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Things to Do in Lewes, DE - Lewes Attractions

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You are here: Places To Visit > Lewes

Tel: 01273 483448

At the heart of rural Sussex lies the beautiful county town of Lewes - a mixture of the unusual and intriguing and so typically Sussex.

Its medieval streets, old English churches and tiny twittens (a Sussex word for alleyway) allow visitors a glimpse into the true essence of bygone Lewes. Although surrounded by chalk cliffs, the townscape is dominated by the remains of a Norman castle and is also home to the handsome townhouse of Anne of Cleves (fourth wife of King Henry Vlll). Lewes also claims host to numerous contemporary art galleries and historic & special interest sites including the once mighty Priory of St. Pancras - a casualty of the dissolution of the monasteries.

Lewes is a market town of small, specialist, independent retailers and on certain days, the subtle aromas wafting from Harvey’s Brewery will attract any visitor to Cliffe High Street. Bookshops, boutiques and antique centres sit alongside individual craft workshops, and the restaurants, cafes, and pubs offer delicious choices all year round with real emphasis on local produce.

Things to do near Lewes

A short drive from Lewes reveals an abundance of tourist attractions making the town of Lewes an attractive base for a short break.

• Lewes Castle, nearly 1,000 years old, this castle offers fantastic views of the medieval streets below.
• Continuing the views theme, Ditchling Beacon is the highest point in East Sussex and the perfect landmark to take in the South Downs area of Lewes.
• Take a family day out at Drusillas Park , widely known as the best small zoo in Europe, less than 10 miles from Lewes.
• Take a trip into Eastbourne just 15 miles from Lewes to enjoy time by the sea.
• Established as a charity over 50 years ago with over 100 members, The Sussex Guild Shop & Gallery are a group of local professional designers and makers of fine, contemporary and traditional craftwork - the shop can be found on the high street.
• Plumpton Racecourse is one of the smallest in the country and therefore offers great views across the whole course in its 16 racedays between September and May.

Find out what's happening this weekend near Lewes in our Sussex events guide or explore the local area in the towns and villages near Lewes using the 'what's nearby' section below.

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Home > Places to Visit > Lewes > Things To Do in Lewes

Things To Do in Lewes

Enjoy a wonderful day out in the county town of East Sussex and explore some of the suggested things to do in Lewes below.

You can quite easily spend a day exploring all that Lewes has to offer, from wandering the pretty streets, visiting the gardens and enjoying some heritage and history at the Castle and Anne of Cleves House. In November, Lewes is well-known for its must-see bonfire night celebrations which attracts a large number of people.

Lewes is also just a short hop away from Brighton and is also situated right near the South Downs Way , where you can enjoy panoramic views from Ditchling Beacon .

Visit Anne of Cleves House

Just a short walk from the Priory, Anne of Cleves House is a building steeped with history. There is also a museum, see how it’s decorated and really imagine how the Tudor’s lived! The building was part of Anne of Cleves divorce settlement, although it is thought she didn’t actually visit the property.

Address: Southover High St, Lewes

Visit Lewes Castle

Lewes Castle is a Norman castle and is a motte and bailey style castle but unusually with two mottes. You can climb up to the top of the castle and enjoy the views across Lewes and surrounding areas. As well as the castle, you can visit the Museum of Sussex Archaeology which has some local collections from prehistoric to the present day. No dogs are allowed except assistance dogs. You can also visit the Museum of Sussex Archaeology next door to the castle which displays local collections from the prehistoric to the present day.

Wander around Southover Grange Gardens

Southover Grange Gardens is one not to be missed! It’s set just a stone’s throw from Anne of Cleve’s house and if you visit in Spring you can enjoy the tulip and flower displays! It’s a great place to sit down, relax, enjoy some lunch and a lovely peaceful area.

Address: Southover Rd, Lewes

Discover the history of Lewes Priory

Lewes Priory, otherwise known as The Priory of St.Pancras,  is set in Priory Park and is just a short walk from the train station. Priory Park itself is a lovely spot to sit and enjoy lunch and there is also a playground for children here. The Priory was the first Clunic priory in England and was founded between 1078 and 1082 by William and Gundrada de Warenne who also build Lewes Castle. The Priory was one of the largest and wealthiest monasteries in England and you can see what the Priory would have looked like on the information boards surrounding the ruins.

Buildings that would have been part of the Priory include the Prior’s dining hall, Great Church, refectory, toilet block, dormitory, kitchen, infirmary, bakery, orchard, stables, Chapter House and also the kitchen garden – and many others.

Shop Cliffe High Street

Lewes is a great place for shopping and has lots of independent and antique shops. There are bookshops, food produce, cafes and cute homeware shops as well as your traditional high street brands.

Take a tour of Harvey's Brewery

Harvey’s Brewery is the oldest independent brewery in Sussex and you can do tours which gives an insight into how they brew at Harveys’. They use rainfall which is filtered through the Sussex downs and drawn into their liquid reservoir ready to be used in the brew.

The Sussex Guild

The Sussex Guild can be found in Southover Gardens and is a wonderful shop showcasing craftwork from over 100 members. It is well worth a visit to explore the different rooms with craftwork from different people and a wide variety of styles and types including glasswork, leather, ceramics, jewellery and textiles.

Climb Mount Caburn

Mount Caburn is around a 10-minute drive from Lewes and is a peak, near the village of Glynde. You can walk up to the top from the village of Glynde – the footpath is on Ranscombe Lane, opposite The Little Cottage Tea Room And Garden.

From here, the footpath goes straight upwards through the field, there is a gate at the top and keep following the footpath until you reach the top, where the Caburn peak will be off to the left.

