Welcome to Sussex
Sussex, separated into West and East since the 12th century, is one of the loveliest holiday locations in Britain. A wonderful mixture of historic sites, stunning countryside, charming seaside resorts, beautiful beaches and fascinating gardens make this a unique place to take a break at any time of the year.
Nestled in the countryside are pretty little market towns like Lewes - surrounded by the South Downs National Park - and along the scenic coast sit iconic resorts such as Eastbourne and Brighton.
It is no surprise that Sussex has inspired literary giants such as Kipling - who had homes in Burwash and Rottingdean - and Virginia Woolf, whose house at Rodmell is now owned by the National Trust. The Pre-Raphaelites made Hastings their artistic retreat and Romantic poets such as Byron and Shelley as well as King George IV - during his regency days especially - all enjoyed the coast many years before the Victorian seaside boom. A hundred years later the next King George, enjoyed visiting Bognor, conferring the title of 'Regis' on the seaside resort!
You will also find here many fine castles, manor houses and gardens that evoke the area's history of invasion and romantic associations - 14th century Bodiam Castle with its wonderful views over Rother Valley combines both beautifully!
Autumn is a great time to visit Sussex if you love the countryside - with the weather remaining mild, it is a perfect opportunity to head out on long walks. If you are with us in winter you may want to enjoy some festive shopping in the cathedral city of Chichester or for a smaller scale experience head to medieval Petworth, home to a great selection of antique shops.
In spring the picturesque gardens of Sussex burst into bloom and opera fans head to the Glyndebourne Festival in the heart of the South Downs. And in June there is festival fun of another sort when Shoreham-by-Sea hosts the Beach Dreams Festival, featuring live music, arts and entertainment.
While you're here...
The 'largest motoring garden party in the world' takes place at Goodwood Festival of Speed in July.
No visit to '1066 Country' is complete without a visit to Battle Abbey.
All eyes are on the sky in Eastbourne when Airbourne - one of the world's biggest free seafront airshows - takes place each August.
Wakehurst Place houses part of Kew's Royal Botanic Gardens collection!
Learn a new watersport at Bewl Water, the largest area of inland water in the South East.
Children will love Drusilla's Park near Alfriston, the best small zoo in England.
Romantic Bodiam Castle is famous for its moat - take a boat ride along the river and arrive in style.
Take a trip back in time on the Bluebell Railway, which runs from Sheffield Park near Uckfield.
Coastal Sussex
Sussex is a perfect location for a quintessentially English seaside break, with a coast that stretches from the seven miles of glorious Camber Sands to the popular yacht basin at Chichester harbour - an area that has been enjoyed by monarchs, writers and romantic poets for centuries.
This diverse coastline features fantastic scenery, from the beautiful heights of Beachy Head and Seven Sisters Country Park, to many fascinating historic sites. It also boasts a number of Blue Flag beaches, and some of the highest temperatures in the British Isles - a great combination for summer, and the setting for family fun all year round.
Head to the leisure port of Littlehampton for a round of golf by the mouth of the River Arun, or enjoy the shingle beach at Bognor Regis. Bexhill-on-Sea's modernist De La Warr Pavilion is a popular venue for the arts while the beautiful Royal Pavilion and pier at Brighton are also unmissable.
A number of historic sites recall the various threats of invasion Sussex has faced over the years - the remains of 13th century Pevensey Castle are within the walls of the Roman Saxon Shore Fort, Anderitum, and you can see one of Henry VIII's device forts at Camber. A visit to the famous Battle Abbey and the site of the Battle of Hastings, where William the Conqueror beat the last Anglo-Saxon King in 1066, is a must for history lovers.
For those more interested in the arts the coastal resort of Hastings nearby is now known for its many art studios and for once being a pre-Raphaelite retreat!
Rural Sussex
Rural Sussex is a place where unspoilt landscapes are peppered with picture-postcard views full of cultural and historic associations.
In West Sussex, Nymans - a series of spectacular experimental plantings surrounding the romantic ruin of a Gothic house - sits in the heart of the High Weald. Only a couple of miles away is High Beeches, where woodland and water gardens contain a mixture of rare and exotic plants. And not far from here is Wakehurst Place, the National Trust's most visited property and the country estate of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Lovers of art and history will adore Petworth House and Park - allow a day at this vast
17th century mansion as it features a 283-hectare deer park and a National Trust collection including works by Turner, Van Dyck, Reynolds and Blake!
East Sussex is home to the epitome of English gardening at Great Dixter - look beyond the flamboyant plantings and the house itself is spectacular, containing one of the largest surviving timber-framed halls in the country.
The ancient countryside of Sussex contains the South Downs National Park, 1600sq km of protected countryside dissected by the pristine River Arun. Birdwatchers and wildlife lovers will enjoy the RSPB Nature Reserve at Pulborough Brooks, where walks lead through hedge-lined paths to viewing areas and hides. And if you are looking for a more active break then Bewl Water has it all - located in the High Weald, this is the largest area of inland water in the South East and offers sailing, canoeing, fishing, walking, cycling and more.
