East Sussex
Knockhatch Children’s Adventure Park
Knockhatch Children’s Adventure Park Set in eighty acres of lush countryside, there are birds of prey on display plus lots of animals and reptiles, crazy golf, rowing boats, a soft indoor play centre for the young ones, mini-quads, bungee trampolines, or you can stroll through the beautiful surroundings.
Drusillas Park – Eastbourne
Drusillas Park – Eastbourne is one of the best places for things to do in East Sussex for kids. There is a huge emphasis on visitor participation within the zoo and even the youngest of visitors are catered for. Low-level viewing and imaginative animal displays allow the small ones the opportunity to see and meet a wide range of animals from all over the world, living in cleverly designed naturalistic settings.
There is a free train ride from where you can see many of the attractions in the big adventure playground such as Zoolympics, panning for gold, dino dig, adventure golf and lots of other activities. There are plenty of distractions to keep the kids amused.
Brighton Royal Pavilion
Brighton Royal Pavilion – was conceived as a monument to style, finesse, technological excellence and above all pleasure. It was built for the Prince Regent, who later became King George IV, and was his seaside residence. Today it is owned by the local council and visitors are able to see the fabulous spendour of the interior by joining one the tours.
A Smuggler’s Adventure
A Smuggler’s Adventure – This is a spooky experience! although open to 4+, it is best for 8+ as some younger children become scared. Set in St Clements caves below West Hill it is a labyrinth of tunnels, caves and dark dank passages that hide the secrets of the blood thirsty age of smugglers. You walk through the 44 metre tunnel used by smugglers. You can visit the underground St Clements Chapel and find out how these tunnels were used as an air-raid shelter during the war.
Brighton Racecourse
Brighton Racecourse is set in 20 acres of beautiful countryside high on the Sussex downs. It has stunning views over Brighton and Hove and ocean views of the English Channel. The track is one and a half miles in length and has a finishing straight about four furlongs in length. The racecourse is only used for flat racing and is host to 18 racing fixtures between April and October.
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Brighton & Hove Greyhound Stadium
The Battle of Hastings 1066
The 1066 story
For a memorable family day out visit Battle Abbey, the site of the 1066 Battle of Hastings. Its an enjoyable way to discover more about this famous English battle. A fascinating exhibition featuring CGI film and interactive displays tells the story of the great battle and paints a picture of England at the time of the conquest. The audio tour of the battlefield itself brings the momentous day to life. Explore the atmospheric abbey ruins and stand on the very spot where King Harold is said to have died.
Yellowave Beach Sports
Yellowave Beach Sports is the UKs only permanent beach venue of its kind. Sports include beach volleyball, five a side, climbing wall, footvolly, rugby, beach tennis and ultimate frisbee. There are qualified coaches on-hand to organise things and lots of ways to get involved.
Brighton Sealife Centre
Brighton Sealife Centre gives you the opportunity to see the Ocean Tank from a whole new perspective in a glass bottomed boat. The boat takes you safely across the top of the huge tank to enjoy a unique snorkellers eye view of the huge turtles Lulu and Jersey, get dangerously close to the tropical sharks and be amazed at shoals of colourful reef fish. Brilliant!
Theatre & Concert Tickets
- The Brighton Centre
- The Brighton Dome
- The Brighton Corn Exchange
- The Theatre Royal
- Royal Pavilion Ice Rink
- Concorde2
- Eastbourne Winter Gardens
- Hastings Philharmonic
- Hastings Music Festival
- white rock theatre
Heritage Railway Lines
Bluebell Line – this was the railway line used in the film The Railway Children. The Bluebell Railway is a heritage line running for nine miles along the border between East and West Sussex. It uses steam trains which operate between Sheffield Park and Kingscote, with an intermediate station at Horsted Keynes.
Also
Kent and East Sussex Railway offers an 11-mile (17 km) ride through the Rother Valley in vintage and British Railways coaches usually hauled by a steam locomotive although some off peak services are operated by diesel multiple unit.
The Lavender Line The Lavender Line runs for a 2 mile round trip through the beautiful Sussex Countryside between the village of Isfield and the Parish of Little Horsted.
Volks Railway is the ‘world’s oldest operating electric railway’. The railway runs for just over a mile along Brighton seafront between the Aquarium (for Brighton Pier) and Black Rock (for the Marina).
Other Historic buildings and Monuments
Herstmonceux Castle
Herstmonceux Castle is a magnificent moated castle set in beautiful parkland with Elizabethan gardens. Today it is a study centre but the castle and gardens are open to the public.
Bodiam Castle
Bodiam Castle is exactly how most people imagine a medieval castle should look like, with its square of walls, a round tower at each corner, and a square tower midway along each wall, entirely surrounded by a moat.
Lewes Castle
Lewes Castle stands at the highest point of Lewes on an artificial mound constructed with chalk blocks.
Newhaven Fort
Newhaven Fort Experience what life was like in the First and Second World Wars through exciting life-size and interactive exhibitions. Explore underground tunnels, stand by the big guns on the ramparts. This huge clifftop fortress commands superb views and really brings history to life.
Michelham Priory
Michelham Priory is the site of a former Augustine Priory near Upper Dicker. It is now a family friendly museum with hands on activities for children, seven acres of gardens and grounds surrounded by a moat, a working watermill, replica Iron Age roundhouses and childrens play area.
Bolebroke Castle
Bolebroke Castle is not a castle but a 15th century hunting lodge. Built around 1480, it is said to be the earliest brick-built building in Sussex. Today it is used as a hotel and conference facility.