Funtastic facts on Surrey:
- Arundel’s Catholic Cathedral was built in 1868 and designed by Joseph Hansom – designer of the first taxi
- Brighton Marina is the largest of its kind in Europe
- The Saxon church at Worth has the largest surviving Saxon arch in the world
- William Blake wrote ‘Jerusalem’ whilst living in his cottage at Felpham between 1800 and 1803
- The Battle of Hastings wasnt actually fought in Hastings but on Senlac Hill – 6 miles away
- The ‘Rowley Mile’ on the Newmarket racecourse is the longest horseracing straight in the world
- Oscar Wilde wrote ‘the importance of being earnest’ whilst living in Worthing in 1895 which is why the Hero of the play is called Jack Worthing
Battle Abbey
Founded around 1070 by William the Conqueror, on the site of the Battle of Hastings.
The best-preserved and most impressive part of the abbey is the great gate-house, the finest of all surviving Medieval abbey entrances, which was built around 1338. There is an exhibition on the build-up to the Battle of Hastings. Collections include architectural stonework and archaeological finds.
Battle, TN33 0AD
Website
Newhaven Fort
An exciting and varied day out at this award winning attraction. The massive walls, ramparts, tunnels and gun emplacements all fire the imagination and help visitors experience what life was like living in a Victorian Fortress, as well as understanding and learning about the First and Second World Wars.
The sights, sounds – even the smells – of the period are found in a range of life-size exhibitions, displays and audio-visual presentations set inside Casemates. Discover what the soldiers´ living conditions were like, sit through an air-raid, climb up to the huge gun emplacements, or have fun in the newly built adventure playground for the under 12´s.
Fort Road, Newhaven, BN9 9DS
Website
Planet Earth Museum & Sussex History Trail
One of the finest museums of its type in the country with life size moving dinosaurs and interactive displays. The Museum traces the origins of the Earth with a spectacular collection of fossils, minerals and crystals. One of the displays is a fossil dinosaur egg from the Xixia basin in China, laid 97 million years ago and overcome by floods before it could hatch.
History Trail, Paradise Park, Avis Road, Newhaven, BN9 0DH
Website
The Royal Pavilion
The famous seaside palace of King George IV, is one of the most exotically beautiful buildings in the British Isles. Originally a simple farmhouse, it was created into a neoclassical villa by Henry Holland in 1787. Between 1815-1822 it was transformed by John Nash into its current distinctive Indian style. The magnificent decorations and fantastic furnishings have been re-created and the Royal Pavilion is filled with astonishing colours and superb craftsmanship. The Music Room has a domed ceiling of gilded shell shapes and the dramatic Banqueting Room is lit by a huge crystal chandelier held by a silvered dragon.
4/5 Pavilion Buildings, Brighton, BN1 1EE
Website
Sea Life (Brighton)
The Brighton SEA LIFE centre offers a fun and educational day out whatever the weather. With over 150 species and 57 displays, you will be hard pressed to find a more enjoyable day for the whole family! Watch in amazement as giant turtles and sharks glide above you in our underwater tunnel. Come and visit our Tropical Reef- Complete with a shark encircled wreck and breath taking tropical coral, you can make it your own adventure! A show piece of Victorian splendor and as the oldest operating aquarium in the world is considered to also be the best!
Marine Parade, Brighton, BN2 1TB
Website
The Lavender Line
Our line is now just a mile long and starts at Isfield station. It heads northwards towards Little Horsted where the train pauses before returning to Isfield. There is no station at Little Horsted and train rides normally last about 15 minutes per trip with trains leaving every half hour.
Isfield Station, Near Uckfield, TN22 5XB
Website
Bluebell Railway
Steam through the heart of the Sussex Weald. The Bluebell Railway was the UK’s first preserved standard gauge passenger railway, re-opening part of the Lewes to East Grinstead line of the old London Brighton & South Coast Railway in 1960.
Sheffield Park Station, East Sussex TN22 3QL
Website
Spa Valley Railway
The Spa Valley Railway runs for 3½ miles through the picturesque Kentish Weald countryside between the town of Royal Tunbridge Wells and the village of Groombridge, stopping off in between at High Rocks. Come and enjoy the delights of travelling behind a steam train, through Kent and Sussex.
West Station, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 5QY
Website
Here are some other great attractions to visit in Sussex. Visit www.sussextourism.org.uk for more information:
- 1066 Battle of Hastings, Abbey and Battlefield
- Arundel Castle
- Ashdown Forest Llama Park
- Bentley Wildfowl
- Bewl Water
- Bignor Roman Villa
- Borde Hill Garden
- Bodiam Castle
- Chichester Cathedral
- Charleston Manor
- Cowdray
- Drusillas Park
- Farley Farm House, Home Of The Surrealists
- Firle Place
- Fishbourne Roman Palace
- Fishers Farm Park
- Fort Fun & Rockys
- Gardens and Grounds of Herstmonceux Castle
- Groombridge Place Gardens & Enchanted Forest
- Hastings Attractions
- High Beeches Gardens
- Historic Heaven Farm
- How We Lived Then Museum of Shops
- Knockhatch Adventure Park
- Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens
- Lewes Castle and Anne of Cleves House
- Look and Sea!
- Michelham Priory and Gardens
- Middle Farm
- Miniature Steam Railway Adventure Park
- Nymans
- Observatory Science Centre
- Paradise Park
- Parham House and Gardens
- Pashley Manor Gardens
- Petworth House and Park
- RSPB Pulborough Brooks
- Seven Sisters Sheep Centre
- Sheffield Park Garden
- South Downs Heritage Centre
- Spring Barn Farm Park
- St Mary’s House and Gardens
- Stock Cars, Bangers & Hot Rods
- Sussex Sea Voyages
- The Cuckoo Trail
- Tulleys Farm
- Wakehurst Place & Millennium Seed Bank
- Weald & Downland Open Air Musuem
- Wilderness Wood
- Wildfowl & Wetland Centre
- Yesterday’s World
Back to Things to do around the UK