regions

East Sussex

Open on map More regions Spin a random place Ask WorldAI

Overview

East Sussex is a county in the South East of England. West Sussex is to the west, Kent is to the north-east and Surrey is to the north.

Wikivoyage guide · 39 sections

▸Introduction135 chars

East Sussex is a county in the South East of England. West Sussex is to the west, Kent is to the north-east and Surrey is to the north.

▸Towns1,221 chars

1 Battle – site of the famous battle of Hastings in 1066.

2 Brighton and Hove – East Sussex's hub and only real city is a famous English seaside resort

3 Bexhill – home of the art deco De la Warr Pavilion and the home of British Motor Racing

4 Crowborough – a hilltop town in the beautiful Ashdown Forest and home of author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

5 Eastbourne – a popular seaside resort, popular with all generations

6 Hailsham – thriving market town and location of one of the few remaining cattle markets in Sussex

7 Hastings – it has a castle, history, beach and beautiful countryside

8 Heathfield – a thriving country market town

9 Lewes – the county town with a brewery, castle and shops, some dating back to the 1400s, in the South Downs, perfect for a brief visit

10 Newhaven – the county's ferry port to the continent - but with a little more under its belt

11 Rye – a singularly picturesque medieval seaside town on the hill overlooking the harbour. One of the Cinque Ports which retains a rustic feel

12 Seaford – a charming, quiet seaside town with stunning cliffs exactly halfway between Eastbourne and Brighton

13 Uckfield – between the High Weald and the Low Weald, a small town with a sprinkling of history

▸

Facts

Rank

—

Coordinates

—

Source

WBP almanac

External sources

Wikivoyage

Media

From Wikipedia3,287 words

Introduction

County of England This article is about the county. For the former parliamentary constituency, see East Sussex (UK Parliament constituency). This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: "East Sussex" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (May 2022) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Non-metropolitan and ceremonial county in EnglandEast SussexNon-metropolitan and ceremonial countyThe Seven Sisters cliffs, Mountfield church in the Weald, and the Royal Pavilion, BrightonCoordinates: 50°56′N 0°22′E / 50.94°N 0.37°E / 50.94; 0.37Sovereign stateUnited KingdomConstituent countryEnglandRegionSouth East EnglandEstablished1974(Local Government Act 1972)Time zoneUTC+0 (GMT) • Summer (DST)UTC+1 (BST)UK Parliament9 MPsCeremonial countyLord LieutenantAndrew Blackman (2021–)High SheriffMichael James BedingfieldArea1,791 km2 (692 sq mi) • Rank33rd of 48Population (2024)844,752 • Rank30th of 48 • Density472/km2 (1,220/sq mi)Non-metropolitan countyCounty councilEast Sussex County CouncilControlNo overall controlAdmin HQLewesArea1,709 km2 (660 sq mi) • Rank19th of 21Population (2024)560,882 • Rank21st of 21 • Density328/km2 (850/sq mi)ISO 3166-2GB-ESXGSS codeE10000011ITLTLJ22Websiteeastsussex.gov.ukDistricts  Unitary   County council areaDistricts of East Sussex Districts Brighton and Hove Lewes Wealden Eastbourne Rother Hastings East Sussex is a ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Kent to the north-east, West Sussex to the west, Surrey to the north-west, and the English Channel to the south. The largest settlement is the city of Brighton and Hove. The county has an area of 1,792 km2 (692 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 844,752 in 2024. The largest settlements are on the coast, and include Brighton and Hove in the south-west, Eastbourne in the south, and Hastings in the south-east. Away from the coast the county is largely rural, and its settlements include Crowborough in the north, Hailsham in the south-centre, and Lewes in the west. For local government purposes East Sussex comprises a non-metropolitan county, with five districts, and the unitary authority of Brighton and Hove. East Sussex and West Sussex historically formed a single county, Sussex. The north east of East Sussex is part of the Weald, a sandstone anticline that was once an extensive woodland. The highest point in this area is Crowborough Hill (242 m (794 ft)), part of the High Weald uplands. The south west of the county is part of the South Downs, a rolling chalk escarpment that stretches west into West Sussex and Hampshire. Ditchling Beacon (248 m (814 ft)) is the highest point. Where the downs reach the sea, they form high cliffs such as the Seven Sisters, where eroded dry valleys create an undulating skyline. The county does not contain large rivers, but its largest are the Rother, which forms part of the boundary with Kent, the Cuckmere, and the Ouse, which rises in West Sussex and flows through Lewes before reaching the English Channel at Newhaven.

More in regions0

14 Ditchling – a picturesque village north of Brighton famed for the number of artists living nearby

15 Hartfield – this beautiful Ashdown village has a famous resident - Pooh bear

16 Mayfield – picturesque village that was built on iron

17 Pevensey – a historic coastal village with a medieval castle built within a Roman fort

18 Robertsbridge – an interesting village on the main railway line to London from Hastings, close to Bodiam Castle

19 Rottingdean – a farming village built on the coast with a beacon.

▸Other destinations466 chars

1 Ashdown Forest – for walking, wildlife, and Winnie The Pooh - an area of heathland and forest once used for hunting by the nobles; Ashdown Forest Tourism Association

2 The Cuckoo Trail – 11 miles of mostly traffic-free path for walkers and cyclists between Heathfield and Polegate along a disused railway line, with a 3-mile link path to Eastbourne.

3 Cuckmere Haven is famed for its meanders.

The South Downs end in chalk cliffs at 4 Beachy Head along the coast.

▸Geology953 chars

The Rocks that underlay most of East Sussex are Jurassic to Cretaceous in age (150 million years ago to 65); around 2 million years ago the Wealden Anticline was formed, due to the continental collision of Africa with Europe. The dome extends from the coast to the North Downs, in Kent and Surrey and across the channel to France; Sussex has played an important role in Geology, the first dinosaur was identified (others had been found, but not identified) in Cuckfield, in West Sussex, one of the greatest hoaxes of modern times, the Piltdown Man was 'discovered' in Piltdown near Uckfield and the cliffs that line the coast are noted for their specimens of Ammonites, fishes and other marine animals, (the cliffs at Peacehaven, near Brighton are famous for their giant ammonites). Dinosaur footprints can be seen at Fairlight, East of Hastings. For those interested in Minerals small deposits of Aluminate are present in the Tertiary sands of Newhaven

▸History2,850 chars

In prehistoric times, the whole of Sussex was populated by tribesmen, some of whom settled on the tops of the downs. Sites can still be seen at Firle Beacon, Mount Caburn and other sites.

