Bateman’s (National Trust)

By the time he passed away in 1936, Rudyard Kipling was one of the world’s favourite authors, thanks to books such as The Jungle Book, Kim and Rikki-Tikki-Tavi. For more than 30 years, he and his family lived at Bateman’s, a beautiful Grade I-listed, 17^th century house close to Burwash in East Sussex. To Kipling, this Jacobean mansion was ‘a good and peaceable place’.

Bateman’s is now a National Trust property, and it offers visitors a unique insight into how the author and his loved ones lived, here in a home they regarded as something of a sanctuary from the outside world. The rooms within remain much the same as they were in the early 20^th century, with Persian rugs, mullioned windows and oak beams. Days out here provide a fascinating insight into how life was lived in a more refined time.

As well as the house, there’s a beautiful garden, an orchard and a working mill. The estate itself offers tranquil walks amid the 300-acre splendour of the High Weald. And for visitors with young children, there are plenty of buggy-friendly areas that are worth exploring. The natural play area is perfect for kids of all ages and features an ornate carved oak tree as the centrepiece.

The Mulberry Tea-room is ideal for those moments when you need to fix the hunger pangs, and the Oast House Shop has a wonderful range of gifts, homeware, toys, plants and so much more.