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Outstanding Self Catering Cottage With Beautiful Gardens

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Spring in West Sussex- the sunniest county in UK
Comfy leather sofas to relax around fireplace/tv
'A fantastic way to spend a summers evening'
Relax by the magical fountain
Enjoy home cooking in the well equipped kitchen

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
5 bedrooms5+ bathroomsSleeps 102368.1 sq ft

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Outdoor space
  • Parking available
  • Barbecue grill

Rooms & beds

5 bedrooms (sleeps 10)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

1 King Bed

Bedroom 3

1 King Bed

Bedroom 4

1 King Bed

Bedroom 5

1 King Bed

5 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 3

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Cloakroom 1

Toilet

Shower room 2

Toilet · Shower only

Shower room 3

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Separate dining area
Outdoor play area
Garden

About this property

Outstanding Self Catering Cottage With Beautiful Gardens

Reclaimed from an old mill 'The Mill Sussex' is set in beautiful tranquil gardens. It has been tastefully refurbished sleeping 10 people with five bedrooms (all with zip&link beds to suit your requirements for king bedrooms or twin bedrooms), three with ensuite bathrooms and two bedrooms with their own bathrooms. The rooms are nicely spaced out which suit groups of families and friends. The main lounge has a wood burner, comfy sofas and armchairs, TV, and piano. The dining room has a large dining table to seat 10 people and also a cosy sitting area around an inglenook fireplace. There is a mesmerising fish tank in the breakfast area of the fully equipped kitchen, with separate utility area. There are beautiful country walks to nearby Hurstpierpoint and Henfield and the South Downs Way. The large garden is lovely with a great BBQ, Table Tennis, Ping Pong, Croquet Set, a Summer House full of games including Cricket Sets, Rounders, Tennis Rackets, things to take to the Beach, including buckets & spades.
There are many local attractions including: NATIONAL TRUST Nymans Gardens, Saddlescombe Farm and Newtimber Hill, Devils Dyke. Birling Gap and Seven Sisters CHILDRENS FARM PARKS: Washbrooks Family Farm, Drusillas Zoo Park, Fishers Farm Park, WINE TASTING at neighbouring vineyard Albourne Estate, Bolney Wine Estate, RIDING & SHOWJUMPING at nearby Hickstead, Three Greys Riding School, GOLF at Singing Hills Golf Club, Dyke Golf Club, CYCLING on the South Downs National Park, West Sussex Cycle Route, Cycle Hire Hassocks Station, Cycle Brighton, GARDENS AND PARKS at nearby Sussex Prairie Gardens, Nymans, Local Open Gardens, SAILING & WATER SPORTS at Lagoon Water Sports including dinghy & yacht hire, power boating, windsurfing, wake boarding, SUP, Ardingly Activity Centre.
GREAT RESTAURANTS including The Ginger Fox (in the same lane as the house), The Glass House also in the lane, The Wheatsheaf, The Fig Tree, Hurstpierpoint, Shepherd & Dog, Fulking, The Royal Oak, Poynings and many more.
Some guests comments:
“Highly recommended, we had a great time”. "We had a fantastic stay. The house is really beautiful and has everything you could think you would need and more! Ruth is an amazing host and very helpful. During our stay we went to Goodwood racecourse and had trips into Brighton. It is easy to reach by train, Hassocks railway station is about 10 mins away but there is a taxi rank based there so very easy to get to."
Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washing machine
Free WiFi
Outdoor space
Parking available
Barbecue grill

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 10:30 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Hassocks

Located in Hassocks, this holiday home is in a rural area. Duke of York's Picturehouse and Hove Museum and Art Gallery are cultural highlights, and some of the area's attractions include Brighton Pier and Sussex Prairies Garden. Travelling with kids? Consider Nymans and Komedia Brighton. Discover the area's water adventures with fishing and swimming nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hiking and ecotours.
View more Holiday homes in HassocksOpens in a new window
Map
Albourne, England

What's nearby

  • Sussex Prairies Garden - 3 min drive - 3.3 km
  • South Downs National Park - 4 min drive - 5.4 km
  • All England Jumping Course at Hickstead - 5 min drive - 6.4 km
  • Henfield Leisure Centre - 7 min drive - 7.3 km
  • High Weald - 8 min drive - 11.4 km

Getting around

  • Hassocks Station - 8 min drive
  • Gatwick Airport (LGW) - 29 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪The Sportsman Pub - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Starbucks - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Cat And Canary - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Costa Coffee - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪The Royal Oak, Wineham - ‬5 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Outstanding Self Catering Cottage With Beautiful Gardens pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at Outstanding Self Catering Cottage With Beautiful Gardens?

