Best Places To Visit In Sussex In England

Located in the south of the UK, Sussex comprises a mix of urban, woodlands, wetlands, and 220 km (140 miles) of coastland. Given its easy access by train from London, it allows for some great day trips to explore the South Downs, glorious beaches, and charming towns.

There are so many places to visit in Sussex; it’s hard to know where to start. With the population exploding in England, one of the beauties of Sussex is its undeveloped land. Urban development makes up less than 15%, with the remaining landscape composed of woodland and farmland.

Sussex is divided into two counties, East and West Sussex. Both contain an abundance of small towns, castle ruins, and coastal wonders.

West Sussex

Crawley is the largest town in West Sussex and is located close to Gatwick Airport. The South Downs National Park takes up a good area of the county. Some must-visit towns include Chichester, Horsham, and Arundel.

See Arundel

With a thousand years of history, the market town of Arundel is dominated by the magnificent Arundel Cathedral and an imposing castle. Built in 1868, the Duke of Norfolk ordered the construction of the Gothic church, which later became a cathedral in 1965.

Built next to the impressive Arundel Castle, he wanted a building as impressive as his castle. As imposing as the cathedral is on the outside, it’s relatively small, only seating 500 people.  

Arundel Castle and Gardens is the darling of Arundel and maybe the whole of West Sussex. I’ve visited the castle several times, and it’s by far one of the best castles for visitation in the UK.

Not only can you view many of the splendid castle staterooms, but the gardens are a horticultural masterpiece. The castle opens at noon, so should you arrive early, explore the various gardens and visit the Fitzalan Chapel first.

One of the highlights of Arundel Castle is the castle keep. Not only is it the oldest part of the castle, but it’s restored beautifully. After climbing the stairs to the top of the keep, visitors can marvel at the views of the River Arun and the panoramic vistas of the South Downs.

After a visit to the castle, attendees can purchase a reduced-price ticket to Arundel Museum. While small in size, the museum packs a punch with its storyboards and artifacts. One of the boards tells the history of the first train station in Arundel.

Inside the museum, some of the heirlooms are ordinary, like the butter churn and anvil. I found the museum well-organized, and its low admission price makes it perfect for families.

Explore Fishbourne Roman Palace

Fishbourne Roman Palace’s museum displays some of England’s finest mosaic floors. The site contains the largest Roman palace remains in Northern Europe. It’s a great place to visit and easily reachable on an outing from Brighton, Worthing or surrounding area.

A large building covers one wing of the palace, while stone foundations outside trace the layout of the rest. A self-guided tour includes a film about the palace’s history and former appearance.

The mosaics range from fragments to nearly complete floors. Simple black-and-white patterns were later overlaid with more colorful, intricate designs—many faded due to a major fire.

Dating to the second century, the Cupid on a Dolphin mosaic stands out for its beauty and preservation. Some rooms feature a distinct mosaic “doormat” to greet visitors. In another room, a basement hypocaust shows how the Romans heated their palaces.

Visit Chichester

Near Fishbourne Roman Palace, Chichester is a charming medieval town on the edge of the South Downs. Its original layout had four streets meeting at the Chichester Cross. Roman walls still encircle the city, and visitors can walk the 1.5-mile route to view the ancient defenses.

At the town’s center is Chichester Cathedral, built in 1075. Entry is free, with donations welcomed.

Just outside town, the Goodwood Estate boasts a 1600s country house and hosts major events like the Goodwood Festival of Speed and horse racing at Goodwood Racecourse.

Travel To Horsham

As one of the bigger towns in West Sussex, Horsham provides locals with easy access to London by British rail. Its central district features charming buildings from the Georgian and Victorian eras. As my former home for almost five years, I’m partial to Horsham, West Sussex.

The pinnacle of Horsham is the Causeway, a tree-lined street leading to the lovely St. Mary’s Parish Church, the oldest structure in the town. We suggest stopping at the Horsham Museum and Art Gallery for a local history overview.

Some of the Causeway’s buildings have interesting history. One honors the women who worked there from 1914 to 1918, when it served as the supply depot for the Horsham War Hospital.

