The best hotels in Sussex for a charming coastal or country escape
Vineyards, spas, rolling countryside and miles of beaches are waiting to be explored
Bound by Kent, Hampshire and Surrey, the south east county of Sussex was once an independent medieval kingdom. Now split into East and West Sussex, you'll find an abundance of verdant hills and valleys across the South Downs, a scattering of glorious Arts & Craft villages, not to mention the chic and cheeky seaside resorts of Brighton, Hastings and Eastbourne. You'll also find some of the England's best hotels in Sussex, including luxury and country boltholes, perfect for a weekend away.
Now considered the Épernay of England, thanks to a host of venerable vineyards which has sprung up over the past twenty years. Sussex has become one the largest producers and exporters of English sparkling wine in the country. Spend the weekend at the Spread Eagle in Midhurst or Wingrove House in Alfriston and enjoy a tipple or two at the Tinwood and Rathfinney Estate vineyards. Take a potter around the antique bookshops and art galleries of Arundel and Petworth or enjoy a ramble along the South Downs Way, which threads through the national park.
Of course, a big draw to Sussex is Brighton, the lively Regency resort which has an innovative arts scene, world class festivals and a brilliant local dining scene as well as its famous beach. For a special stay book a suite at The Grand on the seafront and visit the Taj Mahal-esque Royal Pavilion, once home of George IV. Meanwhile Hastings, with its contemporary pier, flourishing art scene and quirky Old Town, is well worth a long weekend within easy reach of London.
From swanky seaside hotels to posh country spas, here are the very best hotels in Sussex, chosen by our travel writer who lives there...
South Lodge, Horsham
Tucked away in a crease of the South Downs, this neo-Jacobean country house hotel has a pleasingly Downton Abbey vibe. South Lodge is all about old-school luxury with spacious rooms named after Sussex landmarks, a trio of dining options, including the experiential The Pass with head chef Ben Wilkinson, and the hotel's three AA rosette Camellia restaurant.
But the biggest draw is the spa, which has a fabulous natural swimming pond and hydrotherapy pool overlooking the Downs. Inside the glass fronted building is an enormous indoor pool, plus saunas and steam rooms promising all manner of salt, botanical or herbal goodness. Heaven.
Horsted Place, Uckfield
A former retreat of the Windsors and situated moments from two championship golf courses, the Gothic-Revival Horsted Place deep in the Sussex countryside offers a rather regal country escape. It's still in keeping with the royal vibe with its wealth of ancestral paintings, antiques and an elaborate, Augustus Pugin-designed staircase liberated from the Great Exhibition's Crystal Palace in 1851. Dine out on classic British fare in dinner the two AA rosette restaurant or enjoy a proper English afternoon tea served beside the croquet lawn.
Out of the 17 rooms, 14 are suites and all have that traditional country house vibe with dusky florals, damask pelmets and dark wood furnishings. Treat yourself to a night in the Windsor Suite, where HRH would stay.
Gravetye Manor, near East Grinstead
The former home of one of Britain's most respected gardeners, William Robinson, Gravetye Manor luxury country house hotel near West Hoathly is just the ticket for a heavenly horticultural escape. Although close to the gardens of Wakehurst, Borde Hill and Sheffield Park, this Elizabethan manor house is blessed with 35 acres of beautiful grounds originally created by Robinson.
After appreciating his green fingers, enjoy the fruits of the walled kitchen garden (also created by Robinson) in The Dining Room, the hotel's spectacular Michelin starred restaurant overlooking the gardens.
Wingrove House, Alfriston
Set in one of the oldest and prettiest villages in Sussex, this cute 19th century country house hotel with its plush hunting lodge vibe is a perfect base for exploring the South Downs. There are 16 rooms, all decorated with a warm, country chic palette; think soft greys, olive greens and creams. Some rooms at Wingrove House have vaulted ceilings with rustic exposed beams or access to the veranda and views over the village.
After a romp through Friston Forest or a tasting at the Rathfinny Wine Estate, hunker down with a Sussex G&T in the bar with its roaring fire, deer antlers and stuffed elk heads. Dinner is served in the modern restaurant and features seasonal menus from some of Sussex's best producers.