From the invasion in AD46 Sussex played a major role in Roman Britain. The Romans left Pevensey Castle and various Roman Roads as a reminder of their presence. In West Sussex Fishbourne Roman Villa remains a prime example of Roman houses in this part of the world. From the 5th–11th centuries, Sussex became the Kingdom of Sussex, controlled by a succession of monarchs.

It was in East Sussex where the Normans landed in 1066 at Pevensey, where they fought Harold's army at a field near Battle which can be visited to this day. Battle Abbey was built by the Normans after the battle. Most of the county churches had their first stones laid at this time. During the Middle Ages, a great number of Castles were built or improved on—Bodiam Castle and Lewes Castle are prime examples. Most the churches in Sussex date from this time and offer brilliant examples of Middle Ages architecture.

Under the Tudors, Sussex prospered. Anne of Cleves House in Lewes is perfectly preserved with many examples of Tudor architecture. Hever Castle just over the border in Kent was frequented by Henry VIII. To ward against the Spanish, during Elizabeth's reign beacons were set up to warn of invasions, these live on as names, such as Ditchling Beacon and Crowborough Beacon. On Ashdown forest Iron working prospered, it is remembered today in the form of deep pools, once used to power the billows for the furnaces.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, Brighton was transformed from a small fishing village to seaside resort, with the Royal Pavilion being a stunning example of the eccentricity of the King and his subjects. Elsewhere in the country, towns grew and great houses began to be built in Lewes and Rye. In the late 18th and 19th centuries, Sussex's coast became popular with Londoners escaping the city on the new railways. Brighton continued to grow with the expansion towns like Eastbourne and Hastings, which offer fine examples of period architecture. The Volks Electric Railway was constructed—the first electric railway in the world. Some great houses, such as Firle House and Glyndebourne were constructed (Glyndebourne is a popular and world famous opera venue). Great Gardens were set up, like Sheffield Park near Uckfield.

Sussex was not just a place for pleasure; it was a place for defence. Some of the most important military constructions include the Newhaven Fort and the Royal Military Canal in the east, with Martello towers built along the coast. These monuments remain in Seaford, Eastbourne and Rye. In the 20th century, Sussex played a major role in World Wars I and II; in both Newhaven Fort assisted with the D-day landings and as a naval base.

▸Geography668 chars

Sussex has a varied and beautiful geography. From the stunning Seven Sisters Chalk Cliffs near Eastbourne to the flat marshes of Pevenensy and the high Ground of Ashdown Forest to the beautiful lowlands and river landscapes of the Lower Weald. Sussex is the most Forested county in England and lost in Friston Forest or Ashdown Forest (although much of it is open land) it is easy to believe. often the only thing breaking the horizon is trees or the Downs.

The country has a dense and varied network of footpaths (see East Sussex Footpaths) making walking easy, walking books and ordnance survey maps are easily available - there's really no excuse to go out walking!

▸Local information34 chars

East Sussex County Council website

▸Talk390 chars

English - dialect is Home Counties.

Speakers of other languages may have trouble being understood, but locals are often willing to be patient and multilingual dictionaries are available at book stores. Tourist information offices hold multilingual information. Speakers of English from other countries (e.g. Canadians, Australians and Americans) should have no trouble at all understanding.

▸By sea635 chars

After a checkered history ferries to Newhaven run to Dieppe (run by DFDS) throughout the year, taking 5 and 4 hours.

DFDS would be your first port of call. ☏ +44 330 587 8787.

Alternatively, tickets can be bought at the two ports, the ferry port in Newhaven is on the East Quay, while in Dieppe it is the east of the main harbour, both are well signposted

The ferries to Dieppe are some of the newest sailing in the English Channel, and due to the former troubled history of the route (and massive subsidies) this can be cheaper than Dover to Calais, also the view from the ferries of the Seven Sisters and Cuckmere Haven is beautiful.

▸By car819 chars

The A22, A/M23, A24, A26, A27, A272 and numerous other roads go into Sussex, destinations within Sussex include, Brighton, Lewes, Newhaven, Eastbourne.

Coming from the north

East Sussex is connected to the motorway network via the A/M23, which passes Crawley (in West Sussex) and south towards Brighton; from the A23 the A272 and the A27 - both offering great access to East Sussex; alternatively the A22 runs from London to just outside Eastbourne, passing by East Grinstead, Forest Row, Uckfield, Hailsham and Polegate. It offers a great route through the countryside and Ashdown Forest.

Coming from the west

The A272, A27 and A264 head towards East Sussex. Simply follow the signs to any town in East Sussex.

Coming from the east

Head towards Brighton, Newhaven or Eastbourne - these will bring you into East Sussex.

▸By train97 chars

There are services from London, Hampshire, Surrey and Kent; main terminus's and destinations are:

▸From London370 chars

From London Victoria

Trains come from Victoria to Gatwick Airport, Brighton, Eastbourne, Ore, Hastings and Lewes.

From London Bridge

Trains come from London Bridge to Brighton, Buxted, Crowborough and Uckfield.

From St Pancras International (Blackfriars and CityThameslink are on the same line)

Trains come from St Pancras to Haywards Heath, Brighton and Burgess Hill.

▸From the west185 chars

From Portsmouth

Trains come from Portsmouth Harbour and Portsmouth & Southsea stations to Brighton and Hove.

From Southampton

Trains come from Southampton Central to Brighton and Hove.

▸From the east98 chars

From Ashford

Trains come from Ashford International to Hastings, Bexhill, Eastbourne and Brighton.

▸From the north274 chars

From Bedford

Trains come from Bedford to Haywards Heath and Brighton, via St Pancras, London Blackfriars and Gatwick Airport.

From Reading

Trains come from Reading to Gatwick Airport, where you can change for trains to Brighton, Eastbourne, Hastings and other destinations.