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 Our centres provide a comprehensive range of information and advice including

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Lewes tourist information centre

187 High Street Lewes East Sussex BN7 2DE Tel: 01273 483448

Opening Hours:

Monday to Friday: 9:30am to 4:30pm Saturday: 10am to 2pm Sundays: closed Bank Holidays: may differ 

Seaford tourist information centre

37 Church Street Seaford East Sussex BN25 1HG Tel: 01323 897426

Monday to Friday: 9am to 4pm  Weekends and Bank Holidays: closed

Eastbourne tourist information centre

Eastbourne Visitor Centre Welcome Building Compton Street  Eastbourne East Sussex BN21 4BP  Tel: 01323 415415

The new Visitor Centre at the Welcome Building is now open seven days a week offering ticket sales for theatres, the bandstand, events, bus tickets, National Express and souvenirs.

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Home » Travel Guides » United Kingdom » England » 15 Best Things to Do in Lewes (East Sussex, England)

15 Best Things to Do in Lewes (East Sussex, England)

The neat and well-to-do town of Lewes is embedded in a gap in the South Down in East Sussex.

Lewes’ Medieval streets are set off beautifully by the neighbouring green hillsides, and poking around the town you’ll come by independent galleries, artist studios and lots of shops you won’t find anywhere else.

For a town of its modest size, Lewes packs a cultural wallop.

The Bloomsbury Group laid down roots near Lewes at Charleston, home of Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant, while Virginia Woolf wrote several books at her summer retreat, Monk’s Cottage.

Add to that mix Glyndebourne, the world-famous opera hall, just moments away by car.

Let’s explore the best things to do in Lewes :

1. Charleston

The artist couple Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant picked this large farmhouse in the village of Firle as their country home in 1916. Over the next 50 years the house would be a meeting place for the Bloomsbury group, a set of forward-thinking artists, writers and intellectuals made up of the likes of Virginia Woolf and T. S. Eliot.

Bell and Grant were two of the leading English painters in the first half of the 20th century and Charleston is prized for the decoration they applied to the walls, fittings and furniture.

The house and its bedrooms, kitchen, dining room and studio has been frozen in time, and is embellished by decorative art from the Bloomsbury Group’s own Omega Workshops.

There’s also a tremendous art collection with paintings by Delacroix, Picasso, Renoir, Derain and more.

The gallery at Charleston puts on short-term exhibitions by well-known contemporary artists, while the walled garden has been restored after becoming overgrown after WWII.

2. Lewes Castle

A Norman motte-and-bailey stronghold, Lewes Castle was built within three years of the Battle of Hastings (1066), and for most of the Medieval period was controlled by the Earls of Surrey, descendants of the nobleman William de Warenne who fought at the battle.

The castle was reinforced throughout that time but the precipitous mound is a Norman holdover.

Made from chalk blocks this is a challenge to climb even today.

But your efforts will be paid off by dreamy vistas of Lewes, the South Downs and the gleaming chalk cliff at Cliffe Hill.

At the foot of the mound is the barbican, which can also be scaled and is considered one of the best of its kind surviving in England.

3. Cliffe High Street

You may not find a lovelier high street in England than this east-to-west artery through the centre of Lewes.

Cliffe High Street is on a bit of a slope, with a pedestrianised section at the top and a few narrow lanes and passages disappearing off to the sides.

On this upper stretch there are views of the South Downs to stop you in your tracks, as well as a farmers’ market on the first and third Saturdays of the month.

The street is flanked by period houses; some flat-fronted Georgian townhouses and more than few slate-clad buildings with gables and dormers.

On a sunny morning you could visit for a cup of coffee at one of the terraces to watch the sun climb over the downs to the east.

4. Glyndebourne

The landowner John Christie was a music aficionado, and after moving into the late-Medieval house at Glyndebourne began to host opera evenings in the inter-war years.

This eventually led to a theatre being built on the grounds, upgraded in 1992 to a modern performance venue that can seat 1,200. The Glyndebourne Festival took off in the wake of the Second World War and now has international fame.

There are six productions per season, and something special about each performance, other than its superlative quality, is the 80-minute interval.

This is purposely extended to allow you to take a picnic on Glyndebourne’s lawn.

If you have tickets to a show you’re invited to arrive early to tour the splendid garden and view the Stalls Gallery where there’s a new art exhibition each summer.

5. South Downs

Lewes rests in a stunning gap in the South Downs, a range of chalk hills in southeast of England roughly from Winchester to Eastbourne.

This region became the UK’s newest national park in 2011 and is threaded by a National Trail.

The route passes close by Lewes and you could walk a section to the little village of Southease, downriver on the Ouse, and crossing the scenic Blackcap Hill on the way.

The 146-metre Mount Caburn, meanwhile, is only a mile out of Lewes and 2,500 years ago was crested by an Iron Age hillfort.

There’s a breathtaking view of Lewes from the top, while the hill’s grassland is treasured for its wildflowers, comprising the largest number of burnt-tip orchids in one place.

6. Lewes Priory

In a park at the head of the Ouse Valley in the south of Lewes you can investigate the Grade I-listed ruins of Lewes’ Priory of St Pancras.

This was a Cluniac priory, the first Cluniac house in England, founded around 1081. Nearly everything you see is from that time and the century that followed.

It pays to remember that this site has been heavily quarried since the priory was shut down in 1537 in Henry VIII’s Dissolution of the Monasteries.

The church was among the largest monastic churches in the country, and you can make out traces of its southwest tower and its wall arcading.

Other fragments include the precinct wall, two dorters (dormitories) and the hospitium (hospice).

7. Southover Grange

There’s a spellbinding Elizabethan house within seconds of Lewes Station.