As of 31 Mar 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Outstanding Self Catering Cottage With Beautiful Gardens on 7 Apr 2026 start from £476, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking at Outstanding Self Catering Cottage With Beautiful Gardens?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Outstanding Self Catering Cottage With Beautiful Gardens?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Outstanding Self Catering Cottage With Beautiful Gardens?

Checkout is at 10:30 AM.

Where is Outstanding Self Catering Cottage With Beautiful Gardens located?

This family-friendly Hassocks holiday home is located in a rural location, within 3 mi (5 km) of Sussex Prairies Garden, South Downs National Park and All England Jumping Course at Hickstead. High Weald and Devil's Dyke are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 71 out of 76 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 76 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 76 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 76 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 76 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Ros S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Very comfortable place to stay with the added benefits of separate bathroom rooms for every room.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Trev k.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family weekend at the Mill

My 1st impression was that this was going to be a great weekend with the family.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 17 Jul 2025
Thank you so much for your 5-star review, Trevor. I'm delighted you loved The Mill — and especially glad to hear you thought the house was even better than the photos! We’d love to welcome you back again soon.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Hugh B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A lovely stay at The Mill

We very much enjoyed staying at the house for three nights. The house was perfect for our needs and spending time in the garden was wonderful. Thank you!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 11 Jun 2025
Thank you so much for your kind words Hugh! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed your stay at The Mill and that the house and garden suited your needs so well. It was a pleasure to host you, and we’d be very happy to welcome you back anytime! Warm regards, Ruth & John
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Diana H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Excellent for multi generational family celebration

Perfect properly for a family celebration.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Lynda B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fantastic family weekend.

Lovely property for a family gathering and celebration. Both inside and outside the facilities were good and suited all of our party.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Gwen K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great stay at The Mill

Ruth was helpful and the house accommodated us all beautifully with our own bathrooms and space which was around a family wedding - so was special we could all get together to enjoy the occasion.
Stayed 9 nights in Jul 2024
Verified

8/10 Good

laurel d.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location

Weekend stay

Nice stay in this characterful cottage. Layout is rambling but the bathroom set up not ideal for a mixed group of adults.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 3 May 2023
Many thanks for your feedback on your recent stay at The Mill Laurel. I am glad you enjoyed your break here. I am sorry you did not find the bathroom set up ideal. Many of our guests comment how great it is to find a house with so many bathrooms; five bathrooms/shower rooms, three of which are ensuite, plus a separate cloakroom. Thank you again for your review and for booking with us.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Mairi M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family holiday

The property was perfect for our needs - 9 people, 3 generations. We all loved it and our hosts couldn’t have been more welcoming and accommodating. Highly recommended.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Sara W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Our second stay and we plan to return

A beautiful, characterful house in a beautiful location. We were a group of 6 friends but it would work equally well for a larger number - it was well equipped and had plenty of bathrooms. The owner was nearby and very friendly and helpful.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Simon M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Just the most wonderful Christmas and New Year holiday for 9 of us visiting from different parts of the globe. The Mill was beautiful! Warm, cosy and ideal for different age groups. We were there from 12/21 to 1/3 and still didn’t want to leave. Ruth & John (owners/hosts) were lovely. When we arrived there was a very thoughtful welcome gift (including delicious bottle of local Albourne Bacchus wine). Ruth had already asked exactly how we’d like each bedroom set up (double or twin), every bedroom had beautiful quality white sheets and bedding, each bathroom lovely thick white towels and everywhere was clean and comfortable, making it easy for us to maintain during our stay and with so many of us there. Ruth also organised for an interim clean/laundry change half-way through our stay which was great. We were able to organise a log delivery for the log burning stove and loved the opportunity to be altogether, as well as visiting our local friends and family, all our old haunts, pubs, restaurants and 14 days of family time. It was perfect, thank you Ruth & John
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Helen F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Sussex gem

The house is full of character and well equipped. The outstanding features are the four bathrooms and the extensive garden - perfect for our extended family.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Rob L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Tremendous!