▸From the Continent477 chars

Trains come from France and Europe through Calais and Ashford via the Eurostar train system. You will have to change trains at either St Pancras or Ashford to get into East Sussex.

All the major towns in East Sussex have a rail connection, for further information and train times can be found on the National Rail Planner or by calling 0345 748 4950 from anywhere in the UK (calls are inclusive in allowances or otherwise charged at your provider's standard "geographic rate").

▸By plane407 chars

Gatwick Airport (LGW IATA), serves the world, it is just outside East Sussex, but you’ll see the county on the way in! There is also the smaller Lydd Airport running to Le Touquet in France; it is a small airport, however major expansion is expected. Lydd Airport is in Kent, but about 10 km from East Sussex. To the west there is Shoreham Airport (or Brighton city) which deals with mainly UK destinations.

▸Get around4,449 chars

The county has a fairly good road network, with almost every destination attainable by road; traffic is a problem though, with most towns having inevitable weekday traffic. Travelling into popular destinations on a sunny Bank Holiday can prove frustrating. Brighton is the main transport hub, with the M23/A23 running North-South from London and the Brighton Mainline running parallel to it. The majority of trunk (A) roads radiate southwards from London to the East Sussex coast and can vary from dual-carriageway/motorway (M23/A23) to the more common single carriageway roads with the A22 (London to Eastbourne, via East Grinstead and Uckfield) and A21 (London to Hastings, via Flimwell and Tonbridge) though these do alternate between single and dual-carriageways where use is heavier.

The majority of east-west traffic uses the A27 which runs slightly inland from Pevensey in the East past Eastbourne, Lewes, Brighton and Hove and into West Sussex travelling through Worthing, Arundel and around Chichester before forming the M27 in Hampshire. Other commonly used routes include the A26, A259 and A272. The A26 runs NE from Newhaven towards the Kent county-town of Maidstone and north of Lewes is used by the frequent Brighton-Tunbridge Wells bus service.

The A259 runs along the coast of East Sussex in its entirety as the road starts in Folkestone (Kent) and crosses the Romney Marshes before entering the county and linking almost all seaside towns from Rye and Hastings in the east to Brighton and Hove in the west. The A272 is a popular route with bikers and starts in East Sussex connecting Buxted, Uckfield, Newick and Chailey before crossing into West Sussex and Haywards Heath where it continues to meander on to Winchester, Hampshire.

Many of the smaller roads can offer scenic views and investing in a good quality road-map is recommended. You can expect a range of roads from those described above to single-carriageways and narrower with some locations accessible by single-track roads. Road users can also be varied as cyclists often train on the London-to-Brighton bike route (the event is in early June every year) and horse-riders and farm equipment can often be found on more rural roads.

Trains from London cover the major towns in the county, with most train services being operated by Southern. There are routes along the coast from Ashford via Hastings and Eastbourne to Brighton as well as from Brighton to Seaford via Newhaven. Services from Brighton also travel west towards Portsmouth and Chichester. There are two smaller spurs routing into London from Uckfield, via Crowborough and Oxted. Or from East Grinstead. There is another line from Hastings via Battle and Tunbridge Wells (Kent) to London. Services from the county tend to terminate in Victoria but there are also services that route through London Bridge (from Brighton and Hastings), terminate at Charing Cross (from Hastings) and call at St Pancras (from Brighton, before continuing to Bedford). The vast majority of services terminate in South London (Westminster) with the exception of the First Capital Connect service operating from Brighton through London Bridge, Blackfriars, City Thameslink and St Pancras before continuing to Luton and Bedford.

Buses are fairly good; with Buses from Brighton to Tunbridge Wells (£6.00 return), Eastbourne to East Grinstead and Heathfield in the North, Brighton and Newhaven in the West and Bexhill and Hastings in the East, as well as local routes.

Traveline South East gives more route details and routes into the surrounding counties. Essentially if there is a main road, the chances are there is a bus route along it. Most of the services in the county are provided by one of the main bus operators (Stagecoach or Arriva) with services in Brighton & Hove operated by a company of the same name (although part of Go-Ahead). Services cater for most major towns radiating into the countryside. Brighton & Hove, for example, has services covering nearby Peacehaven, Newhaven and Lewes with some services extending to Ringmer, Tunbridge Wells and Eastbourne.

Everywhere is accessible by roads, but be aware that traffic is fairly horrific in most of the towns and Brighton during the rush hours it is well worth buying either a county map or a country map (the AA and RAC among others produce decent enough maps, which are fairly modern). since roads in Sussex can be small and attractions in 'out of the way' places

▸See1,883 chars

Beachy Head near Eastbourne

The Long Man of Wilmington, (near Eastbourne), [1]. Car park is open all year, 24 hours a day. A prehistoric (maybe) chalk representation of a man carved into the side of a hill. Admission to the site and car park is free. Walking on the figure or the surrounding vegetation is not permitted.

Great Dixter - house and gardens known mainly for the long-lasting display of colour for much of the year

Alfriston - another small village on the South Downs way

Cuckmere Haven, Friston Forest and the Living World - a popular destination for walkers which is accessible by bus from either Eastbourne or Brighton (see the number 12 route, served by Brighton & Hove Buses

Seven Sisters - Chalk cliffs which can be seen by walkers going from Cuckmere Haven to Seaford. Routes across the cliffs towards Beachy Head and Eastbourne are also popular with walkers.

Devil's Dyke - a popular location with walkers offering views north over East and West Sussex. And it has a pub.

Ditchling Beacon - views over East and West Sussex to the north and Brighton & Hove to the south. Walkers can continue along the downs in either direction. Walkers should be aware of the road over the beacon which is popular with cyclists and normal traffic.

Drivers thinking of travelling between Ditchling and the Beacon should be aware of the width restrictions (6'6", 1.98 m) and speed limit. Expect slow moving traffic and, in the summer-time buses operating from Brighton (number 79). Caution is advised when using this road.

Glyndebourne, Lewes Well-known opera house

Middle Farm - working farm with kid's farm and farm shop

Michelham Priory - former monastery and gardens

Eastbourne Redoubt. Former fort and Martello Tower dating from the Napoleonic era which is now a museum.

