Places to Visit - find more online

Pevensey Castle (cont.)...fortress the story of Britain’s south coast defences. Beginning in the 4th century as one of the last and strongest of the Roman ‘Saxon Shore’ forts, 2/3 of its towered walls still stand. It was the landing place of William the Conqueror’s army in 1066 and during the century following the Conquest, a full-scale Norman castle, with a great square keep and a powerful gatehouse, was built within one corner of the fort. In the 1250s the towered bailey wall was constructed, and soon put to the test during the great siege of 1264. Open daily from April.

Priory of St Pancras in Priory Park, Lewes BN7 1HP (satnav use BN7 2XA). During the 11th century, monks came here from Cluny in France to establish the first Cluniac priory in England. The Priory survived for 450 years until the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1537, walk in the footsteps of medieval monks and imagine how the buildings once looked. A recreated herb garden grows plants that monks would have used for medicinal, culinary and ceremonial purposes, free.

Royal Pavilion, Brighton BN1 1EE Built for the Prince Regent, later King George IV, in stages between 1787 and 1823, remarkable for its exotic oriental appearance both inside and out and was revered by fashionable Regency society.

Rye Heritage Centre Strand Quay TN31 7AY, includes the story of Rye, Rye Town Model sound and light show and a working collection of Old Pier amusement machines. Historic and ghost audio walking tours are available for hire. Open Wed-Sun.

Rye Castle Museum the Ypres Tower, East Street TN31 7JY.

The Ypres Towe. Open daily Seaford Museum in the Martello Tower BN25 1JH. Local history museum with children’s events in school holidays. Displays from a general store, dressmaker’s parlour, the contents of an ironmonger’s, chemists, toy and photographer’s shop, as well as a Victorian schoolroom, Victorian kitchen, wartime kitchen. Domestic appliances from the first half of the 20th century include early typewriters, copiers, computers, radios and television sets.

Sheffield Park and Garden NT TN22 3QX. Informal landscape garden laid out in the 18th century by ‘Capability’ Brown, further developed in the early 20th century by its owner, Arthur G. Soames. Walks, family activities, woodland play trail.

Shipwreck Museum Rock-a-Nore Road, Hastings TN34 3DW. Stories of shipwrecks off the Hastings coast; explore shipwrecks, find out how to find your own dinosaur remains on the beach and discover what global warming means for the coastline.

Towner Eastbourne BN21 4JJ, Contemporary art museum with lots of family activities and events. Open Tue–Sun (plus bank holiday Mon), free.

Upside Down House Brighton. An amazing museum of illusions including a variety of designed rooms in a luxurious beach house based on the Brighton Sea Front.

Wakehurst Gardens and Millennium Seed Bank, Ardingly, RH17 6TN. ‘Kew in the Country’, botanic gardens run by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Walks, rocky Himalayan Garden. Explore the Adventurous Journeys natural play spaces, Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank, restaurant, café, plant/ gift shop. Glow Wild Nov/Dec.Open daily.

Weald and Downland Open Air Museum Singleton, Chichester, West Sussex PO18 0EU. Fascinating collection of historic buildings dismantled from their original locations and reassembled in 40 acres of Sussex countryside, woodland walks, picnic areas and farm animals, seasonal events.

Railways & Karting

Exploring Science

Eastbourne Pier one of the finest examples of a Victorian pier, Eastbourne’s stunning seafront landmark.

Fun Abounds, Uckfield TN22 1QL. Trampoline centre with café.

Hailsham Leisure Centre BN27 1BA. Two soft play frames, for 0–10yrs (U148cm/4ft 10ins), separate play area for U3s. Open daily.

Hastings Adventure Golf Hastings Seafront TN34 3AJ. A complex of 3 x 18-hole miniature golf courses, suitable for players of all ages.

Bluebell Railway from East Grinstead to Sheffield Park Station TN22 3QL. Volunteer preserved steam railway. See website for the timetable of train services, seasonal events.

