With 140 miles of coastline and swathes of protected countryside, incorporating the South Downs National Park and High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, it’s little surprise that Sussex’s villages are among the most picturesque in the country. Alfriston, Bosham and Ditchling even made Britain’s 30 greatest villages list in The Telegraph. Here we look at what makes these county gems so special
Alfriston
Looking like the set of a gripping period drama, and with the South Downs National Park, a 230-acre vineyard and one of England’s greatest coastlines on its doorstep, Alfriston certainly seems to have it all.
Lying on the banks of the River Cuckmere, the village has an eclectic mix of traditional and modern pubs, cafes and shops set along a handsome high street, where one of the county’s only remaining market crosses (the other is in Chichester) is the focal point.
Pubs include The George Inn, one of the oldest in the area and first licensed in 1397; Ye Olde Smuggles Inne, frequented by one of South England’s most notorious groups of smugglers The Alfriston Gang in the 18th and early 19th centuries; and the colonial-style Wingrove House with its romantic candlelit bar. There are independent shops aplenty too including bookshop Much Ado Books, vintage fashion store The Dressing Room and The Apiary gift shop.
A large village green, known as the Tye, gives way to St Andrew’s Church, which is one of the largest village churches in Sussex and is often referred to as the 'Cathedral of the Downs', as well as a medieval thatched clergy house.
Sussex’s largest vineyard Rathfinny sits on the outskirts of the village, providing breathtaking views along with Sussex Sparkling wines that rival Champagne. You’re not far from the sea here too – you can follow the meandering river right down to the beach at Cuckmere Haven for yet more inviting vistas.
While it might be Alfriston’s visual charm that draws in the crowds from London and further afield, it is the people that make it. According to famed hotelier Olga Polizzi, who lives in nearby Friston and re-opened the oak-beamed Star Pub with her Hotel Inspector daughter, Alex, in 2020, Alfriston is ‘full of interesting people, people who are doing things…it’s a nice group.’
Did you know? Alfriston Clergy House was the first building to be saved by the National Trust in 1896.
Amberley
With an abundance of flint-walled, thatched cottages, a castle and 70-odd listed buildings, Amberley is the epitome of a quintessential English village.
Set on the River Arun and with the hills of the South Downs rising above it, the hamlet is a popular resting spot for walkers and cyclists travelling The South Downs Way. Consequently, there are plenty of places to stay, from hostel style accommodation in the South Downs Bunkhouse, to privately-run B&Bs and, for those with deeper pockets, Amberley Castle. Now privately owned, the castle, which sits behind a 60-foot-high curtain wall and portcullis, has been operating as a luxury hotel since 1989 and has a AA three rosette restaurant and resident white peacocks.
Also dating back to medieval times is St Michael’s Church on Church Street, where you’ll also find a duck pond and Amberley Village Pottery, which showcases one-off pieces from local potters. To the north of here, on Hogs Lane, there is a path that takes walkers into the heart of Amberley Wildbrooks, a floodplain landscape important for rare birds, insects and plants.
Aside from its castle, charming vernacular architecture and wildlife, Amberley is also renowned for its museum, which sits in a former chalk query next to the railway station and offers a fascinating insight into Sussex’s industrial past.
Did you know? Amberley Chalk Pits were used in the filming of the James Bond film A View to a Kill.
Bosham
Sitting on a small inlet in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty close to Chichester Harbour, the coastal village of Bosham (pronounced ‘Bozzum’) is regularly voted one of Sussex’s most charming.
Its narrow streets, lined with ancient fisherman’s cottages and natural harbour dotted with wooden boats, have long been a draw for artists, photographers and birdwatchers, who come to soak up the scenic sights. The Anchor Bleu pub is a particularly good spot to watch the hive of activity around the water’s edge. Just be careful where you park – cars have been known to get stranded when the tide comes in.
At low tide, you can cross the causeway to Grade I-listed medieval church, Holy Trinity, where some important figures in British history are said to be buried. Legend has it that the Danish King Canute commanded the waves to retreat from here (without success) and his daughter, having drowned in Bosham Mill stream, was laid to rest in the church. It’s also thought to be the last resting place of King Harold, the last Saxon king, who was born in the village.