Hastings Castle

St Leonards Caves - former haunt for smugglers which is now a popular tourist attraction

▸Itineraries331 chars

Walking or cycling either in part or the whole thing.

The Cuckoo Trail, from Eastbourne to Tunbridge Wells.

The Forest Way, from East Grinstead to Groombridge (with an on-road route to Tunbridge Wells).

The South Downs Way, from Eastbourne to Winchester (Hampshire).

East Sussex Footpaths has more information and different paths.

▸Long distance trails598 chars

These either pass wholly or partly through East Sussex; all are marked on Ordnance Survey (OS) maps.

1066 Country Walk, 50 km (31 mi) Pevensey Castle to Rye

High Weald Landscape Trail, running 145 km (90 mi) from Horsham,West Sussex to Rye, East Sussex, Kent)

Saxon Shore Way, Gravesend, Kent — Hastings 261 km

South Downs Way National Trail

Sussex Border Path, 256 km (159 mi) from Thorney Island to Rye

Sussex Ouse Valley Way, 67 km (42 mi) Lower Beeding to Seaford

Vanguard Way, 107 km (66 mi) from Croydon in south London to Newhaven

Wealdway, 129 km (80 mi) from Gravesend, Kent to Eastbourne

▸Shorter walks1,643 chars

Abbots Wood near Hailsham has two walks, the Abbots Amble, 2.5 km following yellow waymarks and Oak Walk, just over 1 km following red waymarks.

Beaneys Lane 'A Walk For All Seasons' 1.5 km on the outskirts of Hastings through the Maplehurst Woods (Site of Special Scientific Interest), following wren marker posts between The Ridge and Stonestile Lane; mostly flat and good surface, one incline near The Ridge.

Butcher's Trudge, a 2 km circular walk from Butchershole near the town of Friston in Friston Forest following white waymarks.

Ditchling Common Country Park Trail, located between Haywards Heath and Lewes, 1.5 km long following purple waymarking.

Forest Way circular walks incorporating parts of the Forest Way — 5 km following orange waymarks from Forest Row, 4.5 km following green waymarks and 6 km following red waymarks from Hartfield, and 8 km following purple waymarks from Groombridge

The High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty has lots of different walks.

Marline Valley Nature Reserve on the outskirts of Hastings has various walks, but note they are steep and often muddy. No car park, access is from the B2092 Road (Queensway), car drivers are asked to park in one of the roads opposite the site and cross over Queensway (the road is quite busy). A pdf map of the site is available on the Sussex Wildlife Trust website

Park Wood in Hellingly (to the north of Hailsham) has a number of signed circular walks.

Seven Sisters Country Park has an easy to follow path from its Visitor Centre at Exceat (on the A259 road from Eastbourne to Seaford), which goes alongside the River Cuckmere to the sea at Cuckmere Haven.

▸Homes and gardens421 chars

Great Dixter House and Garden (Northiam). The spectacular planting here includes topiary, exotics and some stunning colour.

Michelham Priory (Upper Dicker, near Hailsham).

Features a sculpture trail, kitchen garden, medieval cloister garden and the longest medieval moat in England.

Sheffield Park Garden (near Uckfield) Originally laid out by Capability Brown, these magnificent gardens surround four elegant lakes.

▸Historic attractions1,012 chars

East Sussex has had a rich and varied history, from the site of an invasion to measures to protect against one - its all here:

Battle Abbey and battlefield (Battle). 1066 is one of the most important dates in English history. Visit the place where it all happened.

Anne of Cleves’ House (Lewes). A 16th-century half-timbered house that formed part of Henry VIII’s divorce settlement to Anne of Cleves.

Newhaven Fort. Underground tunnels and interactive exhibits bring the events of wartime Britain to life.

Bodiam Castle, Bodiam, near Robertsbridge, TN32 5UA, ☏ +44 1580 830196, bodiamcastle@nationaltrust.org.uk. One of Britain’s most famous castles, built in 1385. Some of the interior survives.

Herstmonceux Castle (near Hailsham). A romantic moated castle surrounded by parkland. It boasts an Elizabethan walled garden and a reputation for ghost sightings.

Pevensey Castle (Pevensey, near Eastbourne). Dating back to Roman times, this ancient monument played an important part in English history.

▸Family attractions813 chars

East Sussex has many family attractions for all ages and interests

Smuggler’s Adventure (Hastings). This labyrinth of caves is a scary smuggler’s lair.

Drusilla’s Park (near Alfriston) A zoo, an adventure park and a fun day out for the family. in the summer months there is a mini railway

Paradise Park (Newhaven) Discover dinosaurs, exotic plants and some fascinating Sussex history.

The Observatory. Herstmonceux. Science comes alive at the former Greenwich Observatory.

For budding Palaeontologists or anyone interested in the deep past the cliffs and exposed rocks of East sussex provide perfect hunting grounds, among the best are Hastings, Eastbourne and Seaford Discovering Fossils have more information and recommendation's for sites, please be aware that as with any activity safety must come first!

▸Literary attractions944 chars

Whether it was the beautiful Sussex Countryside or their travels, writers have been drawn to East Sussex; their houses are popular tourist attractions.

Monk's House, Lewes. The former home of Leonard and Virginia Woolf, some of their personal possessions are on display. Owned by the National Trust.

Bateman's, Bateman's Lane, Burwash, TN19 7DS, ☏ +44 1435 882302, batemans@nationaltrust.org.uk. Rudyard Kipling’s former home, the house and gardens remain as they were when he was alive. In the summer concerts and fireworks fill the gardens; the home is owned by the National Trust.

Lamb House, West Street, Rye, TN31 7ES, ☏ +44 1580 762334, lambhouse@nationaltrust.org.uk. Henry James, EF Benson and Rumer Godden have all lived in this charming 18th century house. The home is owned by the National Trust.

Hartfield, Winnie the Pooh lovers will find both Pooh Corner and the Pooh Sticks bridge in this country parish in Ashdown Forest.

▸Scenic towns and villages610 chars

The beautiful countryside of East Sussex is matched by some charming towns.

