Your guide to Summer in Sussex
Discover 10 unforgettable reasons to spend summer in Sussex
Summer in Sussex is a magical time, offering a perfect blend of natural beauty, cultural experiences, and seaside fun. As the sun shines brightly over the South Downs and the coastline, Sussex transforms into a vibrant playground for visitors of all ages.
We've gathered the best things to do, see and experience this Summer in Sussex.
Festival Season
Festival of Speed, 10-13 July
Held in the beautiful parkland surrounding Goodwood House, Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard is motorsport's ultimate summer garden party.
The Love Supreme Jazz Festival, 4-6 July
Europe’s biggest greenfield jazz festival, taking place in Glynde Place, East Sussex. Maxwell is the Sunday headliner in his first UK appearance in 9 years and only UK date of 2025.
Chichester Festival Theatre, May - Sep
Festival 2025 season has started and features five world and two UK premieres, two musicals, and masterpieces from world drama, including performances from Beverly Knight.
Rye International Jazz & Blues Festival - 22-25 August
The thirteenth annual festival is set in the beautiful historic town of Rye, presenting the very best in Jazz, Blues, Roots, Soul, Funk, Latin and Cuban music.
Explore more festivals & events
Sussex’s Glorious Gardens
Visit Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens this June and July and experience the gardens at twilight at ‘Leonardslee Lates’ where you can escape with live music, a silent disco and enjoy Leonardslee Vineyards wine with friends and family.
At Wakehurst, their summer festival, Wanderwild, is an unforgettable twilight circus set against the background of a summer evening outdoors from 17-19 July. Reopening for the Summer, Coronation Meadow, is celebrating 10 years and boasts a thriving tapestry of native wildflowers and the familiar buzz of visiting pollinators.
Great Dixter will be in full summer splendour - A vibrant, daring, and immersive garden with a 15th century house restored by Sir Edwin Lutyens. Leading the way in ornamental gardening, gardening for biodiversity, and horticultural education.
Launching on 31 May, The Goodwood Art Foundation has two gallery spaces and exhibitions within 70-acre landscaped gardens by Award-winning horticulturist and landscape designer, Dan Pearson, including a striking Cherry Grove, a natural Amphitheatre and new treetop cafe.
Beaches for days...
Littlehampton. This summer Littlehampton will unveil the brand-new seafront development on East Beach, with experiences for all ages including a brand-new activity hub featuring a bouldering wall, beach volleyball and a water play area and food market. You'll find the quieter West Beach with a board walk on the western side of the river Arun.
Normans Bay & Cooden. A peaceful beach close to the landing point of the Norman invasion in 1066, a quieter alternative from Bexhill (popular with families). Cooden beach just along the coast, is a quiet spot with train links to London. Stay in a room with a view at the luxury Relais Cooden Beach, complete with dog-friendly rooms (pooches are even provided their own pyjamas!).
Worthing. More laid back than neighbouring Brighton & Hove, this long stretch of seaside has a wide shingle beach and is a foodie destination – you'll find buzzy bars, and eateries such as the CrabShack (famed for amazing seafood) and trendy spots like Perch on the Pier or fine dining at Tern.
Sussex Vineyard Tours
If you haven’t heard already, Sussex Vineyards account for 25% of vineyards in the UK and are renowned for their Sparkling wines. In the summer months, over 40 vineyards open for tours and tastings, as well as running pop up events for English Wine week from 21-29 June so if you need an excuse to visit, there will be plenty happening to celebrate. It’s the perfect alternative to a weekend in Provence!
Heritage Gems
Loxwood Joust Taking place over three weekends from 2nd August to 17th August, this unique experience immerses explorers into a kingdom filled with adventure, music, as well as offering the chance to camp in tents and feast at lavish banquets.
Bluebell Railway In celebration of Railway 200, a unique travelling exhibition from 23-29 July, the ‘Inspiration Train features four carriages, each offering a unique experience.
Bodiam Castle At this National Trust gem, discover the secrets of historic graffiti, from stone mason to witches marks and from 4 August join the archaeological dig, in partnership with UCL, with dig site tours and activities.
Herstmonceux Castle 35 new holiday apartments have been opened in the castle, a beautiful location from which to explore the grounds (admission included!) and a perfect base to discover Sussex.
Explore more Castles and Forts or Stately Homes & Manor Houses
Wild swimming wellness
Knepp At Knepp wilding campsite, visitors can take a dip in the wild swimming pond and Kindred sauna are on site offering wood-fired sauna sessions.
Arundel Lido With Arundel Castle as its stunning backdrop and nestled in the South Downs, the Lido just turned 21 and continues to host events including serene sound bath sessions. It’s a true hidden gem.
Tide Mills Discover Tide Mills forgotten village on the way to a peaceful swim at the beach, in between Newhaven and Seaford, it’s a secret bathing spot to discover.
Pells Pool The oldest freshwater outdoor public swimming pool in the UK, in the historic town of Lewes. The pool is naturally heated, but you can warm up with Nomadic Sauna on selected days.
Shady Spots
Sussex is surrounded by ancient woodland and forests, so when the heat rises, you can find a place to cool off and get back to nature. Ashdown Forest is famous as the inspiration for the ‘Hundred Acre Wood’ and Winne the Pooh.
Friston Forest is within the South Downs National Park and is the largest area of recently established forest in South East England. It includes a section of the South Downs Way and miles of trails and paths to explore.
Near Chichester, Kingley Vale Nature Reserve has a grove of ancient trees which are estimated to be amongst the oldest living things in Britain, and one of the finest yew forests in Western Europe.
Sporting occasions
The Lexus Eastbourne Open, an event steeped in history, has welcomed some of the world’s greatest tennis talent onto its courts, at Devonshire Park.
Sussex is a golfers paradise, with championship courses like Goodwood, designed by James Braid and East Sussex National Golf Club. We're also home to one of England’s oldest golf clubs – Royal Ashdown Forest Golf Club.
Qatar Goodwood Festival – 29 July - 2 August - The world-famous five-day festival, ‘Glorious Goodwood’, is one of the undisputed highlights of the British flat racing season. At The Agria Royal International Horse Show at Hickstead – 22 – 27 July - thousands of equestrian fans are expected to flock to watch international highlights such as the Agria Nations Cup of Great Britain
With a 140-mile coastline and calm inland waterways, there’s nowhere better than Sussex for diving into watersports, Book with one of the local Watersports centres, including The Beach, 2XS and Camber Kitesurfing.
Sussex has one of the oldest cricket clubs in the form of the Sussex County Cricket Club, established in 1893. This Summer, watch the ‘Sussex Sharks’ in action in the T20 Vitality Blast season, at their home in Brighton.
Avast Shipmates!
Hastings Pirate Weekend 19-20 July - Once recognised as the ‘Pirate Capital of the World’, Hastings plays host to a two-day pirate-themed Festival, including the Great Buccaneers procession.
Find out what's happening in Sussex this Summer
