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Voykit pocket guide · United Kingdom
Lewes
Spend a half‑day in Lewes for the castle, Anne of Cleves House and a stroll on the South Downs; add a night if you want a bonfire or local pubs.
Lewes is a compact historic town in East Sussex. Its main attractions – Lewes Castle, Anne of Cleves House, Monk’s House and the South Downs – sit within a 30‑minute walk of each other. One full day covers the sights; a night adds the famous Bonfire celebrations or a relaxed pub evening.
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Best months
- May–Sep
- Avoid
- Dec–Feb (short daylight, colder)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- GBP
- Money
- Currency is the pound sterling (GBP, £). Cards and contactless work almost everywhere; some places are card-only.
- Daily spend
- Budget £45–£70 excl. bed · Mid £70–£110 excl. bed · High £110+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- EE, Vodafone (merged with Three in 2025) and O2 run the networks; prepaid SIMs sell in supermarkets, phone shops and airport vending machines, no registration needed.
- Emergency
- Police / non‑emergency 101 · Medical emergencies 999
- Plugs
- Types G · 230 V · 50 Hz · Three-pin Type G only; European, US and Australian plugs need an adapter. Bathrooms have two-pin shaver sockets only.
- Tipping
- Restaurant with table service: 10–12.5% if no service charge is on the bill; check before adding more.; Pub or bar: Not expected; 'and one for yourself' offers the bartender a drink.; Taxi: Round up or 10%.; Hotel porter: £1–2 per bag.; Tour guide: £5–10 per person for a day tour; free walking tours expect £10–15.
- Water
- Tap water is safe everywhere. Free refills are common; restaurants will bring tap water if you ask.
- Toilets
- Public toilets are scarce and some charge 50p–£1 or are card-only. Stations, museums, department stores and pubs (if you buy a drink) are the fallback.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee (café) | £2–£3 |
| Pub beer (pint) | £3–£4 |
| Lewes Castle entry | £12 adult, £6.5 senior, £4 child |
| Anne of Cleves House entry | £7.5 adult, £4.5 child, £7 senior |
| Bus ticket (local) | £2–£3 (check) |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- LGW · London Gatwick
- Train from Gatwick Airport to Lewes via Brighton, about 1 h 15 min
- LHR · London Heathrow
- Heathrow Express to London Paddington, then tube to Victoria, then train to Lewes; about 2 h total
Typical fares
- London Victoria → Lewes (train)
- about £45 off‑peak return (check)
- Local bus within Lewes
- about £2–£3 per ride (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Town is walkable (30 min end‑to‑end). Bicycles are popular; local buses link to Brighton, Eastbourne and Uckfield. Car use is discouraged – narrow streets, limited parking and steep hills.
See and do
Known for
- Lewes Castle & Museum
- Anne of Cleves House
- Monk’s House (National Trust)
- South Downs walking
- Bonfire Night (Nov 5)
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Brighton | Train from Lewes Station, 20 min | ≈30 min total |
| Eastbourne | Train from Lewes, 25 min | ≈40 min total |
| Plumpton Racecourse | Train to Plumpton (≈15 min) then walk 5 min | ≈30 min total |
Sleep
- Pelham House
- Boutique B&B in Saint Andrews Ln
- The Shelley's Hotel
- Family‑run inn near the High Street
- The Secret Campsite, Lewes
- Glamping farm site on Brickyard Farm
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Sorrysɒri |
| Thank you | Thank youθæŋk juː |
| How much is it? | How much is it?haʊ mʌtʃ ɪz ɪt |
| Where is the toilet? | Where is the toilet?wɛə ɪz ðə ˈtɔɪlɪt |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake at first meeting; 'hi' and first names quickly; avoid: Cheek kisses with strangers
- Conversation: Weather is a safe opener; understatement and self-deprecating humour; avoid: Asking about salary or class
- Queues: Join at the back; avoid: Pushing onto buses or trains before others get off
- Apologies: 'Sorry' is said constantly, even when not at fault; avoid: Taking it as an admission of blame
- Pubs: Buy rounds in a group; wait at the bar without waving money; avoid: Clicking fingers at staff
- Nations: Call Scots Scottish and Welsh Welsh; avoid: Calling the whole UK 'England'
Scams and watch-outs
- Town is very hilly; allow extra time if walking with luggage
- Parking attendants are strict; fines are steep – use town car parks
- Bonfire Night crowds can be intense; not recommended for families with young children
Lewes is generally safe; most issues are traffic‑related or large crowds during Bonfire Night. Keep an eye on personal belongings in busy pubs.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Lewes yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Lewes Castle & Museum
- Anne of Cleves House
- Monk’s House (National Trust)
- South Downs walking
- Bonfire Night (Nov 5)
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Lewes Castle – Sussex Past: sussexpast.co.uk/our-historic-sites/lewes-castle-museum
- Anne of Cleves House – Sussex Past: sussexpast.co.uk/our-historic-sites/anne-of-cleves-house
- National Trust – Monk’s House: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/monks-house/
- Wikivoyage: Lewes, revision 5328055 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5328055
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/lewes). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.