East Sussex is filled with sights to see, places to explore, and activities to experience. You can take sunset walks through the pebble beaches and watch the waves lap by the shore. You can choose to spend some tranquil days spent boating on the lakes or be in awe of the white cliffs from a distance or up close. During your free time, breathe in the clean air at the refreshing Victorian gardens or learn about how the interesting history of East Essex shaped it to become the fascinating county it is today. To help you finalize your itinerary for your vacation, here are the top 10 things to do in East Sussex, the UK.
1. Learn about a precious town history at Ypres Tower of Rye Castle Museum
Ypres Tower is a part of the Rye Castle Museum, an attraction located in Rye. Built in 1249, the structure once served as a line of defense, a dwelling place, and a jail for women prisoners of this humble town. Refurbished and opened to the public in 2014, it currently houses the local history of Rye for the world to see.
A room previously used as a prison cell now serves as an audio-visual room where you can see displays of ancient items used back in the day. In this spot, you can also drop by the Women’s Tower which has been remodeled to depict a Medieval garden cultivated with medical and culinary herbs and trees.
Rye Castle Museum - Ypres Tower
Address: Gungarden, Rye TN31 7HE, United Kingdom
Website: Rye Castle Museum - Ypres Tower
Opening hours: 10;30am - 3:30pm (daily)
Price: Free entry for children; 5 GBP (6.16 USD) for adults
2. Catch a glimpse of the England's past at Newhaven Fort
Initially constructed in 1862, Newhaven Fort is an amusing point of interest, especially for a history buff. This landmark was among the 72 coastal forts built during the leadership of Prime Minister Lord Palmerston as a line of defense against the nearing French invasion back then. It took a decade for the construction of this rigid landmark to be finished.
Now, this attraction houses exhibitions depicting the events of the First World War alongside other archives and antique collections. It also features The Home Front, where visitors can relive what it feels like to be alive during the Second World War. After an insightful tour, you can also drop by the Fortress Cafe for refreshing snacks and drinks.
Newhaven Fort
Address: Fort Road, Newhaven BN9 9DS, United Kingdom
Website: Newhaven Fort
Opening hours: 10am - X5pm (daily)
Price: Free entry for children under 4 years old; 7.45 GBP (9.18 USD) for children ages 4 to 15 years old; 8.45 GBP (10.41 USD) for students and senior citizens; and 10.55 GBP (13.00 USD) for adults
3. See the cliffs of Seven Sisters on a boat ride (from USD 48.0)
Seven accentuating hilltops give this famous attraction to the name Seven Sisters. Because of its magical grandeur, several movies have been filmed with these picturesque white cliffs in the background. Erosion is the reason behind these chalk-like cliffs and is also responsible for its seemingly gradual crumbling. You can watch the cliffs while walking from Eastbourne or Seaford but an extraordinary experience awaits you when you take a private boat tour around the area. You will have a whole new perspective viewing the cliffs up close from the water. The other places you can get to visit on this boat trip are Tide Mills, Seaford Bay, and Hope Gap
Seven Sisters Luxury Boat Tour
Duration: 1.5 hours
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4. Pamper yourself in a mini-retreat session by the beach
Relaxation is best enjoyed when you get to experience it with your five senses. At Beach Box Spa, you and your friends will be overwhelmed by the sights of orange-colored sunset over blue waters and the sound of the waves breaking against the seashore. Smell the aroma of body masks, massage oils, and body spritz, or feel the cold water as you take a dip in the ice bath. Snacks and drinks are offered throughout the spa experience. There are saunas of different sizes, shower areas, toilets, and outdoor seating areas.
Beach Box Spa
Address: 299 Madeira Dr, Brighton BN2 1EN, United Kingdom
Website: Beach Box Spa
Opening hours: Wed - Sun: 12pm - 10pm (closed on Mon & Tue)
5. Visit the remarkable building of Royal Pavilion in Brighton
What was once a humble abode by the sea became today’s most extravagant building, all thanks to Architect John Nash who worked arduously just to perfect King George’s Indian-inspired palace in 1823. The palace has gone through so much over the years, so numerous restoration projects were undertaken to restore and improve the state of it. Inside, you will get a glimpse of how the royalties lived just by looking at the banqueting room, the kitchen, and the bedrooms. You will see a variety of vintage art pieces inside too such as the Prince’s Treasure. What makes this tour more interesting is the talk about the place’s history as well as the people who lived here thousands of years ago.
Royal Pavilion in Brighton
Address: 4/5 Pavilion Buildings, Brighton BN1 1EE, United Kingdom
Website: Royal Pavilion in Brighton
Opening hours: 10am - 4pm (daily)
Price: From 7 GBP (9 USD)
6. Enjoy a vineyard visit and wine-tasting in Bodiam (from USD 36.0)
Your East Sussex journey will not be complete without going to one of the vast and lush vineyards in East Sussex. This winery at Bodiam offers a tour of the farm while the knowledgeable guide explains how to grow and maintain grapevines. There will also be some wine-tasting with cheese platters on the side. You can also help out around the vineyards for a while to get the first-hand experience of farming. The tour is available from April to October. During winter months, these tours are shortened but compensated with a tutorial on how to make the famous Brazilian cocktail called Caipirinha.