The old Town Hall serves as the gateway to the Causeway. Now a charming restaurant called Bill’s, it serves healthy dishes made from seasonal produce. While its interior is new, the basement still features the old jail cells. Should you eat there, ask your server to see the holding cells.

Horsham’s most famous resident was Percy Bysshe Shelley, a romantic poet. Born in 1792 in nearby Field Place, Warnham, he later became Mary Shelley’s husband, who wrote the famous book, Frankenstein.

Explore Amberley

For a quiet Sussex escape, visit Amberley. Nestled by the River Arun, it offers a castle and thatched cottages. Few tourists find it, but its peaceful charm and storybook feel make it unforgettable.

Amberley Castle, now a hotel, is the village’s most iconic landmark. It offers stunning views of the countryside. Don’t miss the Amberley Museum and Heritage Centre, right next to the railway station. This open-air museum features old buses, a working print shop, and traditional craftspeople in action.

Founded in 1979, it preserves the South’s industrial heritage and supports education and research. We enjoyed riding the narrow-gauge railway, watching wagon wheels being built, and touring by vintage bus.

Tour Amberley Museum and Heritage Centre

Smaller than Fishbourne, Bignor Roman Villa was built around a courtyard and discovered by chance on the Tupper family farm. For centuries, visitors have come to see its well-preserved Roman remains in charming thatched-roof shelters.

Once a 65-room villa, only parts survive, now protected and displayed with care on the original site. A small room holds artifacts and a scale model of the original villa layout.

But the real draw is the stunning mosaic floors, some of the best I’ve seen. They include a complete one with intact patterns and heating beneath. Like Fishbourne, Bignor used a hypocaust system to heat the rooms, an impressive feat of Roman engineering.

The villa’s highlight is England’s longest mosaic, stretching 79 feet along the north corridor. Two thousand years ago, this floor measured 230 feet in total, a remarkable structure for its time.

Outside, we saw the remains of a cold Roman bath and stone foundations. Another thatched shelter houses a striking Medusa mosaic, once part of the villa’s Roman bathhouse.

East Sussex

Sandwiched between West Sussex and Kent, East Sussex holds its share of British history with the 1066 Battle of Hastings. Its rolling hills are home to various castle ruins and charming villages. Residents are spoiled with unabated views across the English Channel, beautiful beaches, and magnificent chalk cliffs.

Browse Brighton

As a popular English seaside resort, Brighton’s star attraction is the Royal Pavilion, designed by architect John Nash. Located in the center of town, the exotic Palace looks out of place with its Indo-Saracenic shell, prevalent in India.

For its opulent interior, Nash added elements of Neo-classical, Gothic, and mainly Chinese details. Its over-the-top components are almost kaleidoscopic, from the dragon chandeliers to the palm tree ceilings.

The use of gold is everywhere, to the point of being garish. But at the time of construction, the eclectic style exemplified King George IV’s vision for an opulent English Palace.

For shopping therapy, head to The Lanes. The shops are as eclectic as the Royal pavilion interior but set out in a maze of alleyways that are fun to wander. It’s a great place to purchase some English souvenirs. The bizarre shoes at Irregular Choice and the cakes of Choccywoccydoodah particularly impressed me.

Along Brighton’s waterfront, the British Airways 360 observation tower offers panoramic views from a glass pod rising 450 feet. To the east, the 1899 Brighton Palace Pier stretches out with arcades, food stalls, and a lively boardwalk. Millions visit yearly and enjoy chips under watchful seagulls.

Also along the seafront, Volk’s Electric Railway runs a narrow-gauge line built in 1883. Operating March to October, it’s the world’s oldest electric railway, with trains departing every 15 minutes.

Admire Herstmonceux Castle

Nestled on 300 acres of woodland and gardens, the 15th-century Herstmonceux Castle embodies medieval romance with its unusual red brick and beautiful setting.

While most castles are made of stone, Herstmonceux Castle is the oldest standing brick structure in England. It’s easy to see why tourists are drawn here. The moated castle oozes majestic beauty reflected in the surrounding waters.

In 1992, Alfred Bader purchased the uninhabited castle and opened the Bader International Study Centre. While Canada’s Queen’s University campus remains closed to the public, visitors can explore the extensive grounds and access the castle on a limited guided tour.