Southover Grange was built in the 1570s using ashlar stone from the recently dissolved Lewes Priory.

A private home for centuries, Southover Grange was visited by the Prince Regent in the 1790s when he came for the Lewes Races.

The house is now home to Lewes’ Register Office and can be hired out for weddings.

Framed by this stunning building the formal gardens are free to enter and are a joy for their vibrant borders, fastidiously tended lawns, boxwood hedges, roses and mature trees.

The future Queen Elizabeth II planted a tree here in 1951, while the venerable mulberry is particularly beautiful.

The house is closed for regular visitors but there’s a tearoom serving tea and cakes with old-fashioned china.

8. Monk’s House

In the village of Rodmell, three miles south of Lewes is the 17th-century weatherboard cottage owned by Virginia Woolf and her husband Leonard as a country retreat.

They purchased Monk’s House in 1919 and while staying here entertained luminaries from the Bloomsbury Group like E. M. Forster, T. S. Eliot, Lytton Strachey and Roger Fry.

Monk’s House has been in the care of the National Trust since 1980, and a treat for any fans of Woolf’s work is the weatherboard writing lodge at the bottom of the garden where she wrote a series of works including Jacob’s Room, Mrs Dalloway, To the Lighthouse, Orlando and several more.

After she died, Leonard buried her ashes under an elm in the garden.

Virginia painted the interior walls herself in green, pomegranate, blue and yellow.

The very intimate collection of photographs documenting the comings and goings at the cottage, known as the Monk’s House Album was recently published online.

9. Barbican House Museum

Included in the same ticket as the castle is a museum in the Barbican House at the entrance to the site.

The official name for this attraction is the Museum of Sussex Archaeology and there’s a spectrum of artefacts to view from the Stone Age to Medieval times.

Among the finds are flint tools, pieces of pottery, jewellery and weapons, while there’s a mini-cinema screening a well-made film about Lewes’ progress through the ages.

There are regular family workshops on archaeology during the school holidays, and downstairs is a well-stocked archaeology bookshop.

10. Anne of Cleves House

The Sussex Archaeological Society also owns and operates a museum at the timber-framed Wealden hall house once owned by Henry VIII’s fourth wife, Anne of Cleves.

The house was raised in the 1400s, and although it was part of her annulment settlement the Queen never actually lived here.

At any rate the building is a spectacular example of vernacular Medieval architecture and the museum inside is compelling.

The galleries deal with Sussex trades in times past, like the iron-making industry, represented by a hammer from the forge in Etchingham.

The house’s kitchen and bedroom are recreated in the Tudor style of Anne’s day, and the garden has species and planting schemes also common in the 16th-century.

11. Railway Land Nature Reserve

Off Cliffe High Street and behind Lewes Railway Station you’ll suddenly find yourself in a clear natural space.

This is the Railway Land Nature Reserve, looked after by a charitable trust and found on the site of a former railway marshalling yard.

Where there used to a tangle of railway sidings there are now four different types of water environment.

These are: Floodplain grassland sprinkled with wildflowers in summer, ponds abounding with fish and newts, reed beds inhabited by reed warblers in summer and wet woodland.

This last space is on the site of a lost Victorian estate, and still has some exotic species from its park like a swamp cypress and holm oak.

12. Bentley Wildfowl & Motor Museum

A day out that should suit different members of the family, this museum combines classic cars with a wildfowl collection in opulent formal gardens.

The motor museum covers a century of road transport with some beguiling exhibits like a Chevrolet Corvette (C3), a BMW 315-1 Sports Roadster, a Frazer Nash Mille Miglia and a genuine Delorean.

The avian collection is made up of 1,000 birds from 130 species across the planet, including the stunning Spectacled Eider Duck, Wandering Whistling Duck and Indian Runner.

Little ones can climb aboard the miniature railway, and the South Downs Pantry prepares both full meals and teatime treats.

Added to all that is a craft barn, leased to local artists and crafts people, and selling a range of paintings, sculptures, wooden toys, accessories, homewares and wooden toys.

13. Needlemakers

This historic factory once manufactured candles and then switched to hypodermic needles during the First World War.

Today the brick building in the town centre on West Street has been taken over by a set of one-of-a-kind shops and craft studios.

There’s a seamstress, hairdresser, a design shop, book and art shop, a quirky card and gift store, as well as a craft goldsmith and vintage furniture dealers.

On your shopping trip you can take a detour to the Back Yard Cafe, which has original brick floors and a beamed ceiling, serving quiches, tarts, soups and homemade cakes.

14. Raystede Centre for Animal Welfare

Founded as an animal charity in 1952 by M. Raymonde Hawkins, Raystede Centre for Animal Welfare is a sanctuary for hundreds of different species.

Nearly all the animals at the centre have been rescued or donated from homes and zoos.

You’ll meet tortoises, ponies, alpacas, horses, donkeys, goats, rabbits, parakeets and a wealth of other exotic birds.

The centre is in idyllic countryside on the shores of a series of ponds, and has an adventure playground for youngsters.

At the end of your visit there’s a shop for the charity, and a cafe with tasty vegan and vegetarian options.

15. Harvey’s Brewery

Established in 1790, Harvey’s Brewery makes traditional English cask ales that are sold across the South East of England.

You can take a tour here, at the oldest independent brewery in Sussex, for an experience deeper than you’d get at other breweries.

First of all, this takes place outside the working day, and goes into such depth that you can spend up to three hours chatting with master brewers and learning the intricacies of malting barley and brewing ale.

The business is now in the eighth generation of the same family, and also operates as a wine merchant, importing bottles from all over the world.

Call in at the brewery shop on Cliffe High Street for Harvey’s selection of ales and wines, as well as some rare spirits.

