NEWLANDS HOUSE GALLERY
WEBSITE: NEWLANDSHOUSE.GALLERY
LOCATION: PETWORTH, SUSSEX, UK
NEAREST AIRPORT: LONDON GATWICK AIRPORT, 40 MINUTES DRIVE
Installation view of Frank Auerbach : Unseen. Photo: Elizabeth Zeschin
Nestled in the charming Sussex countryside, the historic market town of Petworth is an unexpected setting for world-class contemporary art, but Newlands House Gallery makes it an art pilgrimage worth taking.
Installation view: Joan Miró La Gran Belleza. Photo: Elizabeth Zeschin.
Housed in a Grade II–listed Georgian townhouse and adjoining coach house, this exhibition space feels more like exploring a beautifully preserved home than a traditional white-cube museum. The intimate, character-filled rooms, complete with fireplaces, decorative cornices, and chandeliers, allow visitors to encounter modern and contemporary art in a deeply personal context.
The gallery’s exhibition programme brings museum-quality shows normally found in major cities into this rural setting, with past exhibitions featuring artists such as Joan Miró, Julian Opie, Sean Scully, Liliane Tomasko, Frank Auerbach, Eve Arnold, and Lee Miller paired with Picasso. This blend of high-calibre art and pastoral place makes for a rewarding experience far from the typical museum crowds and galleries of London.
Installation view of Sean Scully & Liliane Tomasko: From the Real. Photo: Elizabeth Zeschin
After viewing the exhibitions, take time to wander Petworth’s cobbled streets, explore boutique shops and antiques, or enjoy lunch at The Angel Inn, a historic coaching inn that’s perfect for a relaxed meal or an overnight stay.
Tip: Combine your visit with a trip to Petworth House, whose remarkable historic art collection enriches the wider cultural experience of this quintessential English town.
Left: Petworth House, Right: Lombard Street, Petworth
++ From its inauguration until 2023, Newlands House Gallery was led by Maya Binkin as Artistic Director, shaping its exhibition programme and curatorial direction.
Left: Entrance to Newlands House Gallery. Right: Installation view of Lee Miller & Picasso. Photos: Elizabeth Zeschin
