Preston Manor will reopen this April with a brand new visitor journey that takes visitors on a Downton Abbey-style experience set in 1912, featuring the house’s upstairs-downstairs voices.
Once a symbol of early 20th-century luxury, the manor tells the stories of its former inhabitants, Ellen and Charles Thomas-Stanford, the wealthiest family in Sussex at the time. It also offers a glimpse into the lives of their many servants and beloved pets.
Beyond its architecture, hidden gardens, chandeliers, intricate woodwork, and elaborate furnishings, the manor is plagued by ghostly sightings – with tales of ‘The White Lady’, mysterious shadows, phantom hands, ghostly children, and even ghostly dogs reinforcing the building’s status as one of the most haunted houses in Britain.
Set in 1912 – the year of the Titanic’s sinking and the setting of Downton Abbey’s first episode, Preston Manor presents a new visitor experience. The audio trail provides historical insights into the house by featuring narratives from past residents, such as Lady Ellen and Maurice Elphick, the butler. Through their accounts, visitors will better understand the house’s history and daily life. For families, there will be a children’s trail and interactive activities throughout the house, including dressing up and sound installations.
For the first time, a tearoom,, will be available within the house, allowing visitors to enjoy a traditional Edwardian cream tea. Café Rust, who also operate a café at Hove Museum of Creativity, will run the tearoom.
Throughout the season, special guided tours will provide insights into the house’s history and reported ghostly encounters. Visitors will also have the opportunity to explore the walled gardens adjoining Preston Park, which feature distinctive plantings and an extensive pet cemetery containing the graves of 16 dogs and four cats.
Hedley Swain, CEO of Brighton & Hove Museums said, “We’re thrilled to reopen Preston Manor after five years, offering visitors a fresh, new, immersive experience. The house provides a unique opportunity to journey back in time to the grandeur of early 20th-century aristocratic life, exploring the upstairs-downstairs lives of the eminent Thomas-Stanford family.
“Fans of historical dramas like Downton Abbey will love this engaging journey into the world of the Edwardian upper class. The manor is also steeped in ghostly mystery, with spine-chilling hauntings and tales of eerie sightings and unexplained incidents. It has become an iconic destination for those seeking supernatural thrills.”
Preston Manor is just two miles from Brighton city centre, adjacent to Preston Park train station. The manor offers visitors a chance to explore its historic interiors, hidden gardens, and pet cemetery at their own pace or as part of a guided tour.
Managed by Brighton & Hove Museums, Preston Manor is open to visitors every weekend from 5 April to 31 October 2025, operating on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 10am to 4pm.
This year marks a significant anniversary – on 6 April 1925, Charles Thomas Stanford sold the house to Brighton Corporation for £5,000. To commemorate the occasion, a special Edwardian Easter celebration will take place on Saturday 12 April, featuring activities and live music throughout the day.
Click here for more information on Preston Manor.
