South Downs

6,858 places worth going to (1,992 in the park, the rest just outside), ranked across 16 interests. For most trips the best base is Arundel. National park, 1,653 km², designated 2010.

Devils Dyke
Photo: The original uploader was Escowles at English Wikipedia., CC SA 1.0
Plan a trip here

Ranked for any trip. Pick who, when and what you're into to re-rank.

Pick a base

Ranked by the best places within a 30-minute drive, and by trains, buses and boats.
  1. No. 1Arundeltrain station: Arundel Rail Station; 4 bus stops within 400 m1,576 places within a 30-minute drive
  2. No. 2Lewestrain station: Lewes Rail Station; 13 bus stops within 400 m2,420 places within a 30-minute drive
  3. No. 3Petersfieldtrain station: Petersfield Rail Station; 7 bus stops within 400 m951 places within a 30-minute drive
  4. No. 4Midhurst12 bus stops within 400 m983 places within a 30-minute drive
  5. No. 5Alfriston7 bus stops within 400 m1,141 places within a 30-minute drive

Things to do

Ranked for any trip.
No. 1
Chichester CathedralGrade I listed, 17 km from Midhurst, just outside the parkHistory and heritage
No. 2
Jane Austen's House MuseumGrade I listed, 15 km from PetersfieldHistory and heritage
No. 3
Winchester CathedralScheduled monument, 27 km from Petersfield, just outside the parkHistory and heritage
No. 4
Petworth HouseGrade I listed, 9.1 km from MidhurstHistory and heritage
No. 5
Brighton Station SouthGrade II* listed, 12 km from Lewes, just outside the parkHistory and heritage
No. 6
Foxes of Farnham26 km from Midhurst, just outside the parkFood and pubs
No. 7
Brighton Museum & Art GalleryGrade II* listed, 12 km from Lewes, just outside the parkHistory and heritage
No. 8
Charleston HouseGrade II* listed, 4.8 km from AlfristonHistory and heritage
No. 9
Chichester Festival TheatreGrade II* listed, 16 km from Midhurst, just outside the parkArt and galleries
No. 10
Pallant House GalleryGrade I listed, 17 km from Midhurst, just outside the parkArt and galleries
No. 11
Westbourne Café16 km from Petersfield, just outside the parkFood and pubs
No. 12
Chesapeake MillGrade II* listed, 21 km from Petersfield, just outside the parkMarkets and farm shops

Top 10s in the South Downs

Top 10 hikes and fells

  1. Chanctonbury RingScheduled monument, 13 km from Arundel
  2. St. Catherine's HillScheduled monument, 27 km from Petersfield
  3. Blackdown9.0 km from Midhurst
  4. Old Winchester Hill11 km from Petersfield
  5. King John's HillScheduled monument, 15 km from Petersfield
  6. Butser Hill4.0 km from Petersfield
  7. Cliffe HillScheduled monument, 1.8 km from Lewes
  8. Firle Beacon4.4 km from Alfriston
  9. Lancing Ring16 km from Arundel
  10. Halnaker Hill12 km from Midhurst
See all 230

Top 10 pubs and places to eat

  1. Foxes of Farnham26 km from Midhurst, just outside the park
  2. Westbourne Café16 km from Petersfield, just outside the park
  3. William CobbettGrade II* listed, 26 km from Midhurst, just outside the park
  4. Hangleton ManorGrade II* listed, 16 km from Lewes, just outside the park
  5. The Royal Pavilion RoomsGrade I listed, 12 km from Lewes, just outside the park
  6. Park CrescentGrade II* listed, 11 km from Lewes, just outside the park
  7. St Martin's Coffee HouseGrade II* listed, 17 km from Midhurst, just outside the park
  8. Charleston House Cafe4.8 km from Alfriston
  9. The Broadwater13 km from Arundel, just outside the park
  10. Cuckmere Inn3.9 km from Alfriston
See all 3,355

Top 10 with kids

  1. Marwell Zoo24 km from Petersfield
  2. Saltdean LidoGrade II* listed, 8.9 km from Lewes, just outside the park
  3. Sea Life Centre12 km from Lewes, just outside the park
  4. Priory ParkScheduled monument, 16 km from Midhurst, just outside the park
  5. Harbour Park5.7 km from Arundel, just outside the park
  6. Birdworld21 km from Petersfield, just outside the park
  7. Queen's Park11 km from Lewes, just outside the park
  8. Regency Square13 km from Lewes, just outside the park
  9. Old Steine Gardens12 km from Lewes, just outside the park
  10. Oram's Arbour28 km from Petersfield, just outside the park
See all 603

Top 10 views and photo spots

  1. Stone Cross WindmillGrade II* listed, 10 km from Alfriston, just outside the park
  2. Chanctonbury RingScheduled monument, 13 km from Arundel
  3. St. Catherine's HillScheduled monument, 27 km from Petersfield
  4. Beachy Head Lighthouse10 km from Alfriston
  5. Blackdown9.0 km from Midhurst
  6. Alfriston Market CrossGrade I listed, in Alfriston
  7. Saint Catherine's Hill27 km from Petersfield
  8. Statue of William IIIGrade I listed, in Petersfield
  9. Oldland Windmill11 km from Lewes
  10. Shoreham Harbour19 km from Lewes, just outside the park
See all 654

