If you’re looking for free things to do in Sussex, look no further because we’ve put together some great ideas.
Free Sussex museums
There are a number of Sussex museums that have free entry (although sometimes they invite you to leave a donation). Free museums include:
- East Grinstead Museum
- Booth Museum of Natural History (Brighton)
- Storrington Museum
- Horsham Museum
- Hastings Fisherman’s Museum
- Littlehampton Museum
- Bognor Regis Museum
- The Novium Museum, Chichester
Many others only charge a very small amount for entry.
Join a Citizen Science Day
A Citizen Science event is when the public voluntarily helps conduct scientific research. And Mulberry Marine Experiences holds them once a month. They are family-friendly and free, designed by scientists and contribute to the knowledge, and well-being of our natural environment. Taking part in these programmes helps support the marine environment, local charities, and groups that are working on specific projects to support the waters and inhabitants around the UK. Mulberry Marine Experiences is based in Selsey in West Sussex.
Visit a folly or explore ancient ruins
Visit some of the many Sussex follies or ruins. Nore Folly at Slindon includes a great walk, and the Cowdray ruins are next to the polo ground at Midhurst. They are also a very short walk from the nearby ruins of a Medieval castle. Bramber Castle ruins have great views, and if you walk at Knepp Castle, the ruins might be small but you’re likely to see deer and even wild pigs! Finally, the Racton Ruins are haunted and the Mad Jacker Fuller ruins require a bit of map reading and orienteering but are great fun to find!
Kite flying and rock pooling
Head to a Sussex beach for good clean and completely free fun! Camber Sands has miles of sandy beach but there are plenty of other places to go like Ferring near Worthing where there is great rock pooling to be had.
Explore the great outdoors
Sussex has some remarkable open spaces that are all free to explore. From large areas like the hilly South Downs, the Seven Sisters County Park and Ashdown Forest, to smaller areas like Tilgate Park, Bishop’s Palace Gardens (Chichester), Hotham Park (Bognor Regis) and Hastings Country Park, Sussex has hundreds of open spaces to explore. Lots of Sussex outdoor spaces have free sites of historic interest like Cissbury Ring.
Visit a historic building
You don’t have to be religious to appreciate some of the incredible architecture and art of our Sussex churches. Chichester and Arundel Cathedrals are free to visit as is Lancing Chapel. Worthing’s Church of the English Martyrs has the most incredible copy of the Sistine chapel on the ceiling. A number of Sussex churches have Medieval frescoes including Hardham Church near Pulborough as does the church at Clayton (visit the haunted tunnel and the Jack and Jill windmills while you’re there) and the church at Southease. And Berwick church has artwork by the famous Bloomsbury set.
Visit a historic site
The Long Man at Wilmington near Alfriston is always worth a visit as is the Ouse Valley Viaduct near Haywards Heath. The Chattri Memorial near Brighton is always evocative and the Temple of the Winds is wildly beautiful.
Exhibitions and Art Galleries
The Beachy Head Story Centre is free as is entry to the gallery at The Towner in Eastbourne. The Sussex Wildlife Trust Discovery Centre at Rye Harbour along with the Seven Sisters visitor centre. Oxmarkert Art Gallery in Chichester is free. Colonnade House in Worthing is another great free gallery and from there, head to the seafront for the free Art on the Pier Exhibition. Lots of Sussex towns have free art trails throughout the year, like Horsham, Steyning and Lewes and if it’s sculpture you’re after, try the Serpent Trail or the 1066 Country Walk. Finally, Hastings town has some great sculptures like the octopus playing chess and the ship on the beach.
Free Sussex events
In January, Bexhill hosts a magnificent After Dark event (27th January). Hastings Jack of the Green around the May bank holiday is also free and later in May, head to Lewes for the Battle of Lewes reenactment throughout the town centre and culminating at the Abbey. In November, the London to Brighton Veteran car rally is free to watch, and in December, Brighton hosts the fantastic and free Burning the Clocks event. On Boxing Day, the steam engines from Horsham are also free to see. You’ll find them in the Slinfold pub car park. There are lots of Morris dancing events throughout the year like the summer solstice at Highdown and the Mummers plays at Christmas.
Explore Sussex towns and villages
From the bohemian shops and narrow lanes of the North Laine district of Brighton to the cobbled streets of Rye and walking the Roman wall that surrounds Chichester, there are dozens of hopelessly pretty and intriguing towns and villages to visit in Sussex. Watch the tide come in at Bosham, watch the ships sail at Newhaven, climb the hills above Hastings and follow in the footsteps of smugglers through the Old Town, and browse the antique and art shops in gorgeous Petworth.
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