Winnie the Pooh Travel Guide: How to Visit the REAL Hundred Acre Wood
I never thought I’d get the chance to walk through the same woods as Winnie the Pooh, but I did, sort of. Most of us know that Winnie the Pooh and pals are figments of A.A. Milne’s imagination, but the place that inspired 100 Aker Wood, aka Hundred Acre Wood, is rooted in reality. Located in East Sussex, A.A. Milne found inspiration for the home for his characters in Ashdown Forest, the wooded area adjacent to his home, the palatial Cotchford Farm. Even Winnie the Pooh himself is rooted in reality; the character was based on his son Christopher Robin’s stuffed teddy bear.
Ashdown Forest is about an hour and a half drive from London’s Heathrow Airport. While East Sussex might be right outside London, a visit to Ashdown Forest feels not just geographically far-flung, but as if you’ve also stepped back in time. It is a beautiful, tranquil area that feels fiercely British and steeped in history and tradition.
I’ve had some pretty great luck in my life, and being invited by Disney Studios to interview the filmmakers behind their Winnie the Pooh feature in the place that inspired the tales was an extraordinary adventure. While much of the area has stayed the same since my last visit, it is great to see that they’ve embraced the Pooh-ness of their history even more.
So are you ready to follow in Winnie the Pooh’s footsteps? Here are some tips on where to stay, where to go, and where to eat:
Where to Sleep
Photo via Ashdown Park Hotel
Ashdown Park Hotel and Country Club
Ashdown Park Hotel makes quite an impression. I stayed there for a couple of nights in the early spring and was impressed by how cozy yet refined my room was. Large and formal, the traditional details made it a dreamy stay with views of the lush grounds. For Winnie the Pooh’s 100-year celebration, the hotel is offering a Winnie the Pooh package.
Rates start at $185 a night – book here.
Image via The Bear Inn
The Bear Inn
The Bear Inn, a 15th-century public house and inn in Ashdown Park, has just four rooms, each named for Winnie the Pooh characters. You can choose between the country-styled Pooh, Tigger, Kanga, or Piglet rooms. While the theming is light, each room features wallpaper with E.H. Shepard’s map of the area.
Rooms start at about GBP 120, or about $160 at the current exchange rate. Book Here.
Cotchford Farm
You can actually stay in A.A. Milne’s residence, where A.A. Milne wrote Winnie the Pooh. Ashdown Forest surrounds the majestic home named Cotchford Farm. The home sleeps 12 and has six bedrooms, a pool, a tennis court, two acres of gardens, and a legendary history. After Milne, Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones lived there.
You can sleep in Christopher Robin’s bedroom and spend time in Milne’s writing study where he wrote his masterpieces. But if you want to stay at Crotchford Farm, you better hurry. The home will no longer be rentable and will return to private use beginning on February 15, 2027.
Rates start at about $1500 a night, which would be about $250 per couple per night if you had a group staying. Book here.
Photos via Airbnb
Bearnb
Sadly, the beautifully themed Bearnb that Airbnb promoted for Winnie the Pooh’s 95th anniversary is no longer available to rent, and I’m curious if it still exists. But I just had to include it in this roundup, since the theming was completely on the nose. Disney-appointed Winnie the Pooh illustrator Kim Raymond curated and designed the cozy retreat, and it was offered exclusively via Airbnb about five years ago.
What to do
Ashdown Forest
The main draw of this pilgrimage is to visit Ashdown Forest, the same location that inspired both A.A. Milne and illustrator E. H. Shepard. As you walk through the Forest, you can visit iconic locales featured in the books and films, such as Poohsticks Bridge, Gill’s Lap, Heffalump Trap, Roo’s Sandy Pit, and Eeyore’s Gloomy Place. One striking element is the forest’s trees; you will easily recognize the Scots Pine, English Oak, and Silver Birch, almost as if they were characters in the book themselves. It’s an easy walk to visit all the important places, including the plaque celebrating Winnie the Pooh’s legacy and the Poohsticks Bridge, which includes instructions on how to play in the same way as Winnie the Pooh and Christopher Robin.
Photo via Pooh Corner
Pooh Corner
Located at the edge of Ashdown Forest, this is a must for any Winnie the Pooh aficionado. They have two tea rooms. The Piglet Tea Room is adorned with Winnie the Pooh posters, including a healthy dose from the Disney era. The E.H. Shepard Room features an array of artwork from Shepard’s original Winnie the Pooh sketches from the books. Afterward, be sure to stop by their museum, which showcases 100 years of Pooh history. And of course, the gift shop offers a wide array of Winnie the Pooh items, such as books, stuffies, toys, and coffee mugs.
Where to eat
If you’re staying at The Bear Inn, eating there is very convenient; if not, it’s still worth the trip. They serve hearty dishes made on the premises with fresh, seasonal ingredients. On Sundays, they offer traditional Sunday roasts served with vegetables, roast potatoes, gravy, and Yorkshire Pudding. For dessert, don’t miss The Bear sundae, which features ice cream accompanied by a chocolate brownie, caramel sauce, and honeycomb.
Image via Pooh Corner
After shopping and visiting their museum, having a treat at Pooh Corner is a must. The location was once a sweet shop that apparently was a regular stop for Milne and his son. To really embrace the Poohness of it all in glorious British style, make a reservation for their traditional afternoon tea complete with finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones, and a selection of sweet treats.
Located just three minutes away from the center of the Hundred Acre Woods area, this gastropub offers hearty staples in a welcoming atmosphere. Serving classics like fish and chips, burgers, and chicken curries, this is a welcome, convenient stop to fuel up. Make sure to leave room for the sticky toffee pudding.
Side Quest
Harrods in London
If you’re heading to East Sussex, odds are you will probably be spending a bit of time in London. If so, swing by Harrods in London and pick up your own Winnie the Pooh bear. Legend has it that A.A. Milne originally bought the bear – a J.K. Farnell ‘Alpha’ Teddy Bear – for his son at the department store, and it became the most beloved stuffed animal in the world. To celebrate the 100th anniversary, Disney has collaborated with Harrods on a lovely version. If you want there bear but aren’t heading to England any time soon, you can buy this guy online here.