Sussex
Just a short hop from the capital, and prime territory for day trips and weekend breaks, Sussex covers a huge area, ranging from hardcore commuter territory to some of southern Britain's most uniquely wild and scenic countryside. It's also got an unusually high quota of great places to stay, and Sussex hotels include everything from classy boutique places, gastropubs with rooms, achingly hip B&Bs, not to mention boutique accommodation in all sorts of locations from an old railway carriage to a Gothic mansion or even a Lighthouse.
A large chunk of visitors head straight for vibrant, artsy Brighton, but there's a great deal more to Sussex than this. It is actually two separate counties these days – East Sussex and West Sussex – over a quarter of which lies within the South Downs National Park, a beautiful landscape of rolling chalk downlands, wildflower meadows and sleepy villages: great territory for hiking and biking and all sorts of outdoor activities and home to some quintessentially bucolic English landscapes. The county's coastal strip is more developed, with some stretches a continuous ribbon of development where only the town signs indicate you've left one place and arrived in another, but even here you’ll find spectacular soaring white cliffs at the Seven Sisters County Park, beautiful estuarine creeks around Chichester Harbour and a couple of sandy beaches at Camber Sands and West Wittering. Add into this rich mix a handful of crumbling castles, some magnificent country estates and a couple of picture-perfect medieval towns – Rye is pick of the bunch – not to mention vineyards, corking country pubs and great local produce and you’ll see why Sussex deserves to be explored slowly and savoured.
Best Places to Stay in Sussex Holidays – Accommodation and Places to Stay in Sussex I Cool Places
Best Places to Stay in Sussex
A luxury lodge built for total immersion in a tranquil East Sussex woodland
Looking Glass Lodge, Grangewood, Battery Hill, Fairlight, Hastings, East Sussex TN35 4AL
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Hastings
A luxurious and very secluded lakeside cabin in the South Downs National Park
Ditchling Cabin, Whitelands Reservoir, Underhill Lane Hassocks BN6 9PL
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Ditchling
A charming and romantic Sussex cottage on the edge of the Ashdown Forest
The Nest, Danehill, Haywards Heath, East Sussex
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in West Sussex
Holidays in Haywards Heath
Stylish self-catering for groups on a 17-acre West Sussex estate with a swimming pool, tennis courts and more
Honeybridge Estate, Honeybridge Lane, Ashurst, West Sussex BN44 3AW
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in West Sussex
Holidays in Ashurst
Glamping at Swallowtail Farm is as it good as it gets.
Swallowtail Hill Glamping, Swallowtail Hill Farm, Hobbs Lane, Beckley, East Sussex TN31 6TT
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Rye
An eco-friendly hideaway for two in a fairytale Sussex setting near Lewes
Tack Barn, Upper Lodge, The Broyle, Lewes, East Sussex BN8 5AP
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Lewes
A quintessential West Sussex hideaway with stunning views of the South Downs
Nest Stay, Broomers Hill Ln, Pulborough, West Sussex RH20 2HZ
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in West Sussex
Holidays in Pulborough
A unique and very comfortable West Sussex barn conversion that's perhaps the county's best eco-friendly – and car-free – rural retreat.
Upper Barn, High Titten, Amberley, West Sussex BN18 9LY
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in West Sussex
Holidays in Amberley
Award-winning seaside maisonette with style, substance and flair in the heart of St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex
Gensing Lodge, Gensing Road, St Leonards on Sea, East Sussex TN38 0HE
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Hastings
With great food, local ales and comfortable boutique rooms, this Sussex village pub is hard to beat.
The Crown Inn, Dial Post, Worthing Rd, Dial Post, Near Horsham, West Sussex RH13 8NH
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in West Sussex
Holidays in Horsham
Uber-stylish five-bedroom house in Amberley with a floating terrace and a private hot tub
The Rook Retreat, The Rook, Rackham Road, Amberley, West Sussex BN18 9NT
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in West Sussex
Holidays in Amberley
Enchanting boutique B&B guest rooms – and much more! – in a lovely part of Sussex
Trading Boundaries, Sheffield Green, Fletching, Near Uckfield, East Sussex TN22 3RB
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Uckfield
Get away from it all at a unique retreat in Arundel, West Sussex
15 Bond Street, 15 Bond Street, Arundel, West Sussex BN18 9BL
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in West Sussex
Holidays in Arundel
A cosy cottage with contemporary décor in the heart of Ditchling, a picture-postcard East Sussex village
Sage Cottage, 10 High Street, Ditchling, Hassocks, East Sussex BN6 8TA
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Ditchling
Just outside Lewes, this is a classic Sussex Downs pub with stylish rooms and terrific food.
The Jolly Sportsman, Chapel Lane, East Chiltington, East Sussex BN7 3BA
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Lewes
A quirky hotel with individually designed rooms and a wonderfully informal atmosphere
Artist Residence Brighton, 34 Regency Square, Brighton, East Sussex BN1 2FJ
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Brighton
A modern yet welcoming four-bedroom West Sussex property, a stone's throw from Elmer Beach
Braganza, 37A Central Drive, Elmer, West Sussex PO22 7TT
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in West Sussex
Holidays in Arundel
Cosy, romantic shepherds' huts in the heart of the Sussex countryside
The Original Hut Company Ltd, Quarry Farm, Bodiam, East Sussex TN32 5RA
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Bodiam
Wow factor treehouses near Mayfield in leafy East Sussex
Hoots Treehouses, Doozes Farm, Witherenden Road, Mayfield, East Sussex TN20 6RS
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Mayfield
A one-of-a-kind village inn in a beautiful corner of East Sussex, with quirky touches and superb food
The Bell in Ticehurst, High Street Ticehurst East Sussex TN5 7AS
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Wadhurst
A beautiful West Sussex hotel and spa by the sea
Bailiffscourt Hotel & Spa, Climping Street, Climping, Near Littlehampton, West Sussex BN17 5RW
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in West Sussex
Holidays in Littlehampton
Not only the oldest coaching inn in England, this West Sussex hotel is very comfortable and dog friendly too!