View The Seven Sisters

Located along the English Channel, the famous Seven Sisters white cliffs adorn postcards and chocolate boxes. Above the chalk cliffs, the Seven Sisters Country Park provides numerous walking trails and an excellent place for bird watching.

While most people know the cliffs as just the Seven Sisters, each cliff has a name. They are Brass Point, Haven Brow, Rough Brow, Flagstaff Brow, Short Brow, Went Hill Brow, and Bailey’s Brow.

The highest of them, Haven Brow, stands 252 feet or 77 meters and offers terrific views across the channel on a clear day. Like other chalk cliffs along the channel, the elements of nature are slowly eroding the landscape. So, should you visit, stay clear of the edge.

Further east, Beachy Head wows visitors with a similar set of chalk cliffs. At 531 feet or 162 meters, this is the highest chalk cliff in England. From east to west, the cliffs descend to Birling Gap and onto Seven Sisters.

See The Chalk Hill Figures

In southern England’s hills, visitors can spot giant chalk drawings carved into the landscape, revealing bright white geoglyphs. These shapes of animals, people, symbols, are formed by cutting into the hillside to expose the chalk beneath.

Two standout examples in East Sussex are the White Horse of Litlington and the Long Man of Wilmington. The White Horse, 28 by 20 meters, lies in the South Downs north of the Seven Sisters. Originally carved in the 1830s, the current version was recut nearly a century later.

Just three miles northeast, the Long Man of Wilmington towers on Windover Hill, shrouded in mystery. Dating to the 1700s, no one knows why it was made, or by whom. During World War II, the figure was painted green to avoid enemy detection, earning the nickname “Green Man.”

See Bodiam Castle

A quintessential British stronghold, Bodiam Castle oozes romanticism with its fairytale moat and picturesque setting. Built by Sir Edward Dalyngrigge in 1385, much of the outer structure appears well-preserved today. However, the courtyard of the castle has not stood the test of time.

The rectangular castle sits in the middle of a shallow moat, and historians have debated its existence. Some believe it was constructed as a stronghold. Others say it was built for entertainment purposes since the walls are thin, the windows too small for arrows, and the moat did not act as a deterrent.

We might never know the true purpose of Bodiam Castle; however, its picturesque ruin still begs for a visit. While Britain’s Leeds Castle might be considered the world’s loveliest castle, Bodiam Castle could arguably be the most romantic castle in England.

Visit Pevensey Castle Ruins

Dating to around AD 290, Pevensey Castle’s exact origins remain unclear. Its massive walls hint at a strong military role. Once coastal, William the Conqueror landed here before the 1066 Battle of Hastings. It’s now a mile inland on a hill.

As the largest surviving Saxon shore fort, it invites exploration despite its ruined state. Inside the curtain wall, little remains, but entry includes an audio tour and access to a small museum and dungeon.

Used as a prison in the 15th century, the castle was gifted to the state in 1925. In World War II, the army added machine-gun posts, and one still stands atop the wall today.

Visitors can climb the outer walls for stunning courtyard views and walk among tower ruins and scattered catapult stones. Cannons, towers, and medieval remnants offer a glimpse into centuries of defense, conquest, and decline.

Explore Battle Abbey

I spent a great day in Battle, East Sussex, the site of the famous 1066 Battle of Hastings. Standing where history was made, I learned how William the Conqueror defeated King Harold, who died in the fight.

Battle Abbey was built afterward to honor those lost. I toured the grounds and stood on the very spot Harold fell. Though much is in ruins, the gatehouse and monk’s dormitory are impressively preserved.

The Abbey ruins were striking, with well-kept paths and plaques that explained the battle in vivid detail. I suggest following the battlefield trail through quiet fields filled with wildflowers. It’s peaceful now, but once a place of chaos. The audio tour brought the story to life.

Final Thoughts

Home to rolling hills, quaint villages, and a picturesque coastline, Sussex provides a great retreat from the hustle and bustle of London. Many of the towns and villages are accessible by British rail, so day trips are possible from the capital if you have no vehicle.

There is plenty to see and do, and with a variety of attractions, visitors can choose between a peaceful day or a busy, fun-filled one. So, immerse yourself in the history of Sussex and enjoy what was once my home.