South Downs

6,910 places worth going to (2,046 in the park, the rest just outside), ranked across 18 interests. For most trips the best base is Lewes. National park, 1,653 km², designated 2010.

Devils Dyke
Photo: The original uploader was Escowles at English Wikipedia., CC SA 1.0
Plan a trip here

Ranked for any trip. Pick who, when and what you're into to re-rank.

Pick a base

Ranked by the best places within a 30-minute drive, and by trains, buses and boats.
  1. No. 1Lewestrain station: Lewes Rail Station; 13 bus stops within 400 m2,434 places within a 30-minute drive
  2. No. 2Arundeltrain station: Arundel Rail Station; 4 bus stops within 400 m1,585 places within a 30-minute drive
  3. No. 3Petersfieldtrain station: Petersfield Rail Station; 7 bus stops within 400 m959 places within a 30-minute drive
  4. No. 4Midhurst12 bus stops within 400 m996 places within a 30-minute drive
  5. No. 5Alfriston7 bus stops within 400 m1,145 places within a 30-minute drive

Things to do

Ranked for any trip.
No. 1
Chichester CathedralGrade I listed, 17 km from Midhurst, just outside the parkHistory and heritage
No. 2
Jane Austen's House MuseumGrade I listed, 15 km from PetersfieldHistory and heritage
No. 3
Winchester CathedralScheduled monument, 27 km from Petersfield, just outside the parkHistory and heritage
No. 4
Petworth HouseGrade I listed, 9.1 km from MidhurstHistory and heritage
No. 5
Brighton Station SouthGrade II* listed, 12 km from Lewes, just outside the parkHistory and heritage
No. 6
Foxes of Farnham26 km from Midhurst, just outside the parkFood and pubs
No. 7
Brighton Museum & Art GalleryGrade II* listed, 12 km from Lewes, just outside the parkHistory and heritage
No. 8
Westbourne Café16 km from Petersfield, just outside the parkFood and pubs
No. 9
Pallant House GalleryGrade I listed, 17 km from Midhurst, just outside the parkArt and galleries
No. 10
Charleston HouseGrade II* listed, 4.8 km from AlfristonHistory and heritage
No. 11
Chichester Festival TheatreGrade II* listed, 16 km from Midhurst, just outside the parkArt and galleries
No. 12
William CobbettGrade II* listed, 26 km from Midhurst, just outside the parkFood and pubs

Top 10s in the South Downs

Top 10 hikes and fells

  1. Chanctonbury RingScheduled monument, 13 km from Arundel
  2. St. Catherine's HillScheduled monument, 27 km from Petersfield
  3. Cissbury Ring12 km from Arundel
  4. Blackdown9.0 km from Midhurst
  5. Old Winchester Hill11 km from Petersfield
  6. Wolstonbury Hill14 km from Lewes
  7. Seven Sisters Country Park4.9 km from Alfriston
  8. King John's HillScheduled monument, 15 km from Petersfield
  9. Butser Hill4.0 km from Petersfield
  10. Cliffe HillScheduled monument, 1.8 km from Lewes
See all 239

Top 10 pubs and places to eat

  1. Foxes of Farnham26 km from Midhurst, just outside the park
  2. Westbourne Café16 km from Petersfield, just outside the park
  3. William CobbettGrade II* listed, 26 km from Midhurst, just outside the park
  4. Hangleton ManorGrade II* listed, 16 km from Lewes, just outside the park
  5. Park CrescentGrade II* listed, 11 km from Lewes, just outside the park
  6. The Broadwater13 km from Arundel, just outside the park
  7. Cuckmere Inn3.9 km from Alfriston
  8. Lord Nelson12 km from Lewes, just outside the park
  9. The Parchment Makers17 km from Petersfield, just outside the park
  10. Unicorn Inn3.6 km from Midhurst
See all 3,357

Top 10 with kids

  1. Marwell Zoo24 km from Petersfield
  2. Saltdean LidoGrade II* listed, 8.9 km from Lewes, just outside the park
  3. Sea Life Centre12 km from Lewes, just outside the park
  4. Priory ParkScheduled monument, 16 km from Midhurst, just outside the park
  5. Drusillas Park1.8 km from Alfriston
  6. Sweet Spot10 km from Alfriston, just outside the park
  7. Harbour Park5.7 km from Arundel, just outside the park
  8. Birdworld21 km from Petersfield, just outside the park
  9. Butser Ancient Farm7.1 km from Petersfield
  10. Winchester Science Centre and Planetarium24 km from Petersfield
See all 622

Top 10 views and photo spots

  1. Long Man of Wilmington2.3 km from Alfriston
  2. Stone Cross WindmillGrade II* listed, 10 km from Alfriston, just outside the park
  3. Chanctonbury RingScheduled monument, 13 km from Arundel
  4. St. Catherine's HillScheduled monument, 27 km from Petersfield
  5. Beachy Head Lighthouse10 km from Alfriston
  6. Blackdown9.0 km from Midhurst
  7. Alfriston Market CrossGrade I listed, in Alfriston
  8. Statue of William IIIGrade I listed, in Petersfield
  9. Oldland Windmill11 km from Lewes
  10. Shoreham Harbour19 km from Lewes, just outside the park
See all 658

