Sussex is a historic county in southeast England, stretching from the South Downs to the English Channel.
It’s where William the Conqueror fought the Battle of Hastings in 1066, where castles rose on hilltops, and where royals from Henry VIII to George IV left their mark.
With cobbled towns, ruined abbeys, moated castles, and even a seaside palace, Sussex packs a lot into one county.
East Sussex brings the seaside energy, with Brighton as its bold headline act. West Sussex, by contrast, leans more toward the artistic and ruin lusting.
Best of all, the region an easy trip from London, under two hours by train or car. That makes Sussex perfect for a weekend escape or even a day trip if you’re short on time.
Plus? Sussex was named one of Condé Nast Traveller’s “25 Best Places to Go in 2025. So get there before it’s mobbed!
>>> Click here to book a Sussex day trip from London
Here are the best places to visit and a sample two-day itinerary to get you started.
Sussex Highlights at a Glance
What You Can See
Castles & Abbeys
- Battle Abbey & Battlefield – site of the 1066 Battle of Hastings
- Hastings Castle – William the Conqueror’s first English castle
- Bodiam Castle – 14th-century moated fortress
- Arundel Castle – restored medieval stronghold with art and interiors
- Amberly Castle – Medieval, fortified, romantic, luxurious, secluded
- Lewes Castle – Norman fortress overlooking town
- Bramber Castle – Norman ruin in the South Downs
- Pevensey Castle – Roman fort with Norman keep
- Camber Castle – Henry VIII’s coastal defense near Rye
Cathedrals & Churches
- Chichester Cathedral – 11th century Romanesque and Gothic
- St. Mary’s, Rye – medieval parish church with tower views
- Arundel Cathedral – Gothic Revival landmark
- Fishbourne Roman House – UK’s largest Roman villa with mosaics
Towns to Explore
- Rye – cobbled streets, medieval inns, Tudor houses, and tower views
- Lewes – market town with castle ruins and Tudor heritage
- Brighton – seaside resort with Regency architecture and the Royal Pavilion
- Eastbourne – sunny, sleepy coastal town with endless blue skies
Sample Sussex Itinerary
Here’s a sample itinerary you could use, split between East and West Sussex:
Day 1 – East Sussex
- Battle Abbey & Battlefield (Battle) – walk the site of the 1066 Battle of Hastings
- Hastings Castle (Hastings) – William the Conqueror’s first English castle, now a dramatic ruin
- Pevensey Castle (Pevensey) – Roman walls and a Norman keep where William landed
- Rye – stroll cobbled lanes, visit St. Mary’s Church tower, and explore historic inns
- Overnight in Rye at Mermaid Inn or The George Inn
Day 2 – West Sussex
- Arundel Castle (Arundel) – restored medieval fortress with art and gardens
- Arundel Cathedral – striking Gothic Revival architecture
- Bramber Castle (Bramber) – Norman ruins in the South Downs
- Lewes Castle & Anne of Cleves House (Lewes) – castle towers and Tudor heritage in a lively market town
- Return to London in the evening
Things To Do In Sussex
Battle Abbey & Battlefield
This site is managed by English Heritage, and it’s one of the best ways to step directly into the 1066 story. There’s a marked trail across the fields where the Norman and Saxon armies clashed in the Battle of Hastings.
Along the way, panels explain the troop movements, tactics, and key moments of the fight. It’s about a 30–45 minute walk, with good views over the slopes where the English shield wall once stood.
As penance for the bloodshed, William the Conqueror ordered an abbey built on the site. You can explore its atmospheric ruins, the cloisters, and the medieval gatehouse, which has a rooftop viewpoint. The high altar is said to mark the exact spot where King Harold fell.
There’s also a museum with an introductory film, an interactive exhibition, and optional audio guides (great if you want a more vivid sense of how the battle unfolded).
Hastings Castle
Set high on a cliff above the seaside town, Hastings Castle is a windswept ruin with serious pedigree. Built by William the Conqueror after his 1066 landing, it occupied a natural defensive perch on a peninsula with a good harbor below.
From this stronghold, William launched his campaign through southeast England, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake. Today, only fragments survive, tumbled walls and weathered stone arches. But the setting is dramatic.
Reaching the castle is part of the adventure. You’ll need to climb a steep staircase or ride the funicular up the cliff. Once there, you can catch The 1066 Story, a 20 minute film that brings the conquest and the castle’s turbulent history to life.
Bodiam Castle
Bodiam Castle looks like it leapt straight out of a fairytale. It’s a perfect square fortress set in the middle of a broad moat that shimmers like a lake.
Built in the 14th century by Sir Edward Dallingridge, it was one of the last true medieval castles in England. It’s designed with symmetry in mind: stout drum towers anchor each corner and crenellated walls tie it all together.
