Sussex may be a historic county but it’s also a great place for activities and adventure. So, if you’re looking for things to do in Sussex this summer, try one of these 25 suggestions:
1. Walk the South Downs Way, or some of it
The South Downs Way is 160 km from Winchester to Eastbourne. You can comfortably walk it in eight days but you can also walk it in as little as two days or two weeks, either camping or staying at B&Bs and hotels.
If you don’t have time to walk the whole way, there are plenty of smaller walks and circuits, you can do instead, and here are three of our favourites:
2. Visit a vineyard
With over 130 vineyards in Sussex, many of which host a variety of tours, tastings and experiences, a vineyard visit is a must.
There are quite a few big names in the Sussex winelands scene including Rathfinny, Tinwood, Ridgeview, Bolney and Wiston but don’t miss out on the smaller Sussex vineyards too.
3. Clamber around a castle
Sussex is a county with a long history and perhaps unsurprisingly, there are 12 castles you can visit and explore. From the rambling ruins of Bramber and Hastings, to the magnificent library and great halls of Arundel, and afternoon tea at Amberley, take your pick of how you want to step back in time.
From the rambling ruins of Bramber and Hastings, to the magnificent library and great halls of Arundel, and afternoon tea at Amberley, take your pick of how you want to step back in time.
4. Enjoy Sussex art galleries
Sussex is a great place for the culture vultures with a number of first-class contemporary galleries and lots of smaller but equally good artistic venues. From Hastings Modern and the De La Warr Pavilion (Bexhill), make your way along the coast, stopping at the Towner in Eastbourne, heading up to Lewes (stop at Charleston in Lewes and the Chalk Gallery) and carrying on via Worthing’s Montague Gallery and on to Chichester and Pallant House Gallery.
5. Try wild swimming
There are a few good places to try wild swimming in Sussex, from luxury wild swimming at South Lodge near Horsham to swimming at Weir Wood near East Grinstead and Bewl Water in East Sussex. As always, make sure you take the proper safety precautions and training before you go.
6. Explore a National Trust property
There are a number of different National Trust properties spread across the county with different things going on. From the literary focus of Lamb House in Rye and Batemans at Burwash to the lambs at Saddlescombe and great works of art at Petworth.
From the literary focus of Lamb House in Rye and Batemans at Burwash to the lambs at Saddlescombe and great works of art at Petworth.
The Sussex Archaeological Society & Historic Places to Visit
7. Tackle a Sussex cycle route
There are a number of interesting cycle routes in Sussex suitable for everyone from the hardcore cyclist to the novice or family riders.
The South Downs Way is a cycle route but if that’s too hilly and ambitious, what about Centurion Way or Salterns Way in West Sussex, the Downs Link, or the Cuckoo Trail and the Undercliff Path in East Sussex.
8. Go wild at a festival
Sussex is home to lots of different festivals, particularly in the summer months. From Jack in the Green in Hastings and Brighton Fringe in early May to Worthing Festival of Arts and Culture (June), the Bognor Kite Festival (August), South Downs Folk Festival (September) and the Love Supreme Festival (July), there is so much to choose from…and that’s before we get started on the food and wine festivals.
9. Zip down a zip wire
Enjoy the thrill of high wire adventure with a zip wire experience. Head to Halland for Branching Out Adventures in East Sussex where they have a 140 metre zip wire through the trees or go urban with the longest zip wire on the south coast, right on the seafront in Brighton!
10. Self guided wildlife safaris
Sussex home is to an incredibly diverse array of wildlife. From deer, wild birds,insects and bats, to wallabies, cattle and ponies.
Join an organised tour if you wish, or just get out in the wild and see what you can find.
11. Meet William the Conqueror and discover 1066 Country
The Norman invasion was a defining moment in Sussex and English history and changed our architecture and culture for centuries to come. And it all happened right here in Sussex.
So, whether you want to walk the 1066 Country Trail, visit the actual battlefield of 1066 at Battle Abbey or the landing site at Pevensey, there is plenty to discover in East Sussex.
12. Follow in the footsteps of the Bloomsbury Set
The Bloomsbury Set was a group of artists, writers and intellectuals that included Virginia Woolf and her sister Vanessa Bell, Clive Bell, Leonard Woolf, E. M. Forster, John Maynard Keynes, Duncan Grant and Roger Fry.
