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Highdown Big Dig Festival

Celebrate the Festival of Archaeology on the South Downs during a live excavation with activities for the whole family to get involved in.

  • Booking not needed
  • Free event (admission applies)

At the halfway point of our Highdown Big Dig excavation we'll be hosting a celebration of archaeology on the South Downs and beyond. There will be a number of tours and updates from the live excavation and a chance to explore the finds in our Finds Tent. Alongside this we will have Saxons on site in the form of the living history group Weorod, with demonstrations of Saxon life, battle and death. We will also be hosting flint knapping demonstrations (and a chance to have a go yourself) whilst finds from around Sussex will be brought and discussed by the Sussex Finds Liaison Officer. Finally the National Trust Ranger Team will be running bug hunts throughout the day across the hill for children and families!

Times

Prices

Event ticket prices

This event is free, but normal admission charges apply for the venue.

Check admission prices

The basics

Suitability

Children of all ages are welcome

Meeting point

Highdown Hill, Highdown Rise, Littlehampton Rd, Worthing BN12 6FB

What to bring and wear

Sun hats and sun-cream if it's sunny, wet weather gear if it's raining

Accessibility

Gate free access to the hill allowing for access for wheelchairs and buggies, but challenging ground at certain points.

Other

Free parking in Highdown Gardens car park, then you need to walk to the site on top of the hill. Car park WhatThreeWords: ///aims.tiles.every Fifteen minute walk from Goring-by-Sea train station, along the path adjacent to the A259.

Contact info

Estate office West Sussex Downs

Upcoming events

Event

Highdown Big Dig - Meet the Archaeologists 

Bring along your budding archaeologists to meet members of our archaeology team and witness live excavations at Highdown Hill.

Event summary

on
21 Jul to 31 Jul 2025
at
09:00 to 17:00
+ 9 other dates or times
Event

Highdown Big Dig - Free Children’s Workshops 

Bring along your budding archaeologists to join Worthing Museum’s education officer for a fun hour of free children’s activities. Children’s workshops take place at the Big Dig HQ on top of Highdown Hill.

Event summary

on
23 Jul to 30 Jul 2025
at
14:00 to 15:00
+ 5 other dates or times