Alfriston, narrow streets and quaint cottages, this is everything an English village should be. St Andrew’s Church and the Clergy House are popular attractions, as are the numerous cafes serving traditional cream teas.

Rye, delightful hillside town. Visitor attractions include antique shops, many historic buildings, and an audio ‘ghost tour’.

Lewes, cobbled lanes, antique emporiums and a castle are just a few of the attractions of this pretty Sussex town.

Winchelsea, perched on a hilltop near Rye is the smallest town in England

▸Sports656 chars

Bewl Water (near Lamberhurst). From exciting watersports to leisurely ferry rides, there’s something for everyone at this scenic reservoir.

Knockhatch Adventure Park (near Hailsham). Home to a state of the art dry ski slope and an adventure park that the whole family will enjoy.

Arlington Stadium (near Eastbourne). Get close to the action and experience the excitement of hotrod or stockcar racing.

Various Footpaths, East Sussex is criss-crossed by footpaths such as the South Downs Way and cyclepaths; including the Cuckoo Trail and the Forest Way. for more information see East Sussex Footpaths.

Cricket: Sussex CCC play at the County Ground in Hove.

▸Farms and other animal attractions766 chars

Blue Reef Aquarium (Hastings) - A voyage of discovery to the depths of the ocean.

Ashdown Forest Llama Park (near Nutley and Forest Row) - See llamas and alpacas and find out more about these friendly South American animals. There is also a small tourism centre.

Heaven Farm (near Dane Hill and Chailey) - Discover 170 years of farming history in the beautiful Sussex Weald. It also has a campsite.

Seven Sisters Sheep Centre (East Dean) - Rare breeds and traditional crafts and are just a couple of the attractions on offer.

Middle Farm (near Lewes) - A working family farm with shops, restaurant and special events.

Drusillas Zoo (near Lewes) - A fun day out for children with small animal zoo, indoor and outdoor play areas, train, keeper for the day and parties.

▸Seaside resorts729 chars

'Sussex by the Sea': the whole coast of Sussex is suitable for bathing with good water quality; however these three resorts have more facilities:

Brighton - one of the major seaside resorts of Britain - should be on every traveller to Sussex's list

Hastings and St Leonard’s - there’s more to these seaside towns than the famous battle. Popular attractions include Hastings old town, the shipwreck heritage centre and flamingo adventure park.

Eastbourne - stroll along the prom, amuse yourself on the pier or enjoy an ice-cream on the beach. Eastbourne is one of England’s most genteel seaside resorts.

Bexhill-on-Sea - timelessly elegant, a delightful traditional English seaside town. Very popular with the older generations.

▸Artistic attractions774 chars

Brighton is the artistic centre, but its ripples have spread into the countryside

Firle Place - home to a collection of Old Masters, including work by Gainsborough and Reynolds.

Charleston (near Firle). This quirkily decorated farmhouse was home to ‘Bloomsbury’ couple Duncan Grant and Vanessa Bell. Charleston is famous for its extravagant murals and unique cottage-style garden.

Towner Art Gallery. Eastbourne. A fine collection of 19th- and 20th-century British art featuring works by celebrated war artist, Eric Ravilious.

Denys Church. Rotherfield. Features stained glass windows designed by Sir Edward Burne Jones and made by William Morris.

Berwick Church. The brightly decorated wall panels were painted by Duncan Grant and Vanessa Bell of the Bloomsbury set

▸Steam railways790 chars

Reminders of the 'Age of Steam', all these lines have steam locomotives, often running special trains, such as Thomas the Tank Engine or diesel trains.

Bluebell Railway, Sheffield Park (near Fletching). Runs between Sheffield Park and East Grinstead. It has the largest collection of steam locomotives after the National Railway Museum in York, and a collection of carriages and wagons unrivalled in the south of England.

Kent & East Sussex Railway. Bodiam. Operates between Bodiam and Tenterden in Kent, passing through some very attractive countryside.

Lavender Line. Isfield, (near Uckfield). Mile long line between Isfield and Little Horsted. It can be reached by bus (route 29/129 not 29A or 129A) from Brighton, Lewes, Uckfield or Tunbridge Wells, ask for a ticket to 'Isfield'.

▸Eat1,126 chars

Sussex is pretty well-served for food: every town has at least one supermarket with almost every village have a pub (or public house), food is to the standard of the rest of the UK, with a greater variety in towns. Brighton and Hove prides itself on having a vast cultural array of foods, from Mexican to McDonald's and from Chinese to Celtic. Specialist diets (vegan, vegetarian kosher, etc.) are well supported, although in the countryside and surrounding towns there will only be one or two (albeit very nice) vegetarian dishes on the menu

It is recommended to visit a farmers shop or market, since produce here is generally much better quality and can be lower priced than supermarkets. Most towns will have a farmers market at least once a month. Farm shops are dotted around the county. Organic food shops are also popular and

supermarkets also stock organic produce.

More eclectic towns such as Lewes, Brighton, and to an extent Eastbourne, have specialist dealers with organic, locally produced, fairtrade (which is increasing in popularity, with Uckfield and Lewes being named 'fairtrade towns') foodstuffs on offer.

▸Drink542 chars

Sussex has numerous local beers and drinks, with cider being mainly produced in the east (connections with Kentish cider), Lewes houses Harvey’s Brewery which supplies almost all of East Sussex and much of West Sussex with award winning real ale, wine is produced and with global warming kicking in Sussex and Kentish wine is being compared to Champagne (increasingly favourably), home-pressed apple juice is for sale at farms and farm shops. The usual array of drinks are available at all bars and clubs, varying in price quite considerably.

▸Sleep1,212 chars

Loads of hotels in Brighton, Hastings and Eastbourne due to their seaside resort heritage. In outlying areas its best finding a hotel and booking it in advance, since there are relatively few, however those that do exist tend to be of good quality.

The usual chains of hotels are beginning to spring up.

The towns below have accommodation throughout the year:

Eastbourne This is one of England’s most famous seaside resorts. The elegant seafront is flanked by flowerbeds. Visitor attractions include parks and gardens, a thriving marina and the cliffs at nearby Beachy Head.

Hastings and St Leonard’s Popular seaside resorts, surrounded by stunning countryside. Hastings also has a picturesque old town.

