# A self-catering family holiday with a heated pool, near Chichester > The three homes at The Marden share a heated outdoor pool, open from mid-June to early September, Monday to Saturday, and used only by guests staying here. Barley Cottage (from £896 a week) and The Old Stables (from £1,204) suit families best, with twin beds and enclosed gardens. The farm is in West Marden, about 10 miles from Chichester and about 17 miles from West Wittering beach. - **Pool:** Mid-June to early Sept, Mon–Sat - **Best for you:** Barley, The Old Stables - **From:** £896 a week - **West Wittering:** About 17 miles ## Which home for a family [Barley Cottage](https://themarden.co.uk/stay/barley-cottage) has a king bedroom and a twin, side by side on one level, which is the arrangement most families with two children want. It has a gated patio, a walled lawn and a high chair, and it is the least expensive of the three. [The Old Stables](https://themarden.co.uk/stay/the-old-stables) is also on one level. Its second bedroom can be made up as twin beds, both bedrooms have their own bathroom, and a folding bed for one more child can be added for a supplement. The courtyard is large and gated. [Keepers](https://themarden.co.uk/stay/keepers) has two super-king bedrooms, one of them upstairs, so it suits older children or two couples better. For grandparents and cousins as well, take two homes or [the whole farm](https://themarden.co.uk/breaks/whole-farm-hire). ## The pool The pool is outdoors, heated, and in its own garden. It is shared by the three homes and nobody else, so at most 12 people have the use of it. It is open from mid-June to early September, Monday to Saturday, from 8am into the afternoon. It is closed on Sundays and for the rest of the year, which includes Easter and the May half-term. Children need an adult with them at all times, and you bring your own pool towels. ## Days out with children On pool days you may not leave the farm. When you do, these are the ones families go back to. Our [family days out](https://themarden.co.uk/local/family-days-out) page has more. - West Wittering beach: about 17 miles, 35 minutes on a quiet day and much longer on a hot one. Gently shelving sand. Book the car park by 11pm the night before, because you cannot pre-book on the day. See [beaches and the harbour](https://themarden.co.uk/local/beaches-and-harbour). - [Stansted Park](https://themarden.co.uk/local/stansted-park): about 10 minutes. A light railway on Wednesdays and Saturdays, a maze at weekends and in the school holidays, and a tearoom. - Butser Ancient Farm: about 10 minutes. Reconstructed Stone Age, Iron Age, Roman and Saxon buildings. It is closed for general visits until spring 2027. - Queen Elizabeth Country Park: about 15 minutes. 2,000 acres of woodland and downland, with a café. - Weald & Downland Living Museum, Singleton: about 20 minutes. More than 50 historic buildings, rescued and rebuilt. - Portsmouth Historic Dockyard: about 16 miles, 30 minutes. HMS Victory, HMS Warrior and the Mary Rose, for a wet day. - Marwell Zoo: about 24 miles, 40 minutes. - Sunday, when the pool is closed: walk the 2.7-mile [West Marden loop](https://themarden.co.uk/local/octagon-walks), which ends at the pub. ## What parents ask Bed linen and towels are provided. All three homes have a washing machine, and Keepers and The Old Stables have a tumble dryer. The main supermarkets deliver to the farm, and the nearest shop is five minutes away by car in Rowlands Castle. There is a high chair in Barley and in Keepers. Ask us about a cot before you book, so we can tell you what is possible in each home. This is a working arable farm, so there are no animals to feed. Mobile signal is poor on every network except EE. The wifi is fast. ## When to come and how to book Summer weeks run Friday to Friday, and August fills first. In 2027 the West Sussex summer holidays run from 22 July to 31 August. The last week of June and the first weeks of July have the pool open and more dates free. There is a three-night minimum over Easter and half-terms. A 30% deposit holds the booking, and there are no booking fees when you book direct. ## Questions ### When is the pool open? From mid-June to early September, Monday to Saturday, from 8am into the afternoon. It is closed on Sundays and out of season. ### Is the pool private? It is shared by the three homes and is only for guests staying in them, so no more than 12 people have the use of it. If you book all three homes you have it to yourselves. ### Is the pool heated? Yes. It is a heated outdoor pool in its own garden. Children must have an adult with them, and you need to bring your own pool towels. ### How far is the beach? West Wittering beach is about 17 miles from the farm, 35 minutes by car on a quiet day. In summer, book the car park by 11pm the night before. See [beaches and the harbour](https://themarden.co.uk/local/beaches-and-harbour) for the others. ### Which home has twin beds for children? Barley Cottage has a king bedroom and a twin. The second bedroom in The Old Stables can be made up as twin beds, and a folding bed for one more child can be added for a supplement. ### Can we fit a family of five or six? Each home sleeps four. The Old Stables can take a fifth, a child on a folding bed. Bigger families take two homes, which are a few steps apart. ## Related - [Barley Cottage: the dog-friendly one, with a walled lawn](https://themarden.co.uk/stay/barley-cottage.md) - [The Old Stables: a single-storey barn with two en-suite bedrooms](https://themarden.co.uk/stay/the-old-stables.md) - [Days out near Chichester with kids, by age and for when it rains](https://themarden.co.uk/local/family-days-out.md) - [Beaches near West Marden: West Wittering, East Head, Bosham and Emsworth](https://themarden.co.uk/local/beaches-and-harbour.md) - [Three homes together: the whole farm for up to 12](https://themarden.co.uk/breaks/whole-farm-hire.md) - [February half term 2027 in the South Downs: a house near Chichester](https://themarden.co.uk/events/february-half-term.md) ## Booking Book direct with The Marden at https://themarden.co.uk (no booking fees), or message us on WhatsApp: https://wa.me/447822026091. West Marden Farm, West Marden, Chichester, West Sussex PO18 9EN. Page: https://themarden.co.uk/breaks/family-holidays · Last updated 2026-11-14