Don’t be fooled by the fearsome facade. Bodiam also had its creature comforts. Inside were spacious halls, fireplaces, and even medieval “en-suites.”
By the 17th century, it had morphed into a romantic ruin, ivy crawling over the stones, before a Victorian facelift brought it back from the brink.
Today you can climb its towers, prowl the courtyard, or join a free guided tour (daily at 12:15 and 2:15, about 40 minutes).
Arundel Castle
Perched above the River Arun, Arundel Castle is one of England’s most striking fortresses. It looks medieval. But major portions are a “re-Normanization” from the Victorian era.
The castle was once the seat of the Earls of Arundel and later became the ancestral home of the Dukes of Norfolk. Though battered in the English Civil War, it was revived in the 18th and 19th centuries.
The castle’s design recalls Windsor, with a moat, twin baileys, and thick defensive walls. From the outside it looks every inch the Norman stronghold, though much of what you see is a Victorian reimagining.
A climb to the keep yields breathtaking views of the river winding to the sea and the red-roofed town below.
Beyond the battlements, Arundel’s gardens are spectacular, especially in spring when more than 60,000 tulips burst into bloom.
Amberly Castle
If you want a true medieval immersion, consider stretching your budget for a night at Amberley Castle. It’s the only way to explore the 900 year old fortress fully. And it’s worth every penny.
Built in 1377, Amberley is both a relic of England’s anxious defenses against French invasion and a retreat fit for bishops in need of comfort.
From the outside, it looks forbidding: stern curtain walls, slit windows, and a gatehouse flanked by turrets that feel more fortress than fairytale.
Step inside, though, and the mood shifts. The rooms (named after Sussex castles) drip with romance: beamed ceilings, velvet draperies, oversized jacuzzis.
Even dining feels regal. The Queen’s Room Restaurant, set in the castle’s oldest wing, comes with a barrel-vaulted ceiling and tall lancet windows that make every meal feel like a banquet.
Bramber Castle
The setting of Branber Castle is what make it worth your while. The views of the Adur Valley below are quite striking.
The property is dominated by a single looming monolith, the castle gatehouse. William the Conqueror gave it to Willian de Braose for services rendered.
It was damaged during the Cromwellian civil war.
Legend holds that it’s haunted by the ghosts of William’s wife and son, who King John imprisoned and starved to death at Windsor castle.
Pevensey Castle
Pevensey is where England’s Norman story began.
In 1066, William the Conqueror landed here to stake his claim to the throne, converting an old Roman fort into a motte-and-bailey stronghold. From this beachhead, the march to Hastings began.
Though the castle was expanded with curtain walls and towers, it was never taken by force. By the 15th century it was abandoned, leaving behind crumbling ramparts, a ruined medieval hall, and the formidable 13th century gatehouse with its dungeons.
The sweeping views of the English Channel remind you why this site was once considered impregnable.
Local legend claims Lady Pelham, wife of a medieval constable, still walks the battlements by moonlight.
Camber Castle
Just outside Rye, about a mile’s walk across the marshes, sits Camber Castle, also known as Winchelsea Castle. It’s pure Tudor muscle: a 16th century “gun fort” commissioned by Henry VIII to keep French ships at bay.
It has an unusual flower-like design. Rounded bastions radiate from a central core, shows off the era’s obsession with heavy artillery and newfangled defenses.
Time and shifting coastlines weren’t kind to Camber. The harbor it was meant to protect silted up, leaving the fort stranded inland. Eventually, it fell into ruin, a romantic relic rather than a functioning fortress.
Though you can’t wander inside, its thick stone walls and strange symmetry make it one of the most atmospheric spots around Rye.
Getting there is half the fun. The walk across the Rye Harbour Nature Reserve gives you sweeping views of fields, marsh, and sea birds before the hulking silhouette of the castle appears on the horizon.
Chichester Cathedral
Among England’s truly medieval cathedrals, Chichester deserves a spot near the top, rivaled only by Southwark in London.
The first version rose in 1091, but was destroyed by fire in 1114. The rebuild gave us the core of what stands today, with its mix of sturdy Norman stonework and soaring Gothic additions.
One striking feature is the freestanding medieval bell tower. It’s rare in England, and a landmark on the city skyline.
Chichester’s most famous monument is the Arundel Tomb, the effigy of Richard FitzAlan and his wife Eleanor of Lancaster.
Their clasped hands, an unusually tender gesture for a medieval tomb, were later immortalized in Philip Larkin’s poem An Arundel Tomb.
The cathedral was also once the resting place of St. Richard of Chichester, the city’s beloved 13th century bishop.
His shrine drew pilgrims from across England until it was destroyed during the Reformation. Today, a modern shrine honors his memory.
Inside, you’ll also find a fine vaulted screen, a set of rare 12th century Romanesque carved panels, and even a modern art collection that includes works by Graham Sutherland, Marc Chagall, and John Piper.
