Culture by the coast: Arty days in Sussex

Culture vulture? Welcome to Sussex: the home to world-beating museums and more galleries than Jackson Pollock could shake a paintbrush at. For centuries, the county has been a haven for creative types, with artists and writers retreating here from London. It’s no different today. 

This three day itinerary provides a whistle-stop tour of Sussex’s vibrant art scene. Kicking things off, we’ll follow the Coastal Culture Trail from Hastings to Eastbourne via Bexhill, taking in three award-winning museums. Ready to get arty? Let’s go. 

Day one: Hastings 

You’ll find Hastings Contemporary right on the seafront, next to the charming Old Town. As locations go, it’s hard to beat. But that’s not the most impressive thing about this gallery. It boasts a revered and varied calendar of exhibitions, talks and events, from family days to laidback life drawing sessions. In recent years, local legend Sir Quentin Blake has been regularly exhibited, thrilling visitors with his much-loved illustration style.  

After a morning here, make your way along the coast to Hastings Museum and Art Gallery. It’s set in a beautiful building called John’s Place, named after the late son of Mrs Kidd, who commissioned an architect to build the house after her son passed away. Along with artefacts and local artworks, the museum has a Queer History Trail, telling the stories of LGBTQ+ pioneers.  

And if you’re craving some culture to end the day, check out White Rock Theatre. From comedy to cabaret and live music, the theatre hosts iconic acts throughout the year. 

Hastings Contemporary

Day two: Bexhill 

Next up, we head along the coast to Bexhill, a traditional seaside town with a colourful creative side.  

The De La Warr Pavilion, built in 1935, is the beating heart of the town’s cultural scene and the only place to start. This pioneering arts centre is a hub for contemporary exhibitions. You can also book a tour of the iconic building, one of the first modernist structures in the UK. Worked up an appetite? Grab some lunch in the gallery’s cafe and tuck into fresh, seasonal plates overlooking the seafront.  

Just a pebble’s throw from De La Warr Pavilion is the Bexhill Museum, which has artefacts ranging from dinosaur footprints to Eddie Izzard’s railway sets. Fashionista? The museum's costume gallery will lead you through 200+ years of sartorial history. And the Sargent Collection is an old-fashioned cabinet of curiosities, with treasures from Bexhill and beyond.  

​​​​If you like craft beer as much as art and crafts, you’ll want to pay a visit to Bexhill brewery, The Three Legs. ​As the day comes to an end, hop on the train and travel one stop to St Leonards Warrior Square station. Make the five-minute walk towards the seafront and you’ll reach Norman Road, where you’ll find many small galleries and a trendy indoor street market, Heist.

Day three: Eastbourne 

Day three brings us to the last museum on the Coastal Culture Trail: Towner Eastbourne. You can’t miss it … literally. Just look out for the building with vibrant geometric shapes splashed on the outer walls, setting it apart from the surrounding Victorian and Edwardian architecture. 

The host of the 2023 Turner Prize, Towner Eastbourne has a reputation that surpasses its size. This award-winning gallery holds world-class exhibitions and houses an esteemed collection of modern British art, including the largest public collection of Eric Ravillious. Don’t miss his canvases of coast and countryside, along with sensational still lifes giving a window into 1930s Sussex. 

The museum is also home to a cosy cinema, showing new releases, indie flics, cult classics and family-friendly films. This is a great picture house for rediscovering a golden oldie or uncovering your new favourite director. In the evenings, you can also turn your hand – or should that be leg – to Yoga in the Gallery, a friendly session for all abilities. Feeling peckish? The gallery’s Light restaurant is a stylish destination for lunch and dinner.  

You could easily spend the whole day at Towner Eastbourne. But if there’s room in your itinerary, you must check out the nearby Emma Mason gallery. This intimate space showcases British printmakers from the 1930s onwards, offering a delightful insight into a little-known movement. 

Towner Gallery, Eastbourne

Can’t get enough culture? There’s more to explore. 

• East Beach Cafe: Much more than a restaurant for a cuppa and sarnie. Found on the seafront in Littlehampton, the cafe’s unique architectural design has seen it win RIBA awards and attract visitors from far and wide. 

• Windmill Cinema: Also in Littlehampton, this is a quirky cinema to catch a film. Keep a look out for live streamed performances from the National Theatre or the Royal Ballet Opera House. 

• ​​Selsey Blue Plaque Heritage Trail: Take a self-guided tour in and around Selsey to see the homes of significant Sussex figures throughout the years.​​​ 

• Graffiti art: Any street-art tour must take in the site of Banksy’s ‘Kissing coppers’, stencilled on The Prince Albert pub. But you’ll find many more fantastic works along the coast, notably the Newhaven Look Again Mural Festival.