Sussex

Sussex is a place of beautiful coastline, gardens, literary greats, rolling South Downs, vast art collections and a castle. Discover what to see and do and plan a day out to remember.

Places to visit

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Top places to visit in Sussex

Nymans

A garden lovers' home for all seasons, with an extensive yet intimate garden set around a romantic house and ruins.

Sheffield Park and Garden

Acres of Grade I listed landscaped garden and lakes, surrounded by historic parkland and woodland

Petworth

A magnificent 17th-century house displaying one of the finest art collections in the care of the National Trust, nestled in a 700-acre deer park

Bodiam Castle

Step into history at Bodiam Castle. This 14th-century moated castle with a ruined interior features spiral staircases, battlements and a portcullis.

Standen

Arts and Crafts family home with Morris & Co. interiors, set in a beautiful hillside garden

Bateman's

The family home of world-famous writer Rudyard Kipling, known for The Jungle Book and Just So Stories. Built in 1634, this Jacobean house is in the Sussex countryside.

Birling Gap and the Seven Sisters

A popular coastal hub, where the South Downs meet the sea

Uppark

A 17th-century house set in intimate grounds with spectacular views over the South Downs. Visit the house on bookable guided tours

Kew Wakehurst

Wild botanic garden, managed by Kew and home to the Millennium Seed Bank

Henry Moore’s bronze sculpture Reclining Figure stands on a plinth in front of the historic Wakehurst mansion, with mature trees and lawns in the background.

Woolbeding Gardens

A horticultural haven bursting with colourful planting, a contemporary glasshouse and countryside views

Alfriston Clergy House

The first building saved forever for the nation by the National Trust

Monk's House

Leonard and Virginia Woolf's 17th-century country retreat

Top things to do in Sussex

Towards the Ruin of the house from the frosty shrubs in the Rock Garden, Nymans, West Sussex

Family friendly places to visit

A view of the ruins of the old house in Nymans Garden, West Sussex

Houses and buildings in Sussex

A girl and a boy looking at a Christmas tree, covered in lights at Ickworth in Suffolk.

Countryside and woodland in Sussex

Signpost and stile on Ditchling Beacon, East Sussex

Autumn family adventures in Sussex

Get outdoors this autumn and enjoy family adventures set against the backdrop of our historic houses and gardens in Sussex.

We’re going on a Ghost Hunt™ family trail at Nymans and Petworth

Coming soon: 10 Oct - 1 Nov. We're Going on a Ghost Hunt™ this Halloween at Nymans and Petworth. Come and join the fun! Can we find them all? Yes! Run, run, run! Based on the best-selling children’s books, join the bunnies on an adventure to find the ghosts hidden around the garden at Nymans and Petworth. Lots of fun things to see and do along the way.

Spookiful at Standen

3 Oct - Sun 1 Nov. A spooky but not scary trail round the garden with Halloween inspired activities on the way. Featuring creepy crows, Standen bats and magic meetings. Peek inside the Spookiful Bothy and get creative in the Witchard den. Trail £3 with a small free gift included.

The word Spookiful carved on a bright orange pumpkin at Standen

Exhibitions in Sussex

Expressions in Blue: Monumental Porcelain by Felicity Aylieff exhibition, at Petworth

23 May to 27 September. Towering sculptures by ceramicist Felicity Aylieff are exhibited in the house and the park. Walk between huge blue and white pots In the grand Marble Hall. Climbing the Grand Staircase, you’ll look down on more sculpture. Outside, soaring obelisks stand between the house and the lake. Film, photography and artist’s tools reveal the sheer physicality of the ‘making’ process. Free, upon normal admission charge.

Two visitors walking past giant blue and white ceramic monoliths from the Expressions in Blue exhibition, in Petworth House's parkland with house in background.

Oliver Messel exhibition at Nymans

An exhibition delving into the work of Oliver Messel opens on Saturday 13 June and will celebrate the life of Britain’s leading stage designer of the mid-20th Century. The displays will explore the designer’s lifetime of creative output which was influenced by his childhood spent at Nymans. The exhibition will cover his work in interior design, film and theatre. Some of the objects on public display for the first time include a newly acquired portrait of his sister Anne, plus theatre props for Glyndebourne performances and a recreation of an opera set.

Inspired by Standen: The future of Arts and Crafts

A vibrant new exhibition for the summer by some of the UK's most exciting makers, bringing contemporary creativity into the heart of the Arts & Crafts house at Standen. 'Inspired by Standen' is presented in partnership with Sussex Contemporary.

Beaches and coast in Sussex

Discover shifting sands, salt marshes and a vibrant coastal hub on the Sussex coast.

Birling Gap and the Seven Sisters

Discover what to see and do at Birling Gap and the Seven Sisters. Fossil hunt on the beach, walk on the historic downland or enjoy the views as you spot birds.

Woman walking her dog on the beach, with chalk cliffs behind, at Birling Gap, East USsex

The beach at East Head

Explore East Head beach. With space to play, scenic walks and interesting wildlife to discover, there's lots to see and do at this popular spot.

Two people walking across the sand at East Head in West Sussex with the rough wooden posts of an old groyne in the foreground and the sea sparkling in the distance

Castles in Sussex

Sussex is home to one of the National Trust's top castles.

Bodiam Castle

With its full moat, original wooden portcullis, murder holes, spiral staircases and battlements, a visit to Bodiam Castle provides a glimpse back in time to the 14th century. Enough of the interior ruins survive to give an impression of castle life, and on selected dates, look out for tours, talks, armour demonstrations and family trails to find out more about the people who lived and worked here.

Places to stay in Sussex

Woodlands Cottage

This gamekeeper’s cottage is surrounded by woodland on the Nymans estate.

The Morris Apartment

A one-bedroom apartment in trademark Arts and Crafts style, on the second floor of Standen House.

Find your local supporter group in Sussex

Supporter groups in Sussex

National Trust supporter groups across Sussex help to raise funds for places like Nymans and Sheffield Park, while also getting together for days out, talks and volunteering.