Lewes is one of the county’s oldest towns. Attractions include the castle and Anne of Cleves’ house. Around Lewes there are many picturesque villages to visit.

Rye and surrounding areas With its steep cobbled streets and picture-postcard cottages, Rye is a charming town. Surrounding attractions include Camber Sands and Winchelsea.

Seaford is a quiet beach resort. A great base for exploring the South Downs and Seven Sisters Country Park.

Individual town pages will have more information on accommodation.

▸Learn339 chars

East Sussex has various Private schools (boarding and day) along with colleges and two universities, The University of Sussex (Falmer, just outside Brighton) and The University of Brighton (4 sites, 2 in central Brighton, 1 at Falmer and 1 in Eastbourne) because of the two universities Brighton has a rich, varied and exciting night life.

▸Sussex for free762 chars

There's plenty in Sussex for those who don't wish to spend plenty of cash on attractions:

Walking - 3,500 km of walking paths, bridleways, scenic roads - all for free.

Go for a swim: Sussex has some of the cleanest beaches in the UK, with Brighton Beach renowned for its packed seafront, less well used areas, such as Eastbourne, Bexhill and Hastings still have facilities and cleanliness.

Brighton itself can be one big performance, the Brighton Festival and the Brighton Festival Fringe, Features street performers, theatre groups, musicians, guided walks and a whole host of other great activities.

Town museums: Often they will charge, but some such as Brighton Museum and Art Gallery and Newhaven Museum are free (donations are gratefully welcomed though).

▸Go next1,437 chars

Attractions outside of East Sussex include:

Tunbridge Wells (on the A26, signposted from most of the country) - Victorian spa town with bars, pubs and drinking fountains for the local water, is popular in summer with locals and Londoners. Has a large shopping district/center and theaters, worth a day visit.

Running from Eastbourne in the east all the way to Petersfield in the West, spanning three counties the South Downs Way is a popular walking path with numerous books and guides out there. Walking the full length is completely feasible. Depending on your skill, activity, perseverance, and need for sleep, the path can be completed as quickly as 48 hours (most people take up to a week to complete it). There are outstanding views throughout almost all of the path. Various guide books have been published on the path and its route (which is well signposted) including accommodation, food, and the local history of the areas that the path passes through.

London is only a train ride away. Most stations have a service, indirect or direct (also frequent and infrequent) to the capital. Alternatively one could drive; but it's not advised; please be aware that trains timetabled to arrive in the capital (and Brighton) before 10.00 are liable to peak travel prices

Dieppe in Normandy, France - there are short break sailings from Newhaven. Take a day trip!

See the entries for Kent, Surrey, and West Sussex for further activities.

History

[edit] Main article: History of Sussex East Sussex is part of the historic county of Sussex, which has its roots in the ancient kingdom of the South Saxons, who established themselves there in the 5th century AD, after the departure of the Romans. Archaeological remains are plentiful, especially in the upland areas. The area's position on the coast has also meant that there were many invaders, including the Romans and later the Normans, following the defeat of the English army by William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Earlier industries included fishing, iron-making, and the wool trade, all of which have declined or been lost completely.

Governance

[edit] Main article: East Sussex County Council Further information: History of local government in Sussex County Hall, Lewes Sussex was historically sub-divided into six rapes. From the 12th century the three eastern rapes together and the three western rapes together had separate quarter sessions, with the county town of the three eastern rapes being Lewes. This situation was formalised by Parliament in 1865, and the two parts were made into administrative counties, each with its own elected county council in 1889 under the Local Government Act 1888. In East Sussex there were also three self-administered county boroughs: Brighton, Eastbourne and Hastings. Arms of East Sussex County Council Upon its foundation, East Sussex included the south of Tunbridge Wells and the south of Lamberhurst; by the Local Government Act 1894 these areas were transferred to Kent. In 1974 East Sussex was made a non-metropolitan and ceremonial county, and the three county boroughs became districts within the county. At the same time the western boundary was altered, so that the Mid Sussex region (including Burgess Hill and Haywards Heath) was transferred to the non metropolitan county of West Sussex. In 1997, Brighton and Hove became a self-administered unitary authority; it was granted city status in 2000, whilst remaining part of the ceremonial county of East Sussex. The area of East Sussex County Council's jurisdiction is divided into five local government districts. Three are large rural districts (from west to east): Lewes, Wealden, and Rother. Eastbourne and Hastings are mainly urban areas. The rural districts are further subdivided into civil parishes. For parliamentary purposes, East Sussex (including Brighton and Hove) is divided into nine Westminster constituencies, returning nine Members of Parliament. The current boundaries were established by the Boundary Commission for England following its 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies and came into effect at the 2024 general election.

