New Ideas and Old Loves: Sissinghurst and Italy opens at Sissinghurst Castle Garden on 26 September 2026 and runs until 6 June 2027. The exhibition explores the role Italy played in the lives, work and relationships of Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson, bringing together objects, letters, photographs and multimedia material.
This is more than a short seasonal add-on. For readers interested in literary heritage, LGBTQIA+ history, historic houses and gardens, it gives Sissinghurst another layer beyond the famous garden itself.
What is the Sissinghurst and Italy exhibition?
The exhibition looks at Vita Sackville-West’s long fascination with Italy and the ways its art, history, politics and romantic associations shaped her tastes and experiences. It also places Harold Nicolson’s diplomatic and political life alongside that story.
The National Trust says the exhibition includes previously unseen objects, love letters, photographs and multimedia experiences.
Why Vita Sackville-West matters here
Vita Sackville-West was a writer, poet and gardener whose life and relationships are inseparable from the story of Sissinghurst. She and Harold Nicolson created the garden for which the property is now internationally known, while Vita’s writing, friendships and romantic relationships have made her an important figure in both literary and LGBTQIA+ cultural history.
That crossover is exactly what makes this exhibition particularly interesting: it connects place, literature, personal history, design and sexuality without reducing Sissinghurst to a single story.
Exhibition dates and times
Dates: 26 September 2026–6 June 2027
Location: Oast Exhibition Space, Sissinghurst Castle Garden
Cost: Included with normal admission
Booking: No separate exhibition booking is currently required.
Opening times can vary during the run, so check the National Trust listing for the date you plan to visit.
Check the official exhibition details.
Admission prices
At the time of checking in September 2026, standard whole-property admission without Gift Aid is:
- Adult: £20
- Child aged 5–17: £10
- Family, 2 adults and up to 3 children: £50
- One-adult family: £30
Gift Aid prices are slightly higher. Under-5s go free. National Trust members can visit under the usual membership arrangements. Prices can change, so check the official visitor page before travelling.
Parking
Parking is currently £4.50 for non-members and free for National Trust members. The main car park includes designated accessible bays.
Accessibility: important exhibition warning
Sissinghurst has useful accessibility provision across parts of the property, including designated accessible parking, accessible toilets, a step-free route around the property and garden, and wheelchairs that can be booked in advance.
However, the exhibition itself is upstairs in the Oast Exhibition Space and there is no step-free access to it.
This means a visitor may be able to access significant parts of Sissinghurst but still be unable to reach New Ideas and Old Loves without using stairs. Clarissa’s Corner is stating that plainly because it materially affects whether the exhibition is suitable for your visit.
The wider step-free route can also involve uneven terrain, so anyone with mobility concerns should check the current access information in advance.
Accessible facilities at Sissinghurst
- Designated accessible parking bays
- Accessible toilets near Visitor Reception and the restaurant
- Step-free route around the property and garden, with uneven ground in places
- Wheelchairs available by advance booking
- Drop-off and pick-up possible at Visitor Reception
Getting to Sissinghurst
Sissinghurst Castle Garden is near Cranbrook in Kent, around two miles north-east of Cranbrook and one mile east of Sissinghurst village.
For public transport, the National Trust lists Staplehurst as the nearest railway station at approximately five miles away and advises that taxis should be booked in advance.
What else can you see at Sissinghurst?
A visit can also include the famous garden, historic buildings and estate areas. Because opening arrangements vary through the year, it is worth checking which spaces are open on the day rather than assuming the whole property operates on one timetable.
Who will enjoy this exhibition?
This should appeal particularly to readers interested in literary heritage, writers’ homes, LGBTQIA+ cultural history, historic gardens, interwar Britain and the relationship between travel and creative life.
Useful Clarissa’s Corner connections
For more heritage-led ideas, see Heritage Open Days 2026: London, Greenwich & Kent. For broader culture and exhibition coverage, browse Clarissa’s Corner’s Theatre & Culture and Books & Films sections.