Top 10 castles and history

  1. Chichester CathedralGrade I listed, 17 km from Midhurst, just outside the park
  2. Jane Austen's House MuseumGrade I listed, 15 km from Petersfield
  3. Winchester CathedralScheduled monument, 27 km from Petersfield, just outside the park
  4. Petworth HouseGrade I listed, 9.1 km from Midhurst
  5. Brighton Station SouthGrade II* listed, 12 km from Lewes, just outside the park
  6. Brighton Museum & Art GalleryGrade II* listed, 12 km from Lewes, just outside the park
  7. Amberley CastleGrade I listed, 6.2 km from Arundel
  8. Charleston HouseGrade II* listed, 4.8 km from Alfriston
  9. Chichester Festival TheatreGrade II* listed, 16 km from Midhurst, just outside the park
  10. Pallant House GalleryGrade I listed, 17 km from Midhurst, just outside the park
See all 1,996

Top 10 theme parks and rides

  1. Saltdean LidoGrade II* listed, 8.9 km from Lewes, just outside the park
  2. Harbour Park5.7 km from Arundel, just outside the park
  3. Knockhatch Adventure Park8.1 km from Alfriston, just outside the park
  4. Goodwood Racecourse10 km from Midhurst
  5. Go Ape Alice Holt20 km from Petersfield
  6. Treasure Island & Adventure Golf11 km from Alfriston, just outside the park
  7. Go Ape Net Adventure20 km from Petersfield
  8. Fort Fun11 km from Alfriston, just outside the park
  9. Get Wet!1.7 km from Alfriston
  10. Phileas Foggs World of Adventures9.5 km from Lewes, just outside the park
See all 10

Top 10 on the water

  1. Meon Springs Fly Fishery9.1 km from Petersfield
  2. Chalk Springs Trout Fishery1.1 km from Arundel
  3. Christian Youth Enterprises (CYE)21 km from Petersfield, just outside the park
  4. Duncton Mill11 km from Arundel
  5. Lancing Sailing Club17 km from Arundel, just outside the park
  6. Littlehampton Marina4.9 km from Arundel, just outside the park
  7. Newhaven and Seaford Sailing Club6.3 km from Alfriston, just outside the park
  8. Shoreham Harbour Life Boat Station19 km from Lewes, just outside the park
  9. Sovereign Harbour12 km from Alfriston, just outside the park
  10. Alderwood Ponds16 km from Arundel, just outside the park
See all 26

Top 10 for a rainy day

  1. Jane Austen's House MuseumGrade I listed, 15 km from Petersfield
  2. Brighton Museum & Art GalleryGrade II* listed, 12 km from Lewes, just outside the park
  3. Charleston HouseGrade II* listed, 4.8 km from Alfriston
  4. Chichester Festival TheatreGrade II* listed, 16 km from Midhurst, just outside the park
  5. Pallant House GalleryGrade I listed, 17 km from Midhurst, just outside the park
  6. Newhaven FortScheduled monument, 11 km from Lewes, just outside the park
  7. Anne of Cleves' HouseGrade II* listed, in Lewes
  8. Barbican House MuseumGrade II* listed, in Lewes
  9. Preston ManorGrade II* listed, 12 km from Lewes, just outside the park
  10. West Blatchington WindmillGrade II* listed, 14 km from Lewes, just outside the park
See all 357

Top 10 campsites

  1. Blackberry WoodsStay, 7.9 km from Lewes
  2. Saddlescombe CampsiteStay, 14 km from Lewes
  3. Southdown Way Caravan & Camping ParkStay, 11 km from Lewes
  4. The Barn Caravan ParkStay, 18 km from Arundel, just outside the park
  5. Brook Lane Caravan ParkStay, 8.4 km from Arundel, just outside the park
  6. Bushy Wood Activity CentreStay, 8.2 km from Alfriston, just outside the park
  7. Chalky Downs CampsiteStay, 7.6 km from Lewes
  8. Chichester Camping and Caravanning Club SiteStay, 18 km from Petersfield, just outside the park
  9. College Down FarmStay, 16 km from Petersfield
  10. Graffham Camping and Caravanning Club SiteStay, 6.2 km from Midhurst
See all 89

Where to stay

106 stays ranked. Prices are not shown: we have no open price data yet.
No. 1
Amberley CastleGrade I listed, 6.2 km from ArundelHistory and heritage
No. 2
Royal Albion HotelGrade II* listed, 12 km from Lewes, just outside the parkHistory and heritage
No. 3
Lainston House HotelGrade II* listed, 32 km from Petersfield, just outside the parkHistory and heritage
No. 4
Pelham HouseGrade II* listed, in LewesHistory and heritage
No. 5
Spread Eagle HotelGrade II* listed, in MidhurstHistory and heritage
No. 6
Bailiffscourt Hotel & SpaGrade II* listed, 6.5 km from Arundel, just outside the parkHistory and heritage
No. 7
Burlington HotelGrade II* listed, 11 km from Alfriston, just outside the parkHistory and heritage
No. 8
Lythe Hill HotelGrade II* listed, 12 km from Midhurst, just outside the parkHistory and heritage

Getting here

Stops counted from NaPTAN, the national public transport list.

Base towns are compared by 30-minute drive and walk areas from Valhalla routing over OpenStreetMap. Times from your own home town come next.