Top 10 Sights in Brighton and Sussex

Arundel Castle in Arundel West Sussex. Photo: Shutterstock

1 Royal Pavilion

This outrageously extravagant seaside palace was built for the Prince Regent in the 1820s and comes highly recommended by our friends at Visit Britain. (The Music Room is said to be a real stunner.) No trip to Brighton is complete without visiting this local landmark.

The Royal Pavilion, built for King George IV in the early 19C at Brighton, Sussex, England. Photo: Shutterstock

2 South Downs Way

Britain’s first designated long-distance bridleway and a popular path for walkers of all abilities.

3 Lewes

The scene of battles since Saxon times and today best known for its explosive Guy Fawkes celebrations.

Lewes. Photo: Shutterstock

4 Brighton Festival

One of Britain’s biggest and most varied arts festivals, with drama, comedy and music staged in venues throughout the town.

Brighton & Hove Pride Festival. Photo: Shutterstock

5 Bloomsbury in Sussex

The Bloomsbury Set started in London but ended up in the country. The former home of Virginia and Leonard Woolf, Monk’s House in Rodmell, is now a National Trust property.

6 Chichester Cathedral

Founded in 1076, this Gothic-Romanesque cathedral is known for its graceful interior and vibrant stained glass.

7 Petworth House

One of England’s finest stately homes, and home to paintings by Van Dyck, Gainsborough, Blake and Turner.

8 Sussex Heritage Coast

This magnificent stretch of coastline between Seaford and Eastbourne includes the imposing chalk cliffs of the Seven Sisters and Beachy Head.

Coast Guard Cottages & Seven Sisters. Photo: Shutterstock

9 Eastbourne seafront

A fashionable Victorian seaside resort and still a popular tourist destination, this genteel town boasts some fine Victorian buildings along its seafront.

Aerial view of the Eastbourne Pier. Photo: Shutterstock

10 Arundel Wetland Centre

A beautiful spot to see Sussex wildlife with reed beds, boat safaris and great activities for kids.

As far as local cuisine goes, Becky Padmore of Global Grasshopper has nothing but good things to say.

"We recommend Food for Friends, the award-winning vegetarian restaurant located in Brighton's famous historic South Lanes," she tells Insight Guides. "They serve up tasty homemade food sans meat in a cosy, relaxed atmosphere. They also offer vegan and gluten-free options."

To learn more about sights and attractions in and around Brighton, read our Brighton Travel Guide or visit our online shop to purchase a copy of Great Breaks Brighton.

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I can’t begin to say what a wonderful experience it was to work with Rough Guides and especially Jane Davey. The Wales vacation that was planned for us was everything that we hoped for and more importantly, everything that we asked for. We had requested a specific type of accommodation and the two properties we were booked into were perfect. The easiest description was that the hotels had “character”. They had an “old world charm” but with up-to-date amenities. They were each centrally located and easy to reach by rail. Each location had courteous staff and the rooms were clean and comfortable. Additionally, each property had a restaurant with delicious food. The tours that were booked for us were all wonderful. We asked for the chance to see local landmarks and interesting places and each tour delivered on that request. Our guides were all friendly, knowledgeable and always on time. Finally, Jane arranged all our rail transfers, using her local knowledge. We always had the exact departure and arrival times and even the expected connection window. Her details made us feel like veteran travelers of a very busy rail system. Most importantly, when we did miss a connection, due to an airline issue, Jane’s attention to detail made us confident that we could make the necessary adjustments to get us back on schedule. It was also comforting to know that if needed, help from Rough Guides was only a phone call away. We sincerely thank Jane for her assistance, and we highly recommend Rough Guides for your next trip.

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