Things To Do in Lewes

Visit Anne of Cleves House

Just a short walk from the Priory, Anne of Cleves House is a building steeped with history. There is also a museum, see how it’s decorated and really imagine how the Tudor’s lived! The building was part of Anne of Cleves divorce settlement, although it is thought she didn’t actually visit the property.

Address: Southover High St, Lewes

Visit Lewes Castle

Lewes Castle is a Norman castle and is a motte and bailey style castle but unusually with two mottes. You can climb up to the top of the castle and enjoy the views across Lewes and surrounding areas. As well as the castle, you can visit the Museum of Sussex Archaeology which has some local collections from prehistoric to the present day. No dogs are allowed except assistance dogs. You can also visit the Museum of Sussex Archaeology next door to the castle which displays local collections from the prehistoric to the present day.

Wander around Southover Grange Gardens

Southover Grange Gardens is one not to be missed! It’s set just a stone’s throw from Anne of Cleve’s house and if you visit in Spring you can enjoy the tulip and flower displays! It’s a great place to sit down, relax, enjoy some lunch and a lovely peaceful area.

Address: Southover Rd, Lewes

Discover the history of Lewes Priory

Lewes Priory, otherwise known as The Priory of St.Pancras,  is set in Priory Park and is just a short walk from the train station. Priory Park itself is a lovely spot to sit and enjoy lunch and there is also a playground for children here. The Priory was the first Clunic priory in England and was founded between 1078 and 1082 by William and Gundrada de Warenne who also build Lewes Castle. The Priory was one of the largest and wealthiest monasteries in England and you can see what the Priory would have looked like on the information boards surrounding the ruins.

Buildings that would have been part of the Priory include the Prior’s dining hall, Great Church, refectory, toilet block, dormitory, kitchen, infirmary, bakery, orchard, stables, Chapter House and also the kitchen garden – and many others.

Shop Cliffe High Street

Lewes is a great place for shopping and has lots of independent and antique shops. There are bookshops, food produce, cafes and cute homeware shops as well as your traditional high street brands.

Take a tour of Harvey's Brewery

Harvey’s Brewery is the oldest independent brewery in Sussex and you can do tours which gives an insight into how they brew at Harveys’. They use rainfall which is filtered through the Sussex downs and drawn into their liquid reservoir ready to be used in the brew.

The Sussex Guild

Climb Mount Caburn

Mount Caburn is around a 10-minute drive from Lewes and is a peak, near the village of Glynde. You can walk up to the top from the village of Glynde – the footpath is on Ranscombe Lane, opposite The Little Cottage Tea Room And Garden.

From here, the footpath goes straight upwards through the field, there is a gate at the top and keep following the footpath until you reach the top, where the Caburn peak will be off to the left.