Ground, Lewes
Start your morning in this handsome, fiercely independent market town. Skip the chains and head straight to Ground for a superb flat white and a warm pastry, then spend a quick half-hour poking around the antique shops of Cliffe High Street.
Charleston
Take the winding country lanes to the spiritual country home of the Bloomsbury Group. Even if you don't book the full house tour, the artist-painted interiors, brilliant exhibition space, and wild, romantic gardens are an absolute must-see.
The Star, Alfriston
This 15th-century sanctuary was recently revived by hotelier Olga Polizzi, blending heritage oak beams with striking contemporary design. Grab a table in the light-filled dining room for a lunch of local Sussex lamb or fresh South Coast plaice.
Birling Gap and the Seven Sisters
Blow away the cobwebs with a walk along the most dramatic stretch of the Sussex coast. Walk the clifftops for immense views of the Seven Sisters, or head down the steps to the pebble beach to watch the tide roll in before heading back to Brighton.