Fishbourne Roman House
While you’re in Chichester, you should also check out the Fishbourne Roman House. This is the largest known Roman residence in the UK
It was occupied in 43 as a military sea and rebuilt as a palace in 75. Left preserved are beautiful and painstakingly restored floor mosaics displayed in a brightly lit modern building.
Look for the glorious Cupid on the Dolphin. There are also plenty of Roman artifacts to ogle, and you can rumble through a reconstructed Roman garden.
Anne of Cleves House
The Anne of Cleve House is a quick side trip from Lewes (covered below).
Actually the name is somewhat misleading. It’s true that the home was deeded to Henry VIII’s fourth wife in 1541 as part of her annulment settlement. But the German born Anne never lived there.
Still, it’s a very picturesque place, with its timber-framed Wealden design.
You can tour furnished rooms, although the interiors date from the 18th and 19th centuries. And there’s a small museum on the history of Lewes.
Oddly enough, the house is a popular wedding venue. Though why someone would want to hinge their love lives on anything linked to Henry VIII …
Rye
Rye is a medieval gem perched above the Romney Marshes, with crooked streets, timbered homes, and a rich smuggling, naval, and literary past.
Once part of the Cinque Ports, smugglers lurked in its inns. Victorian authors like Henry James and E.F. Benson made their homes here, and its winding lanes and old walls became a living time capsule.
In a single day you can take in its highlights: pass through the Landgate Arch, stroll Mermaid Street (one of England’s most photographed lanes), visit Ypres Tower’s museum, and explore St. Mary’s Church with its 900 year legacy and climbable tower.
Have lunch in one of the town’s a charming tea room. Head to Lamb House to see where James and Benson found inspiration.
Brighton
Brighton is a colorful, quirky patch of the Sussex coast. More kitsch than cool, with a streak of hedonism thrown in for good measure.
It’s a city where lively urban energy meets laid-back beach vibes. You’ll find a thriving LGBT+ scene, plenty of indie shops and coffee bars, and a beloved seafront that hums with activity year round.
The showstopper is the Royal Pavilion, George IV’s seaside fantasy palace. Its domes and spires look like they’ve been plucked from India, while the interiors ooze Regency excess.
>>> Click here to book a ticket
Then, there are Brighton’s legendary “Lanes.” These colorful, narrow alleys crammed with boutiques, galleries, and cafes.
Lose yourself here for an afternoon, darting between historic buildings and hidden courtyards that feel like a treasure hunt.
And of course, no visit is complete without a stroll on Brighton Pier, with its arcades, rides, and unapologetically kitschy seaside fun.
If you want a London Eye-type experience, head to Brighton i360. It’s an enclosed glass pod in an observation tower with top rate views.
Lewes
Lewes today is a lively market town with a distinctly bohemian streak. It’s known for its antique shops, independent bookstores, craft breweries, and a strong arts scene. The town still carries its medieval bones: narrow lanes, a Norman castle, and old timber-framed houses.
When I think of Lewes, I think of Simon de Montfort. He the unlikely hero of one of England’s most pivotal baronial rebellions against Henry III. The Battle of Lewes turned the tide of history, though little survives of the bloody clash today.
What does remain is Lewes Castle. Its ruins still have charm, with sweeping views over the Sussex countryside.
You can wander the grounds, climb the massive 14th century barbican gate, and step inside the museum, where Sussex’s story unfolds through medieval artifacts.
Lewes Priory is one of those places that’s both impressive and low-key. It was the first Cluniac house in England, and is free to visit and open to the public year round.
This was the place in which Henry III and his son Edward took sanctuary during the Battle of Lewes.
You’ll find it in Southover, just a short walk from Lewes train station or the town center.
There’s no ticket office or timed entry. It’s essentially a public park with interpretive panels explaining the history. You can wander among the ruins of the church, chapter house, and cloisters at your own pace.
Eastbourne
Eastbourne is a sleep seaside town well worth visiting if you enjoy the English seaside and coastal scenery
The town has a long pebble beach and a classic Victorian pier that gives it that traditional seaside vibe. Yet it’s much less crowded than Brighton.
It has manicured gardens, a long promenade, and a relaxed atmosphere, and is often sunnier and drier than much of the UK.
The Towner Eastbourne gallery is a respected modern art museum, and there are regular cultural festivals.
Just outside town you’ll find the dramatic chalk cliffs of Beachy Head and the Seven Sisters. These are some of the most striking coastal views in England!
I hope you’ve enjoyed my guide to the best things to do in Sussex for history buffs. You may find these other UK travel guides useful:
- 10 days in England itinerary
- One week County Kent itinerary
- 5 Day Itinerary for London
- Prettiest villages in England
- Hidden Gems in London
- Tourist Traps To Avoid in London
- Best Castles in England
- Best Museums in London
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