Geography

[edit] Geology[edit] Main article: Geology of East Sussex Beachy Head and Belle Tout Lighthouse, Eastbourne, East Sussex Geologically, East Sussex is part of southern anticline of the Weald: the South Downs, a range of moderate chalk hills which run across the southern part of the county from west to east and mirrored in Kent by the North Downs. To the north lie parallel valleys and ridges, the highest of which is the Weald itself (the Hastings beds and Wealden Clay). The sandstones and clays meet the sea at Hastings; the Downs, at Beachy Head. The area contains significant reserves of shale oil, totalling 4.4 billion barrels of oil in the Wealden basin according to a 2014 study, which then Business and Energy Minister Michael Fallon said "will bring jobs and business opportunities" and significantly help with UK energy self-sufficiency. Fracking in the area is required to achieve these objectives, which has been opposed by environmental groups. See also: List of hills of East Sussex Climate[edit] East Sussex, like most counties by the south coast, has an annual average total of around 1,750 hours of sunshine per year. This is much higher than the UK's average of about 1,340 hours of sunshine a year. Relief and drainage[edit] The relief of the county reflects the geology. The chalk uplands of the South Downs occupies the coastal strip between Brighton and Eastbourne. There are two river gaps: the Rivers Ouse and Cuckmere. The Seven Sisters, where the Downs meet the sea, are the remnants of dry valleys cut into the chalk; they end at Beachy Head, 530 feet (162 m) above sea level. To the east of Beachy Head lie the marshlands of the Pevensey Levels, formerly flooded by the sea but now enclosed within a deposited beach. At Bexhill the land begins to rise again where the sands and clays of the Weald meet the sea; these culminate in the sandstone cliffs east of Hastings. Further east are the Pett Levels, more marshland, beyond which is the estuary of the River Rother. On the far side of the estuary are the dunes of Camber Sands. The highest point in the county is Ditchling Beacon on the South Downs, which has a maximum elevation of 248 m (814 ft) and is classed as a Marilyn. The Weald occupies the northern borderlands of the county. Between the Downs and Weald is a narrow stretch of lower lying land; many of the rivers and streams occupying this area originate in the Weald. The High Weald is heavily wooded in contrast to the South Downs; the Low Weald less so. Part of the Weald is the Ashdown Forest. Settlements[edit] See also: List of places in East Sussex and List of settlements in East Sussex by population The location of settlements in East Sussex has been determined both by its history and its geography. The original towns and villages tended to be where its economy lay: fishing along the coast and agriculture and iron mining on the Weald. Industry today tends to be geared towards tourism, particularly along the coastal strip where towns such as Bexhill-on-Sea, Eastbourne, and Hastings are located. Newhaven and Rye are ports, although the latter is also of historical importance. Peacehaven and Seaford serve as dormitory towns. Away from the coast are former market towns such as Hailsham, Heathfield and Uckfield; Crowborough is a centre for the Ashdown Forest. Lewes, the County town of East Sussex; Battle, with its Norman Conquest beginnings, and Wadhurst are the other three towns of significance.

Economy and demography

[edit] Gross value added (GVA) at current basic prices for non-metropolitan East Sussex (excluding Brighton and Hove), based on Office for National Statistics local authority data, in millions of pounds (sum of Eastbourne, Hastings, Lewes, Rother, and Wealden districts): Year Gross value added(£ million) 1998 4,610 2000 5,070 2005 6,199 2010 6,940 2015 8,062 2019 9,342 2020 9,219 2021 9,885 2022 10,544 2023 11,576 Claimants of Jobseeker's Allowance or Income Support (DWP) Area August 2012 August 2001 Population(April 2011) East Sussex 18,790 34,335 526,671 % of resident population(2011 census for August 2012 column;2001 census for August 2001 column) 3.6% 7.0% – Hastings 6.7% 12.1% 90,254 Eastbourne 4.3% 8.2% 99,412 Rother 3.1% 6.5% 90,588 Lewes 3.0% 5.7% 97,502 Wealden 1.8% 4.2% 148,915 Economic activities[edit] Measured by the number of registered companies, East Sussex is not a major manufacturing or industrial area of the United Kingdom. Of the companies registered, the leading category in 2023 was "construction", followed by "real estate activities". An important contribution to the county's economy comes from the fact that many residents of Brighton and Hove, Eastbourne and Hastings commute to London or work remotely for companies outside the county. There were 1,720 agricultural holdings in East Sussex (excluding Brighton and Hove) in 2022, with a total farmed area of 108,825 hectares. They employed just over 4000 people and, in 2020, produced a gross value added of £66 million. Livestock grazing accounts for almost 40% of the farmed area, with there being approximately six times as many sheep as cattle. Fishing is limited but there are still fishing fleets, notably at Rye and Hastings, although the number of boats is much reduced. Historically, the fisheries were of great importance.

Landmarks

[edit] Mermaid Street in Rye showing typically steep slope and cobbled surface The Seven Sisters area forms part of the South Downs National Park. Other notable natural landmarks include Beachy Head and the low-lying coast around Normans Bay. East Sussex also contains numerous historic landmarks. There are castles at Bodiam, Herstmonceux, Lewes and Pevensey; and defence works such as the Martello towers and Eastbourne Redoubt. Other notable sites include Battle Abbey, Bateman's, Hammerwood Park and the University of Sussex campus at Falmer. Bexhill-on-Sea is also home to the De La Warr Pavilion. East Sussex also includes two chalk hill figures, being the Litlington White Horse and the Long Man of Wilmington, which are both situated in the Sussex Downs. The Litlington White Horse in the village of Litlington

Transport

[edit] Roads[edit] The A23, one of the major north–south routes. East Sussex has no motorways, and even dual carriageways are sparse in the county. The main roads through the county are those part of the radial pattern from London: the A21 from Kent to Hastings; the A22 from Surrey to Eastbourne; and the A23 from Gatwick to Brighton. Cross-country routes include the A26 which carries traffic from Newhaven and Lewes north into Kent; and the south coast trunk route, which starts in Folkestone (Kent) as the A259 trunk road, and traverses the south coast to Eastbourne, where it becomes the A27 trunk road and heads westwards towards Chichester in West Sussex and ultimately to Honiton in Devon. The county's main roads suffer from congestion and traffic problems, particularly the A27, which connects Eastbourne with Portsmouth. Bus routes serve all the main areas of settlement and many of the villages in the county. Railways[edit] The railways serve the main towns in a similar fashion to the roads. Until the closures of many branch railways in the 20th century, rural East Sussex was well-served by rail: few such branch lines escaped the Beeching cuts so that today only main-line services remain. They include the East Coastway Line (including the Marshlink Line); the Hastings line; and the Uckfield branch of the Oxted Line. There are three heritage railways: the Kent and East Sussex Railway operates from Tenterden in Kent to Bodiam; the Bluebell Railway from Sheffield Park to East Grinstead; and the Lavender Line Steam Railway is a one-mile line at Isfield, near Uckfield. Trains in the county are operated by Southern, Southeastern, Thameslink and Great Western Railway. Southern is the key operator for the county, operating services along the West Coastway and East Coastway routes, as well as trains from Brighton, Eastbourne, Seaford and Hastings to London Victoria, and to a lesser extent London Bridge, which is also where trains to/from Uckfield go. Southeastern operate trains from London Charing Cross to Hastings. Thameslink operate trains from Brighton to Bedford. Airports[edit] There are no airports offering scheduled flights in East Sussex. London's second airport, Gatwick Airport, is a short distance from East Sussex and easily accessible by road and rail from most of the county. Despite its name, Brighton City Airport, the former Shoreham Airport, is in West Sussex. Three airfields service general aviation, helicopters and flying schools: Spilsted Farm near Hastings; Kittyhawk Aerodrome near Lewes;, and Deanland Airfield, also near Lewes. Sussex Gliding Club operate from Kitsons field at The Broyle on the outskirts of Ringmer. Ferries[edit] A ferry operates from Newhaven to Dieppe in France twice daily in the off-season and three times daily in the summer. Both vehicles and foot passengers are accepted. Footpaths[edit] See also: Recreational walks in East Sussex Among the long-distance footpaths in East Sussex are the South Downs Way; 1066 Country Walk, High Weald Landscape Trail, Saxon Shore Way, Sussex Border Path, Sussex Ouse Valley Way, Vanguard Way, Wealdway and The Monarch's Way.

