Lewes
Discover Lewes
By train to 50.8708330.0116671 Lewes Station from London Victoria (70 min), Brighton (20 min), Eastbourne or Hastings. There are local bus services operating within the town, but realistically you can walk from one end of the town to the other in half an hour at a very leisurely pace. Those with mobility problems may have difficulty as the town is notoriously hilly.
Taste of Lewes...
Lewes boasts a range of international cuisine including Indian, Thai, Chinese, Italian, Polish and good old traditional English pub grub. 50.872040.022991 The Snowdrop Inn, 119 South St, Lewes BN7 2BU (in Cliffe, at the bottom of town), ☏ +44 1273 471 018. For a more upmarket twist on the traditional pub food menu. (updated Jan 2017) 50.874830.008652 Elephant and Castle, White Hill, BN7 2DJ (just off of the High Street), ☏ +44 1273 473 797. Give the legendary "Elly Burger" a go. (updated Jan 2017) 50.872290.010883 Pailin, 19-20 Station St, BN7 2DB, ☏ +44 1273 473 906. For an oriental flavour, wonderful Thai restaurant. The night life is essentially pubs and restaurants, but Brighton is 20 minutes away by train, a little more by bus, with all the varied and often loud and bustling night life that you could ever ask for. Taxis will take you to and from Brighton, but expect to pay £20 upwards for each journey. Harvey's bitter. One of the oldest independent breweries is right in the middle of town. Sample their wares at the John Harvey Tavern, or get take-aways from the Brewery shop on Cliffe High Street. Fine wines, too. Lewes has an unusual atmosphere at night, with most pubs serving both the younger and older crowds simultaneously and in harmony.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsBy train to 50.8708330.0116671 Lewes Station from London Victoria (70 min), Brighton (20 min), Eastbourne or Hastings. By bus from Brighton (30 min), Eastbourne or Tunbridge Wells via Uckfield. There are local bus services operating within the town, but realistically you can walk from one end of the town to the other in half an hour at a very leisurely pace. Those with mobility problems may have difficulty as the town is notoriously hilly. Cycling is easy within the town and is encouraged as an easy, healthy and environmentally friendly alternative to car use. Lewes is notoriously unfriendly for car users. Unless essential, car use is unnecessary within the town; everything can be reached using a bike, a bus or your feet! The High Street is a nightmare during rush hours, as it is the main road through town and very restricted in width (narrowing at one point to the extent that traffic lights are required)....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
There are local bus services operating within the town, but realistically you can walk from one end of the town to the other in half an hour at a very leisurely pace. Those with mobility problems may have difficulty as the town is notoriously hilly. Cycling is easy within the town and is encouraged as an easy, healthy and environmentally friendly alternative to car use. Lewes is notoriously unfriendly for car users. Unless essential, car use is unnecessary within the town; everything can be reached using a bike, a bus or your feet! The High Street is a nightmare during rush hours, as it is the main road through town and very restricted in width (narrowing at one point to the extent that traffic lights are required). A number of one-way streets, pedestrianised areas and most notably the parking situation make bringing a car to town a bit of a waste of time and money. Some roads are also so narrow that you wonder why they are even roads.
Money & Budget
Lewes is proud of being one of the least "modernised" towns in England. You'll find lots of small independent businesses here, and Lewes shops are particularly good for old women's clothing, art, secondhand books and antiques. Almost opposite the castle entrance is Catlins, an old-fashioned sweet shop with a large range of loose sweets, fine chocolates, tobaccos and pipes. Lewes not only retains its historic atmosphere through its old shops and buildings, it also produces its own currency, the Lewes Pound. Historically the town produced its own notes, and as a tradition it continues to do so. The Lewes Pound is valid only in Lewes – nowhere else in the UK.
Safety Information
Nearby Destinations
Glimpses of Lewes
South Downs at sunset
barge on the water
ocean waves on beach shore during daytime
a dandelion flower in the grass
brown sand
Beach sand dune with sea grass and blue sky.
photo of brown wooden house
An arch of trees over a dirt and gravel pathway, north of Lewes, UK. Taken June 2021.
A blurry photo of a building in the middle of a forest
Beach sand dunes with beach and ocean near sunset.
South Downs at sunset
barge on the water
ocean waves on beach shore during daytime