15 Best Things to Do in Lewes (East Sussex, England):

• Lewes Castle
• Cliffe High Street
• Glyndebourne
• South Downs
• Lewes Priory
• Southover Grange
• Monk's House
• Barbican House Museum
• Anne of Cleves House
• Railway Land Nature Reserve
• Bentley Wildfowl & Motor Museum
• Needlemakers
• Raystede Centre for Animal Welfare
• Harvey's Brewery

A Lady in London

And Traveling the World

Lady’s 17 Things to Do in Lewes, Sussex

Today I want to share my guide to things to do in Lewes with you. This under-the-radar town in East Sussex, England is home to a number of great attractions, including a historic castle, priory ruins, a house belonging to a wife of Henry VIII, and beautiful streets. There’s a wealth of things to do and see here, and Lewes is an easy day trip from London.

Things to Do in Lewes

Just over an hour south of the UK capital by train, Lewes is close to famous cities like Brighton but manages to make itself one of Sussex’s best-kept secrets.

I didn’t even know about it until I flipped through my copy of Frommer’s Best Day Trips From London and found myself intrigued by its mix of history, beauty, and proximity to London.

When I discovered that Lewes was not only one of the easiest day trips from London by train but also one of the best cheap day trips from London (I got advance train tickets for 5 pounds each way), I couldn’t resist visiting.

And when I did, I discovered a lot of the best things to do in Lewes. From castles to ruins, half-timbered bookshops to streets with views, there’s so much to do in Lewes it’s worth spending more than a day in town.

1. Walk Around the Streets and Twittens in Lewes

I have to start my list of things to do in Lewes with walking around the streets. From the high streets to the side streets, this town has something eye-catching around every corner.

For me, the biggest draw is the twittens. These narrow lanes form a network of picturesque alleyways running perpendicular to the High Street.

The twittens in Lewes date back to Anglo-Saxon times, and they’re packed with historic houses, unique details, and great views (Lewes is hilly).

The most famous twitten in Lewes is Keere Street. This cobbled street is packed with heritage homes and secret gardens.

Keere Street culminates in the Fifteenth Century Bookshop, a stunning yellow building with a half-timbered facade and an interior full of rare and collectable books. Swoon.

2. Visit Lewes Castle and the Museum of Sussex Archaeology

Next on my list of things to do in Lewes is visit Lewes Castle and the Museum of Sussex Archaeology. Perched on top of a hill, the medieval fortress dominates the town’s skyline and serves as a reminder of its long history.

Lewes Castle dates back to Norman times and features an impressive barbican gate and two castle mounds. Visitors can climb to the top for panoramic views across East Sussex and Brack Mount.

Next door, the Museum of Sussex Archaeology has prehistoric and medieval local artifacts, temporary exhibitions, a town model, and a short film visitors can watch to learn about the history of Lewes.

3. Take in the Views of Lewes

One of the most beautiful things to do in Lewes is take in the views. Due to the town’s hilly topography, great viewpoints abound throughout its streets.

There are scenic views from the castle, but there are beautiful ones of it, too. The mound between Lewes Priory and Lewes train station is worth the climb for its vistas of the towers.

Elsewhere in town, the views from Castle Gate are breathtaking. They show everything from greenery to houses in the opposite hills.

Other great views of Lewes include those from Southover Grange Gardens, the views across the River Ouse from Cliffe Bridge, and the view of the town from the top of Chapel Hill.

4. Go to Anne of Cleves House

Another of the best things to do in Lewes is visit the historic houses in town.

The first of them is Anne of Cleves House. This 16th-century timber-framed Wealden hall house was given to Anne of Cleves as as part of her divorce settlement from King Henry VIII in 1541.

While Anne never lived in the house, it’s a beautiful example of period architecture and its interiors feature atmospheric furnished rooms replete with timber beams. It also has a Tudor garden with traditional plants and a cafe.

5. Admire Bull House, Home of Thomas Paine

One of the best things to do in Lewes for lovers of American history is admire Bull House, the former home of Thomas Paine. This historic house in Lewes was where the revolutionary writer lived for six years between 1768 and 1774.

His writings, including the famous Common Sense pamphlet, provided intellectual inspiration for the American Revolution.

Bull House in Lewes is now the headquarters of the Sussex Archaeological Society, but visitors can admire its unique exterior on the High Street.

6. Go to The Round House in Lewes

One of the best things to do in Lewes for literature lovers is see The Round House. This Grade II-listed historic home is tucked away along an atmospheric pedestrian lane called Pipe Passage.

The Round House in Lewes was originally built as a windmill in 1802, so it has an unusual shape. Writer Virginia Woolf bought it in 1919 and there are commemorative plaques on its flint exterior.

7. Spot Fitzroy House in Lewes

One of the best things to do in Lewes for architecture lovers is see Fitzroy House.

This eye-catching Gothic Revival building at the head of the pedestrianized shopping area was designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott, the architect behind the famous hotel by St Pancras station in London.

Fitzroy House was built in 1862 as a memorial library in honor of Sir Henry Fitzroy, a long-serving member of parliament for Lewes. In 1897 it became the first public library in town, and it’s rumored to have been frequented by Virginia Woolf.

Today Fitzroy House is an events venue with an interior that features Scott’s signature curved arches, stone pillars, and decorative flourishes.

8. Stroll Through Southover Grange Gardens

One of the best things to do in Lewes for plant lovers is stroll through Southover Grange Gardens.

Once the private garden of the grange built by William Newton in 1542, this public green space is full of pretty paths, colorful flower beds, and peaceful benches.

