Sheffield Park and Garden's free Snowdogs trail runs 28 November to 10 January. Garden 10am to 4pm, closed 24 and 25 December; adults £20.90, parking free.

Sheffield Park and Garden, the National Trust garden between Uckfield and Haywards Heath, is running a Snowdogs Discover Christmas trail from Saturday 28 November 2026 to Sunday 10 January 2027. The trail itself is free; normal garden admission applies. The garden is closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and open every other day of the holiday.

The quick answer

  • Snowdogs trail: 28 November to 10 January, ten hand-painted Snowdog sculptures around the garden, no booking needed
  • Winter hours: garden 10am to 4pm from 16 November to 18 December, then 9am to 4pm over the school holiday; closed 24 and 25 December
  • Adults £20.90, children £10.50 (with Gift Aid); National Trust members free; parking free

Everything here was checked on 25 September 2026 against the National Trust’s Sheffield Park and Garden page and its Christmas and New Year page, published on 9 September.

The Snowdogs trail

The Trust describes it as a Christmas trail of ten hand-painted Snowdog sculptures around the garden, with festive games and activities for families. It is presented by the National Trust and Wild in Art with Penguin, and runs from 28 November 2026 to 10 January 2027, closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

  • no pre-booking for the trail
  • the trail is free, but you pay normal garden admission
  • festive food stalls by reception for hot drinks and mince pies

The Trust says further Christmas events will be added to its page. None were listed when we checked.

Opening times this winter

From the Trust’s day-by-day opening calendar. The shop and plant sales area, the Coach House café and the secondhand bookshop keep the same hours as the garden.

Dates Garden
28 September to 24 October 9am to 5pm
25 October to 1 November (half term) 9am to 4.30pm
2 November to 15 November 9am to 4pm
16 November to 18 December 10am to 4pm
19 December to 23 December 9am to 4pm
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Closed
26 December to 31 December 9am to 4pm

The parkland stays open dawn to dusk every day, including 24 and 25 December. Sheffield Wood is listed as closed throughout.

The Trust had not published its hours for 1 January 2027 onwards when we checked, even though the trail runs to 10 January. We will add them when they appear.

Prices

The landscape garden prices, in force since 1 March 2026:

Ticket With Gift Aid Without Gift Aid
Adult (18+) £20.90 £19.00
Child (5 to 17) £10.50 £9.50
Family (2 adults, up to 3 children) £52.30 £47.50
1 adult, 2 children £31.40 £28.50

Under-5s and National Trust members get in free. Sheffield Park House is a private home and is not open to visitors.

Parking and getting there

Parking is free, but the car park is small for a Grade I listed site and works on a first come, first served basis. At busy times the Trust sends cars to a grass overflow car park on the parkland along a country track, so it advises wellies. It asks visitors not to queue on the road.

  • Address: Sheffield Park, Uckfield TN22 3QX, on the east side of the A275 between the A272 and the A22
  • Sat nav: the Trust says to search for “Sheffield Park - main car park” so you are not directed into the private house
  • By train: the Bluebell Railway’s Sheffield Park station is a 15-minute walk across the parkland; from Crowborough the nearest main line is Uckfield
  • Mobility scooters can be booked in advance on 01825 790231

Dogs

Dogs are welcome on a short, fixed lead in the garden, except on Saturday mornings before 1pm. They can go on the parkland at any time, on a lead except in East Park, and into the Garden Room of the café.

Half term first

If you are going before Christmas, the garden’s autumn colour season runs through October. The Stranger Folk app trail, inspired by British folklore, runs from 3 October to 15 November. Our October half term page has the rest of what is on locally that week.

What is still to be confirmed

  • opening hours from 1 January 2027, for the last ten days of the trail
  • any extra Christmas events; the Trust says to check back

Also on Crowborough Today

Sources