Weald & Downland Living Museum, Singleton

North of Chichester, the museum, occupies a picturesque 40-acre site in rolling downland with over 50 historic buildings which have been dismantled from around the country and rebuilt for preservation. You can learn all about building conservation and rural life in Britain down the centuries.

Arundel Castle & Gardens

One of the region's most picturesque towns, Arundel is packed with handsome buildings and historic landmarks. Top of the list here is Arundel Castle, the principal home of the Dukes of Norfolk. Within its great walls lie countless treasures, including tapestries, clocks and portraits by Van Dyck, Gainsborough and Reynolds. Beautiful gardens to explore.

Fishbourne Roman Palace

Located near Chichester, Fishbourne Roman Palace was built in the 1st century AD, about 30 years after the Roman conquest of Britain. Visitors get the chance to see the largest collection of mosaics in situ in the country, notably the perfectly preserved dolphin mosaic in the north wing.

Petworth House & Park

This magnificent late 17th-century country house, set in a 700-acre deer park, is home to The National Trust's finest collection of pictures with works by Turner, Van Dyck, Reynolds and Blake. The servants' quarters contain fascinating kitchens and outside, the grounds which can be enjoyed by walkers, were landscaped by 'Capability' Brown and immortalised in Turner's paintings.

Pallant House Gallery, Chichester

Pallant House Gallery’s collection of British Modern Art is often described as one of the most impressive in Britain - expect works by the likes of Henry Moore, John Piper and Graham Sutherland. There's a great café too.

Chichester Festival Theatre

One of Britain’s most prestigious provincial theatres, and an instantly recognisable landmark in Chichester, the hexagonal-shaped, 1,300-seat theatre is one of the largest in southern England. Beautifully restored and attracting famous acting talent, it’s the perfect place to see top quality productions before they head to the West End. Set in large grounds, theatre lovers can bring picnics in summer.

Uppark House & Garden, South Harting

Looking at Uppark House today, it’s hard to believe that this imposing Georgian building was badly damaged by fire in the 1980s. The restored National Trust house, set in rolling downland near Petersfield, was the childhood home of HG Wells - his mother was in service here. The glorious garden is a mixture of work from prominent garden designers ‘Capability’ Brown and Humphry Repton, created around 1810.

Parham House & Gardens, Pulborough

Only three families have lived at Parham House, set below the South Downs near Pulborough, since its foundation stone was laid in 1577 during the reign of Elizabeth I. It is renowned for its sensitively chosen collection of furniture, paintings, books, textiles and clocks. Visitors can also stroll in the delightful walled garden and pleasure grounds.

Bignor Roman Villa

Rediscovered in 1811, this Roman house was built on a grand scale. It is one of the largest known, and has spectacular mosaics, including the longest mosaic in Britain (82ft) in its original position.

Lancing College Chapel

This magnificent Gothic chapel stands high on the South Downs and can be seen for miles around. Founded in 1868 and dedicated in 1911, Lancing is one of the great architectural landmarks of the south coast. The nave is an incredible 27.5m to the apex of the vault, while the stained glass window is dedicated to the memory of Bishop Trevor Huddleston, a pupil at Lancing in the late 1920s.

Balcombe Viaduct

One of the wonders of the railway age built in 1841 by John Urpeth Rastrick at 1,475ft in length with 37 brick arches – experience the spectacular perspective effect by looking through the oval arches at the base of each pier. Located between Haywards Heath and Balcombe in the Ouse Valley.

Bosham Village

Beautiful Bosham – pronounced ‘Bozzum’ locally, with closely packed thatched and tiled cottages surrounded by creeks of Chichester harbour. The Saxon church of Holy Trinity contains a copy of a panel of the Bayeux Tapestry showing the church.

Leonardslee Gardens, Lower Beeding

A splendid landscaped garden on the edge of St Leonard’s Forest comprising 200 acres of grounds to explore. Best seen in spring for azaleas and rhododendrons and in the autumn for the amazing foliage colours. There’s a rock garden, Japanese garden, a Bonsai exhibition and a garden Centre.