There are sculptures dotted throughout, and there’s even a tulip tree that was planted by Queen Elizabeth II. The gardens have walls with arches made from stones from the ruins of Lewes Priory, too.

The lawns sit in front of Southover Grange, a stunning 16th-century manor house that’s now home to the Lewes Register Office.

9. Go Shopping in Lewes

Another of the best things to do in Lewes is shop. From bookshops to clothing stores and antiques shops, there’s something for everyone in this English town.

Many of the best shops in Lewes can be found on the High Street and Cliffe High Street. They’re both packed with independent shops (and restaurants, cafes, and coffee shops).

Highlights include bookshops like the Fifteenth Century Bookshop and Bags of Books, as well as lifestyle stores like Leadbetter & Good and From Victoria.

But perhaps the most unique shop in Lewes is Darcy Clothing. Located on a side street behind two eye-catching vintage cars, this shop sells accurate replicas of men’s clothing from the 16th century to the 1950s.

10. Eat at the Best Restaurants and Cafes in Lewes

Another of the top things to do in Lewes is eat at the town’s many restaurants and cafes. Lewes is famous for being home to the original Bill’s, a chain that’s now taken London and other parts of the UK by storm.

But there’s more to the town’s culinary scene. Places like Flint Owl Bakery are known for their cakes and sourdough, and Carafe Coffee Roasters serves some of the best coffee in Lewes.

11. Go to the Best Pubs in Lewes

Equally famous are the pubs in Lewes, of which there are many. The Lewes Arms is steeped in history and serves real ales and local food in its atmospheric rooms.

Other popular pubs in Lewes include The Snowdrop Inn, which is decorated with larger-than-life sculptures and has a beer garden. It has a great local vibe and serves classic dishes.

12. Go to Harvey’s Brewery in Lewes

In addition to pubs, Lewes is home to the oldest independent brewery in East Sussex. Sitting right on the River Ouse, Harvey’s Brewery is not only an institution, but also photogenic.

Harvey’s offers brewery tours (by arrangement) for those interested in how beer is made. There’s also a shop for those more interested in buying and consuming it.

13. Walk Through the Ruins of Lewes Priory

Another of the best things to do in Lewes is walk through the ruins of Lewes Priory. This former medieval Cluniac priory was founded by William de Warenne and his wife Gundrada in the 11th century on the site of a Saxon church dedicated to St Pancras.

Once one of the wealthiest monasteries in England, Lewes Priory was dissolved in November 1537 during Henry VIII’s reign. Now a Scheduled Ancient Monument, the Grade I-listed ruins of Lewes Priory are worth a wander.

There are signs up around the site with information about what the priory looked like in its heyday and how the monks lived.

14. Go to the Markets in Lewes

One of the most exciting things to do in Lewes is go to the markets. From the Flea Market to the Lewes Food Market, Lewes Craft Market, and Lewes Farmers’ Market, there’s no shortage of them to enjoy here.

They’re open on different days, so make sure to check before you go.

There are also permanent indoor markets like The Riverside on Cliffe Bridge. This complex has everything from a food hall to a cafe and a brasserie.

15. Take a Country Walk from Lewes

One of the top things to do in Lewes for lovers of the outdoors is to go for a country walk from Lewes. The town is at the heart of the South Downs National Park, and there are plenty of short and long circular and point-to-point walks in the area.

If you want a bigger walk, you can even get to the long-distance South Downs Way from Lewes. It’s just 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) from town and runs all the way from Winchester to Eastbourne .

16. Visit Lewes for Bonfire Night

If you like events and festivals, you’ll want to come for Bonfire Night in Lewes on November 5th. Lewes Bonfire is the largest and most famous Bonfire Night event in the UK. The town has even been called the bonfire capital of the world.

Every year on Guy Fawkes Day , Lewes fills with processions and fireworks displays to commemorate the uncovering of the Gunpowder Plot in 1605. Over 80,000 people attend this impressive spectacle each year.

17. Stay a Night in Lewes

Last on my list of things to do in Lewes is stay a night. Or two. There’s so much to take in here that it’s worth devoting some extra time to explore.

There are lots of great places to stay in Lewes , including The Shelleys, a heritage property established in 1588.

On the High Street, the White Hart Hotel is a historic coaching inn with Tudor origins that’s known for its connections to American history. There’s a blue plaque on the exterior stating Thomas Paine “here expounded his revolutionary politics”.

There are also great independent properties like the Tiny Cottage , which offers unique accommodation in the heart of town.

Best Things to Do in Lewes

I hope you’ve enjoyed this guide to things to do in Lewes. Beyond these, there are local attractions like Pells Pool and nearby National Trust properties like Monk’s House. The latter is a 16th-century cottage where Virginia Woolf lived from 1919.

But with all the excitement in town, I’m sure you’ll keep busy discovering the best of Lewes. Happy travels!

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4 Comments on Lady’s 17 Things to Do in Lewes, Sussex

Thank you for this great posting about Lewes., We are planning a trip to England in the fall and this will definitely be added to our itinerary!

You’re welcome! I’m so glad to hear that.

Heading here as I’m staying in Brighton for a few days. My day is planned thanks to you!

I’m so happy to hear that! I hope you have a great time.

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• 1.1 By train
• 2.1 On foot
• 2.2 By bicycle
• 4.1 Bonfire

Lewes is the county town of East Sussex .

Get in [ edit ]

By train [ edit ].

By train to 50.870833 0.011667 1 Lewes Station from London Victoria (70 min), Brighton (20 min), Eastbourne or Hastings .

By bus [ edit ]

By bus from Brighton (30 min), Eastbourne or Tunbridge Wells via Uckfield .

