Guidebook for Lewes
Drinks & Nightlife
Lovely pub with great ales and food - booking needed for food at weekends, but there's usually a great atmosphere there Fri, Sat night. Sometimes has live music too.
15 locals recommend
The Pelham Arms
High StreetLovely pub with great ales and food - booking needed for food at weekends, but there's usually a great atmosphere there Fri, Sat night. Sometimes has live music too.
Lewes does quieten down in the evenings, but the lamb is one of the places that stays lively later. Most Friday's and Saturday's they'll have a live band. Good lively crowd.
9 locals recommend
The Lamb
10 Fisher StLewes does quieten down in the evenings, but the lamb is one of the places that stays lively later. Most Friday's and Saturday's they'll have a live band. Good lively crowd.
This is a great locals pub, with lovely family and dog friendly atmosphere. The food can be a bit hit and miss, but there's a great atmosphere. Often they have live music, particularly on Monday's when it's usually some live jazz. This is a great pub for lunch at the end of a nice walk.
20 locals recommend
The Snowdrop Inn
119 South StThis is a great locals pub, with lovely family and dog friendly atmosphere. The food can be a bit hit and miss, but there's a great atmosphere. Often they have live music, particularly on Monday's when it's usually some live jazz. This is a great pub for lunch at the end of a nice walk.
The Juggs pub is a historic and well loved pub. A great stopping base for walks on the downs. Family and dog friendly this is a lovely pub for a summers day. The food does vary, we've had some lovely pub grub but also some disappointing Sunday lunches. But for a country pub, the location and atmosphere is great.
Juggs Way
The StreetThe Juggs pub is a historic and well loved pub. A great stopping base for walks on the downs. Family and dog friendly this is a lovely pub for a summers day. The food does vary, we've had some lovely pub grub but also some disappointing Sunday lunches. But for a country pub, the location and atmosphere is great.
One of our favourite pubs. They've got a lovely sun terrace out the back for nice days and do some really nice pub food!
Rights of Man
179 High StOne of our favourite pubs. They've got a lovely sun terrace out the back for nice days and do some really nice pub food!
Food Scene
Very popular and busy, but this is one of Lewes' gems. Great pastries and cakes and lovely lunches. This is a great spot for lunch or afternoon tea - but it does get busy! Quite often queues out the door.
43 locals recommend
Flint Owl Bakery
209 High StVery popular and busy, but this is one of Lewes' gems. Great pastries and cakes and lovely lunches. This is a great spot for lunch or afternoon tea - but it does get busy! Quite often queues out the door.
This is the original Bills and it's in a lovely setting on Cliffe High street opposite the Harvey's brewery so a great spot for lunch or breakfast - especially on a sunny day when you can sit outside. Dog friendly if sitting outside. Gets very busy in the day, but quiet in the evenings.
52 locals recommend
Bill's Lewes Restaurant
56 Cliffe High StThis is the original Bills and it's in a lovely setting on Cliffe High street opposite the Harvey's brewery so a great spot for lunch or breakfast - especially on a sunny day when you can sit outside. Dog friendly if sitting outside. Gets very busy in the day, but quiet in the evenings.
Pizza Express
107 Church RdPrezzo Lewes
173 High StReally nice bistro restaurant. Good coffee and pastry but they do a nice salad, soups etc for lunch too. We've not been, but apparently they do nice meals in the evening too.
11 locals recommend
Le Magasin
Really nice bistro restaurant. Good coffee and pastry but they do a nice salad, soups etc for lunch too. We've not been, but apparently they do nice meals in the evening too.
ASK Italian
46/50 High StThe Real Eating Company
18 Cliffe High StGreat for families and dogs.
Sightseeing
Lewes castle is of course a must see, and very easy to drop by on when you're walking around the town. It's the highest point in Lewes so you can't miss it.
115 locals recommend
Lewes Castle & Museum
169 High StLewes castle is of course a must see, and very easy to drop by on when you're walking around the town. It's the highest point in Lewes so you can't miss it.
This is the perfect spot to drive up to and start a great walk across the South Downs. From here you can easily reach mount caburn and Glynde, or head towards Ringmer way.
6 locals recommend
Lewes Golf Club
Chapel HillThis is the perfect spot to drive up to and start a great walk across the South Downs. From here you can easily reach mount caburn and Glynde, or head towards Ringmer way.
Parks & Nature
This is a lovely conservation area behind the main hustle and bustle of the town centre. Its a good access point for walks along the river Ouse, but is also a nice little area to take children and dogs for the afternoon. We quite often grab a coffee in town and then head here with our dog and son for an explore. There's a small woodland area and plenty of small paths to follow.
11 locals recommend
The Railway Land Wildlife Trust
Railway LaneThis is a lovely conservation area behind the main hustle and bustle of the town centre. Its a good access point for walks along the river Ouse, but is also a nice little area to take children and dogs for the afternoon. We quite often grab a coffee in town and then head here with our dog and son for an explore. There's a small woodland area and plenty of small paths to follow.
A great spot for a walk. Park in one of the country parks and wander around the small streams and rivers. It's a great spot for wild swimming and also have a great pub called The Anchor where you can hire rowing boats.
7 locals recommend
Barcombe Mills
Barcombe Mills RoadA great spot for a walk. Park in one of the country parks and wander around the small streams and rivers. It's a great spot for wild swimming and also have a great pub called The Anchor where you can hire rowing boats.
Arts & Culture
Anne of Cleves House, the name is on the tin. This is a museum now, with a nice tea rooms too so great for a rainy day. Its located on Southover High street which used to be the main high street in town, so there are lots of lovely old houses to look at along this road too. I always like walking along here.
45 locals recommend
Anne of Cleves House
52 Southover High StAnne of Cleves House, the name is on the tin. This is a museum now, with a nice tea rooms too so great for a rainy day. Its located on Southover High street which used to be the main high street in town, so there are lots of lovely old houses to look at along this road too. I always like walking along here.
Historic priory ruins. Lovely to walk around and read the plagues.
7 locals recommend
Lewes Priory Park
Cockshut RoadHistoric priory ruins. Lovely to walk around and read the plagues.
Essentials
There is a very small car park here which is quite often busy. However, don't be fooled and use the public car park directly behind it as this is very expensive. If you can't park then either drive to Tesco's or use one of the other public ones.
150 locals recommend
Waitrose & Partners
130-134 Western RdThere is a very small car park here which is quite often busy. However, don't be fooled and use the public car park directly behind it as this is very expensive. If you can't park then either drive to Tesco's or use one of the other public ones.
3 hours free parking here is also ideal for walking into Lewes. You can exit at the back of the carpark and walk along the river behind the Harvey brewery and you'll come out on Cliffe High street.
14 locals recommend
Tesco Superstore
Brooks Road3 hours free parking here is also ideal for walking into Lewes. You can exit at the back of the carpark and walk along the river behind the Harvey brewery and you'll come out on Cliffe High street.
Getting Around
The main bus station is great for places like Tunbridge wells. No parking here.
However, if you want to get into Brighton there is a stop a few minutes walk from our house on the main Brighton Road opposite Lewes Prison. Buses run very regularly and I think a saver ticket is about £4
Bus Station (Stop C)
The main bus station is great for places like Tunbridge wells. No parking here.
However, if you want to get into Brighton there is a stop a few minutes walk from our house on the main Brighton Road opposite Lewes Prison. Buses run very regularly and I think a saver ticket is about £4