Nymans Gardens, Handcross

Set in the Sussex Weald, enchanting Nymans is full of surprises and unexpected vistas. Fine flowering shrubs and roses, a flower garden in an old walled orchard, and a secret sunken garden, all set around a romantic house and ruins.

West Dean Gardens

The award-winning gardens are part of West Dean College and offer all-round interest with working Victorian Glasshouses, a 300 foot pergola, orchards, parkland walks, and a spring garden with flint bridges and the occasional surreal fibreglass tree. Delicious homemade goodies can be eaten in the restaurant.

Clayton Windmills, Hassocks

Jack & Jill sit side by side on the Downs above Hassocks. Jack is a black tower mill erected in 1866 (private); Jill is a white post mill that was moved from nearby Patcham by a team of oxen in 1821. Jill stopped working in 1907 and is open to the public on summer Sundays and Bank Holidays.

Pyecombe

Once the centre of the crook-making craft, this scattered downland village possesses a tiny, partly Norman, flint church which has a beautifully ornamented, 12th-century lead font within its simple interior. The elegant Tapsell gate into the churchyard has a shepherd’s crook as a handle.

Slindon Village

Almost entirely owned by the National Trust who have preserved the village as a thriving community. Late 17th-century to the early 20th-century buildings include the delightful post office, the Old Forge (now the village shop and cafe), the 11th-century church, a fine Elizabethan House, and a thatched railway carriage.

Wolstonbury Hill, Hassocks

At 670 feet (206m) Wolstonbury Hill stands clear of the Downs and is a landmark for miles. Its summit is encircled by an Iron Age fort, regarded as one of the earliest in Sussex (5th/6th century BC). Prime Minister Lloyd George, who rented the fine Elizabethan mansion (Danny) at the foot of the Downs, often spent time on the hill reading important papers. The far-reaching views are magnificent.

Wakehurst Place, Ardingly

In the heart of Sussex, lies one of the most biodiverse places on Earth - Wakehurst, Kew's wild botanic garden, home to the UK’s largest conservation project, the Millennium Seed Bank and an Elizabethan Mansion. Immerse yourself in 200 hectares of ornamental gardens, woodlands and a nature reserve.

Highdown Gardens, Worthing

Highdown's lovely chalk garden was established by Sir Frederick and Lady Stern who worked for 50 years to prove that plants would grow on chalk. The garden was created out of a disused chalk pit at a time when horticulturalists were travelling to China and the Himalayan regions to collect rare and beautiful plants. Many of the original species from those early expeditions survive in the garden today.

Clayton Church, Hassocks

Clayton is noted for its little old church - St John the Baptist. The humble exterior is deceptive for it contains some of the finest wall paintings in southern England, dating from the 11th century. Much of the unspoilt interior dates from Saxon times.

Arundel Cathedral

The grandiose French Gothic-style Roman Catholic cathedral stands guard over Arundel, dwarfing all the other buildings in sight. It was completed in 1873 by the 15th Duke of Norfolk, whose family still own the castle, only becoming a cathedral as recently as the mid 1960s. Look out for the fine rose window over the west door.

Borde Hill Garden, Haywards Heath

Located in 200 acres of parkland and woodland, Borde Hill Garden is where you’ll find a dazzling patchwork of exotic plants, rare shrubs and champion trees. Country Life has described Borde Hill as one of the country’s truly great gardens.

Priests House, West Hoathly

In the centre of West Hoathly, this timber-framed hall house was built in the 15th century and seized by Henry VIII in 1538. Established as a museum in 1908, the Priest House features a varied assortment of 17th and 18th-century country furniture.

Standen, East Grinstead

Striking late Victorian house designed by Philip Webb and filled with decorative art, reflecting the fascinating Arts & Craft Movement at its very best. Glorious hillside garden.

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