When Prince Harry married Meghan Markle in May 2018, the couple were given the titles of Duke and Duchess of Sussex. This ancient kingdom in south east England is today split into two counties – East and West Sussex – and boasts an array of fascinating towns, historic landmarks and popular destinations, many with royal connections and all within a stone’s throw of London.

The Royal Pavilion in Brighton © VisitEngland /Visit Brighton

Sussex is known as England’s sunniest county, and its plethora of coastal resorts along the English Channel, such as Bognor Regis, Worthing, Eastbourne, Hastings and Rye, bears testament to this.

Brighton in East Sussex, perhaps the most famous seaside resort in England, which has also been called the happiest place to live in the UK. Brighton developed as a fashionable destination in the 18th Century when the Prince Regent, later King George IV, chose to spend time in the town and commissioned the sumptuous Royal Pavilion, noted for its striking Indo-Islamic exterior – a must see for visitors! As well as its distinctive Victorian piers and hotels, the lively town boasts The Lanes, a quirky shopping and leisure district near the seafront which follows the narrow alleyways of the original fishing village, and a large music and arts scene.

Arundel Castle © VisitBritain / Pete Seaward

The spectacular medieval castle of Arundel, situated in the South Downs, is the ancestral home of the Duke of Norfolk, the premier duke in the English peerage. Dating back to 1067, the ancient castle is one of the longest inhabited country houses in England. Extensively enhanced in the 19th Century in the Gothic style, in time for a visit from Queen Victoria, this part of the castle is considered to be one of the greatest works of Victorian England. 

Battle Abbey and Battlefield © English Heritage

Battle Abbey is built on the site of the Battle of Hastings which took place in 1066 and saw the last of the Anglo-Saxon kings of England, Harold II, defeated by the Norman Conqueror, William. The Battle of Hastings was one of the defining moments in British history and the abbey, battlefield and visitor centre offer a fascinating insight into the dramatic events that took place there.

A tour of Sussex for music lovers would not be complete without a visit to magical Glyndebourne, home of the annual Glyndebourne Festival Opera. Glyndebourne House itself dates back almost 600 years and originally hosted the operas, but since 1934 there has been a dedicated theatre. Today, Glyndebourne is one of the world’s greatest opera festivals and is a firm fixture in the English summer ‘season’.

Read more here about the sights of sunny Sussex and if you or your group would like to explore England's beautiful south, please do contact our friendly team.