The Spread Eagle, South Street, Midhurst, West Sussex GU29 9NH
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in West Sussex
Holidays in Midhurst
High-end Sussex holiday home by the sea overlooking the ruins of a 13th-century abbey
Eagles Nest at Greyfriars, Greyfriars Friars, Road, Winchelsea, East Sussex TN36 4ED
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Rye
High-end two bedroom apartment near the Sussex coast with the ruins of a 13th-century abbey in the grounds
Herons Wood at Greyfriars, Greyfriars Friars, Road, Winchelsea, East Sussex TN36 4ED
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Rye
A rural estate set in stunning East Sussex countryside – del-luxe, rustic-chic and truly unique.
Fair Oak Farm, Witherenden Road, Mayfield, East Sussex TN20 6RS
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Mayfield
A contemporary Scandinavian-style cabin in the South Downs with a swimming pool, tennis court and sauna
The Tennis Shed, The Tennis Shed, North End, Ditchling Hassocks
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Ditchling
Dreamy bespoke woodland cabins in the East Sussex countryside with a wood-fired hot tub and sauna
Architects Holiday, Great Park Farm, Catsfield, East Sussex TN33 9DT
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Battle
A pair of romantic luxury glamping retreats deep in the heart of Sussex
Kenny's Hut and Cleo's Hut, Bull's Lane, Cowfold, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 8AP
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in West Sussex
Holidays in Horsham
A high-end Sussex holiday cottage for 2 right in the middle of the South Downs.
The Piggery at John Bulls House, Bull's Lane, Cowfold, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 8AP
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in West Sussex
Holidays in Horsham
A beautiful Sussex manor house hotel with swanky spa and an award-winning restaurant
Ockenden Manor Hotel and Spa, Ockenden Lane, Cuckfield, Near Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH17 5LD
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in West Sussex
Holidays in Haywards Heath
A wide array of self-catering properties of all kinds throughout Kent and Sussex.
Bramley & Teal, 3A Stone Street Cranbrook Kent TN17 3HF
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in Kent
A cosy pub with good food and lovely rooms in West Sussex
The Black Horse, Climping, Climping St, Climping , Littlehampton, West Sussex BN17 5RL
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in West Sussex
Holidays in Littlehampton
A stylish townhouse in the centre of Chichester, owned by an admired local creative
Westgate Gallery, 35 Westgate, Chichester, West Sussex PO19 3EZ
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in West Sussex
Holidays in Chichester
A stylish beachside hotel and spa in East Sussex
The Relais Cooden Beach Hotel, Cooden Sea Road, Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex TN39 4TT
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Bexhill on Sea
The perfect eco- and walking-friendly hostel, easily reachable by train and bang on the South Downs Way.
YHA South Downs, Itford Farm, Beddingham. Near Lewes, East Sussex BN8 6JS
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Lewes
Cool seafront hotel and restaurant offering a chic stay in up-and-coming Eastbourne
Port, 11–12 Royal Eastbourne Parade, Eastbourne, East Sussex BN22 7AR
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Eastbourne
This West Sussex boutique B&B is a fantastic place to stay near Goodwood, Chichester and West Wittering
Saddlers B&B, Funtington Road, Chichester, West Sussex PO18 9LG
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in West Sussex
Holidays in Chichester
The Grand, 97–99 King’s Road, Brighton BN1 2FW
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Brighton
A great, very central budget option in Brighton, right opposite the Royal Pavillion.
Kipps Brighton, 76 Grand Parade, Brighton, East Sussex BN2 9JA
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Brighton
A top-notch hotel that is rightly at the top of Rye's accomodation options
The George, 98 High Street, Rye East Sussex TN31 7JT
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Rye
This beautiful East Sussex vineyard has a restaurant with 10 swoon-worthy boutique rooms
Rathfinny Wine Estate, Alfriston, East Sussex BN26 5TU
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Alfriston
The luxury lodges on this beautiful Sussex wine estate are the ultimate romantic escape for two
Tinwood Estate, Tinwood Lane, Chichester, West Sussex PO18 0NE
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in West Sussex
Holidays in Chichester
Seaside chic and great food in a fabulous coastal location.
The Gallivant, New Lydd Road, Camber Sands, Rye, East Sussex TN31 7RB
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in East Sussex
Holidays in Rye
Three large and quirky holiday houses on a Sussex country estate.
House on the Brooks, Hardham Mill, Hardham, Pulborough, West Sussex RH20 1LA
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in West Sussex
Holidays in Pulborough
Stylish seaside B&B that's a perfect Sussex base
Regency Rooms, 85 South Terrace, Littlehampton, West Sussex BN17 5LJ
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in West Sussex
Holidays in Littlehampton
An elegant restaurant with rooms situated on a glorious Sussex estate.
Leonardslee House, Brighton Rd, Lower Beeding, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 6PP
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in West Sussex
Holidays in Horsham
Luxurious countryside pub on the banks of Pagham Harbour Nature Reserve
The Crab and Lobster, Mill Lane, Sidlesham, West Sussex PO20 7NB
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in West Sussex
Holidays in Chichester
Worth a trip for the bar snacks alone, but this Sussex pub also has two luxury double bedrooms.
Richmond Arms, West Ashling, Chichester, West Sussex PO18 8EA
Holidays in South East England
Holidays in West Sussex
Holidays in Chichester