Originally based in Bloomsbury, a number of them eventually made their home in Sussex including Vanessa Bell and her lover Duncan Grant at Charleston near Lewes and Virginia and Leonard Wolf at Rodmell. You can visit their homes, as well as other places in Sussex where they left their mark like the church at Berwick.
13. Grab a towel and head to the beach
Sussex has 225 km of coast from Chichester Harbour in the west to Camber Sands and a total of 50 Sussex beaches (27 beaches in West Sussex and 23 in East Sussex). A mixture of sand and shingle, there are dog-friendly sections, dog-free sections, town sections with lifeguards and ice cream huts and remote sections, meaning whatever your perfect day at the beach looks like, you should be able to find it in Sussex.
Alternatively, you can walk a section of the King Charles III England Coast Path all the way from Thorney Island to Eastbourne.
14. Go on a food trail
There is so much fabulous produce in Sussex and some equally amazing producers and chefs.
From food and folklore to gourmand trails and top chefs, there are plenty of trails to try.
15. Watch a sunset
The best time to watch a sun rise is in winter when the sun rises late and you don’t have to get up to early. Conversely, the best time to catch a sunset it in the summer. make sure you choose a nice sunny day and then head to the South Downs, the beach, Ashdown Forest, Blackdown or Hastings Country Park.
16. Paddleboarding down the waterways
Paddleboarding is a fantastic way to explore Sussex at a slower pace and there are so many beautiful places where you can take to the water. Try Barcombe Mills (for lunch at the pub too), Cuckmere Haven for a meandering waterway or in West Sussex, head to the River Arun near Pulborough or Chichester Canal.
17. Soar above Sussex
If you’re brave enough, the South Downs provide the perfect place to try paragliding. Just imagine floating serenely through the sky with views of the whole county below you and only the sound of the wind to keep you company.
18. Visit a NGS Garden
The NGS is a great way to find inspiration,enjoy a day out and support a good cause.
There are lots of NGS gardens in Sussex and we post monthly updates of the latest gardens right across Sussex.
19. Go ghost hunting
Head to Brighton for a Ghost Walk Tour of the Lanes and a visit to Preston Manor or to Rye, for the Town Crier’s Ghost Walk of Rye. In West Sussex, for all things ghostly, try the Theatre of Dark Encounters in Chichester or just visit some of the allegedly haunted sites like Kingley Vale or Racton Ruin.
In West Sussex, for all things ghostly, try the Theatre of Dark Encounters in Chichester or just visit some of the allegedly haunted sites like Kingley Vale or Racton Ruin.
20. Visit a museum
Almost every Sussex town and many of the villages have their own museum and some of the larger towns or cities, like Brighton and Hastings have more than one.
Lots of the Sussex museums are free and you can find a variety of types of museums, like fishing museums, shipwreck museums, toy museums, Roman museums and natural museums, as well as general museums. And some of them are in unusual buildings too, like the Seaford Museum in a Martello Tower.
21. Have a day at the races
Sussex has racecourses at Brighton, Plumpton, Fontwell and Goodwood. Goodwood Racecourse is in the heart of the South Downs and Brighton Racecourse has amazing views but they all have a great annual fixture list and are well worth a day out!
22. Eat fish and chips on the beach
Nothing says Sussex seaside more than fish and chips (and maybe a stick of rock). Why not head over to Littlehampton and buy fish and chips to eat on the pier or harbour side.
Then try a bit of crabbing over the net, and finish with a walk on the beach and a quick rest on the longest bench in Britain.
23. Sail away from it all
There are a number of places where you can sail away from it all. From sleepy canal barges at Loxwood or Chichester, to canoes and row boats at Pulborough and Barcombe to speed boats and a trip to the Rampion Windfarm. If you love being out on the water, head to Sussex.
24. Hang out in a Sussex pub
Great Sussex pubs are the back bone of the county and you’ll find one in almost every village, So grab yourself a pint of local beer and head out into the garden with family or friends.
25. Visit a brewery or gin distillery
Look up one of the amazing local breweries or distilleries and see if they do tours and tastings.It’s a great way to learn about local produce and processes.
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