East Sussex Activities
Escape to the South East coast to East Sussex where there are so many great places to visit. It is easily accessible from London on the train from a number of stations including London Bridge and London Victoria. This blog post gives you ideas for 8 things to do in East Sussex.
1. Visit a Vineyard
The terrain is great for vineyards so you will find several to visit in East Sussex. Rathfinny Estate is situated in Alfriston, a small village in the South Downs National Park, with almost 300 acres made up of vines. It is a family owned wine estate specialising in vintage sparkling wines which are incredible. You can visit the Cellar Door and try 4 of their wines – three sparkling and one white wine for free before buying.
Lunch was at their Michelin recommended Tasting Room overlooking the vineyards where you can also have a drink on the terrace. There are al fresco picnics in the summer and evening meals in the Flint Barns Dining Room. It’s a stunning vineyard with amazing sparkling wine (so easily drinkable!) and delicious food.
Another option is Tillingham WInes situated 15 minutes outside Rye. The vineyard is set within 70 acres of rolling hills and woodlands with views of Tillingham River valley. You can read more about our visit here.
I have heard positive things about Bolney Wine Estate in Haywards Heath so that’s next on the list!
2. Visit Brighton
If you are looking for things to do in East Sussex, then Brighton must be on your to do list. I may be slightly biased as I studied at the University of Sussex and absolutely loved my four years there but it’s definitely one to tick off the list.
Ideas of things to do in Brighton include:
- Visiting the Royal Pavilion which was built as a seaside pleasure palace for King George IV. It’s a stunning building that resembles a much smaller version of the Taj Mahal. You can visit the grounds and the outside of the pavilion for free.
- Meander down the North and South Lanes to shop, eat and drink.
- Visit Brighton Pier, go on a ride, play in the arcades and eat fish & chips and / or warm doughnuts .
- Drink at a seafront bar.
- Go on the British Airways i360 up to the observation deck.
3. Stay in a Woodland Cabin with a Hot Tub in East Sussex
We visited the most gorgeous family run cabin with a hot tub in East Sussex in the small historic village of Alfriston. This was the perfect base to visit some real gems in East Sussex including Seven Sisters Country Park, Lewes, Eastbourne and Brighton.
There are two woodland cabins onsite – Badgers Rest and Foxes Hollow – which were designed by a local award-winning architect and nestled in nature. They can sleep 4 people (two on the mezzanine level and two on the pull-out sofa bed). They welcome well behaved pets, usually dogs, but have had cats and rabbits stay too! Rates start from £170 per night depending on the seasons (off peak / peak) and the hot tub is an additional £50 per night with a minimum 2-night stay.
More information can be found here. A great walk in local area is the Long Man of Wilmington. The Long Man is Europe’s largest portrayal of a human, dating back to at least 1710 when John Rowley illustrated the figure. It is literally etched into the hills! Look out for the Long Man and Priory Car Park which is free to park and the walk is clearly signposted from there.
4. Explore Seven Sisters Country Park
Seven Sisters is situated in Seaford with walks available in the country park ranging from 1 hour to all day. Detailed information on the park can be found here. Parking is £4 a day with toilets and a café on site and the visitor centre just round the corner.
We walked from the car park along the road to the signs for Cuckmere Haven. From there we crossed over the fields and around 30 minutes later we were in the Haven right by the seafront with beautiful views of the cliffs. You can walk up behind Cuckmere Cottages for views higher up or walk along the beach towards the cliffs.
There are a few paths where you can climb to the top of the cliffs but sadly we couldn’t make it with our daughter. I have also heard that the route to Birling Gap (3 hours+) is a great walk. Friston Forest, right by the car park, is also worth a walk around.
5. Visit Lewes
The charming town of Lewes is nestled within the South Downs National Park and gives you a taste of rural Sussex. The market town’s draw is its medieval streets, castle and narrow twittens (alleyways). It has several independent retailers including bookshops, boutiques and antiques centres.
Southover Grange Gardens is a pleasant park with beautiful flowers and plenty of space to sit for a picnic or play games with the kids.
As you would expect, there are plenty of cafes, restaurants and pubs in the area. We visited Rights of Man a cosy tavern on the High Street with a hidden rooftop terrace area. The fish finger ciabatta was incredible!
6. Take a trip to Rye
Rye is such a gorgeous, quaint English town in East Sussex with plenty to keep your itinerary busy. From London you can catch the train from St Pancras in just over a hour. My recommended 3 day itinerary can be found here and includes Tillingham Vineyard, climbing to the bell tower of St Mary’s Church, Camber Castle, Camber Sands and, of course, walking down the famous Mermaid Street.
7. Take a Bluebell Walk
One for just April and May is Arlington Bluebell Walk and Farm Trail. In flowering time, the forest and land has thousands of gorgeous bluebells for your enjoyment. It’s £6 entrance and you can spend as long as you like on the trail. There is also a small amount of farm animals and a café on the site.
8. Visit Eastbourne
Eastbourne is like the older sister of Brighton – a little more chilled but still with the same seaside vibe and pier full of games. Totally worth a visit if you’re looking for things to do in East Sussex.
Lastly, Hastings and Bodiam Castle are on my future list of things to do in East Sussex – hoping to find time to visit soon!
East London Girl: 8 Things to do in East Sussex
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