Sussex

Sussex is a place of beautiful coastline, gardens, literary greats, rolling South Downs, vast art collections and a castle. Discover what to see and do and plan a day out to remember.

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Forecourt Garden in full summer at Nymans

Place

Nymans

A garden lovers' home for all seasons, with an extensive yet intimate garden set around a romantic house and ruins.

A view of the lake in summer at Sheffield Park, East Sussex. The lake is covered with lily pads and surrounded by mature trees in full leaf, with bright blue skies above. On the lake is a small boat with some voluneeers in completing maintenance work.

Place

Sheffield Park and Garden

Acres of Grade I listed landscaped garden and lakes, surrounded by historic parkland and woodland

View across the Upper Pond to the West Front of the house at Petworth House and Park, West Sussex

Place

Petworth

A magnificent 17th-century house displaying one of the finest art collections in the care of the National Trust, nestled in a 700-acre deer park

Performers in medieval costume and armour in front of Bodiam Castle

Place

Bodiam Castle

Step into history at Bodiam Castle. This 14th-century moated castle with a ruined interior features spiral staircases, battlements and a portcullis.

View of the house and garden at Standen, West Sussex

Place

Standen

Arts and Crafts family home with Morris & Co. interiors, set in a beautiful hillside garden

A view across the rose garden towards the house at Bateman's in June

Place

Bateman's

Once the home of author Rudyard Kipling, celebrated for stories like The Jungle Book. Built in 1634, this Jacobean house is in the Sussex countryside.

The cliffs in twilight at Birling Gap and the Seven Sisters, East Sussex

Place

Birling Gap and the Seven Sisters

A popular coastal hub, where the South Downs meet the sea

An autumn sunset reflecting golden light on the red bricks of Uppark House

Place

Uppark

Uppark is currently closed for essential repairs until summer 2025.

A tree covered in orange leaves in autumn, with the sun shining through the branches, at Wakehurst, West Sussex

Place

Wakehurst

Wild botanic garden, managed by Kew and home to the Millennium Seed Bank

Family friendly places to visit

Houses and buildings in Sussex

Public footpath signpost at Devil's Dyke, West Sussex

Countryside and woodland in Sussex

Signpost and stile on Ditchling Beacon, East Sussex

Looking for a day out in Sussex that’ll keep the whole family entertained? Find the best family-friendly places to visit and discover the fun-filled activities on offer as part of our Summer of Play, sponsored by Starling Bank.

Child drawing on a chalk board at Summer of Play

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Summer of Play at Nymans

Play your way through the summer holidays. Comber’s field is jam packed full of races, games and active challenges, while the play glade is the perfect shady spot for nature explorers with den building and a woodland cabin to discover. and a woodland cabin to discover. 20 July - 1 September 2024.

Brown bear illustration in front of the giant redwood

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Summer of Play at Sheffield Park and Garden

Come on an exotic animal hunt in the gorgeous gardens. Spot artist Tom Sears’ giant, colourful illustrations of monkeys, leopards, anteaters and more. Kwik Cricket is back every Wednesday in the holidays, plus stand up paddle boarding on the picturesque lakes and a pop up play area in the stream garden. 20 July to 1 September 2024.

Family-friendly places to visit in Sussex

Find a family adventure to spark the imagination in Sussex, including Nymans, Bodiam Castle, Petworth and more. Discover the best natural play areas, summer holiday activities and café stops.

Discover shifting sands, salt marshes and a vibrant coastal hub on the Sussex coast.

People and dogs on wet sand at the beach, with chalk cliffs behind, at Birling Gap, East Sussex

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Birling Gap and the Seven Sisters

Discover what to see and do at Birling Gap and the Seven Sisters. Fossil hunt on the beach, walk on the historic downland or enjoy the views as you spot birds.

Two people walking across the sand at East Head in West Sussex with the rough wooden posts of an old groyne in the foreground and the sea sparkling in the distance

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The beach at East Head

Explore East Head beach. With space to play, scenic walks and interesting wildlife to discover, there's lots to see and do at this popular spot.

Sussex is home to one of the National Trust's top castles.

Visitors walk around in the open-air centre of Bodiam Castle, East Sussex

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Bodiam Castle

With its full moat, original wooden portcullis, murder holes, spiral staircases and battlements, a visit to Bodiam Castle provides a glimpse back in time to the 14th century. Enough of the interior ruins survive to give an impression of castle life, and on selected dates, look out for tours, talks, armour demonstrations and family trails to find out more about the people who lived and worked here.

Woodlands Cottage

A former game keeper’s house, this classically-styled cottage is surrounded by woodland.

The Morris Apartment

A one-bedroom apartment in trademark Arts and Crafts style, on the second floor of Standen House.

Find out about the conservation, biodiversity, community, wildlife and nature work taking place in Sussex

Project

Changing Chalk partnership

The South Downs have been a place to live, work and play for thousands of years. Together we can make sure they will be enjoyed for thousands more. Learn how the projects of the Changing Chalk partnership, led by the National Trust, are restoring lost habitats, bringing histories to life, and providing new outdoor experiences across the eastern South Downs, and discover how you can get involved.

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Event

The Tiger Who Came to Tea

Nymans, near Haywards Heath, West Sussex

Explore this very special teatime through extracts and illustrations from Judith Kerr’s classic story, The Tiger Who Came to Tea, on a family trail around the garden, produced in partnership with HarperCollins Publishers. Sat 4 May - Sun 14 Jul.

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Daily guided tours of the garden

Nymans, near Haywards Heath, West Sussex

Join a daily guided garden tour led by expert garden guides.

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Lakes & Lilies Festival| From 15 June and throughout the summer

Sheffield Park and Garden, Uckfield, East Sussex

Sheffield Park & Garden’s picturesque lakes burst with colour during the summer. From jewel-like waterlilies to swathes of wildflowers or explosions of rhododendrons. Lakes & Lilies is a celebration of this with activities for all-ages.

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Pop-up garden talks

Bateman's, Burwash, East Sussex

Join a short talk with the garden team, focussing on one aspect of their work in the garden at Bateman’s.

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Sold out: A Beginner's Guide to Identifying Bumblebees Workshop

Bateman's, Burwash, East Sussex

Ever wanted to tell your buff tail from your early bumblebee? Join our bumblebee experts in learning how to identify the different bumblebees that can be found at Bateman’s.