Sussex packs an extraordinary amount into a small county: the pier-and-pavilion fun of Brighton, the chalk cliffs of the Seven Sisters and Beachy Head, the rolling South Downs, and the castles and battlefield of 1066 country, where the Norman Conquest was decided. It is a county of the sea and the Downs, with some of the loveliest walking and the most storied history in the south. This is a guide to the best of it, grouped by area, with an honest note on access at each stop.
Every place here carries an access note. The seaside towns and grand houses vary from largely step-free to historic and stepped, and the Downs and cliffs are open country — glorious, but not always easy underfoot. Where we haven't confirmed a detail we say "not yet checked". This guide grows as we add places.
The Sussex coast
Brighton's pavilion and lanes, the white drama of the Seven Sisters and Beachy Head, and the old towns of Rye and Hastings.
Brighton Royal Pavilion
The extravagant Indo-Saracenic pleasure palace built for the Prince Regent, all domes and minarets.
Nothing prepares you for the Royal Pavilion — George IV's oriental fantasy of onion domes outside and dazzling Chinese-inspired interiors within, set in its own gardens in the middle of Brighton.
Our tip The Banqueting Room and Music Room interiors are the jaw-droppers — don't rush them.
Visiting — good to know
Partial wheelchair access Accessible toilets
For blind & low-vision visitors An exotic palace with largely level, accessible ground-floor state rooms (some with a lift) and rich, tactile, ornate interiors; a purely visual spectacle best with a describer.
Sensory A busy, popular central attraction that can be crowded; the ornate rooms are calm within, the surrounding gardens and Lanes lively.
Access last checked 5 Jul 2026 — always confirm with the venue.
Worth watching
More Wikipedia
Brighton Seafront & Lanes
A lively shingle seafront of the Palace Pier, the i360 tower and the maze-like shopping Lanes.
Brighton is the seaside at its most joyful — the Victorian Palace Pier, the soaring i360 viewing tower, beach bars along the shingle and the tangled Lanes of independent shops behind.
Our tip Wander the North Laine and the Lanes for the shops, then finish on the pier at dusk.
Visiting — good to know
Step-free / wheelchair access
For blind & low-vision visitors A long, flat, defined seafront promenade - easy to follow - with the pebble beach and open sea below and the busy, narrow Lanes behind.
Sensory A vibrant, buzzing, sometimes crowded seafront of amusements, gulls and crowds; the beach and prom are open, the Lanes intense and lively.
Access last checked 5 Jul 2026 — always confirm with the venue.
Worth watching
- Brighton Town & Beach Walk | UK Walking Tour [4K HDR] The Walking Puyu
More Wikipedia
Also featured in Accessible English Seaside and Coast-Path Gateways
Seven Sisters
A famous sequence of undulating white chalk cliffs above the sea near Cuckmere Haven.
The Seven Sisters' switchback of dazzling chalk cliffs, ending at the Birling Gap, forms one of the most iconic stretches of English coast, protected within the South Downs National Park.
Official information: Official website not yet identified.
Our tip The classic view is from Cuckmere Haven at Seaford; Birling Gap has the café and beach steps.
Visiting — good to know
Partial wheelchair access
The clifftop is open, uneven, sloping grass with unfenced drops and no surfaced path — unsuitable for wheels. The Cuckmere valley track below is firmer and broadly level, giving a step-free way to view the cliffs from a distance; the beach at the end is shingle.
For blind & low-vision visitors Iconic chalk cliffs seen from open, uneven clifftop grass with sheer, unfenced drops to the sea - hazardous for VI visitors; the Cuckmere valley path below is firmer and safer.
Sensory A wild, exposed, windswept chalk coast of gulls and surf; the valley and visitor centre calmer, the cliffs breezy.
Access last checked 6 Jul 2026 — always confirm with the venue.
Worth watching
More Wikipedia
Beachy Head
The towering chalk headland above a red-and-white lighthouse, with vast Channel views.
At over 160 metres, Beachy Head is the highest chalk sea cliff in Britain, its green clifftop falling sheer to the candy-striped lighthouse below and the sea beyond — bracing, beautiful and vast.
Official information: Official website not yet identified.
Our tip Keep well back from the unfenced cliff edge, which is undercut and crumbling.
Visiting — good to know
Partial wheelchair access
Open, uneven clifftop grass with slopes and sheer, unfenced drops; there is no surfaced path along the cliff edge. The pub and viewpoint sit close together at the top, so the view can be had with very little walking, but the ground away from the roadside is rough.
