Lewes, England Tourist Attractions
Lewes (pop. 15,000), 8mi/13km northeast of Brighton, is the county town of East Sussex. It is magnificently situated on the Downs, at the point where the River Ouse has cut its way through the hills. Lewes is noted for the many restaurants, cafes, and antique shops as well as the market on the first Saturday of each month.
Lewes Castle was built around 1088 to defend this passage. It has a ruined keep (views) and fine flint masonry. The picturesque old town with its steep streets, old half-timbered buildings, Georgian houses and typical flint masonry surrounds the castle.
The most interesting churches are St Anne's (mainly Norman) and St Michael's, with a round tower. The Town Hall, with a fine oak staircase (1893), contains the Municipal Museum.
Barbican House
In Lewes' Barbican House is the Museum of the Sussex Archaeological Society, and associated with this is Anne of Cleves' House.
Opening hours:
10am-5:30pm; Sun: 11am-5:30pm; Closed: Mon
Entrance fee in GBP:
Family £11.40, Adult £4.20, Senior £3.70, Child £2.10
Mount Caburn
Southeast of Lewes is Mount Caburn, which rises steeply to a height of 490ft/150m; to the west is Mount Harry (639ft/195m), above the racecourse.
University of Sussex
The University of Sussex, founded in 1961, lies 4mi/6.4km west of Lewes. Its main administrative offices are in Stanmer House, a Palladian mansion built between 1720 and 1727; the new buildings were designed by Sir Basil Spence.
Bluebell Railway Museum
The Bluebell Railway was one of the first preserved railways in the UK. It opened in 1960 and has three remaining stations: Sheffield Park, Horsted Keynes and Kingscote.
There are 35 locomotives, over 50 coaches and numerous freight vehicles currently on display.
Address:
Sheffield Park Station, Uckfield TN22 3QL, England
Opening hours:
May 1 to Sep 30: 11am-4pmOct 1 to Apr 30: Closed: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri
Always closed on: Christmas - Christian (Dec 25)
Entrance fee in GBP:
Family £30.00, Adult £10.50, Child 16 & under £5.25, Group discounts FREE, Child 2 & under FREE
Useful tips: Free entry to Sheffield Park Station when no trains are running.
Family admission (2 adults and up to 3 children).
Disability Access: Partial facilities for persons with disabilities.
Guides: Guided tour included with admission. Interpretive sessions sometimes available. Work-study or volunteer programs.
Facilities: Gift shop, Restaurant or food service
Transit: Bus: from Haywards Heath (270) and East Grinstead (473)
Cotchford Farm - Home of Winnie the Pooh
It was near Upper Hartfield that A. A. Milne created the immortal character of Winnie the Pooh. Places related in the famous stories can be found here, including the Five Hundred Acre Wood (Hundred Acre Wood), the 'Six Pine Trees' and Poohsticks Bridge.
Firle Place
Firle Place is a Georgian Mansion with a Tudor core set in Downland Park. Its collections include the works of European and English Old Masters, French and English furniture, porcelain and American artifacts. It is a member property of the Historic Houses Association.
Opening hours:
Jun 1 to Sep 28: 2pm-4:15pm; Closed: Mon, Tue, Fri, Sat
Always opened on: Spring Bank Holiday - Britain (last Monday, May), Summer Bank Holiday - Britain outside Scotland (last Monday, Aug), Easter - Christian
Entrance fee in GBP:
Adult £6.50, Pensioners (OAP) £5.50, Disabled £3.00, Child £3.00
Useful tips: Groups discounts for pre-booked parties of 25 or more.
Connoisseur's Day prices are higher.
Guides: Interpretive sessions sometimes available.
Monk's House
The Monk's House, in Rodmell near Lewes, was the home of the writer Virginia Woolf. The rooms are presented as they would have appeared during visits by the writers, philosphers and artists that made up the 'Bloomsbury Group'.
Virginia drowned herself here in 1941 and her ashes were scattered throughout the gardens.
Address:
Rodmell, Lewes BN7 3HF, England
Opening hours:
Apr 4 to Oct 29: 2pm-5:30pm; Closed: Sun, Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri
Entrance fee in EUR:
Family €7.25, Adult €2.90, Child €1.45
Useful tips: Last admission 5:00 pm.
