Discover a range of holiday cottages, farmhouses, barn conversions, and shepherd’s huts, set on working farms and vineyards in Sussex. These hand-picked, self-catering farm stays are located in some of Sussex’s most popular rural destinations including Hastings, Bodiam, Petworth, Wadhurst, and Beckley, ideal for families, groups of friends, or couples looking for a memorable getaway.
The South Downs National Park, which straddles East and West Sussex as well as parts of Hampshire, is England’s newest national park. It is characterised by chalk downland, rolling green hills, pockets of woodland, dramatic windswept cliffs, and more than 2,000 miles of footpaths, bridleways, and byways. In spring and summer the grasslands burst into colour with wildflowers, attracting dozens of species of butterflies and other insects. As one of only a few International Dark Sky Reserves, the South Downs is also one of the best places in the UK for stargazing.
By contrast, the High Weald National Landscape is a medieval landscape of densely wooded hills dotted with sandstone outcrops, scattered farms, and ancient routeways. Where the Weald meets the sea lies 1066 Country, named after the Battle of Hastings, an area rich in ancient settlements, castles, and stories of smugglers and pirates.
Sussex is home to an exceptional collection of historic houses and gardens. Highlights include the 17th-century Petworth House, which has an outstanding collection of paintings and sculpture, including works by Turner and Van Dyck, set within gardens and parkland landscaped by ‘Capability’ Brown and a historic deer park; Bodiam Castle, a striking 14th-century moated castle with a ruined interior, spiral staircases, battlements, and a portcullis; and Charleston Farmhouse, the former home of painters Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant, and closely associated with the Bloomsbury Group which hosts a vibrant year-round programme of exhibitions, events, and festivals. Other notable sites include Nymans Gardens, a Grade II listed garden renowned for its rare and unusual plant collections set around a romantic house and ruins, and Arundel Castle, the seat of the Dukes of Norfolk for over 850 years, with magnificent state rooms, restored bedrooms, a 14th-century chapel, and a rich variety of formal, tropical, and kitchen gardens and stumperies.
Close to Arundel Castle is the WWT Arundel Wetland Centre, a superb nature reserve supporting waterfowl across a range of habitats. Visitors can see Dalmatian pelicans at Pelican Cove, sea ducks in the Coastal Creek aviary, and the Hawaiian goose, the rarest goose in the world. The site is also known for its summer wildflowers, nesting kingfishers, and winter roosts of marsh harriers.
Nature lovers will also enjoy Pagham Harbour, one of the few undeveloped stretches of the Sussex coast. Its saltmarsh, mudflats, lagoons, reedbeds, farmland, and shingle beach support terns, waders, geese, and ducks, with up to 20,000 birds feeding and roosting across the reserve in winter. While in the area, visit nearby Chichester to explore its Norman cathedral, where medieval wall paintings and sculpted reliefs sit alongside Victorian stained glass and contemporary art, or catch a performance, ranging from classical drama to modern writing and musicals, at the Grade II listed Festival Theatre.
Sussex also boasts a wonderfully varied coastline, from wide shingle beaches to sheltered coves and traditional seaside resorts. West Sussex offers quieter stretches such as West Wittering, famed for its sandy beach and grassy dunes, while nearby East Head is a favourite for walking and wildlife watching. Further east, the coast becomes more dramatic, with the chalk cliffs of Beachy Head and the Seven Sisters forming one of the most iconic coastal landscapes in England, intersected by secluded valleys and pebble beaches.
No visit to Sussex would be complete without time in Brighton. Admire the spectacular Royal Pavilion, which blends Regency grandeur with Indian architecture and Chinese-inspired interiors; wander the labyrinth of narrow alleyways and hidden squares known as the Lanes, filled with independent and vintage shops, jewellers, antique dealers, boutiques, stylish cafés, and historic pubs; then take a ride on a traditional fairground attraction on the pier before enjoying fish and chips on the beach.
A farm holiday in Sussex is ideal for those seeking a peaceful, countryside escape, with nearby opportunities for cycling, walking, wildlife watching, beach days out, and year-round cultural events.