Get around [ edit ]

On foot [ edit ]

There are local bus services operating within the town, but realistically you can walk from one end of the town to the other in half an hour at a very leisurely pace. Those with mobility problems may have difficulty as the town is notoriously hilly.

By bicycle [ edit ]

Cycling is easy within the town and is encouraged as an easy, healthy and environmentally friendly alternative to car use.

By car [ edit ]

Lewes is notoriously unfriendly for car users. Unless essential, car use is unnecessary within the town; everything can be reached using a bike, a bus or your feet! The High Street is a nightmare during rush hours, as it is the main road through town and very restricted in width (narrowing at one point to the extent that traffic lights are required). A number of one-way streets, pedestrianised areas and most notably the parking situation make bringing a car to town a bit of a waste of time and money. Some roads are also so narrow that you wonder why they are even roads. Lewes has probably the most parking attendants per a head in the UK, and therefore you are almost certain be caught if you park incorrectly; also fines are quite steep. If you plan to visit by car use one of the town's car parks (there are surprisingly few, but they are for the most part conveniently located). Lewes District Council has more information.

See [ edit ]

Do [ edit ]

50.870497 0.008293 2 Southover Grange Gardens , Southover Road, BN7 1AB , ☏ +44 1273 484999 . Southover Grange is a house built in 1572. It is not open to visitors, but has lovely gardens which are. Beautiful flowers and trees (including, at 350, one of the oldest mulberry trees in the country), and a knot garden with a fountain. The park is open from dawn to dusk all year round, and has a tea and ice-cream kiosk in the summer. ( updated Oct 2017 )

• Walking on the South Downs, through the riverside Railway Land, through the Landport Woods, anywhere along the river Ouse.
• Shopping From antiques, organic clothing and art to old-school penny sweets, vinyl and skateboarding equipment, Lewes offers a real variety of shops alongside many coffee shops, tea rooms and general cafés.
• Beach Aside from the infamous Brighton beach, taking a short trip outside of Lewes one can discover several beaches that are more traditional, quiet and less crowded or spoilt, such as Newhaven, Tide Mills and the like.
• Local events easily found listed and promoted via the Lewes magazine (in print and online [dead link] , Lewes caters to all tastes with year-round festivals and celebrations of food, music, art, film and many other attractions. Just outside of Lewes one can find "Middle Farm" which hosts cider festivals, there are beer festivals, organic food markets galore and that's not even counting the regular farmer's markets in the precinct or the regular French Market in town.

Bonfire [ edit ]

Lewes has an extensive Bonfire tradition, celebrated annually on the 5th of November – unless the 5th lands on a Sunday, in which case it is celebrated on the 4th. The celebrations are known locally simply as 'Bonfire'. Practical information can be found at the Lewes Bonfire Council website . An extensive history of the celebrations can be found at any of the society webpages, including that of the well-known. Cliffe Bonfire Society .

A number of "Bonfire" societies parade through the town in costume in grand processions displaying banners and effigies. The costumes range from the historical to the luxurious to the down-right bizarre. The processions eventually culminate in each society reaching a "fire-site" where the main fireworks displays are held.

For reasons to do with crowd safety and insurance, admission to all societies "fire-sites" is now by advance ticket only . They must be bought well in advance of the event, as local demand is understandably high. Without a ticket you will not be admitted to those sites under any circumstances.

Claimed as being amongst the largest such celebrations in the UK, Bonfire is a true spectacle to behold – with several bonfire sites throughout town (each home to an individual society) which host a bonfire, the burning of effigies (often cuttingly political in the case of the Cliffe Society) and, of course, fireworks.

The processions are torch-lit with more hand held paraffin torches than you are likely to ever see anywhere else. The entire night is one large party, but one that locals take very seriously. An incredible amount of time, money and energy goes into the organization of the night each year, and traditions such as the death march are observed with the same pride as they would have been four hundred years ago.

Despite the vigour with which the town mounts its Bonfire, visitors from outside the local vicinity of Lewes are actively and strongly discouraged from coming to town for Bonfire by locals. This is because trouble, bad press and a number of misunderstandings are perceived to stem from outsiders who do not understand the tradition and organization of the night, mistaking it often as a chance to get drunk in public and act inappropriately. Antisocial behaviour by visitors has also in previous years led to a firm response from those policing and marshalling the events.

For safety reasons, all roads in and out of town are closed off in the late afternoon on the 5th and do not re-open until after the celebrations are over (which can be well into the small hours of the next day). In addition a number of side streets are also closed along with certain car parks, so that emergency response staff have clear access routes to and from any incidents. Bonfire is not suitable for children, or those of a nervous disposition.

Buy [ edit ]

Lewes is proud of being one of the least "modernised" towns in England. You'll find lots of small independent businesses here, and Lewes shops are particularly good for old women's clothing, art, secondhand books and antiques. Almost opposite the castle entrance is Catlins , an old-fashioned sweet shop with a large range of loose sweets, fine chocolates, tobaccos and pipes.

Lewes not only retains its historic atmosphere through its old shops and buildings, it also produces its own currency, the Lewes Pound. Historically the town produced its own notes, and as a tradition it continues to do so. The Lewes Pound is valid only in Lewes – nowhere else in the UK.

Eat [ edit ]

Lewes boasts a range of international cuisine including Indian, Thai, Chinese, Italian, Polish and good old traditional English pub grub.

50.87204 0.02299 1 The Snowdrop Inn , 119 South St, Lewes BN7 2BU ( in Cliffe, at the bottom of town ), ☏ +44 1273 471 018 . For a more upmarket twist on the traditional pub food menu. ( updated Jan 2017 )

50.87483 0.00865 2 Elephant and Castle , White Hill, BN7 2DJ ( just off of the High Street ), ☏ +44 1273 473 797 . Give the legendary "Elly Burger" a go. ( updated Jan 2017 )

50.87229 0.01088 3 Pailin , 19-20 Station St, BN7 2DB , ☏ +44 1273 473 906 . For an oriental flavour, wonderful Thai restaurant.  