We have had perfect stay. The accommodation is well equipped and the owners (Ruth and John) are lovely people who are there when you need them; they are very helpfully. Recommendable!
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Sara W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful house in a beautiful spot

The property was in a wonderful location with fabulous views. Very comfortable with plenty of space for 7 adults, it was also very well equipped. We would happily recommend it.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Lewis R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful property, very clean and spacious

My family and i had a great stay, 6 adults 4 children aged 1-8. Stunning property very peaceful. Only a 20 min drive to other great places of interest like Brighton and Lewes. Great games shed for the children. I would Highly recommend this property
Stayed 6 nights in May 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 10 Jun 2022
Thank you for your lovely words Lewis, I'm so pleased you and your family had such a lovely time here. Thank you too for leaving the summer house so beautifully neat! I hope you will stay again sometime.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Andrew G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Birthday weekend in lovely house

Excellent property for a gathering of family / friends. Six, in practice, bedrooms and plenty of bathrooms. Large, well-equipped kitchen. BBQ area and big dining room if weather closes in. Lots of space and games for children to play.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Anne B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A characterful home from home, ideal for a group of friends

We had a wonderful weekend. The house and gardens were perfect for our group of 9 ladies who like the twin bed option in each room with bathrooms for each bedroom. The grounds are superb, the weather was fabulous. We enjoyed the outdoor games. The location is amazing with so much to see and do in the surrounding area. Ruth and John were very friendly and helpful. We would definitely recommend The Mill. Thank you.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 11 Jun 2025
Thank you so much for your wonderful review Anne! I’m delighted the house, gardens, and layout suited your group so well — and that you made the most of the sunshine and outdoor games. It was a pleasure to host you, and we really appreciate the recommendation. You’re welcome back anytime! Best wishes Ruth & John
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Malcolm B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Parents 50th Wedding Anniversary

We stayed at the property to celebrate my parents 50th Wedding Anniversary- the house was fantastic and perfect for our celebrations. Lots of room but still very cosy with a lovely fire. The house is in a beautiful countryside setting - however Brighton is only 20 mins in the car and there are some lovely local pubs.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Markus Dietrich B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely hide away

Great sized house with lovly vintage style for which reason we could oversee some (old) defects. The kitchen can be enhanced with more dishes.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Wendy C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely property, fabulous setting, so much space

So pleased I found this property, perfect size for a family group. Owners friendly and helpful. The welcome basket was a lovely touch. It was comfortable and like a family home, perfect with children so not on tenterhooks the whole time. All the outdoor space and equipment. Refound my table tennis skills. Highly recommend this property
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 5 Aug 2021
Thank you Wendy, it was lovely to have you all stay here, we are pleased your family get away went so well. We would love to have you back some time.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Carol R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A chilled weekend at The Mill

We were a party of four couples. Three had an ensuite bedroom, whilst the fourth couple had a separate upstairs area with their own private toilet and access to their own shower room at the bottom of their staircase. The owner was extremely helpful and quick to respond to any questions (before and after I booked). The beautiful house and location worked perfectly for a group of mature adults. We had everything we needed for a great weekend break.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 22 May 2024
Many thanks for your lovely comments Carol, it was a pleasure to have you stay with us. I am so pleased you enjoyed your holiday break here and hope you will come back again sometime.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Steven A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Delightful

We were a group of 3 couples and 4 children. The 3 en-suite bedrooms, and 2 other twin bedrooms with access to their own bathroom and toilet, was an ideal set up for our group. The hot water and heating worked a treat. We were concerned to read that the most recent review before our stay was negative. However all the appliances worked for us and we had a delightful stay. The dining table and living room seating suited us very well. The outside space was excellent with games for outdoors stored in the shed. The location was perfect, relaxing and quiet, being close to the South Downs and the south coast. Thank you Ruth.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 11 Jun 2025
Thank you so much for your lovely review Steven! I'm so pleased to hear the layout, facilities, and outdoor space suited your group so well — and that everything went smoothly during your stay. It’s always a pleasure to welcome thoughtful and considerate guests like you, and I’m especially glad you found the location peaceful and ideal for exploring both the South Downs and the coast. Thank you again, and I’d love to welcome you back anytime! Best wishes Ruth
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Julie E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Totally brilliant South Downs holiday

Nine members of our family, aged from 4 to 73, enjoyed a wonderful week in this lovely house and its beautiful gardens. Ruth and John were excellent hosts in every way, we couldn’t be more appreciative of their kind assistance. We walked the South Downs of my grandmother’s family, celebrated birthdays in local pubs and restaurants, dressed up as knights in Lewes castle, rambled along footpaths and through shady woodlands, and loved playing inside and outside games when ‘at home’. The house provides spacious but cosy communal rooms as well as individual spaces in the many bedrooms and bathrooms. A totally brilliant South Downs holiday!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect for group celebrations.