Top 10 castles and history

  1. Chichester CathedralGrade I listed, 17 km from Midhurst, just outside the park
  2. Jane Austen's House MuseumGrade I listed, 15 km from Petersfield
  3. Winchester CathedralScheduled monument, 27 km from Petersfield, just outside the park
  4. Petworth HouseGrade I listed, 9.1 km from Midhurst
  5. Brighton Station SouthGrade II* listed, 12 km from Lewes, just outside the park
  6. Brighton Museum & Art GalleryGrade II* listed, 12 km from Lewes, just outside the park
  7. Amberley CastleGrade I listed, 6.2 km from Arundel
  8. Charleston HouseGrade II* listed, 4.8 km from Alfriston
  9. Chichester Festival TheatreGrade II* listed, 16 km from Midhurst, just outside the park
  10. Pallant House GalleryGrade I listed, 17 km from Midhurst, just outside the park
See all 1,980

Top 10 theme parks and thrills

  1. Harbour Park5.7 km from Arundel, just outside the park
  2. Knockhatch Adventure Park8.1 km from Alfriston, just outside the park
  3. Treasure Island & Adventure Golf11 km from Alfriston, just outside the park
  4. Fort Fun11 km from Alfriston, just outside the park
  5. Phileas Foggs World of Adventures9.5 km from Lewes, just outside the park
See all 5

Top 10 on the water

  1. Meon Springs Fly Fishery9.1 km from Petersfield
  2. Chalk Springs Trout Fishery1.1 km from Arundel
  3. Christian Youth Enterprises (CYE)21 km from Petersfield, just outside the park
  4. Duncton Mill11 km from Arundel
  5. Lancing Sailing Club17 km from Arundel, just outside the park
  6. Littlehampton Marina4.9 km from Arundel, just outside the park
  7. Newhaven and Seaford Sailing Club6.3 km from Alfriston, just outside the park
  8. Shoreham Harbour Life Boat Station19 km from Lewes, just outside the park
  9. Sovereign Harbour12 km from Alfriston, just outside the park
  10. Alderwood Ponds16 km from Arundel, just outside the park
See all 26

Top 10 for a rainy day

  1. Jane Austen's House MuseumGrade I listed, 15 km from Petersfield
  2. Brighton Museum & Art GalleryGrade II* listed, 12 km from Lewes, just outside the park
  3. Charleston HouseGrade II* listed, 4.8 km from Alfriston
  4. Chichester Festival TheatreGrade II* listed, 16 km from Midhurst, just outside the park
  5. Pallant House GalleryGrade I listed, 17 km from Midhurst, just outside the park
  6. Newhaven FortScheduled monument, 11 km from Lewes, just outside the park
  7. Anne of Cleves' HouseGrade II* listed, in Lewes
  8. Barbican House MuseumGrade II* listed, in Lewes
  9. Preston ManorGrade II* listed, 12 km from Lewes, just outside the park
  10. West Blatchington WindmillGrade II* listed, 14 km from Lewes, just outside the park
See all 352

Top 10 campsites

  1. Blackberry WoodsStay, 7.9 km from Lewes
  2. College Down FarmStay, 16 km from Petersfield
  3. Saddlescombe CampsiteStay, 14 km from Lewes
  4. Southdown Way Caravan & Camping ParkStay, 11 km from Lewes
  5. The Barn Caravan ParkStay, 18 km from Arundel, just outside the park
  6. Brook Lane Caravan ParkStay, 8.4 km from Arundel, just outside the park
  7. Bushy Wood Activity CentreStay, 8.2 km from Alfriston, just outside the park
  8. Chalky Downs CampsiteStay, 7.6 km from Lewes
  9. Chichester Camping and Caravanning Club SiteStay, 18 km from Petersfield, just outside the park
  10. Graffham Camping and Caravanning Club SiteStay, 6.2 km from Midhurst
See all 89

Where to stay

101 stays ranked. Prices are not shown: we have no open price data yet.
No. 1
Amberley CastleGrade I listed, 6.2 km from ArundelHistory and heritage
No. 2
Royal Albion HotelGrade II* listed, 12 km from Lewes, just outside the parkHistory and heritage
No. 3
Lainston House HotelGrade II* listed, 32 km from Petersfield, just outside the parkHistory and heritage
No. 4
Pelham HouseGrade II* listed, in LewesHistory and heritage
No. 5
Spread Eagle HotelGrade II* listed, in MidhurstHistory and heritage
No. 6
Bailiffscourt Hotel & SpaGrade II* listed, 6.5 km from Arundel, just outside the parkHistory and heritage
No. 7
Burlington HotelGrade II* listed, 11 km from Alfriston, just outside the parkHistory and heritage
No. 8
Lythe Hill HotelGrade II* listed, 12 km from Midhurst, just outside the parkHistory and heritage

Getting here

Stops counted from NaPTAN, the national public transport list.

Base towns are compared by 30-minute drive and walk areas from Valhalla routing over OpenStreetMap. Times from your own home town come next.