Holidaying in Lewes, East Sussex

[Ladylout]

Hi, I.5will be staying in Lewes this July for 3 weeks and I am wondering what are must sees within a 1.5hr drive, or even better- close by!

Will be there with my toddler, hubby, father and mother. Really enjoy independent shops, antique shops, national trust/historic properties, pretty villages, nice beaches, rivers where toddler can play, nice farm shops, pretty rural walks.

Any gems we shouldn't miss?!

Would your toddler enjoy the Bluebell Railway? Or the aquarium in Brighton.

Devils Dyke for a walk, Coombes Farm if open, the Laines in Brighton for shops.

Middle Farm
Day on the beach at Eastbourne (pebbles) dot to train
Monkey Bizness (soft play)

Cuckmere haven - so beautiful - with a gorgeous river walk
Seven sisters
Brighton
Paradise Park in newhaven is a great and affordable day out for kids (and adults)
Friston Forest

Alfriston for a pretty village
Lots of NT places in the vicinity. Sheffield Park is near the Bluebell Railway and you could do both in a day.
Rye is gorgeous, although getting towards the outer limit of your driving time

Tiger Pub, East Dean on a nice sunny day - you could incorporate a walk too

Bodium Castle and Batemans - both NT properties.

Sheffield Park
Brighton (so much to do)
Tilgate Park (free, nice lake with rowing boats you can go in)

Lewes castle

Washbrooks farm is a great day out for young kids, there's a soft play in Central lewes called Monkey Business if you want to kill some time, Drusillas is great and has lots of child friendly rides, beach wise: Rottingdean, peacehaven, Brighton. Also Alfriston is such a pretty village. Obviously the south downs are right there for country walks.

Middle farm too, right by lewes

Firle Place is nice, country house with lovely grounds and a tea room. It’s lived in though so slightly unusual opening hours - check before you go.

Nice pub with a garden a few mins away in the pretty village of Firle too - The Ram Inn.

Rockpooling at Birling Gap (National Trust). Second Cuckmere Haven too, a lovely day out.

Lots of nice walks in your doorstep, flat ones include circular walk to Iford, and to hamsey.
You can also park at Sheffield Park for free and walk across the field there, down to the river and back round.

If you go to Brighton then I'd get the train or bus a the parking is £££.

Eastbourne beach has sand at low tide so check the times.

Arlington reservoir, you can take a picnic

To the pretty village of Rodmell to visit Monk’s house, Virginia Wolf’s home.

Quaint towns at Arundel, Petworth, Rye, Steyning, Bramber, Henfield (nature walk near Woods Mill), Petersfield

Standen Is a nice NT place, Hever Castle, Penshurst, Groombridge Place

Beaches at Camber, Rottingdean, Pevensey, Lancing

Walks at Cuckmere Haven , along the South Downs pretty much anywhere, Pooh Bridge at Upper Hartsfield in Ashdown Forest

Drusillas Park or Port Lympne zoo

Charleston as well as Monk’s house , probably of interest to the adults only though.

Hever castle is literally THE MOST PERFECT CASTLE AND DAY OUT WITH KIDS

40 mins away... take swimmers as there is a fabulous water maze .. a lovely castle but the kids might not enjoy it as much as you so ideally leave kids with an adult and go in yourself .. and then give them a go.

The MOST beautiful place for a picnic ..

Thank you all so much for these suggestions.. this has given me plenty of scope. I think by the looks of it we will fill three weeks without too much difficulty.

Middle farm, cuckmere haven, Seaford beach and walk up Seaford head to coastguard cottages with views of seven sisters, alfriston village for river walks( walk to litlington village(I think it’s called kissing gate walk near the church) and choose either the plough and farrow pub or litlington tea rooms, Lewes has great independent shops, the castle, historic building, antique shops etc, lovely walks in South Downs, park at Bo peep car park just off the A27 not that far from middle farm,

I meant to say plough and harrow. Although I prefer the tea rooms for lunch. They’re outdoor and under trees which is ideal when it’s hot

Pells Pool. If it is lovely weather. It is a lovely Lido, in Lewes and has a paddling pool area for little ones. You do need to book.

For National trust I would say Sheffield park

Eastbourne seafront at low tide, between the pier west towards Holywell for rock pools

Adding Drusillas to the list for your little one as can't see anyone has said it yet.

Drusillas is great for the toddler. Could be pricey though for 4 adults to watch a toddler play although the animals are nice anyway. Kent and East Sussex railway is nice, one end is tenterden which is a nice town. In the holidays they often do 'Thomas' days.