Education

[edit] Main article: List of schools in East Sussex The Universities of Sussex and Brighton are based in East Sussex, with facilities in Brighton, Falmer and Hastings. Over 150 primary schools serve the area; many of them small and local in scope. State and independent secondary schools include Lewes Old Grammar School, which celebrated its 500th anniversary in 2012. Overall, more than 50 serve East Sussex, including further education colleges in larger towns. A number of independent boarding schools that also cater to day students are located in the county, including Brighton College and Roedean. The Pestalozzi Children's Village, an international foundation, is located at Sedlescombe.

Culture

[edit] Theatre at Glyndebourne East Sussex has many theatres and performance venues, including the Theatre Royal in Brighton and the Brighton Dome, the Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts at the University of Sussex, the Royal Hippodrome Theatre and Devonshire Park Theatre in Eastbourne, and the White Rock Theatre in Hastings. The annual Glyndebourne Festival Opera takes place at Glyndebourne near Lewes. The Brighton Festival is a large multi-arts festival held every May. There is a wide range of museums and art galleries in East Sussex. Notable amongst these are the Brighton Museum & Art Gallery; the Hove Museum of Creativity; the Hastings Museum and Art Gallery; Hastings Contemporary; Charleston Farmhouse near Lewes, with an exhibition devoted to the artistic work of the Bloomsbury Group; the De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill-on-Sea, which houses a contemporary art gallery; and the Towner Eastbourne gallery, which celebrated its centenary in 2023 and hosted the award ceremony for the Turner Prize on 5 December of that year.

Tourism

[edit] The Royal Pavilion The county's coastal towns, including Brighton and Hove, Bexhill-on-Sea, Hastings and Eastbourne, are popular visitor destinations, particularly in summer. Brighton and Hove have a range of attractions including the Royal Pavilion. Beginning in 1787, it was built in three stages as a seaside retreat for George, Prince of Wales, who became King George IV in 1820. A more recent attraction is the Brighton i360, a 162 m observation tower on the seafront. Brighton Palace Pier, Eastbourne Pier and Hastings Pier serve as entertainment centres that attract many visitors. Several other piers built in the heyday of day tripper visits by train no longer exist, including St Leonards Pier, in St Leonards-on-Sea, and the West Pier in Brighton, parts of which can still be seen in the sea opposite the Brighton i360. Originally, the profits from the i360 were seen as a potential source of funds to rebuild the West Pier, but that now seems unlikely. Other important tourist attractions within East Sussex include Ashdown Forest, Drusillas Zoo Park near Alfriston and Michelham Priory. The county has two narrow-gauge railways, the Hastings Miniature Railway, which is powered by a steam locomotive, and Volk's Electric Railway, which runs from Brighton's Palace Pier to Brighton Marina along the seafront. Volk's is the oldest operational electric railway in the world. There are also several castles that attract many visitors, as indicated in the Landmarks section above. A 1903 De Dion-Bouton arrives in Brighton in the 2012 Veteran Car Run Annual events also promote tourism to the county. Brighton Pride is one of the UK's largest and oldest pride parades and other pride events take place at Eastbourne and Hastings. The London to Brighton Veteran Car Run is the world's longest-running motoring event. To qualify, cars must have been built before 1905. It is also the world's largest gathering of veteran cars. The race finishes on Madeira Drive in Brighton. Other popular destinations in the county include Alfriston; Battle, site of the Battle of Hastings; Ditchling; Herstmonceux, with the castle of the same name; Lewes; Rottingdean; and Rye.

Traditions

[edit] The Lewes Bonfire is a set of bonfire celebrations held on Guy Fawkes Night, which both celebrates the uncovering of the Gunpowder Plot in 1605 and commemorates the memory of the seventeen Protestant martyrs from Mayfield burned at the stake between 1555 and 1557. It has a history of religious antagonism and anti-Catholic imagery, including the burning of an effigy of the Pope. The event attracts tens of thousands of spectators every year. There are also many other bonfire societies in East Sussex.

Sport

[edit] Football[edit] The Dripping Pan, home of Lewes FC men's and women's teams Brighton & Hove Albion F.C., based in Brighton and Hove, is the county's highest-ranked football club and plays in the Premier League. It reached the FA Cup final in 1983. Other clubs in the county include Eastbourne Town F.C. and Lewes F.C., the latter of which also fields a women's team. Cricket[edit] Cricket had its origins in the counties of Kent, Surrey and Sussex. There is no team representing East Sussex. It combines with West Sussex as the Sussex County Cricket Club, playing first-team matches at the County Ground in Hove and reserve-team matches in both East and West Sussex. There are around 25 local clubs playing the game in East Sussex. Rugby[edit] There are around 15 rugby clubs in East Sussex, with many of them fielding several teams including women's and girls' teams. Seaford Rugby Club claims the distinction of playing its home games below sea level. Cycling[edit] The fourth stage of the 1994 Tour de France ended in Brighton after departing from Dover. The route included a climb over Ditchling Beacon. The hilly nature of the Downs presents a good challenge for cyclists and there are at least eight cycling clubs in East Sussex. Golf[edit] There are 42 golf courses in East Sussex, many on downland. Four of these (two in Brighton and Hove, one in Eastbourne and one in Crowborough) are public courses; the remainder private, semi-private or resorts. Other sports[edit] Other popular sports include sailing, bowls, stoolball, and tennis.