Half-term days out
Museums, parks and family activities for the school break, with ideas for wet weather too.
Explore family days outYour Sussex guide
What’s on in Sussex
Find your next show, plan a day out or discover something closer to home. Explore Brighton & Hove, East Sussex and West Sussex by date, place or the kind of day you have in mind.
Seasonal guides
Bonfires & festive plansHalloween
Family trails and after-dark events. Check age guidance before choosing between gentle ghosts and bigger scares.
See seasonal family activitiesBonfire events
Find an organised local celebration and check the society’s ticket, travel and road-closure information.
Browse Sussex bonfire datesBonfire events
Local societies’ celebrations run across the season. Check tickets and transport before setting off.
Browse Sussex bonfire datesChristmas markets
Start planning a festive outing with makers, gifts and seasonal events at Petworth.
Check Petworth’s Christmas programmePantomimes & family shows
Find a theatre trip for the festive season. Check dates, age guidance and accessible performances with the venue.
Explore Eastbourne TheatresChristmas markets
Makers, gifts and seasonal events at Petworth. Check the current market dates and admission details.
Explore Christmas at PetworthPantomimes & family shows
Plan a festive theatre visit, with the venue’s latest dates and accessible performance information.
Explore Eastbourne TheatresWinter activities
Decorated houses, seasonal trails and days out across Sussex. Booking and opening days vary by place.
See Christmas days outHead indoors
Museums and indoor attractions for a day when the weather turns.
Find rainy-day ideasA winter walk
Choose a route to suit the daylight, weather and ground conditions, from woodland to the Downs.
Explore Sussex walking routesLocal activities
Library sessions, community groups and smaller events can fill an afternoon close to home.
Find local calendarsSchool-holiday ideas
Family attractions, museums and outdoor space for the school break.
Explore family days outGardens & historic places
Discover houses, gardens and seasonal activities across East and West Sussex.
Explore National Trust placesGet outdoors
Plan a woodland or downland walk, with route details to help choose your distance.
Browse walking routesSeafront days
Explore Hove Beach Park’s gardens, skating areas and places to pause by the sea.
Read the Hove Beach Park guideSchool-holiday ideas
Mix museums, playgrounds and outdoor activities for different ages and budgets.
Explore family days outCoast & countryside
Plan a visit to Seven Sisters, including routes, transport and advice for the cliffs.
Read the Seven Sisters guidePlanning a bonfire trip? Read the official Lewes travel advice before considering 5 November; visitors are advised to choose a celebration closer to home.
Find your next outing
Search for a performer, show or venue, or narrow the listings by date, area and event type. Events already running are included, and each performance has its own date and location.
74 upcoming listings
Art & exhibitions
Curtain Up! brings two centuries of toy theatre to Brighton Toy and Model Museum
Brighton Toy and Model Museum, Brighton
Music
Sarah Gillespie and Chris Montague bring stripped-back duo tour to Sussex
Mike’s Shop, St Leonards-on-Sea
Art & exhibitions
Shelter exhibition brings Sussex artists’ responses to home and belonging to Newhaven
BN9 Studio, Marine Workshops, Newhaven
Other events
Dishoom Permit Room brings Diwali dinner and live music to Brighton’s Royal Pavilion
Royal Pavilion, Brighton
Art & exhibitions
Ryan Gander brings talking mice, mirrored toys and new paintings to Towner Eastbourne
Towner Eastbourne, Eastbourne
Music
Aaron Rowe to play Brighton this November after walking out on Ed Sheeran’s stadium tour
Patterns, Brighton and Hove
Other events
Chichester Christmas lights switch-on 2026: timings, lantern trail and after-party
Market Cross, Chichester
Other events
Hove Engineerium Winter Makers Fair returns with more than 120 makers and free entry
British Engineerium, Hove
These are the dated events covered by Sussex Guardian. Open an article for tickets and visitor information, and check the organiser’s latest details before travelling.
Choose your kind of day
Start with the company, the budget or the weather. These guides and visitor pages will help you choose.
With children
Playgrounds, museums and days out for different ages.
Free & inexpensive
Enjoy parks, the seafront and museums without a big day-out budget.
Rainy days
Indoor options when a beach walk or picnic is off the cards.
Walks & outdoors
Coastal views, downland routes and woodland paths.
History & heritage
Explore the stories behind Sussex’s palaces, castles and historic places.
Explore Sussex
Find a place on the map, then use the guides below to plan your visit. Nearby places can make a useful pairing, but check travel times and opening days before combining them.
See how Sussex fits together
Explore eight places, compare distances and find the guides below.
Markers show approximate areas, not entrances or walking routes. Open a guide for visitor details. The same places are listed below.
Brighton & Hove
- BrightonRoyal PavilionSussex Guardian guide
A palace visit in the city centre, with museums and the seafront nearby.
- HoveHove Beach ParkSussex Guardian guide
Seafront gardens, skating and sport on the western side of the city.
East Sussex
- LewesLewes Castle & MuseumOfficial visitor information
Norman history in the heart of Lewes. Check access and seasonal opening days.
- Seven SistersSeven SistersSussex Guardian guide
A guide to the chalk cliffs, walking routes and arriving by public transport.
- BexhillDe La Warr PavilionOfficial visitor information
Exhibitions and a changing programme beside Bexhill’s seafront.
West Sussex
- ChichesterThe Novium MuseumOfficial visitor information
Local history and exhibitions in Chichester’s city centre.
- ArundelArundel Castle & GardensOfficial visitor information
Combine a castle visit with the historic town. The castle opens seasonally.
- PetworthPetworth House & ParkNational Trust visitor information
Art, a historic house and parkland beside the town.
Local events beyond the big venues
Look closer to home for library activities, markets, workshops and smaller performances. These links take you to calendars maintained by the organisers or local community services.
Libraries & family activities
Find children’s sessions, talks, reading groups and creative activities. Check whether booking is needed.
Markets & makers
Browse local produce, independent stalls and craft events. Market days and seasonal arrangements vary.
Community & smaller stages
Discover workshops, local gatherings and performances beyond the main touring circuit.
Browse by interest
These sections also contain earlier previews and guides. Check the event year in each article before planning a visit.