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
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
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
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
Discover the Lanes and North Laine
The Lanes were originally the centre of the sleepy fishing village of Brighthelmstone.
Location: Brighton & Hove, 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
Enjoy a classic holiday by the seaside
When the sun shines there is only one place to be – beside the sea.
Location: Brighton & Hove, East Sussex
Go fossil hunting in East Sussex
You never know what you might find on a fossil-hunting session on Peacehaven beach.
Location: East Sussex
Cycle and canoe in the iconic Seven Sisters Country Park
Explore the South Downs Way, near Eastbourne, discovering Seven Sisters Country Park by bicycle and the Cuckmere Valley by canoe.
Location: Eastbourne, East Sussex
Enjoy shopping and culture on a city break by the sea
Whether you’re looking for top notch restaurants or bohemian independent shopping, Brighton offers urban glamour by the bucket load.
Location: Brighton & Hove, East Sussex
Get active on a Brighton water sports holiday
Enjoy an activity holiday in Brighton with a stay at Brighton Marina, where you’ll find all the action is right on your doorstep.
Location: Brighton & Hove, East Sussex
Unwind and detox by the sea in grand five start luxury
Escape for a relaxing spa day at the UK’s only 5 star seaside hotel and revive the soul with beach-side yoga and devour wholesome vegetarian delights.
Location: Eastbourne, East Sussex
Discover the UK’s largest Bronze Age causeway
Explore the ground-breaking discovery of Britain’s Biggest Bronze Age Causeway in new exhibition Making Tracks: Eastbourne’s Bronze Age Mystery.
Location: Eastbourne, East Sussex
Retail therapy in Eastbourne’s pretty little Chelsea
Explore over 50 independent retailers in Eastbourne’s quaint Little Chelsea and find everything from contemporary art to chic home ware and more.
Location: Eastbourne, East Sussex
Vintage swimwear, Lewis Carroll’s desk and summer keepsakes
Step back in time and discover British seaside holidays through the ages in the new Summer Holiday Seaside exhibition on Eastbourne’s elegant seafront.
Location: Eastbourne, East Sussex
