Secret Sussex: 10 out-of-the-ordinary experiences
Story  
Get under the skin of Sussex and uncover its lesser-known stories with these extraordinary experiences and places to visit, as recommended by Secret Sussex author Ellie Seymour.
Every May Day weekend, the good folk of Hastings daub themselves with green paint, cover themselves in leaves and take to the streets to celebrate the coming of summer.
There are drummers everywhere, dancing giants, chimney sweeps (?) and processions, all culminating in the ritual killing of the Jack – the main guy in all of this – whose liberated soul releases the spirit of summer. It’s just a bonkers knees-up of course, and a very noisy one at that…
May Day weekend // Hastings
Story  
Get under the skin of Sussex and uncover its lesser-known stories with these extraordinary experiences and places to visit, as recommended by Secret Sussex author Ellie Seymour.
Wine  
After a life of travel, first generation winemakers Nick and America Brewer planted their first vines in Sussex in 2018. Today, Oastbrook Estate is a leading producer of award-winning English wine. Find out how they got here.
Accommodation | Hotel  
Located two hours from London, this stunning Sussex seaside hotel offers a modern take on a classic English hotel experience.
Story | Art | Landscape | Wine  
The lively town of Lewes (pronounced as two syllables: Lew-es) is the ideal centre for exploring this green part of Sussex. Its orbit reaches over the South Downs National Park to the village of Ditchling, along the Ouse Valley and across towards Brighton.
Art | Story  
Take the Coastal Culture Trail between three award-winning galleries: Towner Eastbourne, De La Warr Pavilion, and Hastings Contemporary.
Art  
Chichester Festival Theatre is one of the UK’s flagship theatres, renowned for the exceptionally high standard of its productions as well as its work with the community and young people.
Art  
This is No Ordinary Opera. World-class productions performed in an award-winning opera house, all wrapped in that exceptional Glyndebourne experience.
Wine  
Winemaker Tom Bartlett of Stopham Estate shares the many steps his beautiful Sussex vineyard is taking to becoming carbon neutral in the next few years.
Events | Wine  
Special events and more at Sussex vineyards.