Visit Lewes
Lewes sightseeing: a must for quirky shops, eateries and galleries steeped in history and East Sussex tradition
Lewes is a lively county town with a historic high street, specialist shops and cafés, Norman castle and renowned Bonfire celebrations. Surrounded by beautiful countryside, the town has a rich local history and a vibrant, independent spirit.
One of the major Lewes attractions is the Greenwich Meridian line. Passing through the town at zero degrees longitude, you can feel a true global citizen by standing one foot in the Western hemisphere and the other in the Eastern. Thankfully, opinion isn’t at all divided on what this colourful town offers: there are so many fun things to do in Lewes.
“You can see Lewes lying like a box of toys under a great amphitheatre of chalk hills”
— William Morris
Historic Lewes
History fans can visit the 1,000 year old Lewes Castle; tours depart regularly, or you can simply enjoy fine views over the town and contemplate monastic life in the 11th-century ruins at Priory Park. Head down the steeply cobbled Keere Street with its Grade II listed houses, towards Anne of Cleves House Museum. There, you can explore how the Tudors and Elizabethans inhabited this 15th-century timber-framed house, which formed part of Queen Anne’s annulment settlement from King Henry VIII.
Pop into the delightfully creaky 15th Century Bookshop for rare and collectable tomes, including children’s illustrated books. Just down the road is the house of Thomas Paine, 18th-century revolutionary and author of the seminal work, ‘The Rights of Man’.
Boutique shops and bargain-hunting
The Needlemakers is a historic landmark tucked away just off the high street, with the excellent Backyard Café and independent shops offering quirky hand-made products, clothing, and fairtrade goods.
Gorgeous homewares, clothes and beauty products can be found at stylish stores such as Freight, Closet & Botts, Kings Framers, and The Laurels (you’ll find lovely things from all four at The Grain Store).
Bargain hunters will love browsing the antique shops, flea markets and auction houses of Lewes (Gorringes, Wallis & Wallis). For fashion lovers, there are independent clothing boutiques such as Darcy Clothing, Lounge and Twinkle Twinkle, as well as good quality preloved items at Roundabout, Rehab and Wear 2.
Lewes has long boasted a rich seam of creativity and there are many small, independent galleries selling affordable artworks. Check out St Anne’s Galleries and Chalk Gallery.
Discover local food and drink producers in East Sussex
From award-winning cheeses to sparkling wines, Lewes and East Sussex are the pearly gates to food heaven.
For more places to eat and drink in Lewes, visit our Foodie Heaven page for suggestions.
Things to do in Lewes
Head to Southover Grange Gardens for a slice of tranquillity in the town centre, a hidden horticultural gem in any season. Open all year round to the public (no dogs), and with teas and homemade cakes served from ‘the hatch’ during spring and summer, this is one of the most picturesque (and free) things to do in Lewes.
Dive into Lewes’ popular Pells Pool, the UK’s oldest freshwater public lido (May to Sep). Stop by at Harvey's Brewery, the oldest independent brewery in Sussex. Or pay a visit to The Depot, an award-winning independent three-screen cinema and café-restaurant.
Seasonal highlights
For full details of events throughout the year, visit Lewes Tourist Information Centre. Below are just some of our favourites.
May is the start of the Glyndebourne Festival. World-class opera and a quintessentially English summer experience, a short distance from Lewes and The Grain Store.
Lewes Garland Day goes back to Victorian times and takes place on the first Bank Holiday in May. Local Morris dancing group, Knots in May, processing along the high street and children compete to make floral garlands, judged by the Mayor.
July hosts Love Supreme - one of Europe’s top jazz festivals. This is a three-day family-friendly greenfield event held in the stunning surroundings of Glynde Place. Day-trippers welcome.
September’s Artwave is the annual festival of artists and makers from the town and surrounding villages. The event takes place on weekends at the end of August/start of September in over 150 venues with displays of jewellery, textiles, metalwork, ceramics, glass, craft, furniture, illustration, painting, and printmaking.
November’s big bang is the Lewes Bonfire, the highlight of the town’s annual calendar. Pageantry, commemoration and a healthy dose of anarchy make up this unique celebration on the 5th of November: the largest of its kind in the UK. A thrilling spectacle that’s not for the faint-hearted!
For more information about Lewes and the surrounding area, go to Visit Lewes.