Lewes Day Trip from London by Train

Looking for the best day trips from London by Train? Lewes in East Sussex is definitely a hidden gem and 1 of my favorite additions to my London itinerary. The birthplace of the American revolution, it's a definite must visit for people interested in American history. (Also great for antique lovers.)

To make this guide to traveling around England by train more useful, I try to organize the destinations by the departing London train station, such as London Paddington and London Bridge train station. (So many articles just say "direct train trips from London" BUT if you live in Greenwich (for example), but the train departs from Paddingon, that adds almost an hour and 1 change to your journey!)

Out of all the train trips from London Bridge, Lewes is definitely 1 of my favourites due to its:

• rich history
• beautiful surroundings and buildings
• walkable: most attractions are within easy walking distance of each other (but note the area is very hilly!)
• safety
• communal feel and lively town centre
• independent shops (many selling antiques and vintage)

Note: the direct train from London Bridge to Lewes runs very irregularly! Most of the journeys involve 1 change. (Alternatively, there are more frequent direct trains from London Victoria to Lewes.)

Things To Do

The oldest independent brewery in Sussex dating back to 1790, you can join tours of Harvey's Brewery. It's right smack in the centre of town so you won't have to go far!

Like Rochester in Kent, Lewes has a rich literary history.

Thomas Paine wrote The Rights of Man between 1768-1774 when he lived at Bull House in Lewes. His writings influenced both the American and French Revolution, as well as the US Declaration of Independence.

He frequently spoke at The White Hart Evening Club, a political debating club which met at the 16th century inn, The White Hart. (Operating as a hotel and restaurant today!)

Virginia Woolf and her husband also lived in Monk House, a 17th-century cottage by the River Ouse in Lewes

A.A. Milne, who wrote Winnie the Pooh, is thought to have based the Hundred Acre Wood on Ashdown Forest which is 30 minutes away from Lewes.

Lewes Castle is just a short walk from the High Street (partly uphill.)

Built by William de Warenne, a supporter of William the Conqueror, it's really more of a ruin now. You get amazing views of East Sussex from the top.

The climb to the top is steep at parts, particularly when climbing up the stairs to the tower. It is really narrow and tight so I shudder to think what it'll be like when the castle is crowded. (I'll link to a video so you can judge for yourself whether you can manage the climb. I have a fear of heights but I managed to climb the wooden steps. (I did pass on the 2nd tower though!)

There is not much information inside the Castle, and there's not a ton to see (besides the view), so the ticket does feel a tad pricey.

The ticket does allow for entry into both the castle ruins and the Museum (which is housed in the same building as the Castle Shop (TINY) and Museum. The Museum has 2 storeys featuring historical artefacts and a short video about the history of the town. (It plays every 30 minutes.)

I'm a huge fan of English towns with lots of independent shops- Lewes is definitely a great example! You'll find lots of independent antique shops in the town centre, as well as several weekly markets.

Apparently, 1 of the nearby farms makes UK's best goat's cheese- they had a stall when we visited so I bought some to try!

Note: if you liked Mermaid Street in Rye, visit Keere Street, the Lewes’ equivalent which offers amazing views of South Downs. It's close to Anne Cleves House & Lewes Priory, so you can visit the 3 together.

Railway Land Wildlife Trust

If you're looking for a nice countryside walk by the river, head to Railway Land Wildlife Trust.

Anne of Cleves House

This house was given to Anne of Cleves by Henry VIII- she was his 4th wife- as part of their divorce settlement but she never lived there.

There is a joint ticket with Lewes Castle, which gives you a small discount.

We had lunch at Michelin Bib Gourmand Restaurant, Dill, and drinks at a Korean cafe. (The latter is located opposite Lewes Castle.)

The food at Dill was delicious but I was a little surprised by its Bib Gourmand as it wasn't really what I'd think of as affordable for outside of London (over £40 per person for lunch, no drinks.)

I liked the quirky decor, and selection of books by the tables.

Service was efficient but not the fastest nor super warm- the menu is written on a black board and, to be honest, quite hard to read. There's also not much detail about the dish. For example, I ordered the prawn starter and was surprised when it was a raw dish. (We were the only table and the meal still took us almost 2 hours.)

It's an easy train ride to Lewes from:

• London Victoria (direct train, around an hour)
• London Bridge (mostly 1 change, occasional direct trains)

There are lifts to the platforms in the cute station as well as a station cafe.

To get to the town centre from the station, walk straight out- the walk will be UPHILL.

Note: If, like me, you are slightly paranoid about missing your train and like to be in the vicinity of the train station absurdly early, these 2 nearby attractions may be of interest to you:

• there is a cinema opposite the train station 
• Around 6 minutes walk from the train station is Southover Grange Gardens.  It is a very peaceful park with well maintained grounds. You can also find the Sussex Guild shop (opened by Sussex designer-markers) there.

Any questions about visiting Lewes in East Sussex from London? Let me know in the comments!