Did you know? Bosham features in the Bayeux Tapestry. It depicts the moment King Harold rode to the village church before sailing to meet the Duke of Normandy in 1064.
Bramber
Sitting on the north side of the South Downs around four miles inland from Shoreham-by Sea, this tiny village has a population of just 850. Despite its size, it has some popular attractions including the remains of Bramber Castle, which was originally built between 1070 and 1073 soon after the Norman Conquest to defend a gap in the South Downs and help protect William I’s newly won territories. You can climb to the top of the motte for stunning views of the surrounding countryside.
On certain dates throughout the year, you can also get a peek inside St Mary's House, a medieval timber-framed building, which was built by the then Bishop of Winchester William of Waynflete, as an inn for pilgrims on their way to the tomb of St Thomas of Canterbury. Now privately owned by author and composer, Peter Thorogood, and designer and landscape gardener, Roger Linton, the house, which is surrounded by five acres of beautiful gardens has been described as ‘the best example of late 15th century timber-framing in Sussex’.
Did you know? The name Bramber derives from the Saxon “Brymmburh” meaning fortified hill.
Ditchling
It’s little wonder that the main crossroad in Ditchling often gets backed up with traffic – the village sits on the more scenic route from London to Brighton and its winding, partly single-track thoroughfare is lined with quirky, historical buildings. There are more than 40 listed buildings in the village but perhaps the most iconic is Wings Place, which was given to Anne of Cleves as part of her divorce settlement from King Henry VIII in 1541.
Situated just seven miles from Lewes, Ditchling offers a smaller, but no less buzzy hub for creatives. Sculptor, type-designer and letter-cutter Eric Gill, calligrapher Edward Johnston, printer Hilary Pepler, weaver Ethel Mairet and author and illustrator Raymond Briggs are just some of the famous artists that have been drawn to the village since the beginning of the 20th century. Much of their lives and work are documented at Ditchling Museum of Arts & Crafts, while the Art in Ditchling Trail, held each May, showcases work of the village’s contemporary artists.
Food also forms a huge part of village life here, with historic pubs The Bull and The Whitehorse having been cornerstones of the community for centuries, while the 1940s-styled Nutmeg Tree Tea Rooms offer a quintessential setting for a spot of tea and cake.
There are a few vineyards in the village too – Court Garden sits off the main road into the village as you enter from the north, while Black Dog Hill and Everflyht sit to the south.
Did you know? Former Ditchling resident Edward Johnston was responsible for the typeface still used today for the London Underground.
Henfield
For those who enjoy uncovering stories from Sussex’s past, Henfield, a market village overlooking the River Adur 12 miles south of Horsham, is a treasure trove of hidden history.
The High Street and surrounding twittens are lined with listed buildings that have remained relatively unchanged over the past 200 years – some, like the Cat House, with a rather unusual back story. Built in 1550, the Grade II-listed timber-framed building thatched building was once owned by Bob Ward, a local eccentric, in the 18th century who decorated his house with cats to seek revenge for the death of a beloved pet. Legend has it that he was distraught after Nathaniel Woodard's cat killed his canary. So he placed the metal cats, depicted with a canary in their paws, around his cottage, and connected them with a string of bells. Whenever Woodard walked by, the bells chimed as a reminder of the canary’s death.
But it’s not just the village’s iconic buildings that have stood the test of time. Henfield Common is home to one of the oldest cricket clubs in the world, dating back to 1719, while England’s first scout group was formed here in 1907.
Community remains the beating heart of Henfield; there’s a local theatre group, a thriving monthly artisan market and annual garden and arts festival, which celebrated its 25th anniversary this year. The village museum, which harbours many an interesting community tale, is a must-visit for visitors.
The village is also a gateway to some of Sussex’s most stunning countryside; it’s a popular base for walkers and riders travelling along the 37-mile Downs Link bridleway – a fabulously flat walk following the route of the old London, Brighton and South Coast railway line, which ran through the village until it was closed in 1966.
