East Sussex
Brighton Pier and Royal Pavilion (Brighton) - The turnip domes and exotic appearance of the Royal Pavilion, the Prince Regent's pleasure palace, are the right mixture of fantasy and fun for kids. Look for the dragon ornaments in the Banqueting room and elsewhere around the palace.
Brighton Pier is full of arcades and rides, a place to run around and have a good time. Adjacent to the Pier is the Sea Life Centre, the largest aquarium in Britain. And if the weather is good, hit the beach for swimming and kids can build sand castles.
Battle Abbey (Battle) - The town of Battle (not Hastings) was the site of the Battle of Hastings in 1066. William, the winner, built the impressive Battle Abbey on the site of The Battle. Harold, the loser, did not die with an arrow in his eye, but was just hit over the head. A memorial in the abbey marks the spot.
Hastings Castle (Hasting) - Having won, William built his first castle down the road at Hastings. To get to Hastings Castle, ride the West Hill Railway to the top. Hastings Castle is in wonderfully crumbly shape, complete with dungeons. Also, for an audiovisual presentation of the battle, visit The 1066 Story.
St. Clement's Caves (Hastings) - After you've gotten the Norman Conquest under your belt, you'll want to get to the good stuff, smuggling. Smuggler's Adventure is a recreation of life of the "gentlemen of the night" in St. Clement's Caves. Wend your way through the tunnels and caverns, passing by life-like figures of shady smugglers.
Seven Sisters (Eastbourne) - Visit the beautiful chalk cliffs just west of Eastbourne. The Seven Sisters park area around the cliffs is great for walks.
Ashdown Forest, the forest of Winnie the Pooh (Hartfield) - A.A. Milne had a vacation home at Cotchfold Farm near Hartfield in Sussex. Here he wrote Winnie-The-Pooh, and today you can wander through Ashdown Forest (aka The Forest), searching for your favorite "enchanted places." Find your own sticks to toss from the Poohsticks Bridge or look for Eeyore's sad and gloomy place, Owl's house or Galleon's Lap.
To find maps of public trails to all your favorite Pooh places, stop in at the Ashdown Forest Centre or a shop in Hartfield called Pooh Corner.
Bodiam Castle (Bodiam, near Robertsbridge) - Bodiam Castle is a classic castle, with huge towers surrounded by a deep moat. In 1385, Sir Edward Dalyngrigge, a veteran solider in the service of the king, constructed a comfy manor, seriously fortified against a possible French invasion. It's a beautiful stone castle, although much of the interior buildings, the Great Hall, kitchen and living quarters, are gone.
Hike to the top of every single crenelated tower (good exercise for everyone). Don't miss the garderobes (bathrooms) in the towers. Bring a picnic to enjoy the grounds around the castle.