For blind & low-vision visitors England's highest chalk sea cliff, on open, uneven grass with sheer, unfenced drops - hazardous; keep well back from the edge, a guide essential.
Sensory A vast, exposed, windswept clifftop of huge sky and sea - elemental and airy, with a sombre reputation; the pub and viewpoint busier.
Access last checked 6 Jul 2026 — always confirm with the venue.
Worth watching
More Wikipedia
Eastbourne
An elegant seaside town of a pier, bandstand and flower-lined promenade below the Downs.
Eastbourne keeps its Victorian dignity — a graceful pier, a famous bandstand, carpet gardens along the seafront and the South Downs rising to Beachy Head at its western end.
Our tip Stroll the flat promenade to the foot of the Downs; the bandstand still hosts summer concerts.
Visiting — good to know
Step-free / wheelchair access
A long, level, surfaced Victorian promenade runs the full length of the seafront — an easy, flat, step-free stroll past the pier and bandstand. The beach itself is banked shingle and not passable in a wheelchair.
For blind & low-vision visitors A genteel resort with a long, flat, defined Victorian promenade and gardens - easy to follow - with a shingle beach and pier alongside.
Sensory A calm, traditional, genteel seaside resort - pleasant and gently busy, quieter than its neighbours, with sea sounds.
Access last checked 6 Jul 2026 — always confirm with the venue.
Worth watching
- EASTBOURNE, England | Tour Including Pier and Marina Spectrum Walking Tours
More Wikipedia
Rye
A hilltop huddle of timbered and Georgian houses on cobbled lanes, once a Cinque Port by the sea.
Once perched above the sea (now two miles inland), Rye is impossibly pretty — cobbled Mermaid Street of leaning medieval houses, a church tower to climb, smuggling history and artistic connections at every turn.
Our tip Mermaid Street and the church tower view are the essentials; the cobbles are steep.
Visiting — good to know
Not step-free
Steep, famously uneven cobbled lanes with flights of steps throughout the hilltop old town — Mermaid Street is hard going even on foot, and there is no step-free route through the historic core.
For blind & low-vision visitors A steep, cobbled medieval hill town of famously uneven Mermaid Street and stepped lanes - charming but hard underfoot; a guide helps on the cobbles.
Sensory A calm, picturesque, artsy old town - peaceful and atmospheric, busier with visitors on fine weekends, quiet in the back lanes.
Access last checked 6 Jul 2026 — always confirm with the venue.
Worth watching
- Is Rye Harbour Nature Reserve Disabled Friendly? Not Retired Day Tripper
- Exploring Historic Rye: A Walk Through Time on the South Coast of England (4K) John Rogers
- Accessibility at Rye Harbour Nature Reserve Sussex Wildlife Trust
More Wikipedia
Hastings Old Town
A characterful old town of tall net-drying huts and Europe's largest beach-launched fishing fleet.
Hastings' Old Town keeps its salty character — the tall black net shops on the shingle, boats hauled up the beach, twisting lanes of antique shops, and funicular railways up the East and West Hills.
Official information: Official website not yet identified.
Our tip Ride the West Hill Cliff Railway up for the castle ruins and the wide bay view.
Visiting — good to know
Partial wheelchair access Accessible toilets
The seafront by the net huts is largely level, but the beach is shingle and the old town behind climbs steeply, with narrow lanes, steps and uneven surfaces. Level going is confined to the front.
For blind & low-vision visitors An old fishing town of steep, narrow lanes and a shingle beach with net huts; the seafront is largely level, the old town hilly and uneven.
Sensory A characterful, bohemian old town and working beach - lively around the front and net huts, calmer in the twittens (alleys).
Access last checked 5 Jul 2026 — always confirm with the venue.
Worth watching
- Hastings Seafront & Old Town Tour Walk With Me Tim
More Wikipedia
Nymans
A romantic garden set around the ruins of a Gothic-style manor house, managed by the National Trust.
A romantic garden set around the ruins of a Gothic-style manor house, managed by the National Trust.
Our tip The main circular path around the walled garden and ruins is level tarmac or firm gravel; some woodland trails have steps.
Visiting — good to know
Partial wheelchair access Accessible parking Accessible toilets Changing Places toilet
Some steep pathways/uneven ground.
Access last checked 13 Jul 2026 — always confirm with the venue.
Worth watching
- Our visit to Nymans House and Gardens (National Trust) Our World For You (Janis & Gary)
More Wikipedia
The South Downs
England's newest national park — chalk hills, big views and the gardens of Wakehurst.
