What's on Around Brighton

It 's a fact of life that, while there's so much to see within the city limits, there's also a mass to see just outside the town itself. The area is so rich in its history and scenic grandeur that Brighton itself could be used as a base for visiting the surrounding area.

The History Trail

Arundel Castle is the seat of the Dukes of Norfolk and has a long history as a tourist attraction, having been open to the public for some 200 years.

It is a treasure house of English history with paintings, furniture, sculpture and carvings, ceramics and glass and heraldry and armour. It is set in 40 acres of stunning parkland with the exquisite laid out formal gardens which frame the house in its verdant setting.

Although it's the castles which get the attention, Arundel Town is a delightful historic market town which nestles in the South Downs on the river Arun.

Its parish church was rebuilt as recently as 1380 and the town which surrounds it simply provides an appropriately charming setting. The town has a beautiful Cathedral and provides a shopping experience found in few other places in the UK with local and family-owned shops where the customer is actually welcomed!

The Arundel Page

Preston Manor is an enchanting old Edwardian manor house which provides a fascinating insight in to the life of the gentry of that period and their servants. This is a real 'Upstairs Downstairs' experience. The house itself dates from about 1600 and was extensively rebuilt in 1738, further additions to the fabric being made in 1905. This extension, along with the contents which date to this period, provide a rare glimpse into the life of the early years of the 20th century.

The house is open over its four floors with more than twenty rooms available for viewing. These are comprised of servants' quarters, kitchens and a butler's pantry in the basement as well as the attic bedrooms and nursery on the top floor.

The Manor also has preserved walled gardens and a fascinating pets' cemetery.

The house is open from May 1 to September 30th each year.

Adjacent to Preston Park is the fascinating 13th-century parish church of St Peter.

The South Downs

The South Downs are officially-designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and well deserve that accolade. There are all sorts of activities to be pursued there and a series of trails provide paths for walking and cycling. In addition to these, for the more-adventurous visitor, there's golf, horse riding ballooning and hang gliding. The two country parks 'Seven Sisters Country Park and Queen Elizabeth Country Park provide yet another, and perhaps more-relaxing way to explore the downs.

One of the beauties of these amazing landscapes is that they're totally accessible from Brighton - without a car! You can visit these while feeling that you're doing your bit to sustain the environment. On Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays, a service operates from Devil’s Dyke, Stanmer Park & Ditchling Beacon on the numbers 77, 78 and 79 buses.

The Tourist Information Centre

This is located very near to the Royal Pavilion in Castle Square and they're there to help make your stay in Brighton more leisurely, easier and more enjoyable. They're the experts when it come to looking for days out, accommodation, entertainments or anything else which will make your stay more enjoyable.