mead Theatre | Simon & Garfunkel Through The Years: Acoustic tribute concert. | Pre-booking required | 7.9 miles |
| Thursday 22 Oct 07:30 PM |
Chequer Mead Theatre | Rave On: Live rock & roll musical voyage through the 50s and 60s. | Pre-booking required | 7.9 miles |
| 22 Oct – 1 Nov Evening slots |
Bluebell Railway | The Ghost Train: Immersive family spooky storytelling steam train journey. | Pre-booking mandatory | 4.1 miles |
| Saturday 24 Oct 09:00 PM |
Trading Boundaries | Oye Santana (The Supernatural Tour): Energetic Carlos Santana live tribute. | Pre-booking required | 1.7 miles |
| Wednesday 28 Oct 10:00 AM |
Ashdown Forest | Wild Wednesdays (Birch Brooms): Kids aged 5–12 traditional broom crafting. | Pre-booking required | 4.0 miles |
| Thursday 29 Oct 10:00 AM |
Ashdown Forest | Nature Thursdays: Holiday family day looking at woodland ecology at Wych Cross. | Pre-booking required | 4.0 miles |
| Thursday 29 Oct 07:30 PM |
Trading Boundaries | Fairport Convention: Intimate acoustic show by legendary folk icons. | Pre-booking required | 1.7 miles |
| 29 Oct – 31 Oct Matinee & Evening |
Chequer Mead Theatre | The Addams Family Musical: Festive dark-comedy stage production. | Pre-booking required | 7.9 miles |
| Friday 30 Oct 08:00 AM – 12:30 PM |
Sheffield Park and Garden | Advanced Autumn Colour Photography: Early morning landscape masterclass. | Pre-booking required | 3.8 miles |
| Friday 30 Oct 07:30 PM |
Trading Boundaries | Tony Christie Live: Commemorative evening mapping 50 years of hits. | Pre-booking required | 1.7 miles |
| 30 Oct & 1 Nov 07:00 PM |
Glyndebourne Opera House | Beethoven 9 & Tchaikovsky Concerts: Grand autumn orchestral showcase. | Pre-booking required | 15.8 miles |
| Saturday 31 Oct 07:30 PM |
Trading Boundaries | Pendragon Live: Classic progressive rock performance. | Pre-booking required | 1.7 miles |
| Mid-October – Nov Daily |
Sheffield Park and Garden | Peak Autumn Colour Canopy Walks: Scenic independent trail around the lakes. | Turn up | 3.8 miles |
| Daily (Excl. 25/26 Dec) | Pooh Corner (Hartfield) | Winnie-the-Pooh Experience: Historic museum rooms, tea room, and forest trails. | Turn up | 7.5 miles |
| Every Weekend Oct/Nov | Bluebell Vineyard Estates | Wine & Cheese Tasting Tour: Sussex sparkling wine pairings and tour. | Pre-booking essential | 1.9 miles |
November 2026
| Date & Time | Name of Place | Details of Event | Pre-booking / Turn Up | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1, 3, 6, 8 Nov 04:00 PM |
Glyndebourne Opera House | The Marriage of Figaro: Late run dates finishing out the opera festival. | Pre-booking required | 15.8 miles |
| Tuesday 3 Nov 01:00 PM – 04:00 PM |
Sheffield Park and Garden | Autumnal Foraging Workshop: Wild food identification trail through woodlands. | Pre-booking required | 3.8 miles |
| 4 Nov 04:00 PM |
Glyndebourne Opera House | Beethoven 9 & Tchaikovsky: Finale orchestral performance. | Pre-booking required | 15.8 miles |
| Thursday 5 Nov 05:00 PM – Late |
Town of Lewes | Lewes Bonfire Night: Large street torchlit processions and effigy burnings. | Turn up (Town streets) | 11.4 miles |
| Friday 6 Nov Multiple sessions |
Borde Hill Garden | Autumn Foraging Walk: Terra Vitum wild food tracking walk. | Pre-booking required | 6.9 miles |
| Thursday 12 Nov 01:00 PM – 03:00 PM |
Sheffield Park and Garden | Monthly Craft Club: Open community winter social craft session. | Turn up | 3.8 miles |
| 14 & 15 Nov Matinee & Evening |
Glyndebourne Opera House | Spark (Lucy Armstrong): World premiere of the brand-new youth opera. | Pre-booking required | 15.8 miles |
| Sunday 15 Nov Morning Race |
Village of Hartfield | The Hartfield Honey Run: Scenic countryside trail run threading through Pooh Country. | Pre-booking required | 7.5 miles |
| Nov & Dec Weekends Starts 21 Nov |
Standen House & Garden | Christmas at Standen: 1920s festive interior decor and Sussex craft fair. | Turn up | 7.1 miles |
| 20 Nov – 2 Jan Twilight slots |
Hever Castle | Christmas at Hever: Immersive winter night light trails. | Pre-booking essential | 16.1 miles |