Chichester
An elegant cathedral city on a Roman grid, with a spire visible far across the coastal plain.
Chichester's Norman cathedral — its spire a landmark for sailors — sits at the crossing of a Roman street plan, surrounded by Georgian streets, good theatre and, nearby, the mosaics of Fishbourne Roman Palace.
Our tip Combine the cathedral with Fishbourne Roman Palace, England's largest, just outside the city.
Visiting — good to know
Step-free / wheelchair access Accessible toilets
For blind & low-vision visitors A cathedral city with a largely level, walkable Roman-plan centre and an accessible cathedral with grand echoing space and modern art within.
Sensory A calm, genteel cathedral city - gently busy, with the quiet cathedral close and gardens as refuges; choral music at services.
Access last checked 5 Jul 2026 — always confirm with the venue.
Worth watching
More Wikipedia
Devil's Dyke
A dramatic dry chalk valley on the South Downs with one of the finest views in England.
The deepest dry valley in Britain, Devil's Dyke draws walkers and kite-flyers to its whaleback ridge for a panorama over the Weald that painters have flocked to for two centuries; easily reached above Brighton.
Official information: Official website not yet identified.
Our tip There's a car park and pub right at the top — the view needs no long walk.
Visiting — good to know
Partial wheelchair access
The car park and pub sit right at the top, so the great Weald view is only a short distance away on firmer ground near the viewpoint. Beyond that the Downland is open, uneven, sloping grass with steep valley sides — unsuitable for wheels.
For blind & low-vision visitors A dramatic Downland valley and viewpoint on open, uneven, sloping grass with steep sides and wide, exposed views; the viewpoint by the pub is firmer.
Sensory A breezy, open Downland viewpoint of huge views and wind - calm and airy, popular with families and paragliders on fine days.
Access last checked 6 Jul 2026 — always confirm with the venue.
Worth watching
- Devil's Dyke | Deepest Valley in UK 🇬🇧 #ukvlog #travel #valley #travelvlog #uklife TwoTicketsToEngland
- Devil's Dyke, Sussex Tourist attraction in England CAK TV Uk
- Devil's Dyke Railway Walk clarkeovision
More Wikipedia
Wakehurst
Kew's country estate of botanic gardens, ancient woods and the Millennium Seed Bank.
Wakehurst pairs 500 acres of botanic gardens, ornamental lakes and ancient woodland with Kew's Millennium Seed Bank, safeguarding the world's wild plant seeds — beautiful in every season.
Our tip Autumn colour and the seed-bank exhibition are highlights; allow a full afternoon.
Visiting — good to know
Partial wheelchair access
Firm, surfaced main paths serve the core gardens, but the estate is sloping, and the woodland and lakeside areas are rougher and uneven underfoot. Distances are long across the 500 acres, with gradients away from the entrance.
For blind & low-vision visitors Kew's 'wild botanic garden' with firm main paths but sloping, uneven woodland and lakeside areas; strong seasonal scent, birdsong and the Millennium Seed Bank.
Sensory A calm, green, spacious garden of birdsong and seasonal colour - peaceful and immersive, busier in autumn and at events.
Access last checked 6 Jul 2026 — always confirm with the venue.
Worth watching
- Summer in England | Lavender field, Wakehurst Place - National Trust, afternoon walk | Travel Vlog EMJs Travel Diaries
- Wakehurst Place + its STUNNING fall colors (National Trust) When Adventure Knox
- Welcome to Wakehurst Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
More Wikipedia
London Gatwick Airport
A two-terminal airport with Assisted Travel receptions, accessible parking, Changing Places and a railway station beneath the South Terminal.
Gatwick is a practical arrival point for Sussex, Surrey and the South Downs. The airport publishes separate North and South terminal maps, Assisted Travel reception points, accessible parking information, Changing Places facilities and advice for passengers using the railway, coach or bus. Terminal and gate routes vary, so the airline and airport guidance should be checked for each journey.
Our tip Ask your airline or travel agent to book Assisted Travel at least 48 hours before flying. Blue Badge drop-off can be free after vehicle registration, but the process and terminal must be checked before travelling.
Plan your visit
- Opening
- There is no general visitor opening time: terminal access follows flight operations. Assisted Travel receptions open daily from 04:00 according to the current airport accessibility information.
- Admission
- There is no general airport admission ticket. Flight, parking, drop-off and transport charges vary. Gatwick's published access pages do not promise free carer or companion tickets.
