Novartis Horsham: Laboratories of Silence
On the northern edge of Horsham, behind a screen of trees and hedgerows, stands one of the most strikingly forgotten complexes in Sussex: the former UK research campus of pharmaceutical giant Novartis. Once a hive of scientific innovation, the site is now still, silent, and slowly being reclaimed by the very nature it once studied from behind laboratory glass.
The Horsham site was established in the 1940s and operated under various names, including Ciba and Sandoz, before becoming part of Novartis in the 1990s. For decades, it was a centre for cutting-edge research, particularly in respiratory medicine. Hundreds of scientists, technicians, and support staff worked here on some of the world’s most widely prescribed treatments.
Closure and Abandonment
In 2014 Novartis announced it was shutting down operations in Horsham, shifting work to Cambridge and Switzerland. By 2016, the gates had closed for good. What remains today is a sprawling campus of empty buildings—red-brick research blocks, outbuildings, labs, and office corridors all left suspended in time.
Nature’s Return
Nature has crept in at the edges, with weeds sprouting from cracked tarmac and saplings pushing up against the foundations. Moss spreads across concrete walkways. Doors are either left open, swinging gently in the breeze, or bolted tight with warnings from a different era.
Corridors of Silence
Inside, the contrast is striking. Corridors stretch on in sterile silence. Laboratories lie gutted, stripped of equipment but still lined with sinks, shelves, and chemical-stained walls. Remnants of signage remain—handwritten notes, fire exit plans, faded safety warnings.
Architectural Presence
One of the most iconic views is the towered central lab block. From the outside, it appears fortress-like, with sharp corners and weathered edges, looming over the remains of garden beds and water features. Decay has set in rapidly, accelerated by exposure, break-ins, and neglect.
Lab Interiors
Walking the site, corridors extend into darkness. Service lifts stand frozen, ceilings hang low, and the darkness between pillars swallows sound entirely.
Final Thoughts
Novartis Horsham is a different kind of urbex experience. It’s not a relic of the Victorian era, nor a romantic ruin. It’s modern. Recent. Familiar. That’s what makes it unsettling—a place still imprinted with recent memory, now silent. Even the most high-tech, high-budget institutions aren’t immune to time and change. And when they are, what’s left is a shell—a very modern kind of ruin.
Location: North Horsham, West Sussex
Status: Vacant and part-demolished
Visited: July 2025
Access: Private and patrolled – extreme caution advised