No dogs in house or garden.
Transit: BritRail: Southease
Anne of Cleves House
Anne of Cleaves House is located just a short walk from Lewes Castle. Anne of Cleves was the former wife of Henry VIII and the house was part of the divorce settlement, but Anne never lived here.
Address:
52 Southover High Street, Lewes BN7 1JA, England
Opening hours:
Mar 1 to Oct 31: 10am-5pm; Sun: 11am-5pm; Closed: MonNov 1 to Feb 28: 10am-5pm; Closed: Sun, Mon
Always closed on: Christmas - Christian (Dec 25), Christmas Eve - Christian (Dec 24), Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (Dec 26)
Entrance fee in GBP:
Family £9.85, Adult £3.65, Group discounts £3.30, Concession or reduced rate £3.25, Child 15 & under £1.70
Useful tips: Lewes Castle is a short walk from the house and a joint admission may be purchased for both. Group admission for 15 or more.
Firle - Charleston Farmhouse
Charleston Farmhouse in Firle was the country retreat for London's Bloomsbury Group. It houses the last surviving works of decorative artists Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant.
Opening hours:
Mar 19 to Jun 30: 2pm-6pm; Wed: 11:30am-6pm; Sat: 11:30am-6pm; Closed: Mon, Tue
Jul 1 to Aug 31: 11:30am-6pm; Sun: 2pm-6pm; Closed: Mon, Tue
Sep 1 to Nov 2: 2pm-6pm; Wed: 11:30am-6pm; Sat: 11:30am-6pm; Closed: Mon, Tue
Entrance fee in GBP:
Family £20.00, Adult £7.50, Concession or reduced rate £6.50, Disabled £5.50, Child 16 & under £5.50, Grounds / gardens only around attraction £3.00
Useful tips: Concessions (Thursdays for seniors, students and unemployed)
Tea and cakes available Wednesdays to Sundays 2-5 pm.
Gift shop open for Christmas shopping weekends from November 1-December 20.
Disability Access: Partial facilities for persons with disabilities.
Guides: Guided tour included with admission.
Facilities: Gift shop, Restaurant or food service
Transit: Bus: Autopoint Rider 125 from Lewes.
Firle - English Farm Cider Centre
At the English Farm Cider Centre visitors can sample from 150 varieties of farmhouse ciders. English cheeses and savories are for sale in the Farm Shop. Relax by the log fire or in the sunny courtyard.
Glynde Place
Glynde Place is an Elizabethan manor house and family home of Viscount and Viscountess Hampden. It offers fabulous views over the South Downs. Portrait and furniture displays are especially interesting.
Opening hours:
May 1 to Aug 31: 2pm-4:45pm; Closed: Mon, Tue, Fri, Sat
Always opened on: Spring Bank Holiday - Britain (last Monday, May), Summer Bank Holiday - Britain outside Scotland (last Monday, Aug), Easter - Christian
Entrance fee in GBP:
Adult £8.00, Students £5.00, Senior over 65 £5.00, Child 12 & under FREE
Guides: Interpretive sessions sometimes available.
Facilities: Restaurant or food service
Transit: Walk from Glyned rail station.
Lewes Castle and Barbican House
In Lewes' Barbican House is the Museum of the Sussex Archaeological Society, and associated with this is Anne of Cleves' House.
Address:
169 High Street, Lewes BN7 1YE, England
Opening hours:
Jan 1 to Jan 31: 10am-5:30pm; Sun: 11am-5:30pm; Closed: MonFeb 1 to Dec 31: 10am-5:30pm; Sun: 11am-5:30pm
Always opened on: Summer Bank Holiday - Britain outside Scotland (last Monday, Aug)
Always closed on: Christmas - Christian (Dec 25), Christmas Eve - Christian (Dec 24), Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (Dec 26)
Entrance fee in EUR:
Family €13.55, Adult €4.92, Group discounts €4.40, Senior €4.35, Child 15 & under €2.55
Useful tips: Anne of Cleaves House is a short walk from the castle and a combined admission ticket is available.