- Booking
- Request Assisted Travel through the airline or travel agent at least 48 hours before flying. Check the current North or South terminal map and register a Blue Badge drop-off vehicle if required.
- Allow
- Allow extra time for security, assisted wayfinding and the route between the terminal, train station, coach stops and gate.
Visitor information checked 16 Jul 2026. Opening and prices can change.
Visiting — good to know
Partial wheelchair access Accessible parking Accessible toilets Changing Places toilet Assistance dogs welcome
Both terminals have step-free Assisted Travel routes, but the airport and rail interchange are large. Some coach and bus stops are a 5–10 minute walk from the terminal, and the final route depends on the terminal, gate and transport mode.
For blind & low-vision visitors North and South terminal maps show check-in zones, lifts, toilets and facilities. Assisted Travel teams can help with wayfinding, but the airport is busy and terminal changes are possible.
Vision services AccessAble guides cover terminals, car parks and the train station. Request tailored orientation support through the airline's Assisted Travel booking.
Sensory Free Sunflower lanyards are available from Assisted Travel receptions. Busy check-in, security and departure areas can be noisy and crowded; quieter help should be requested in advance.
For D/deaf & hard-of-hearing Gatwick's Assisted Travel information includes T-loop support and staffed reception points in both terminals.
Access last checked 16 Jul 2026 — always confirm with the venue.
Worth watching
- London Gatwick Airport Walking Tour 2025! 🇬🇧 (United Kingdom) Searching Paradise
- Gatwick Airport South Terminal Tour 2026 (United Kingdom) Searching Paradise
- London Gatwick's Amazing Sensory Room. Disabled travel through an airport Disabled At Disneyland Paris
More Tickets · Venue access information · Gatwick terminal maps and access guides · Wikipedia
Castles and houses
Fairy-tale Arundel, moated Bodiam, the 1066 battlefield at Battle, and the treasures of Petworth.
Arundel Castle
A magnificent, still-lived-in medieval castle and gardens towering above the town of Arundel.
Seat of the Dukes of Norfolk for 850 years, Arundel Castle rises in restored grandeur above its town and the Arun valley, with sumptuous rooms, a keep to climb and the acclaimed Collector Earl's Garden.
Our tip The gardens are spectacular in tulip season; the keep gives the best views over the Arun valley.
Visiting — good to know
Partial wheelchair access
Cobbled baileys, spiral stairs and steeply terraced gardens make much of the site hard going, though there is some level access and a lift. Expect slopes and uneven surfaces through the grounds, with a steep climb up from the town.
For blind & low-vision visitors A great restored castle with some level access and a lift, but cobbled baileys, spiral stairs and steep, terraced gardens; atmospheric but uneven.
Sensory A grand, imposing castle and gardens above a pretty town - busier on event days, with calm garden and cathedral corners.
Access last checked 6 Jul 2026 — always confirm with the venue.
Worth watching
More Wikipedia
Bodiam Castle
A picture-book 14th-century castle rising from a wide, lily-fringed moat.
Everyone's idea of a castle, Bodiam's rounded towers and battlements reflect perfectly in its broad moat, though behind the walls it is a romantic shell — a wonderful place for families to explore. National Trust.
Our tip Climb the spiral stairs to the battlements for the view down into the moat and countryside.
Plan your visit
- Admission
- Free entry for National Trust members.
- Booking
- You don't need to book your visit in advance.
Visitor information checked 15 Jul 2026. Opening and prices can change.
Visiting — good to know
Partial wheelchair access Accessible parking Accessible toilets Hearing loop Assistance dogs welcome
Gravel paths throughout the site with some slopes and undulating terrain. Level access to the castle courtyard only. The towers are reached by steep spiral staircases.
Vision services Braille guides (SEB and VEB versions) available on request
Access last checked 15 Jul 2026 — always confirm with the venue.
Worth watching
- SANDHURST to BODIAM CASTLE | 26km by Electric Wheelchair 3/4 Chaircam Videos
- BODIAM CASTLE to ROBERTSBRIDGE | 26km by Electric Wheelchair 4/4 Chaircam Videos
More Wikipedia
Also featured in Great British castles
Battle Abbey & 1066 Battlefield
The abbey and battlefield where William the Conqueror defeated King Harold in 1066.
Here, in 1066, the course of English history turned; William built Battle Abbey on the very spot where Harold fell, and English Heritage's site lets you walk the battlefield and climb the great gatehouse.
