What's On in Sussex

Zorbing or Sphereing, is the new craze sweeping the country! Participants get in a large plastic round inflatable ball protected by a massive cushion of air (something resembling a huge hamster ball) and then roll down a big hill, reaching speeds of up to 30mph!  Set atop Devils Dyke with stunning views across Brighton, the coast and the South Downs, Orb360’s Orb-run is the longest in the country at half a mile long! For the water lovers there are Aqua-Orbs, you and friend join 50litres of splashing water and roll down the Aqua-slide.

Preserved steam railway with over 30 locomotives.  As well as the standard train journeys between Sheffield Park, Horsted Keynes and Kingscote, at specified times, the dining carts run offering dinner, afternoon tea, breakfast and Sunday lunches.  Murder mystery events also take place at given times throughout the year.

The ultimate eco-friendly house! Purpose built, self-sufficient property built in the soil of Stanmer Park in Brighton.  Built from car tyres, it harvests sunlight and rainwater.  Open all year for viewing and two Sundays a month a 90 minute guided tour is available.

Fontwell Park is a small racecourse set in landscaped gardens. The course is a mile round, with a figure-of-eight steeplechase course.  Various type of racing events take place throughout the year including family days and evening racing with entertainment afterwards.

Help For Heroes Raceday 5th February

All About The Horse Family Raceday (featuring the totepool National Spirit Hurdle) 26th February

Goodwood Racecourse has stunning views over the Sussex Downs, making it a particularly lovely racecourse to visit.  Race meetings usually run from May to October  with the ever popular “Glorious Goodwood” taking place in July. The very best in top-class racing with more than 100,000 people flocking through the gates to enjoy what is a highlight of the summer social calendar.  There are three enclosures and dress codes applies.

Places of Interest: Cass Sculpture, Goodwood

Small racecourse with views over the South Downs. Sixteen National Hunt meetings take place between September and May.  There are three enclosures, one of which is the Course Enclosure where visitors can take picnics or make use of the Course bar.  Children under 16 free provided they are with a paying adult.

13th February Raceday

27th February Raceday

Brighton Racecourse is located in the centre of Brighton, with views of the Sussex Downs and Brighton Marina. Meetings take place between April and October, with the three day festival including the John Smith Raceday in August. There are two enclosures, and children under 16 are free when accompanied by a paying adult.

Yellowave is the UK’s first permanent beach sports venue.  Based on the Brighton seafront, the site offers activities for adults and children, experienced and novice.  Activities include volleyball, beach soccer, footvolley, bouldering, beach rugby, ultimate Frisbee, beach handball and beachminton.

There is plenty to do on the Chichester Canal from boat cruises to canoeing.  The daily 12-seater narrowboat cruise runs from April to November from the Canal Basin to Donnington Bridge.  Alternatively, visitors can hire a skiff for a leisurely row. Canoeists can obtain tickets to use the 4km of canal throughout the year.  Provided Anglers have a rod license, they can obtain seasonal, weekly or day tickets and fish the well stocked canal.  And for walkers, runners and cyclists there is a 4km towpath where a varied list of wildlife can be seen.  The Chichester Canal is a charitable trust maintained by the Chichester Ship Canal Trust with all services being manned by volunteers from the Chichester Ship Canal Trust, who crew the trip boats, run the shop, bailiff the angling and carry out maintenance and restoration work.

Britain’s steepest funicular railway is located in East Sussex.  The West Hill Cliff Railway is over 115 year old and is locally known as the “West Hill Lift”.  The railway runs from George Street in Hastings town centre, through the cliff and up to the Castle, providing fabulous views of Beachy Head and across the English Channel.

Eastbourne Theatres is made up of four theatres, the Congress Theatre, Victoria Devonshire Park, Winter Garden Floral Hall and Golden Room, and the Royal Hippodrome..  The theatres show a huge array of productions covering comedy, drama, music, ballet and musicals, whilst the Hippodrome is a music venue, with performances mostly during the summer.

Arts venue set in a site of 38 acres, producing 350,000 performances per year, with over 170,000 visitors.  Theatre, dance, music, comedy, concerts, film and visual arts, as well as summer performances in the amphitheatre.

Household names perform at the Brighton Centre where exhibitions, sporting events, concerts, drama and comedy are staged throughout the year.

The Brighton Dome is three venues in one, with the Dome Concert Hall, the Corn Exchange and the Pavilion Theatre. The Dome was converted into a Concert Hall in the 19th century and then refurbished in 1935, staging some of the world’s biggest names, and in 1974 Abba won the Eurovision Song Contest here. The Dome continues to stage famous names, which in more recent years have included Beyonce and the Scissor Sisters.  The Pavilion Theatre hosts comedy, dance, theatre and musicals, as well as concerts.  The Corn Exchange is a unique and versatile venue with an arched ceiling.

For something a little different why not treat yourself to a traditional afternoon tea in the lounge of a luxury hotel, with possibly even a glass of champagne!  See our Afternoon Tea section under Eating Out, or click here , choose the county of your choice and find a hotel in a county suitable for you.

West Dean College is situated on a 6-acre estate and is a centre of study for conservation-restoration and the visual and applied arts.  The West Dean Gardens are open all year round and feature a beautiful parkland walk, arboretum, walled gardens, glasshouses with rows of produce, sunken gardens, bulbs & wildflower and fruit gardens.

Greyhound racing at the Brighton and Hove Greyhound Stadium takes place on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday evenings, and Wednesday, Friday and Sunday lunchtimes. Twelve races run on evening and Sunday meetings, with fourteen races on Wednesdays. Watch the races trackside or enjoy the racing while eating in the restaurant with panoramic views of the track while a Tote representative takes bets from your table.

Over 100 llamas and alpacas in 30 acres of countryside.   See the animals wandering in the park, or close up in the barns.  Alternatively, for an extra cost, visitors can walk the llamas!  Adventure play area for children.

Hotham Arts Centre with the Alexandra Theatre stages music, arts, entertainment, exhibitions and film events for all tastes.

Worthing Theatres are a group of three venues, the Pavilion Theatre situated on Worthing Pier, Connaught Theatre where live shows and cinemas are based, and the Assembly Halls where concerts are held.  A variety of music, drama, comedy and musicals are staged at the theatres.