Plan a Sensational Sussex Summer
Whether you're filling up the school holidays with day trips or maximising your summer break for long lasting memories, you'll want to keep this list handy, along with your rain coat and sun cream, ready to cope with whatever our great British summer conjures up!
ELMER’S ART PARADE, PETWORTH HOUSE
Come and see Elmer the patchwork elephant and his colourful friends dotted around the beautiful pleasure grounds of Petworth House. These eye catching elephants are all inspired by well-known artists including Yayoi Kusama, Frida Kahlo, William Morris and JMW Turner. Will you be able to pick a favourite? The usual National Trust entrance fee applies, but no further charge for the trail map. Running now until 3rd September, 10-5pm daily, cafe on site for the all-important ice creams.
TO KNOW ABOUT WOMEN: EVE ARNOLD
Newlands House Gallery in Petworth opens the UK’s first introspective in ten years of the ground breaking Eve Arnold, the 20th Century photographer who captured some of the world’s most recognisable faces and was Marilyn Monroe’s long-standing photographer.
General admission 16yrs + £14.50/child over 10 £7.25 (under 10s free of charge)
WONDERFUL WATERY FUN AT COBNOR ACTIVITES CENTRE
There's a huge variety of activities to entertain the children from the ages of 8 to 15 at Cobnor Activities Centre on the edge of Chichester Harbour from summer camps right through to sailing tuition. We love the Weekend Paddle Club in either a kayak or open top canoe. 3 hours of tuition in beautiful Chichester Harbour is a perfect introduction to kayaking and great for a family or group activity, and a fabulous way to explore this stunning location. Prices from £35 per person, wet suits and buoyancy aids provided.
WALK ON THE WILD SIDE
Join the team of deer rangers for a half day at Sky Park Farm throughout July and August. Two sessions run each day (09:30 – 12:30 and 13:30 – 16:30) and are recommended for children 5 to 12 years. Choose from themes like Wild Food & Venison which has a food focus, Slingshots, Bows and Arrows which involves tracking, den building, s’more toasting and a look at primitive hunting, and Twilight Evenings, which sees children encountering wildlife by the magic of dusk, s’mores by the campfire, and learning outdoor skills. £38 per child.
SUN-SATIONAL SUNGAZING
Join the South Downs Astronomical Society at RSPB Pagham Harbour for spot of Sungazing. View the sun via specialist equipment for viewing the sun safely, seeing activity on the surface such as sunspots and solar flares. £3 per person
SET UP ROMAN CAMP
March along to Bignor Roman Villa with its stunning mosaics and soak up the beautiful South Downs setting, then make your visit even more memorable with a night's camping at the onsite camp site. You'll wake to views the Roman's might have enjoyed.
A visit to the Roman Villa costs £10 for Adults / Children under 5 free / Children under 16 £7. Camping pitch fees £15 per person per night / Children aged 6 - 12 years £7.50 per night (Under 5s free of charge).
SEE THE SELSEY LIFEBOATS IN ACTION
Selsey's RNLI lifeboats annual Lifeboat Day takes place on Sunday 6th August.
The culmination of a week of celebrations raising money for the RNLI, Lifeboat Day is full of events including an exciting demonstration by Selsey Lifeboats, the Coast Guard and visiting Lifeboat crews, plus there will be stalls, fun fair and a paddle board and raft race.
BLOOMING MARVELLOUS FUN
Wind your way around a Maize Maze and pick your own stunning Sunflowers at Cowdray Estate's very first Sunflower Patch in Midhurst. Open from 9th August – 3rd September this is a fun family trail teaching children about farming and animals, with stamps to collect along the way. A proportion of the sale of sunflowers will be donated to Ukraine Sunflower Aid. £5 per person
You can also pick your own Sunflowers at Bignor during August, where there's also a maze to navigate. Secateurs at the ready! Entry is £5 per person with under 5's free and sunflower stems charged at £1 per stem.
FABULOUS FORAGING
On a Mid Summer Foraging Walk, 29th July (10am-12.30pm) Estate Forager, George Linklater will guide you on a walk where you'll learn about identification and uses of a range of wild vegetables and herbs. This is a fantastic time to forage and identify a huge variety of wild edibles including types of mushroom, yarrow and marjoram. £35 per person
THE HILLS ARE ALIVE
See Rodgers & Hammerstein’s classic Sound of Music for the first time in Chichester at Chichester Festival Theatre. The glorious score is full of familiar delights, from Climb Ev’ry Mountain, My Favourite Things and Edelweiss to Do-Re-Mi and The Sound of Music itself. On stage from 10th July – 3rd September. Tickets start from £10 with various price brackets and family tickets available on some performances.
SUMMER LATES AT PALLANT HOUSE
Enjoy a summer evening in one of Chichester’s beautiful hidden spaces – Pallant House Gallery’s courtyard. The Gallery will be open until 8pm every Thursday evening this summer with the courtyard cafe serving drinks. You can enjoy the Gallery after hours with half-price admission too – the current exhibition features Gwen John. On the first Thursday of every month there will be live music in the courtyard plus creative workshops and talks every other Thursday. Usual admission is £14 for adults and under 18s are free.
UNDER THE SEA
Discover the treasures that lie on Selsey's shores on a Marine Life Walk. Come armed with an inquisitive pair of eyes, a camera and lots of questions as you learn how to seek out the marine residents with Anya Frampton of Mulberry Marine Experiences. Runs on various dates during the summer, advance booking required. £15 per person.
Discover more inspiration for great things to do in Sussex in our Top Tens or explore Things to Do