Did you know? Colonel Henry Bishop, the first Postmaster General, lived in Henfield and invented the first postmark used in England.
Lindfield
With over 40 medieval and post medieval timber-framed houses still standing, there is a rich history in Lindfield.
A pretty duck pond sits at the centre of the village, bookended by a picturesque high street lined with independent cafes and shops, and a village green, which is home to a cricket club, tennis club and bowls club.
The village has a long beer brewing history although just three pubs remain – The Bent Arms, The Red Lion and The Stand Up, which is now renowned for its Thai food.
There’s a thriving community here too, which gets together to celebrate the village as much as possible. The annual village day in summer sees crowds from all over flock to the common for dog shows, stalls and entertainment, while November’s Bonfire Parade is another huge draw. There’s also the Denman’s Dash on Boxing Day, which sees residents dress up and race one another along Denman’s Lane while holding a pint and attempting not to spill any.
Did you know? The lime trees which line the high street are where the village got its name in Saxon times. ‘Lindefeldia’ means ‘open land with lime trees'.
![The cottages are stunning in Lurgashall.]()
The cottages are stunning in Lurgashall. (Image: Clive Barker, Flickr)
Lurgashall
Sitting in the shadows of Black Down, Sussex’s highest hill, Lurgashall was picked among The Times’s top 50 villages in the UK and chosen as one of Conde Nast Traveller’s most beautiful villages a couple of years back.
Not only is there a quintessential cricket green, overlooked by a traditional 16th century pub, The Noahs Ark Inn, but the village is also famed for its foodie offering. Shelves in the village shop are lined with produce made locally, including gin from the local Blackdown Distillery, beer from South Downs Langham Brewery and plenty more goodies with which to fill up a picnic basket and head to the green.
Once you tire of meandering this pretty village, take a hike up Black Down for a panoramic view of Sussex and Hampshire beyond – a vista said to be the reason Poet Laureate Alfred Lord Tennyson built his final home, Aldworth, in the valley below.
Did you know? Lurgashall’s 17th century stone water mill is still in use, only not in the village. It was donated to Downland Living Museum, near Chichester, in the 1970s.
Rotherfield
Most recently famed for being home to Elvis’ daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, Rotherfield sits in a hilltop location to the east of Crowborough.
Lisa, who lived in the Grade-II listed 50-acre Coes Estate with ex-husband Michael Lockwood for more than 10 years, is said to have been enamoured by village life in Rotherfield and got stuck in – even taking on shifts at the local fish and chip van and frequenting the local pubs, The Catts Inn and The Kings Arms
The peaceful village, which is designated as a conservation area because of the quality of the buildings, in particular the Grade I listed St Denys’ Church, is surrounded by the forests of the High Weald and swathes of farmland which provide locals with produce.
Did you know? The name Rotherfield is thought to derive from the Anglo-Saxon word ‘redrefeld’ meaning cattle lands.
Rottingdean
A couple of miles east from the metropolitan city of Brighton, you’ll find the quaint seaside village of Rottingdean, looked over by its famous smock windmill, atop Beacon Hill.
Rudyard Kipling called the village home from 1897 to 1902 and the Green Flag gardens that surround his former home are open to the public. Visitors can walk around the rose, herb and wild garden, and even enjoy a picnic while watching croquet being played during summer.
Rottingdean’s pebble beach is understated but quite the suntrap thanks to the high white chalk cliffs that reflect the sunlight back onto the beach and promenade below. You can stay right on the seafront at The White Horses hotel, which has recently re-opened following refurbishment.
Other points of interest in the village are The Grange Museum & Gallery, which is free to enter, and look out for the traditional red phone box, which is one of only 3,000 left in the UK.
Did you know? Local legend suggests the reason the 1802 Rottingdean Windmill has survived so long is because the spirit of an ancient warrior, whose remains were found when the windmill’s foundations were dug, lives inside the mill.