• Late night revellers can try to stave off (or encourage depending on your point of view!) a hangover with chips in pitta from either the Charcoal Grill or Effies kebab houses , both found on School Hill, and try again in the morning with a "greasy spoon" full English from either The Cafe (formerly Eddie's cafe) by the Prison, or the Casbah in the bottleneck part of the High Street.
• For the healthier palate, nothing quite beats breakfast/brunch at Bill's Produce Store on Cliffe High Street, where you can have a delicious plate of food, and then have a browse in the grocers/produce shop under the same roof!

Drink [ edit ]

The night life is essentially pubs and restaurants, but Brighton is 20 minutes away by train, a little more by bus, with all the varied and often loud and bustling night life that you could ever ask for. Taxis will take you to and from Brighton, but expect to pay £20 upwards for each journey.

Harvey's bitter . One of the oldest independent breweries is right in the middle of town. Sample their wares at the John Harvey Tavern , or get take-aways from the Brewery shop on Cliffe High Street. Fine wines , too.

• Check Viva Lewes [dead link] for info on "nights" held in local pubs, often featuring folk music, DJs and the like. Also be aware that cafes in town occasionally open late and host event nights – the Needlemaker's Cafe is particularly good for this. Try to catch one of their world nights which include music and food of a particular country – great fun.
• The youth of Lewes tend towards the more bohemian and creative than obnoxious and urban, and as such, tend to create their own fun in town. The mostly unattended industrial estate in town is a hotspot for those under 30 (indeed anyone from the age of 15 upwards really) with warehouses being commandeered to house parties. Do not be overly cautious with these events, as they are probably not what you would expect from a youth illegal party – these tend to be less about drugs, rave music and bad behaviour, and more about live music, art, and the occasional pizza oven!

Sleep [ edit ]

• Pelham House , Saint Andrews Ln , ☏ +44 1273 488600 .  
• The Shelley's hotel .  
• 50.939779 0.006877 1 The Secret Campsite, Lewes , Brickyard Farm, Town Littleworth Rd , ☏ +44 1273 401100 . Secluded camping and glamping for families, at a farm. ( updated Dec 2019 )

Go next [ edit ]

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The Friends of Lewes

The Lewes Civic Society

Tourist Information and Maps

Friends of Lewes has helped to fund tourist information boards around the town. These display pictorial maps which assist visitors to discover what Lewes has to offer.

One example is the Visitors’ Map put up in November 2019 at Barbican House, opposite the entrance to Lewes Castle.

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Sussex Exclusive

Discover, explore and savour the best of Sussex

10 Iconic Things To Do In Lewes

All roads seem to lead to Lewes. Whether you’ve been east to explore Eastbourne, Hastings and Rye, or west to unearth Horsham and Haywards Heath, Lewes is a central point and there are many good reasons to find yourself here. So next time you wash up on Lewes’ shores, why not put down some roots for a day or two and explore?

Lewes Castle and the Barbican House Museum

Towering over the town, the most obvious place to start a visit to Lewes is the castle .  This Norman castle dates back to 1087 when it was built by William de Warenne as his stronghold in Sussex. Now owned by the Sussex Archaeological Society, it’s one of a handful of truly impressive castles that we have here in Sussex.

A climb to the top of the two different towers should be compulsory not just for the magnificent views across Sussex but because it will also give you a sense of just how impressive this stronghold must have been as well as great views of the town today. The museum below has an assortment of exhibits and artifacts that date from prehistoric to Medieval Sussex, including flints, coins, medals and weapons! The museum may be small but it’s also delightfully quirky!

Lewes Priory

You can’t visit Lewes Castle and not also visit the impressive ruins of Lewes Priory. Founded in the 11 th  century by William de Warenne with monks from France, the Priory of St Pancras survived until 1537. Both de Warenne and his wife Gundrada were buried at the Priory and their remains were discovered in 1845. Much like the castle, the ruins are evocative and atmospheric and you can wander around the grounds of the infirmary, look down on the toilet block (yes really) and imagine the monks tending the original herb garden.

At its peak in the 12 th  and 13 th centuries, the Priory was incredibly important in the region and would have been home to some 100 monks with some 20,000 acres of land. It’s now a Scheduled Ancient Monument and also listed as a building of Historic Interest Grade I.

The house of Anne of Cleves

Another place which you really just have to visit is the house formerly owned by Anne of Cleves, although she never actually lived there. It’s a 16 th century timber-framed house that formed part of her divorce settlement and it sits next to another very fine half-timbered house.

Also owned by The Sussex Archaeological Society, the house and gardens are open to the public and include a Tudor-style garden, authentic interior furniture, and a small museum. All of which makes this another interesting part of your journey back in time in Lewes.

Southover Grange

Created in 1542 by William Newton (and briefly the home of John Evelyn the diarist), Southover is hidden in plain site in the middle of town. When I first stumbled into this little Lewes oasis, I thought I’d accidentally strayed into private gardens. Home to a mulberry tree rumoured to be 350 years old, there is also a walled garden, a stream, a well and a sculpture of Nicholas Yonge (an English singer and publisher).

Lewes markets

Lewes is home to an abundance of markets, from its weekly Friday Food Market to its notorious and quite extraordinary flea market , craft market, farmers market and Christmas markets. If meandering around markets is your thing, head to Lewes.

