The southeast coast of the UK, East Sussex is a county that can take visitors back in time to the country’s beginnings.
It was the crucial Battle of Hastings was fought here as well as William the Conqueror constructed the first of his fortresses here on the coast of East Sussex.
In the midst of all this is Brighton one of the UK’s most innovative city and a kind of miniature London in the south of the coast. Visit Brighton for shopping, culture and nightlife.
After that, set out on a excursion to explore the old coastal towns of East Sussex with weatherboard homes as well as romantic stories of smugglers, and eerie 19th-century defenses constructed to ward off the possibility of a French invader that never happened.
Let’s take a look at the best destinations to visit within East Sussex:
1. Brighton
Brighton is the largest town in Sussex of Brighton, Brighton has been adored by visitors and is home to Britain’s largest LGBT community outside of London.
The visitors are attracted by the city’s rich history and Brighton’s young and innovative nature.
There’s the famous nightlife, and plenty of leftfield, alternative stores and cafes as well as also all of the traditional delights that come with the English seaside resort such like Palace Pier Palace Pier makes clear.
With onion domes and minarets, The Royal Pavilion is a wacky palace designed to house George IV. George IV when he was still a prince in the the late 1700s. It was influenced to a degree by Indian styles as well as Islamic styles, popular in the days of the empire.
You must go for a tour and with the aid of an audio-guide , you’ll gain information about the lavish life and lavish lifestyle of Prince Regent.
2. Rye
The historic Rye is an incline between and the Rivers Rother and Brede, close to where they merge into the sea . It was a major port during the days of old.
The upper, more affluent area of town called the citadel, is a must-see by feet. There are cobblestone steep, winding streets and their weatherboard-built houses remain reminiscent of 18th-century smugglers that were planning their escapes in this city.
There are fortifications that date back to the time of the fortifications here dating back to the time Rye was also one of Cinque Ports.
Rye Castle is a museum that offers a glimpse into Rye’s fascinating past and the fantastic Rye Heritage Centre.
For a relaxing day at the beach, visit Camber Sands, possibly the best beach along the English Channel coast.
3. Lewes
Lewes, the county town located in East Sussex, Lewes is overflowing with cultural and historical significance.
Keere Street is the place to go to get a glimpse of Lewes the old town, with its cobblestones and timber-framed medieval houses.
It is a ramble the hill to Lewes Castle, constructed right after the battle and featuring an excellent museum. You can also explore the residence it was Anne of Cleves received when she divorced of Henry VIII. Glyndebourne is an English country residence which has come to be associated to England with opera and is home to a variety of opera performances during the summer months that are part of the aristocratic society’s “summer season”. The intervals run for more than an hour, and allow people the chance to sit and relax on the lawns that are beautiful.
A further high-culture icon is Charleston the beautiful farmhouse in which members of the Bloomsbury Group of artists and writers resided and worked.
4. Hastings
This town has a distinctive appearance that is typical of East Sussex, because it’s exactly at the point where the sandstone Weald joins in the English Channel. The cliffs which appear to be threatening in the background of the town are a dark brown hue.
These bluffs worked well for smugglers who could dig tunnels for the purpose of storing contraband while evading authorities. They’re now one of Hastings the top tourist attractions in the city.
The other must-sees include the railways that run along cliffs, which are two of the most sloping funiculars you can find in the country.
You shouldn’t miss an opportunity to visit the historic town that lies at the foot of the cliffs. It’s which is a swathe of narrow streets, painted weatherboard homes and inns where gruff seafarers would have had a drink in the in the past.
5. Battle
An important moment in English history occurred right here in 1066 in 1066, when William the Conqueror defeated Harold II in order to start the Norman invasion of England.
In the early days when England was placed under the Norman yoke and the Norman yoke, the first Benedictine abbey was constructed on the battlefield as a penance for all the bloodshed of the battle.
Abbey Church has been demolished since the 1500s. However, there’s a monument on the surface where the high altar was once used to mark the site at which Harold was slain. In time, a community began taking shape around the abbey ultimately resulting in the delightful little town that we are today.
There’s a market on the close proximity to the abbey each Saturday and Friday, and the high street is lined with boutiques of local artisans pubs, tea rooms and tea houses.
6. Eastbourne
The town is similar to a more mature and sexy version of Brighton It was first noticed by the public as the children of George III vacationed in the town during the year 1780. There’s a beach with three levels, a promenade, and a classy Victorian Pier, but there aren’t many of the attractions are commonplace in the majority of English coastal towns.
Instead , the foreshore is bordered by magnificent townhouses built in the regency and hotels. There are luxurious amenities such as the bandstand, and three luxurious old theatres.
A mile or so to the southwest of Eastbourne is the magnificent Beachy Head, the highest sea cliff of chalk in the country at more than 160m. This iconic landmark has been the focus of sea shanties from at least the 17th century. Spend some time at Eastbourne Redoubt, a coastal fort that was built in the Napoleonic Wars and restored as museum.
7. St Leonards-on-Sea
The town was initially a distinct one, St Leonards was absorbed by Hastings in the 1800s. However, it is able to retain its own identity.
This area has a more relaxed style, more arty studios, antique stores elegant cafes, chic restaurants and antique shops.
Norman Road and Mercatoria best show this delightful match of the wit and the swagger. If you are a fan of regency architecture Then St Leonards will definitely be the spot for you since the majority of the town’s design was laid out in one single go during the 1890s.
On the other hand, you can be amazed by the stunning Marine Court which is an art deco block of apartments built in 1937 that was designed to be a model of the ocean-liner.
8. Seaford
Source: flickr Seaford
In the middle ages, Seaford was among the ports that was most active in the south However, the town fell into decline when the harbor was drained. Then, the Victorians came across the pebble beaches , and the second boom time was born. In the 1890s, England came up with plans to deal with what seemed to be an inevitable invasion of their land by Napoleon.
The Martello tower that was constructed for defense purposes is in good condition and houses a fascinating museum about this time. To the east of the town the Chalk valleys in the South Downs meet the sea in the most dramatic way.
The cliffs that rise and fall off to the side The Seven Sisters which is a series of chalk cliffs with undulating slopes best observed by way of Seaford Head.
9. Hove
Hove is part of the same metropolitan area as Brighton however, with distinct character, Hove is a place that people go to when they’ve been bored of Brighton’s hustle.
This is a elegant and classier town, with grand boulevards, and streets lined with whitewashed and stuccoed four-story regency townhouses. Church Road is the main highway in Hove that is at the heart of the town’s perception of prosperity. The pebble beach is outlined by the promenade, which will take you all the way to Brighton There’s also an amusement park with a few rides for children and The Hove Museum and Art Gallery shows the life of 19th-century Hove.
The County Cricket Ground you can take in an occasional England one-day international game in the comfort of the deck chair or bench.
10. Alfriston
This town in the beautiful Cuckmere Valley is as twee as it gets. It also is full of delights.
Visit the lockup in the village, where criminals would have been in prison for a night and then made from local flax.
The main street is lined with cafes, sweet shops, tea rooms along with a bookshop that is vintage along with half-timbered and traditional pubs. The most charming could be one of them being the Star Inn, with roots dating in the early 14th century. It was the location where a notorious smuggling group was known to gather during the early 1800s.
The Wattle and daub Alfriston Clergy home is also dating from the 14th century and is framed with timber and has an thatched roof.
It was transferred by the National Trust in 1896 and became their first real estate.
