Charleston
Perfect For
Anyone who loves art, history, and a bit of creative rebellion. If you believe that life itself should be an artwork, you’ll feel right at home here
Why You’ll Love It
More than just a house, Charleston is a living, breathing piece of art history—once the home of the Bloomsbury Group, a radical collective of artists, writers, and thinkers who redefined creativity, relationships, and modern life. Every inch of the house, from painted walls to hand-decorated furniture, tells a story of rebellion, artistic freedom, and a refusal to follow convention. It’s a place that invites you to step inside a world where creativity had no limits—and to leave inspired to create your own.
What Makes It Special
An artist’s dream home – Charleston isn’t just decorated; it’s painted from floor to ceiling, inside and out.
The garden is a creative project in itself too – Designed by Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant, it’s full of colour and sculptural beauty.
A hub for creative minds today – From literary festivals to exhibitions, Charleston is still very much alive, a gathering place for ideas and imagination. Check out their events for up-to-date information.
The Story Behind It
In 1916, artists Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant left London behind and moved to Charleston with their unconventional household. What started as a rural retreat became the heart of the Bloomsbury Group, where Virginia Woolf, John Maynard Keynes, and E.M. Forster would visit, debate, and create. Unlike the rigid, buttoned-up world of their time, Charleston was a space of artistic and personal freedom, where boundaries were blurred, rules were broken, and the walls—quite literally—became the canvas. Today, it stands as a testament to the power of living creatively, without constraints.
Something Else We Love
The Charleston shop is a treasure trove for lovers of art, literature, and design, with prints, ceramics, and homewares inspired by the house itself. But our favourites? Their fabric collection. If you’ve ever wanted to wrap yourself in Bloomsbury-inspired patterns, this is your chance. Their notepads make sweet gifts and make you feel like you’ve borrowing a little of their creativity. And we couldn’t resist buying Deceived with Kindness by Vanessa Bell’s daughter Angelica Garnett when we stopped by to better understand what it was like to grow up here.
The If Lost Take
We love Charleston because it’s not just a museum—it’s a manifesto for a different way of living. The Bloomsbury Group believed in art as a way of life, in challenging convention, and in finding beauty in the everyday. Stepping into Charleston is stepping into a world where those ideas are still alive and waiting for you to take them home.
Some Practical Details
Firle, East Sussex, UK
P.S.
If you visit, check out some of our favourite local places in nearby Lewes:
For independent shopping: Nord, Leadbetter & Good, Closet and Botts and From Victoria
For coffee: Trading Post Coffee Roasters
For eco-conscious snacks: Seasons
For a little bit of nature: Bulb Florist
For children’s books: Bags of Books
For culture (and lunch): The Depot
For artisan breads and pastries: Flint Owl Bakery
