If you’re looking for a day trip from south London, you can visit a historic Sussex town which was rated as one of the prettiest in the UK by train from south London.
Lewes, a small town in Sussex situated in the South Downs countryside, is well known for its historic castle first built in the 11th century, its winding cobbled streets and its links to Henry VIII’s fourth wife Anne of Cleves who once famously lived there.
The town was also named by travel experts at The Telegraph as the “prettiest” place in the UK, based on factors such as its independent businesses, architecture and traffic.
Lewes offers easy travel links to south London by train, with a direct train from London Victoria, Clapham Junction or East Croydon taking just an hour to reach Lewes.
The town is also known for its famous Bonfire Night displays on November 5, which see a whole procession travel through the town to commemorate the martyrs that were executed during the Marian Persecutions.
The town centre is just a short walk from the station, with plenty of historical buildings, independent shops and medieval streets to explore.
One of Lewes’ most popular attractions is its castle and Barbican House Museum.
Dating back to 1066, this castle towers over the Lewes skyline, offering incredible views of the town and the South Downs further beyond, if you can climb up its many steps to the keep above.
Inside, the castle also features exhibits where you can learn about the castle's history, since it was first built by William de Warenne, the 1st Earl of Surrey.
The town has been occupied by many notable people over its 1,500-year history, such as Thomas Paine, Charlie Watts from the Rolling Stones, and Anne of Cleves whose house still stands today.
You can still visit the 15th century house she once lived in, which was gifted to her by the King as part of the settlement in their divorce.
Entry to the house costs £6.60, where you can explore its many rooms to get a glimpse into Tudor life and how people would have lived, with an array of artefacts from Tudor clothing to herbs and spices that would have been used in the house kitchens.
A 3-minute walk from Anne of Cleves House you’ll find the Priory of St Pancras, dating back as early as 1078 and built on the remains of a Saxon church.
The priory is open within Priory Park and is free to explore, and also features a herb garden depicting how monks would have once grown herbs to use in medicine, ceremonies and cooking.
The town is also home to many historic pubs, but if you you’re a beer or ale lover you can visit Harvey's Brewery which is famously known to be Sussex’s “oldest independent brewery”.
The brewery makes a range of cask ales and beers as well as seasonal varieties and low alcoholic beers, and if you visit on a Tuesday you might spot the Harvey's dray horses delivering the beer.
Lewes is also known for its independent shops, with one of its most famous shops being the Fifteenth Century Bookshop, which is a treasure trove of second-hand, rare and antique books.
You can also explore Lewes’s unique shopping locations like Needlemakers – a former World War I factory that’s now home to independent sellers – and boutiques, as well as The Flea Market – an antique emporium set within a former church chapel.
The town is also home to a number of art galleries, with one of the newest additions to the town being Charleston in Lewes – a modern art gallery featuring a range of new and contemporary art pieces, which also has an on-site café.
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