| 26 Nov – 2 Jan Evening slots |
Kew Wakehurst | Glow Wild 2026: Award-winning winter lantern walk. | Pre-booking mandatory | 6.5 miles |
| Friday 27 Nov 07:00 PM |
Trading Boundaries | La Villa Strangiato: ‘The Spirit Of Rush’ rock tribute anniversary tour. | Pre-booking required | 1.7 miles |
| Saturday 28 Nov 07:00 PM |
Trading Boundaries | Forever Springsteen: 7-piece live E Street tribute performance. | Pre-booking required | 1.7 miles |
| 28 Nov – 24 Dec Selected Dates |
Bluebell Railway | Santa Specials & SteamLights: New illuminated seasonal steam train journeys. | Pre-booking essential | 4.1 miles |
| 29 Nov – 11 Jan Daily (Excl. 24/25 Dec) |
Sheffield Park and Garden | The Snowdog™ Christmas Art Trail: Immersive garden walking path featuring festive sculptures. | Turn up (Free with entry) | 3.8 miles |
December 2026
| Date & Time | Name of Place | Details of Event | Pre-booking / Turn Up | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Sat 5 Dec Various Times |
Chequer Mead Theatre | Robin Hood Pantomime: Core festive holiday family theatre show. | Pre-booking recommended | 7.9 miles |
| 5, 6, 11, 12, 13 Dec Various times |
Glyndebourne Opera House | Glyndebourne Christmas Concerts: Seasonal choir and grand orchestra festive run. | Pre-booking required | 15.8 miles |
| Wednesday 9 Dec 07:00 PM |
Trading Boundaries | Mike Keneally & Dave Cureton: Double-headline progressive guitar performance. | Pre-booking required | 1.7 miles |
| Thursday 10 Dec 01:00 PM – 03:00 PM |
Sheffield Park and Garden | Monthly Craft Club: Festive edition creative social session for local crafters. | Turn up | 3.8 miles |
| Saturday 12 Dec 07:00 PM |
Trading Boundaries | Logicaltramp: Supertramp tribute night recreating arena hits live. | Pre-booking required | 1.7 miles |
| Selected Dec Dates Late Afternoon/Ev |
Standen House & Garden | Twilights at Standen: Evening access to Morris rooms lit by fairy lights with live carols. | Turn up | 7.1 miles |
| Wednesday 23 Dec 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
Ashdown Forest | Wild Wednesdays (Winter Nature Walk): Family crisp winter woodland exploration trail. | Pre-booking required | 4.0 miles |
South of England Showground Events
| Date | Showground Name | Event | Booking Details | Distance from The Nest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3rd Oct 2026 | South of England Showground | Battles Through History | Tickets required in advance | ~5.7 miles |
| 11th Oct 2026 | South of England Showground | Young Driver Experience | Booking required (£65+) | ~5.7 miles |
| 17th–18th Oct 2026 | South of England Showground | South of England Mineral Show | Tickets available at door/online | ~5.7 miles |
| 18th Oct 2026 | South of England Showground | AGLG Wedding Fair | Free, pre-registration required | ~5.7 miles |
| 24th Oct 2026 | South of England Showground | Ardingly Autumn Classic Motorcycle Show & Fireworks | Pre-booking required | ~5.7 miles |
| 25th Oct 2026 | South of England Showground | Classic Bike Show & Jumble | Online or gate tickets | ~5.7 miles |
| 25th Oct 2026 | South of England Showground | Young Driver Experience | Booking required online | ~5.7 miles |
| 3rd–4th Nov 2026 | South of England Showground | International Antiques & Collectors Fair | Entry tickets required | ~5.7 miles |
| 7th Nov 2026 | South of England Showground | Wychanger Equestrian – Ariat Outlet Sale | Free entry to shop | ~5.7 miles |
| 15th Nov 2026 | South of England Showground | Young Driver Experience | Booking required (£54.99+) | ~5.7 miles |
| 21st–22nd Nov 2026 | South of England Showground | SEAS Winter Fair | Advance discounts available | ~5.7 miles |
Trading Boundaries Concert Venue
Ashdown Forest
Pooh Corner
Glyndebourne Opera House
Chequer Mead Theatre
Bluebell Vineyard
Bluebell Railway
Sheffield Park House and Gardens
Wakehurst Botanical Gardens
Brighton Marina
Plumpton Races
Lewes and Tunbridge Wells
Standon House and Garden
South of England Showground
Borde Hill