The Bell in Ticehurst, High Weald
For a weekend with a difference, consider a stay at The Bell in Ticehurst. Once a hangout of Rudyard Kipling, with its whimsical lodges, cosy but quirky rooms and modern gastropub dining, The Bell is the place to go if you're looking for something a little out of the ordinary. While the bar still oozes 16th century character – low-slung beams and flagstone floors – it also has a rather eccentric decor with top hat lamps, eagle cuckoo clocks and neon signs proclaiming 'I will always love you, my friend.'
The seven rooms are equally as eccentric, some even have tree trunks growing through them, but it's the four garden lodges with pitched ceilings, inspired by the local oasthouses, which are the stars here. Our favourite is Love Nest, which has a flock of cuckoo clocks and a freestanding copper bath, plus a birch wood 'birds nest' roof terrace.
The Spread Eagle, Midhurst
Built as a former coaching inn in 1430 in the charming market town of Midhurst, The Spread Eagle is one of the oldest buildings in Sussex and still has the original lattice windows and wonky oak floors. Elizabeth I stayed in the Queen's Suite, which still features her original wig closet.
After exploring the local antique shops and art galleries in Midhurst, relax in the modern spa with its indoor pool set under a Scandinavian-style vaulted wooden ceiling. For dinner, Sussex produce is loudly championed in the restaurant, which features a lovely inglenook fireplace and blackened beams.
Artist Residence, Brighton
Inspired by Brighton's eclectic art scene, the Artist Residence is a quirky-yet-stylish boutique hotel overlooking Regency Square and the West Pier. All of the 25 rooms are individually styled and often feature exposed brick, battered wood and vintage pieces, alongside some fine local art. The best ones have floor-to-ceiling windows and sea views.
Breakfast is served until late in the lively all-day bar on the ground floor or in the snug garden terrace. Cocktails in the lounge come with smashing sea views, while Brighton's impressive and extensive restaurant scene is very much on the doorstep.
Ockenden Manor, Cuckfield
Hidden away in the pretty Sussex village of Cuckfield, Ockenden Manor is an Elizabethan manor house with a delightfully modern spa. The main house is all crooked oak beams, wood-panelled rooms and antique furnishings, but sneak through into the 19th century walled garden to find a vast and modern, glass-fronted spa with an indoor/outdoor pool and a sun terrace blessed with uninterrupted views of the Sussex Downs.
Stay in a spa suite, which in contrast to the traditional four-poster luxury of the manor house rooms, are modern and include a big bath for two. For dinner, wander over to the main house and the restaurant headed up by chef Stephen Crane, who creates magical menus using local Sussex produce.
The Grand, Brighton
Like a stately Regency matriarch overlooking Brighton beach, The Grand is blessed with sweeping views across the English Channel. Built in 1864, it takes its role of Brighton's Grande Dame very seriously with top-hatted doormen and a grand central staircase which spirals up through seven floors. Rooms have a more contemporary vibe; expect New England beach house meets English seaside.
Don't miss afternoon tea in the Victoria Bar and Lounge, which overlooks the sea. Dinner in Cyan is a real treat and offers all-day dining in an opulent setting which serves platters of fruits de mer and Sussex charcuterie, plus local fizz from the champagne bar.
The Grand, Eastbourne
Known as 'the palace by the sea', The Grand in Eastbourne has seen everyone from Winston Churchill to composer Claude Debussy, who finished his symphony 'La Mer' from one of the sea-facing suites. Delightfully and unashamedly posh, stay for afternoon tea with music by a string quartet in the Great Hall, which has a minstrels' gallery and oversized ancestral portraits peering out from every wall.
Perfect for a long weekend by the sea, there's a discreet spa in the basement with an indoor pool and a gym, and the heated outdoor pool overlooking the English Channel is open in the summer. Rooms and suites are a mix of light and contemporary or darker and more traditional, with muted tones and polished dark woods. As for dinner, the two AA Rosette French restaurant Mirabelle brings top-notch fine dining to the south coast.
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