15 th century bookshop

Lewes’ 15 th century bookshop is every book lover’s dream. Stacked to the beamed rafters with books, including a significant collection of second-hand and collectors’ books, this is the sort of place you dive into for a long, long time.

Polish pottery

One for the shoppers! Since 1997 Lewes has been home to what is now the UK’s biggest Polish pottery shop, Baltica, where you can browse mountains of beautiful “eyespot” stoneware, dishes, pots and plates to your heart’s content.

Harvey’s Brewery 

Lewes is almost synonymous with Harvey’s. The brewery is an iconic Lewes landmark as well as being the oldest independent brewery in Sussex. It’s been a family business since 1790 and situated at its current premises at Bridge Wharf since 1838. Now in the hands of the 9 th   generation, it’s a brewery that has survived family tragedy, fire, floods, and decline but now seems to be going from strength to strength. They do some tours of the brewery and they also now have a shop in Cliffe High Street. And you simply cannot visit Lewes without trying some of their beer!

Star Brew Gallery 

Once you’ve explored the sites, sampled the beer and filled your bags with nik-naks, head over to the Star Brew Gallery for a bit of culture (in Castle Ditch Lane, off Fisher Street). Set in a renovated 18 th century building, the gallery hosts an ever-changing and diverse programme of exhibitions by local, regional, national and international artists including up-and-coming artists, photographers and other creatives.

Lewes Railway Nature Reserve

From Railway Lane just off Cliffe High Street you can make your way to a rather unusual nature reserve which is on the site of the old railway yard that closed down in the late 1980s. With the Winterbourne stream at its heart, chalky cliffs as a backdrop and an array of wildlife, flora and fauna, a walk around the reserve is a welcome escape from the town and a chance to reflect.

The Round House 

Yes, I know, this is number 11 but I couldn’t help myself. For lovers of Virginia Woolf who want to follow in her footsteps around Sussex, it’s worth a quick deviation to Pipe Passage where you’ll find the Grade II listed Round House, originally built as a windmill in 1802. It was bought by Virginia and her husband on a bit of a whim in 1919 although they never actually lived there. A visit really doesn’t take long (it’s privately owned so you can’t go in) but it is one of Lewes’ many curios along with Pipe Passage itself which as the name would suggest used to be home to Lewes’s pipe-making industry.

Don’t stop! 

These 10 (11!) places to visit are just your starting point for a visit to Lewes and there’s plenty more to see both in the town and in the surrounding area. If you’re visiting from outside of Sussex, Lewes makes a fantastic, central base from which to explore Sussex and the rich heritage that goes with it.

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Lewes is an ancient market town of steep narrow streets, lined with fine buildings of all periods from half-timbered Tudor, to traditional Sussex brick and flint dwellings. An important place since Saxon times, it was the capital of all Sussex until the county was divided into East and West Sussex in 1974. It is now just the county town of East Sussex.

Lewes retains much of its original character. The steep streets of the old town are linked by narrow passageways called 'twittens'. The High Street has many fine Georgian houses and some much older, faced with mathematical tiles giving the impression of brick frontages. One of the most interesting building on the High Street is the 15th-c Old Bull Inn. Currently a restaurant, it was once the lodgings of the pro-revolutionary author Thomas Paine.

Lewes Barbican Gate © TAB

The shopping centre has a good selection of antique shops and bookshops, plus a number of arts and crafts workshops, and many small independent retailers. There is a surprising number of eateries, catering for all tastes, with restaurants, cafes and pubs offering delicious local produce.

The ruins of a Norman castle, which dominates the town to the west, is reached through an a massive outer gatehouse or barbican. The castle and grounds are open to the public and well worth a visit. Opposite the castle is Barbican House, a handsome 16th-c timber-framed building, which is now an archaeological museum displaying a wide range exhibits and local artifacts from prehistoric times to the 19th-c.

The Battle of Lewes (14 May 1264), was fought on the Downs just east the town, where Simon de Montfort and his barons defeated Henry III. The king's ensuing terms of peace are now considered to be the beginnings of English parliamentary government.

Lewes is the scene of spectacular festivities on November 5th, when bonfires roar and an effigy of the pope is burned, in commemoration of several Sussex Protestants burnt as heretics by Queen Mary I in 1555.

Places of Interest to Visit in Lewes

Anne of cleves house.

A large 16th-c Tudor property given to Anne of Cleves by Henry VIII, following their divorce in 1540. Now a local history museum, it has displays covering local arts and crafts and farming.

Opening times: Feb to Nov, daily from 10am - Admission Charge Location: 52 Southover High St, Lewes BN7 1JA Tel: 01273 474610 Website: sussexpast.co.uk

Barbican House Museum

The fine Elizabethan house opposite the castle, which is host to a museum covering archaeology, prehistoric, Roman, Saxon and medieval periods. A collection of local paintings and prints are also on display.

Opening times: daily (exc. Jan) - Admission Charge Location: Bull House, 92 High St, Lewes BN7 1XH Tel: 01273 486290 Website: sussexpast.co.uk

Lewes Castle

The ruined Norman castle, built on two artificial mounds near the centre of Lewes, has commanding views across the town and surrounding countryside. Originally built as a wooden palisade by William de Warenne in 1069, it was rebuilt in stone towards the end of the 11th-c. The remains of the keep date from the 13th/15th century, with much restoration and additions in the 19th-c.

Lewes Priory

To the south of the town at Southover stand the crumbling remains of a medieval priory, founded by William de Warenne (brother-in-law to William the Conqueror). The nearby 16th-c Southover Grange, set in delightful public gardens, was the boyhood home of the diarist John Evelyn (1620-1706)

Opening times: Any reasonable time - Free Entry

Map of Lewes

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