Our tip Take the battlefield audio walk — it brings the events of that October day vividly to life.
Visiting — good to know
Partial wheelchair access
For blind & low-vision visitors The 1066 battlefield and abbey ruins are on largely level but uneven, open grass with some steps; an accessible visitor centre and audio-led battlefield walk.
Sensory A calm, open, historic battlefield and abbey of birdsong and wide fields - peaceful and reflective, busier on re-enactment days.
Access last checked 5 Jul 2026 — always confirm with the venue.
Worth watching
- Exploring BATTLE ABBEY & the 1066 BATTLEFIELD, no talking, highlights tour Paths Unknown
- Battle Abbey & 1066 Battle Site | Exploring the Battle of Hastings Battlefield Haunts and Jaunts Adventures
More Wikipedia
Lewes
A characterful county town of a Norman castle, steep twittens and famous Bonfire traditions.
Draped over a gap in the Downs, Lewes packs in a Norman castle with sweeping views, the timber-framed Anne of Cleves House, independent shops and England's most spectacular Bonfire Night celebrations.
Our tip Climb the castle for the Downs panorama; explore the narrow 'twittens' (alleyways) below.
Visiting — good to know
Partial wheelchair access
A steep town throughout — sloping streets, narrow cobbled twittens and flights of steps, with the castle reached by uneven steps and no step-free way into the keep. The High Street is paved but climbs steadily.
For blind & low-vision visitors A steep, historic county town of narrow, cobbled 'twittens' and a hilltop castle reached by uneven steps; the centre is walkable but sloping.
Sensory A calm, characterful, independent-minded town - gently busy, famously lively on Bonfire Night (Nov 5), quiet in the twittens.
Access last checked 6 Jul 2026 — always confirm with the venue.
Worth watching
More Wikipedia
Petworth House & Park
A grand mansion of a renowned art collection, set in a deer park landscaped by Capability Brown.
Petworth holds one of the National Trust's finest art collections — Turners (he painted here), Van Dycks and Reynolds — while outside, Capability Brown's serene deer park sweeps to the horizon.
Our tip The 700-acre deer park is free to roam and gloriously Turner-esque at dawn and dusk.
Visiting — good to know
Step-free / wheelchair access
For blind & low-vision visitors A great house with largely level state rooms (a renowned art collection) reached with some access provision, set in a vast deer park with firm and uneven areas.
Sensory A calm, grand house and expansive deer park - peaceful and open, the house busier, the park wide and quiet.
Access last checked 5 Jul 2026 — always confirm with the venue.
Seasonal events
- A Magical Christmas at Petworth House — 2026 confirmed: 28 November 2026–3 January 2027. Official event information Watch: Vlogmas 2025 Part 3 ~ Christmas at Petworth House (The Snail Garden) · Christmas Magic at Petworth House 🎄✨ | Stunning UK Holiday Decorations (Top5trip)
Worth watching
- Discover the treasures of Petworth House & Park Our World For You (Janis & Gary)
More Wikipedia
Sheffield Park Garden
A sublime Capability Brown landscape garden of cascading lakes, blazing in autumn colour.
Four linked lakes reflect a tapestry of trees and shrubs across this Grade I garden begun by Capability Brown; spring rhododendrons and spectacular autumn colour are the highlights, with the Bluebell Railway steaming nearby. National Trust.
Our tip Come for autumn colour, then ride the neighbouring Bluebell Railway steam line.
Visiting — good to know
Partial wheelchair access
Firm main paths loop around the lakes, but the garden also has slopes, some steps and rougher, uneven stretches away from the core routes. Much of the lakeside scenery can be enjoyed from the firmer paths.
For blind & low-vision visitors A landscape garden of lakes and firm main paths but slopes, steps and uneven areas; strong seasonal colour, scent and water as cues.
Sensory A calm, beautiful lakeside garden of birdsong and reflections - peaceful and spacious, busier (and glorious) in autumn.
Access last checked 6 Jul 2026 — always confirm with the venue.
Worth watching
- Sussex Walks | Sheffield Park & Garden Travels with SteveyBo
- 4K Sheffield Park Garden - The National Trust Ivor's Travels
More Wikipedia
Before you go
Sussex is an easy escape from London and its coast is busy in summer, so time Brighton and the Seven Sisters for the quieter ends of the day. Check each site's access note — the great houses often have accessible routes to the grounds, while the cliffs and Downs are open, uneven country. And if you'd like to build a trip around a few, open the planner and shape it around how you travel — with your own access needs applied throughout.