After you go through the gates of Falmer station, do you walk over the bridge and head towards Platform 1 to travel straight into Brighton? Next time, consider staying on Platform 2. If you do, just a seven-minute train is what lies between you and the must-visit, historical market town of Lewes. Despite being a small town, Lewes is packed with personality; a place where your day can consist of peaceful woodland walks surrounded by the South Downs, castles and ruins, or browsing for trinkets, bargains and unique bits-and-bobs. The versatile town accommodates it all.
A town dating back to the 6th century, Lewes holds rich historical value and beauty. If you are an avid historian, then this town will not disappoint. The main route into town passes over the 1726 River Ouse bridge. Cottages framed in climbing ivy, a castle erected in the 11th century, traditional street names such as ‘Friars’ Walk’, and placards that detail the towns’ significant historical events are just a few of the sights that Lewes has to offer. The most unique historical location on offer is the viewing platform overlooking the site of the 1264 Battle of Lewes, where colourful maps and diagrams display the events of the two-hour-long battle. Even if you have no interest in the historical details of this frozen-in-time town, the beauty of the landmarks are still worth a viewing.
With crisp air and inclined paths, the landscape is always idyllic; the perfect way to escape the hustle and bustle of our daily lives. The nature trails around Lewes are virtually endless. As a town surrounded by the South Downs National Park and just a few miles from the coastline, the scenery here is stunning, the perfect place for a (probably muddy) walk. Follow the riverbanks and weave into the woodlands that are busy with wildlife. The walks of Lewes can accommodate the most expert of hikers, with a climb up to Black Cap trig point, as well as beginner walkers, with easy strolls along the river. So, turn left or right, and there will most likely be a pub either way!
Lewes is a bookworm’s heaven and home to two incredible bookshops! Boon Books is a shop where you can pick up hand-made bookmarks, find ‘blind date’ mystery books, and browse the 3 for £1 aisle. Just across the road is Bow Windows Bookshop, where old, original, and leather bound copies of your favourite novels reveal themselves on the shelves.
Though Brighton is known for its vintage and second-hand shops, the price tag that accompanies that reputation is not always pretty; however, the little town of Lewes has charity shops, boutiques, jewellers, and produce stores that are budget-friendly and unique. The shops along the high-street contain a variety of handmade, locally sourced, vintage, and affordable items, with some shops even having ‘free to take’ baskets outside of their windows.
Though modest in its outside appearance, one of the most spectacular places to visit is Lewes Flea Market, which boasts taxidermy to vintage boned-bustiers. Statues, sculptures and suits of armour, dolls, war postcards and more, this market commemorates the most significant moments of the past in all of its obscurities. See the WWII masks and fighter boots alongside the giant hanging moth! Hours can be spent browsing through these items that are unlike any other. No matter how long you spend searching, you probably won’t see everything!
So go and pottery paint, take your friends out for a pint, have a pastry in the local café or pick out vintage trinkets at the flea market. Keep an eye out for the weekly riddle written on a shop window along Friars’ Walk. You won’t regret visiting.
