Cool Things to do this Summer

Maize Mazes and sunflower patches are a firm summer favourite in West Sussex. In the Maize Maze at Cowdray Estate, Midhurst or Bignor's Sunflower Maze during August, quite literally lose yourselves amid dead ends and twisting pathways of the maze, with childrens' activities to enjoy along the way. You can take home a beautiful bunch of sunny blooms from the picking patch as a souvenir at both Mazes, as well as at...

Witness the thrill of a medieval jousting tournament at Loxwood Joust. Expect to encounter medieval characters from knights and and royalty to witches and woodland folk and explore a world of entertainment this summer. Spectacular jousting tournaments are accompanied by intense combat displays, majestic birds of prey and historical re-enactments  as well as a bustling marketplace and plenty of feasting. This is an unforgettable day out for everyone, from the young to the young at heart. New for this year, extend your medieval adventure with new on-site camping pitches.

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.

Swoop into Tangmere Military Aviation Museum's annual family fun day on 3rd August. Tickets to the day include exploring the museum with its abundant and awe inspiring treasures, big and small. Families can explore open cockpits, simulators (adults), emergency vehicles, face painting, balloon animals, caricatures and much, much more. Children under 5 are free of charge.

Adventures in time await at Chichester Cathedral. Celebrating 950 years of this iconic building as the beating heart of West Sussex's county capital, the Cathedral has a huge programme of events for you to enjoy. A family trail invites young visitors to follow Wilfrid the Seal as he uncovers some of the extraordinary characters that make up the Cathedral's heritage, as well as fascinating objects and artefacts which form the Religion, Rebellion & Reformation exhibition.

RNLI Selsey has a host of activities planned for 2025's 'Lifeboat Week' at Selsey Lifeboat Station. The week kicks off with the much-loved Lifeboat day on Sunday 3rd August where you'll see the Lifeboats in action on the water, as well as watching the kayak racing, enjoying live music and a funfair.

Whether you're an outdoors adventurer looking to explore the stunning Sussex coast on or in the water, or prefer something a little more serene, the unspoilt West Sussex coastline awaits. You'll find a huge choice of experiences to be had from family sailing tuition and wind surf lessons, to near-silent boat tours of Chichester Harbour. We love the Sunset Paddle trip at Chichester Harbour by Fluid Adventures which use double sit-on kayaks making it perfect for a trip with friends or family as you witness a Sussex sunset against this beautiful backdrop. Families can learn to sail together at Cobnor Activities Centre. In Hawk 20 Keelboats, up to five of you can get to grips with the basics of sailing with your own dedicated instructor.

Adventures under canvas offer a extra level of freedom and connect you with nature like no other stay. Choose a campsite where you can wake to the sound of birdsong, toast marshmallows over the fire and sit back and gaze at starry Sussex skies. Additional creature comforts can be found in ready-assembled yurts at a variety of campsites like Wild Combe and Woodfire, where phenomenal feasting is also the order of the day. Lordington Park Campsite even has a tearoom! Whether you choose to pitch up for a night or two or escape for a longer break, maybe 2024 is your year to conquer camping? Explore the wide range of welcoming campsites here.

Children of all ages will love meeting some of West Sussex's farm friends. Meet Slow Grown Farm's woodland pigs and herd of cows as they graze in peaceful West Sussex meadows and learn about the farm's approach to farming that's all about animal welfare and the environment. More farmyard fun awaits at Northlands Farm Summer Festival where families will love getting lost in a hay bale maze, hopping aboard tractor rides and meeting the resident guinea pigs, sheep, donkeys, alpacas and chickens. 

The summer, one of West Sussex's most popular cycle routes will open a new extension, allowing you explore more beautiful scenery from two wheels. The Centurion Way cycle route is an off-road flat route perfect for all abilities and bikes. It currently runs for 9km trail from Chichester to West Dean via the village of Lavant on a section of a former railway line. The site of the line is marked by the 'Chichester Road Gang' - a group of sculptures made from empty oxygen cylinders by David Kemp. Later this summer a new extension will take you even further, connecting the path to the village of Singleton. Centurion Way also features an easy-access section of 1.5km with a wheelchair ramp for access to the village of West Dean. At West Dean you'll find The Selsey Arms, and West Dean Stores and Tearoom perfectly positioned for refuelling pitstops.

Quite literally a cool thing to do, the South Downs Planetarium has a fantastic programme of summer shows exploring planets, stars, moon and galaxies. The darkened interior of the Planetarium will whisk you away on hot summer days, to explore the night sky. An expert presenter will guide you on your explorations as you're immersed in the full-dome show. There's a variety of shows this summer which investigate the Milky Way, summertime stars, moons and planets, and even shooting stars. Explore the