Lewes Castle
South Downs National Park
What is it?
An imposing Norman castle, right in the centre of the historic town of Lewes.
Why it is special?
The castle towers over and offers great views of the market town of Lewes and the surrounding South Downs countryside.
Work on the castle began not long after 1066, it was William de Warenne’s Sussex stronghold. It was finished 300 years later with the building of the magnificent Barbican.
Tell us something we didn’t know
A later owner of the castle was Thomas Read Kemp. A local MP and property speculator, Kemp designed Kemp Town in Brighton, which became a fashionable area and home to author Lewis Carrol.
What else can I do there?
Lewes Castle hosts a variety of musical and theatrical events throughout the summer. You can also experience 'hands-on' history, dress up in costume or even fire a crossbow.
Next door you’ll find the Barbican House Museum which houses Sussex Archaeological Society’s collections, a specialist bookshop and a ‘medieval Lewes’ exhibition.
Sussex Archaeological Society - Lewes Castle
How to get there
Located in the centre Lewes off the High Street, the castle is a few minutes' walk from both the bus and railway stations. There are regular trains from Brighton, Eastbourne, Hastings and London.
By road, Lewes is accessed from the A27, A26 and A275.
