Holiday destination under an hour from London has ‘UK’s only desert’ and warmest beach, plus plenty of free attractions
With 140 miles of beautiful coastline, rolling countryside dotted with nature reserves and endless eating and drinking options, Sussex offers all your holiday essentials.
This is a county packed with things to do, from wildlife watching to delving into a history that will intrigue both adults and children.
Add to that fun family days out and the brilliant beaches of both East and West Sussex and the hardest question on your upcoming £9.50 Holiday will be: where to visit first?
Foodies can whet their appetite with a meal at somewhere like The Fig in Rye, where MasterChef finalist Rosie Furnival creates dishes such as wild garlic arancini and tuna ceviche.
If you’re into seafood, The Crab & Lobster in Sidlesham is a good choice, while CrabShack in Worthing and The Salt Room in Brighton are also highly rated for theirs.
You’ve also got your choice of chippies by the sea, with Paddy’s Plaice in Selsey and The Pilot in Dungeness being recommended by Sun readers and local experts.
Dungeness used to be called Britain’s only desert, but the Met Office stopped that officially in 2015, as deserts need little rainfall and large differences in day and night temperatures… and it has neither.
When it’s time to burn it all off, take your pick of activities, including paddleboarding in a sheltered inland lake near Camber Sands with a company like Rye Water Sports.
A recent Parkdean actually showed that Camber Sands is the Uk beach to get warmest first in spring, hitting highs of 19C.
Active families could hit a cycle path together, with options that include the South Coast East route, which traces the seafront of Worthing and beyond.
Wet weather options include Sussex’s impressive range of free museums, like The Novium Museum in Chichester and The Shipwreck Museum in Hastings, which both offer activities for children.
Arundel Castle, Tangmere Military Aviation Museum and Brighton’s Royal Pavilion are also highly rated as indoor options.
You can step back in time at a variety of historic attractions, like Chichester Cathedral, Hastings Castle (Britain’s first Norman castle) and Henry VIII’s Camber Castle.
To dive deeper into Tudor life, you could head to the Anne of Cleves House in Lewes, which has a traditional Tudor garden and a dressing-up box for kids.
Or perhaps you prefer to soak up Sussex’s natural beauty.
If so, then a bracing walk along the white cliffs is a must – the Seven Sisters and Beachy Head are stunning places to start.
Near Chichester, Kingley Vale is home to an ancient forest of yews, while Rye Harbour Nature Reserve is teeming with wildlife.
You can watch birds from one of the nature reserve’s hides – with oystercatchers, curlews and lapwings among the frequently spotted species.
For something more energetic, you could hop onto a boat for a seal-spotting safari, with tours available in both East and West Sussex (Rye Harbour and Chichester Harbour).
If your idea of holiday bliss is simply to relax on the beach, then Sussex has you covered.
You’re in for a treat with both pebble and sandy beaches running right along the coastline, and traditional seaside resorts.
Brighton, Bognor Regis, Eastbourne and Rye offer pretty promenades and piers loaded with attractions and arcades.
And West Wittering, Camber Sands, Seaford and Worthing beaches are all consistently highly rated, with West Wittering and Hove awarded Blue Flag status for safety and water quality.
But you’re also never far from a quieter beach.
Those looking to escape the crowds can slink off to somewhere like the far end of Seal Bay in West Sussex or the beach at Rye Nature Reserve, both recommended by our £9.50 Holiday park staff.