The truth of the matter is that Sussex is awash with historic and hopelessly pretty villages and towns. It’s hard to choose from them all, but here is our round up of just some of the prettiest villages in Sussex.
Alfriston
Regularly voted one of the prettiest places in England, Alfriston in East Sussex has smugglers, a vineyard, the South Downs, a WWII bomb and a couple of great places to eat, drink or stay. The surrounding countryside is also well worth exploring, whether you want to head down to Cuckmere Haven, see the White Horse carved into the hillside or meet the iconic Long Man at Wilmington.
Places worth a visit include:
- Much A Do Book Shop
- Rathfinny Wine Estate
- The Village Store – it’s frozen in time!
- The Clergy House (National Trust)
Amberley
In West Sussex, Amberley has a castle, a fantastic museum, a couple of great places to eat and the South Downs right on its doorstep. It also has vineyards nearby and is surrounded by wetlands and wonderful countryside.
Places worth a visit include:
Bosham
Tucked away in a corner of Chichester Harbour in West Sussex, Bosham (pronounced Bozzum) sits on the edge of a harbour inlet. It’s a ridiculously pretty little village with a long history that includes Canute, the Bayeux Tapestry and King Harold (the one with the arrow in his eye), but when the tide comes in, many a visitor has lost their car having parked within the water line.
Places worth a visit include:
- Holy Trinity Church
- Shore Road and Itchenor Ferry
Cuckfield
Is it a village or is it a town? Nobody seems sure but Cuckfield (West Sussex) dates back at least 900 years. Over the centuries, it has been a market town and a staging post, and its also the site of some significant dinosaur findings.
Places worth a visit include:
- The Museum
- Feathered Bench – by Christian Funnell in the churchyard
- The Cold War Bunker (very limited opening days)
Ditchling
Ditchling in East Sussex is on the edge of the South Downs and not far from Brighton. Dating back to the Anglo-Saxon period, in the 9th century it was recorded as belonging to King Alfred the Great. There are some fabulously old properties in the village including a Tudor house that once belonged to Anne of Cleves.
Places worth a visit include:
- The Museum and Art & Craft Gallery
- Nearby vineyards of Ridgeview and Court Garden
- The Jack and Jill windmills in nearby Clayton
Westdean
Plenty of people rave about East Dean in East Sussex and it is very pretty, but not so many people seem to know about Westdean in East Sussex (not to be confused with West Dean in West Sussex). Set right on the edge of Friston Forest, it is thought that Alfred the Great had a Royal Villa in Westdean in the 9th century. The village remains unspoilt, off the beaten track and very pretty. As you leave the village via the South Downs Way, you’re also met with fabulous views of Cuckmere Haven.
Places worth a visit include:
- Cuckmere Haven and Visitor Centre
- All Saints Church
- Friston Forest
Jevington
Famed for smugglers and Banoffee Pie, Jevington in East Sussex is small but delightful.
Places worth a visit include:
- St Andrew’s Church and the Jevington Slab
- The South Downs Way
- The Eight Bells – once home to a famous smuggler
Mayfield
One of the larger villages on our list, Mayfield in East Sussex is also known for its smugglers as well as for St Dunstan, the Devil and a few martyrs. The village is always bustling and the surrounding countryside includes nearby Ashdown Forest and a few vineyards.
Places worth a visit include:
- St Dunstan’s Church
- The windmill at Argos Hill
- Tunbridge Wells
Pevensey
Pevensey has seen Romans, Saxons, Normans and smugglers over the years and the result is a village that oozes history at every turn. From the impressive castle (that was a Roman fort and a Norman camp), to the 1066 Country Trail, the Grade I listed St Nicolas Church, the Tudor Court House and the Mint House – it feels like almost every building has a story to share.
Places worth a visit include:
- Pevensey Castle
- The Mint House
- The Court House & Museum
Rodmell
Just outside Lewes and not far from the banks of the river Ouse, Rodmell in East Sussex dates back to the Domesday Book if not before. With flint stone walls and thatched cottages, it was once home to Virginia and Leonard Woolf and you can visit Monks House where they lived.
Places worth a visit include:
Rottingdean
Just outside Brighton and caught between the South Downs and the sea, Rottingdean in East Sussex is the last of our prettiest villages in Sussex and dates back to Saxon and Norman times, It was once home to Rudyard Kipling and with lots of blue plaques, interesting buildings and a central pond, it feels a long way from Brighton. The Undercliff Walk joins it to Art Deco Saltdean and beyond.
Places worth a visit include:
- Kipling Gardens
- The Grange
- The Windmill
If you’ve enjoyed this post about the prettiest villages in Sussex, you may also like:
The 20 Best Places to Live in Sussex
