Oaklands Bruderhof Community

The Bruderhof at Oaklands is a working Christian community tucked away in the Sussex countryside near Battle, and it's genuinely different from what you might expect. This isn't a tourist attraction in the conventional sense - it's a functioning monastic-style settlement where members live communally, share possessions, and worship together. You can visit the community and their chapel, though it pays to ring ahead first to check they're set up for visitors and that you won't be dropping in during private worship.

What draws people here is the sheer authenticity of it. There's no gift shop, no visitor centre nonsense. You'll see working gardens, communal buildings, and meet actual residents going about their day. The chapel itself is modest but genuine - peaceful rather than grand. It's the kind of place that appeals to those curious about alternative ways of living, spirituality seekers, or anyone after a proper escape from normal life.

Allow a couple of hours if you go. It works well as part of a broader walk around Battle and the local parks - Seven Acre Woods is barely a mile away and Coghurst Hall is another short drive. The whole area rewards slow exploration. Is it for everyone? No. Will you find it fascinating? Possibly. That depends entirely on whether you're after quiet contemplation and genuine community, or a more conventional day out. It's honest and unpretentious, which feels increasingly rare.