Visit East Sussex for green hills and weald-land that look like landscape paintings, towns blitzed by bloody Norman battles and super-cool seaside resorts. There are lots of exciting places to visit and things to do in East Sussex. Follow the in-crowd to funky Brighton for days splashing off pebble beaches and browsing lanes of alternative boutiques. Or pop over to family-friendly Eastbourne with its serene boating lakes, Victorian gardens and wow-factor white cliffs. Don your imaginary armour for days tracing 1066 dramas to abbeys and battlefields in Battle and Hastings. Or wander the stylish cobbled citadel of Rye, home to an array of art, cosy pubs and modern boutique hotels.
Places to visit in East Sussex
The Gallivant
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Embrace beach life at this boutique hotel in Camber Sands, winner of our Small Hotel of the Year Gold Award 2024.
24 hours in Hastings
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Head down south to this arty East Sussex enclave for super-cool galleries, cute boutiques, excellent coffee shops and superb sea views.
Adventure boat trips to Beachy Head
Jump aboard an adrenaline filled boat trip for a close up view of the stunning South Downs National Park coastline and Beachy Head lighthouse.
Location: Eastbourne, East Sussex
Go shopping in Little Chelsea
Explore the Victorian shopping streets of Little Chelsea in Eastbourne for contemporary homewares, art galleries and restored antiques.
Location: Eastbourne, East Sussex
Alfresco Shakespeare in Eastbourne’s pretty Italian Gardens
Discover one of the South Coast’s best kept secrets, with hidden gardens, secluded walkways, outdoor Shakespeare and rock pooling.
Location: Eastbourne, East Sussex
Nightly summer bandstand concerts and weekly fireworks
The UK’s busiest bandstand on Eastbourne’s seafront offers nightly concerts from pop to rock throughout summer, with a weekly firework crescendo.
Location: Eastbourne, East Sussex
Action packed watersports at Camber Sands
Kite-flyers and windsurfers of all ages and abilities should head to Camber Sands - a dramatic sandy beach on the south coast, and the perfect spot to catch the waves.
Location: Camber Sands, East Sussex
Enjoy beach sports on Brighton beach
Brighton beach is famously full of pebbles, but at Yellowave there is plenty of sand making it the place to go for all kinds of beach sports.
Location: Brighton & Hove, East Sussex
Get under the skin of Brighton & Hove with a free Greet
Whether you are on your first trip to Brighton & Hove or are a regular visitor, a Greet is a great way to see the city in a new light.
Location: Brighton & Hove, East Sussex
Explore Brighton & Hove’s legendary beachfront
Walk along the promenade from Hove in the West to the Brighton Marina for shops, bars, restaurants, clubs, watersports, cycling and a bandstand.
Location: Brighton & Hove, East Sussex
Explore the quintessential English garden of Pashley Manor
Pashley Manor is the very essence of an English garden, and is set in a well-wooded park with superb views over the surrounding countryside.
Location: Wadhurst, East Sussex
How did the leopard get his spots? Visit Rudyard Kipling’s home
Explore Bateman's, the 17th century home of the Jungle Book and The Just So Stories author, nestled in the leafy Sussex Weald.
Location: Burwash, East Sussex
Be inspired by the Earthship Brighton
The Earthship Brighton was the first to be built in England.
Location: Brighton & Hove, East Sussex
Follow in the footsteps of William the Conqueror
The Battle of Hastings in 1066 changed the course of English history forever. Explore the site and learn about history’s most famous date.
Location: Battle, East Sussex
Discover the Lanes and North Laine
The Lanes were originally the centre of the sleepy fishing village of Brighthelmstone.
Location: Brighton & Hove, East Sussex
Go wildlife spotting at Hastings Country Park
Explore over 660 acres of countryside, and uncover the rare wildlife that inhabit the area all year round.
Location: Hastings, East Sussex
A royal palace by the sea
Brighton is home to the spectacular Royal Pavilion, a palace like no other.
Location: Brighton & Hove, East Sussex
Sample wines at the scenic Sedlescombe Organic Vineyards
Sedlescombe Organic Vineyard is one of the most idyllic tourist attraction locations in 1066 Country, near Hastings.
Location: Sedlescombe, East Sussex
Get your fair share of thrills on Brighton Pier
From the traditional helter skelter to heart-racing thrills overlooking the sea, the iconic Brighton Pier is a seaside theme park for families of all ages.
Location: Brighton & Hove, East Sussex
Explore Brighton's Cultural Quarter
Find an exotic Royal palace, classical concerts, West End shows and fine art all within a moment’s walk of each other.
Location: Brighton & Hove, East Sussex
Take a ride on a Victorian electric railway
Hop on board and enjoy a ride on England's oldest electric railway.
Location: Brighton & Hove, East Sussex
From the Kissing Policeman to the Kiss Wall
Brighton & Hove is an artistic hub with a wide variety of art galleries, the biggest of which is the city itself.
Location: Brighton & Hove, East Sussex
Uncover ghostly Brighton
Brighton is believed to be one of the most haunted places in England.
Location: Brighton & Hove, East Sussex