Wine tasting and vineyard tour
Duration: 2 hours
7. Go biking along the beautiful Brighton coastline (from USD 54.0)
Get your biking gear and leg muscles ready because this adventure will let you experience Brighton’s astounding landscapes and coastline. As you cycle on the nature trails, your guide will fill you with information about Brighton. The experience will take you to Brighton Seafront, Rottingdean, and of course, the famous white cliffs. If you want a little bit of action, you can take an alternative off-road route back to your starting point. You can choose to go biking early in the morning or in the afternoon.
Electric Bike Brighton Coastline
Duration: 2 hours
8. Explore the ruins of Bodiam Castle in Robertsbridge
Informative stories about the royal families from long-gone eras are made even more interesting when you pay a visit to the historical ruins of Bodiam Castle. While the exterior of the castle still holds strong until today, the interiors containing the kitchen, the lord’s hall, and even prison has long been destroyed. Events with lots of learning opportunities await you here. There is also a gift shop that offers locally crafted souvenir items, accessories, and books for you to take home. After taking a walk within the castle, grab some snacks and warm drinks at Castle View Cafe.
Bodiam Castle in Robertsbridge
Address: Bodiam, Robertsbridge TN32 5UA, United Kingdom
Website: Bodiam Castle in Robertsbridgen
Opening hours: 10am - 5pm (daily)
Price: 5 GBP (6 USD per child); 15 GBP (19 USD per adult)
9. Discover some fossils on Peacehaven beach
Kids and adults alike will enjoy a scientific adventure at Peacehaven Beach. The eroded parts of the cliffs are full of fossils, thus becoming a haven for those who are interested in paleontology. To reach the beach below, you need to go down a flight of 100 stairs from the top of the cliff. Below, you will find large and small fossils such as echinoid shells, brachiopods, sponges, bryozoans, and others. During fossil hunting, you are allowed to extract fossils from huge chalk boulders using a saw and some water. The best time to go fossil-hunting is during low tide.
Peacehaven Beach
10. Interact with wildlife at Drusillas Park in Alfriston
For a guaranteed fun and enjoyable day with your family, bring your kids to Drusillas Park. Interact with a wide variety of animals at the zoo. You are allowed to feed them during feeding times, play with lemurs and birds at the walkthrough exhibits, and observe how the animals are taken care of at the Discovery Center. Aside from the zoo, your kids can also mingle with other children in playgrounds, splash around in the water park, find their way through Mungo’s Adventure Maze, watch life-sized dinosaurs at Jurassic Jungle and the indoor playpen called Amazon Adventure. To complete your day, let your little ones enjoy several rides such as Rainforest Carousel, Flying Cheetahs, and Safari Express.
Drusillas Park
Address: Alfriston Rd, East Sussex BN26 5QS, United Kingdom
Website: Drusillas Park
Opening hours: 10am - 5pm (daily)
11. Indulge in European dishes at The Griffin Inn in Uckfield
Enjoy the good view, food, and service at The Griffin Inn. Built during the 16th century, this beautiful vintage inn exudes a classic vibe. Tourists flock to the inn’s restaurant because of their sumptuous and beautifully presented dishes from their everchanging menu. Aside from the restaurant, The Griffin Inn has a large garden with seating areas where you can admire the panoramic view of Ouse Valley Viaduct. While here, expect a good night’s rest at the Inn’s gorgeous old-fashioned rooms with TV and organic bathroom essentials.
The Griffin Inn in Uckfield
Address: The Griffin, Fletching, Uckfield, East Sussex TN22 3SS, United Kingdom
Website: The Griffin Inn in Uckfield
Opening hours: Open 24 hours
12. Enjoy a 360-view of Brighton at British Airways i360 (from USD 23.41)
Brighton, South Downs National Park, and the stunning Sussex beaches look better when viewed from above. British Airways i360 Viewing Towe is a very popular destination among tourists and locals alike. Step inside this straight out of a sci-fi movie glass-viewing pod and slowly ride up to 138 meters (452 feet) above the ground and witness the sweeping view of the nearby places. To make the whole experience better, have a glass of refreshing drinks offered by Nyetimber Sky Bar as you take in the view. Exhibitions about how BAi360 was built are available at the beach building. On-site restaurants like West Beach Bar & Kitchen serves delicious meals to satisfy your hunger.
Brighton: Brighton i360 Ticket
Embrace the old-world charm of East Sussex
Whether it’s the preserved facades of old palaces or the natural wonders around, there is beauty everywhere you look in this part of the UK. Tales about the former glory of the kings and queens are just a portion of this city’s rich history because East Sussex’s great outdoors is an entire world of adventure waiting to be discovered by you.
History
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