What's good near Lewes?

[Pruni]

Going to somewhere near Lewes...need ideas (links) for good things to do/see with two toddlers and foodie parents.
No doubt some MNers from those parts (it's lovely, am really looking forward to it) - can you help?

Drusillas is good for the kids and not too far away \link{http://www.drusillas.co.uk\here}

When? Have friends there but will not see her again til next Monday for detailed info...
There is a fabulous wood where you are allowed to barbecue and it has a play area, if the weather is fine...
Agree re Drusillas too...

this weekend
Drusilla's looks fantastic
barbecue also good - marina do you know the name or location?

On the downs above the town...I'm going to have to ring her aren't? Will do but tomorrow I think if that is OK pruni. I can ask her lots of other stuff too. Lewes is a wonderful family-friendly place but alas my friends are root-eating Ray Mears mentalists who like bivouacing under the stars and skulking in smoky teepees , so I may decline to pass on some of their ideas of fun...

my inlaws rant about this place all of the time...

www.billsproducestore.co.uk/default.asp

Bills produce is great but in Brighton.

Middle Farm is almost next to Drucillas (towards brighton) and is a lovely small farm - big hay barn for kids to jump around in, new lambs to look at, donkeys, chickens, horses, cows pigs, sweet little cafe, kids play area.

Also somewhere called Springbrook/bank farm near lewes is supposed to be really good - it's in Kingston just outside lewes.

there is also a bills in lewes DHW, well according to his website there is, that is the one that the inlaws go to!- sounds fab, id love to go.

the original Bills is indeed in Lewes. dh (who comes from lewes) took his parents and our 2 girls to the \link{http://www.thejollysportsman.com/
\Jolly Sportsman} for lunch the other week, he said it was terrific (though it's in East Chiltington). also my favourite restaurant of all time Terre a Terre is only down the road in Brighton. The Long Room in Lewes is Ok, and Circa is good if a little pricey. There's always the castle in Lewes but you can get round it pretty quickly unless you go to one of their events in the holidays.

of course - forgot about original bills!

there is a new soft play centre just outside Lewes, the coffee and sofas have been recommended by my friend tho' I haven't been yet
website \link{http://www.monkey-bizness.co.uk/about.htm\here}

Ditchling Beacon or Cuckmere Haven for some open air. Bit further north is Ashdown Forest (Pooh Bridge walk and Pooh Corner shop at \link{http://www.pooh-country.co.uk/\Hartfield}) and the \link{http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/bluebell.html\Bluebell railway}.

Ohhhh...ohhh....drusillas is about 5 minutes from me.
Went to Middlefarm last week. they sell unpastuerised milk there. Comes out of the cows, into the bottles and into the fridge. It is gorgeous!!! The Farm shop is quite something, any Foodie would love it.

A little bit further away is Seven sisters sheep sanctury(Nr Birling gap). Basically a teeny farm, with 100's of sheep and lambs that they encourage you to feed. We went there a while ago too and Ds3 (2.5yrs) LOVED it. He would have stayed all day feeding those sheep if he could.

A nice walk to to sea is along Cuckmere haven. Park your car in the carpark and walk 1.25 miles to the beach along the river(proper path way though), fields and sheep. Ohhhhh it's lovely there. My boys love it, ands its about 2 mintues from my house

Pop in for a cuppa if you like

Hey this is all great.
I have been informed that £30-odd quid for us to get into Drusilla's is not on. (I agree, actually, daylight bloody robbery.)
The Bluebell Railway is looking like a serious contender.
I think I've been to Middlefarm, has it got a little kid's bit you have to pay to get into where they can pet the animals?
LTH would love to drop in but alas will be with a very odd assortment of people... But thanks xx

the other thing we do a lot is go down to the beach at seven sisters

Don't know if this is too late but the Bluebell Railway is also a very expensive day out (but fun); TBH you get more for your money at Drusillas as there really is enough there to justify a whole day out. A cheaper alternative is the Lavender Line at Isfield (10 mins or so from Lewes) and The Laughing Fish pub just next door is very child friendly and does good food. We live in Lewes just by the Downs - take a picnic and enjoy the scenery for free but be aware of the drop down the cliff at the Chalkpits. The Snowdrop pub in Cliffe has a lovely beer garden. The food isn't as good as it used to be but again they are very child friendly. Someone mentioned the Long Room: they advertise themselves as child friendly but in my experience they don't actually do the stuff that matters (bring kids food first etc.). The food can be nice but the service is usually mediocre at best. The Lamb pub on Fisher Street doesn't look immediately child friendly but it is - lots of space and they are very accommodating for child portions of Sunday roast. Only go to Spring Barn Farm if your little ones are under 3 (they will go free), otherwise it works out very expensive as there isn't much there although it is a lovely place. I was there this morning (they do a toddler morning on a Wednesday which is cheap) and you could feed the lambs, but if it wasn't toddler morning it would have cost £8.50 for myself and a 3 year old. The soft play is in the Cliffe Industrial estate, called Monkey Bizness - as good as these places get basically, good food and great coffee. The Grange Gardens in the middle of town is a lovely park to hang out in with kids and has a cafe. The Railway land between Cliff High Street and Mountfield Road is a lovely area of open space and you can sit by the river. On a very practical note remember the pavements are VERY narrow - I never brought my 3 wheel buggy into town as it's a nightmare. I'd better stop now - have a great time!