This property was just perfect for 10 ladies celebrating some big birthdays. There's not many properties that can provide 10 single beds (if required, check property details as can also be doubles) with 5 bathrooms, which was just perfect for our needs. The grounds are beautiful, we even managed to play rounders at our age, and the local Vineyard is within walking distance, as is a Spa with a great restaurant for Sunday lunch. Slight hiccup at the beginning regarding getting in due to a lost email, but resolved quickly and the host is nearby to resolve any issues and was very helpful before and during our stay (Thank you Ruth). If you're looking for peace and tranquility in the countryside, but also want to have fun without disturbing the neighbours then this is the perfect house. Hope you enjoy your stay as much as we did.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 28 Jun 2023
Thank you for your lovely, informative review Helen. It's great to hear what you enjoyed about The Mill and the surrounding area. We're pleased you had memorable joint birthday celebrations! Hope you come back to Sussex sometime. Thanks Ruth
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Andrew V.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Christmas break

We were nine adults comprising my wife and me and our children and spouses plus my brother. The house was ideal for our needs with plenty of living space for and a well equipped kitchen to prepare some quite complex Christmas meals. The living room was perfect for our gift exchange on Christmas Day and had been decorated with a Christmas tree which was a nice touch. The location was peaceful, and great for visits to Brighton and Devil'sDyke but close enough to Gatwick to be able to pick up two of our party who flew in from Spain. On bad weather days we were quite happy to stay in and remain cosy. Overall we were all very happy with our stay and would gladly return providing our numbers don't increase to exceed the capacity of the property!
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2023
Verified

6/10 Okay

Jeanette W.

Liked: Check-in, communication
Disliked: Cleanliness, listing accuracy

A few points

Strange set up of tv - located on top of wood burner so when we wanted to lite the fire we had to take tv off of fire. Tv was strapped on. Grubby in places and oven needed a clean. As we were there in December would have been nice to have a Xmas tree. Lack of mirrors in bedrooms
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 29 Mar 2020
Thank you for your comments Jeanette, It is such a shame you didn't mention any of your concerns to me while you were staying here so I could address any issues for you. Just to go through some points. The focal point of the lounge is the fireplace and the furniture is arranged to make the most of the beautiful inglenook. In the information we send you in advance of your arrival we ask that you let us know if you wish to light the fire so that we can supply you with logs and move the TV. When you requested it on your arrival we brought you the bag of logs and kindling and your group seemed happy to oblige with the TV seeing my husband had his leg in plaster! With regards the Christmas tree, we normally put up our Christmas tree around the 11th/12th December and not the first week of December, that way it is still looking great for our guests staying over Christmas and the New Year period. With regards the mirrors, we have had many brides and bridesmaids get ready for their big day at our house and we have received numerous comments on how many mirrors there are for them all to prepare! We have had so many amazing reviews and lovely comments from guests over the past six years that your review has come as a complete surprise.

About the host

Hosted by Ruth

Host profile image
We have lived here for over 25 years. We travelled extensively before settling here and absolutely love the area for it's beautiful countryside, lovely walks, lovely pubs and restaurants and country club but with easy access to vibrant Brighton and the sea.

Why they chose this property

We fell in love and with the cottage and couldn't believe we had found such a beautiful home. It has a wonderful garden with adjoining footpaths leading to the South Downs and it is great to be able to go for great walks without needing to use the car.
We are also very well located with London an hour away by train and close to Brighton and Gatwick.
The area has everything from beautiful country side, and pretty villages, close to the sea, the buzz of Brighton and so many activities - tennis, swimming, golf, riding, sailing, windsurfing, canoeing.

What makes this property unique

Walking on the South Downs with the great network of footpaths is one of the great pleasures of staying here. The local villages are a great pleasure to visit and enjoy their pretty cafés and interesting shops.There are some wonderful restaurants and cosy pubs in the surrounding area and a fantastic country club and golf club nearby.The short drive to Brighton where there are great walks/bike rides along the front,sailing at Brighton Marina or dinghy sailing and windsurfing at Hove Lagoon.Brighton has an abundance of cafes and restaurants,the atmospheric Lanes,theatre,cinemas,it's own wheel,and the pier. Southwater Country Park is another great place for walks, cycling, sailing, canoing.The Triangle at Burgess Hill has 8 lane competition swiming pool and fun pool with flumes,tennis courts.

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English, Spanish
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