Brighton Karting at QLeisure London Road, Albourne BN6 9BQ. 800 metres of pure adrenaline plus some of the finest facilities in the country make QLeisure outdoor karting well worth a visit. A fast, furious, frenetic and exhilarating track. Kent and East Sussex Steam Railway Tenterden TN30 6HE. Northiam and Bodiam Stations. Vintage steam and historic diesel trains dating from the Victorian era. Special events include Thomas the Tank Engine days, main season late March–early Nov.

Lavender Line Isfield TN22 5XB. Preserved railway, travels for a two-mile round trip between the village of Isfield and Worth Halt near Uckfield.

At Isfield you will find the headquarters of the Lavender Line which includes the original Victorian station and signal box.

Uckfield and East Grinstead

British Rail Lines Leave the car behind and explore Sussex by train – stopping at stations all over Sussex and along the Sussex coast.

West Hill Lift West Hill, George Street, Hastings, East Sussex. Victorian funicular.

Observatory Science Centre

Herstmonceux BN27 1RN. Handson science and discovery with 100+ interactive exhibits both indoors and out, telescope tours, regular workshops.

Rampion Offshore Wind Visitor Centre Kings Road Arches, Brighton BN1 2FN, free hands-on exhibitions, interactive displays, games, videos, as well as a 360˚ VR experience taking you out to the wind farm itself.

Family Fun, Adventure Parks & Soft Play

KiddiCity Role Play Centre, Eastbourne. Play sessions with 11 play zones, ride-ons with mini drivethru activities, seasonal events.

Knockhatch Adventure Park & ‘Froggies’ Indoor Soft Play a, Hailsham BN27 3GD (see p.22) Magic Castle Soft Play, Peacehaven Leisure Centre, open daily, U10s.

My Skateworld, Eastbourne BN23 6NY. Indoor roller-skating rink with daily discos, games, pool table, air hockey, café area. Check website for opening times (see advert p.19)

Monkey Bizness Cliffe Industrial Estate, Lewes BN8 6JL. Maze of play frames, toddler area for 2-5yrs, main frame suitable for 5-12yrs, open daily.

Mouse Trap, Downs Leisure Centre Seaford, inflatable course (2-11yrs), Fri 4pm to Mon 2pm.

Ninja Arena, Eastbourne BN21 3NW. Supervised activity and fitness. Climb, balance, jump and swing across different obstacles.

Baby Glow Play Centre Hastings TN34 1JN. Fully immersive sensory experience specifically for the early years (0-5yrs), open Mon-Sat (check website).

Barney’s Play Uckfield TN22 1QL. For U12yrs, height restriction 142cm (4ft 8ins), reduced rate toddler mornings Mon & Thur until 1pm term time.

Brighton i360 seafront near the West Pier. 162m tower with passenger viewing pod climbing to 138m, 360-degree views of the Sussex coastline for up to 26 miles.

Drusillas Park Alfriston Road just off the A27, BN26 5QS (see p.22 & competition p.22)

Doves Play Barn, Latchetts Farm TN22 3RG. Made from sustainable wood with ride-ons & ball pond, 0-8yrs with cafe & ice cream parlour.

Paradise Park Newhaven BN9 0DH. Planet Earth museum, Dinosaur Safari, Paradise Gardens incl. mini Sussex models, Local Maritime Museum, Play Zone incl. miniature train & crazy golf, open daily.

Sky High Trampoline Park

Peacehaven BN10 8JQ. Wall to wall interconnected trampolines. Toddler bounce, open sessions for 5yrs+, weekends & school holidays only.

Smugglers Adventure, St Clement’s Caves, Hastings TN34 3HY. Explore the sandstone caves in search of smugglers, bootleggers & warring gangs, prepared to be scared! (Feb-Nov)

Treasure Island, Eastbourne BN22 7AE. Buccaneer’s soft play, adventure golf, outdoor adventure park.

Urban Jump, trampolining & activity centre, Ghyll Rd Industrial Estate, Heathfield, daily