9am start until 1pm - Wed, Thu
1.30pm start until 5.30pm - Mon, Wed, Thu, Sun
£36.50 per person inclusive of all entrance fees
(Group Rates available - please enquire)
East Sussex has an overabundance of Historical places of interest, from Rudyard Kipling's inspirations to the castle of Lewes - delve into the past on this half day tour.
Travelling East from Brighton, along the coast, you will enter the Historic Community of Rottingdean where you will stop for a brief wander through Kipling Gardens, Rottingdean High Street and the Duck Pond, which towards the end of the 19th Century provided seclusion and inspiration for many artists, writers and public figures, including Rudyard Kipling.
From there the tour continues onto Lewes (from the old Saxon word 'hluews' meaning Slopes or Hills), a centuries old Market Town 'situated near Brighton', renowned for its historical and architectural past. Lewes Castle is your first stop, situated high above the valley of the River Ouse, on the edge of the South Downs . Built in the late 11th / early 12th Century, this impressive stone Motte and Bailey Fortress has a magnificent Barbican, added in the late 14th Century. This Barbican and much of the Shell Keep are still standing and you can climb to the top of both. After a stroll around the castle grounds and in the Barbican House Museum you have time to wander through the town, browsing the antique shops of the Cliffe.
Then onto Anne of Cleves' House. This 16th Century timber-framed Wealden hall-house formed part of Anne of Cleves' divorce from Henry VIII, and contains wide-ranging collections of Sussex, including Sussex Pottery, early 18th Century tapestries, examples of Victoriana and an entire room dedicated to the people and events of Lewes.
From there it is on to Alfriston, the most English of English villages, to visit the Alfriston Clergy House, a fine medieval hall with chalk and sour milk flooring, and home to a rare array of traditional flowers and scents. Whilst there take in the stunning views across the Cuckmere Valley or glimpse a look at the thatched houses, village green and old inns.
Finally, feel free to take a well deserved break in one of the many Tea Rooms of the village, or wander throughout the village and admire the picturesque houses and views, before a quick ride back to Brighton.
