East Sussex facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
East Sussex
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The Seven Sisters cliffs, Mountfield church, and the Royal Pavilion, Brighton
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| Sovereign state | United Kingdom | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Constituent country | England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Region | South East England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Established |
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| Time zone | UTC±00:00 (Greenwich Mean Time) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+01:00 (British Summer Time) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Members of Parliament | 8 MPs | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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East Sussex is a county in South East England. It shares borders with Kent to the north-east, West Sussex to the west, and Surrey to the north-west. To the south, it meets the English Channel.
The biggest city in East Sussex is Brighton and Hove. The main county town is Lewes. The county covers about 1,792 km2 (692 sq mi) and has over 820,000 people. Most people live along the coast in towns like Brighton and Hove, Eastbourne, and Hastings. The middle and northern parts of the county are mostly countryside.
The north-east of East Sussex is part of the Weald. This area was once a huge forest. The highest point here is Crowborough Hill, which is 242 m (794 ft) tall. The south-west of the county has the South Downs. These are rolling hills made of chalk. Ditchling Beacon is the highest point at 248 m (814 ft). Where these hills meet the sea, they form tall cliffs like the Seven Sisters. East Sussex does not have very large rivers. The main rivers are the Rother, Cuckmere, and Ouse.
Contents
History of East Sussex
East Sussex is part of the historic area called Sussex. This area was once the ancient kingdom of the South Saxons. They settled here in the 5th century AD, after the Romans left. Many old remains have been found, especially in the hilly areas.
Because it is on the coast, many invaders came here. These included the Romans and later the Normans. In the past, important jobs included fishing, making iron, and trading wool. These jobs are not as common today.
How East Sussex is Governed
East and West Sussex used to be one large area. In 1889, they became two separate areas, each with its own elected council. East Sussex also had three self-governing towns: Brighton, Eastbourne, and Hastings.
In 1974, East Sussex became a "non-metropolitan" and "ceremonial" county. The three self-governing towns became districts within the county. In 1997, Brighton and Hove became a special self-governing area called a unitary authority. It was given city status in 2000. It is still part of the ceremonial county of East Sussex.
The area managed by the East Sussex County Council is split into five local government districts. Three are large countryside areas: Lewes, Wealden, and Rother. Eastbourne and Hastings are mostly city areas.
Geography and Landscape
Geology and Landforms
East Sussex is part of the southern hills of the Weald. The South Downs are chalk hills that run across the southern part of the county. To the north are valleys and ridges, with the highest being the Weald itself. The sandy and clay areas meet the sea at Hastings. The Downs meet the sea at Beachy Head. This is a famous cliff that is 162 m (531 ft) high.
Climate and Weather
East Sussex gets a lot of sunshine, like most places on the south coast. It has about 1,750 hours of sunshine each year. This is much more than the average for the whole UK.
Rivers and Hills
The landscape of the county matches its geology. The chalk hills of the South Downs are along the coast between Brighton and Eastbourne. Rivers like the Ouse and Cuckmere flow through gaps in these hills. The Seven Sisters are cliffs where old dry valleys meet the sea.
East of Beachy Head are the Pevensey Levels, which used to be flooded by the sea. At Bexhill, the land rises again where the sands and clays of the Weald meet the sea. Further east are the Pett Levels, which are more marshland. Beyond that is the mouth of the River Rother. The highest point in the Downs in East Sussex is Ditchling Beacon, at 248 m (814 ft).
The Weald is in the northern part of the county. Between the Downs and the Weald is lower land. Many rivers start in the Weald. The High Weald has many trees, unlike the South Downs. Part of the Weald is the Ashdown Forest.
Towns and Villages
The towns and villages in East Sussex grew based on history and geography. Early towns were where people fished along the coast or farmed and mined iron in the Weald. Today, many jobs are related to tourism, especially along the coast. Towns like Bexhill-on-Sea, Eastbourne, and Hastings are popular tourist spots.
Newhaven and Rye are ports. Rye is also important for its history. Away from the coast, you'll find market towns like Hailsham, Heathfield, and Uckfield. Crowborough is a main town for the Ashdown Forest area. Lewes is the county town. Battle is famous for its connection to the Norman Conquest.
Economy and Jobs
East Sussex is not a major manufacturing or industrial area. Most registered companies are in "construction" or "real estate." Many people who live in Brighton and Hove, Eastbourne, and Hastings travel to London for work or work from home for companies outside the county.
In 2022, there were over 1,700 farms in East Sussex. They employed more than 4,000 people. Livestock grazing, especially sheep, covers almost 40% of the farmed land. Fishing is still done, especially at Rye and Hastings, but with fewer boats than in the past.
Famous Landmarks
The Seven Sisters Park is part of the South Downs National Park. Beachy Head is one of the most famous local sights.
East Sussex has many historical landmarks. There are castles at Bodiam, Herstmonceux, Lewes, and Pevensey. You can also see old defence structures like the Martello towers. Battle Abbey was built to remember the Battle of Hastings. Bateman's was the home of writer Rudyard Kipling. The De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill-on-Sea is a famous building.
East Sussex also has two large chalk figures carved into hillsides: the Litlington White Horse and the Long Man of Wilmington.
Transport and Travel
Roads
East Sussex does not have motorways. There are not many dual carriageways either. The main roads connect the county to London. These include the A21 to Hastings, the A22 to Eastbourne, and the A23 to Brighton. Other roads connect different parts of the county and the south coast. Many main roads can get very busy.
Buses serve all the main towns and many villages.
Railways
Trains connect the main towns, similar to the roads. In the past, many smaller train lines served rural areas. Most of these were closed. Today, only main lines remain. These include the East Coastway Line, the Hastings line, and the Uckfield branch of the Oxted Line.
There are also three special heritage railways:
Train services are run by companies like Southern, Southeastern, Thameslink, and Great Western Railway.
Airports and Ferries
East Sussex does not have airports with regular flights. Gatwick Airport is close by and easy to reach. There are three small airfields for private planes and flying schools.
A ferry goes from Newhaven to Dieppe in France. It runs daily and takes both cars and people.
Walking Paths
East Sussex has many long-distance walking paths. Some popular ones include the South Downs Way, the 1066 Country Walk, and the Saxon Shore Way.
Education and Learning
The Universities of Sussex and Brighton are located in East Sussex. They have campuses in Brighton, Falmer, and Hastings.
There are over 150 primary schools in the area. More than 50 secondary schools serve East Sussex. This includes colleges for further education in larger towns. Some independent boarding schools are also in the county, like Brighton College and Roedean.
Culture and Arts
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East Sussex has many theatres and places for performances. These include the Theatre Royal and Brighton Dome in Brighton. Eastbourne has the Royal Hippodrome Theatre. Hastings has the White Rock Theatre. The yearly Glyndebourne Festival Opera happens near Lewes. The Brighton Festival is a big arts festival held every May.
There are many museums and art galleries. Some well-known ones are the Brighton Museum & Art Gallery, the Hove Museum of Creativity, and the Hastings Museum and Art Gallery. Charleston Farmhouse near Lewes shows art from the Bloomsbury Group. The De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill-on-Sea has a modern art gallery. The Towner Eastbourne gallery hosted the Turner Prize in 2023.
Tourism and Fun Things to Do
Coastal towns like Brighton and Hove, Bexhill-on-Sea, Hastings, and Eastbourne attract many visitors. People come to enjoy the beaches in summer. Brighton and Hove have many attractions, including the Royal Pavilion. This amazing building was a seaside home for King George IV. The Brighton i360 is a tall observation tower on the seafront. It gives great views of the area.
Brighton Palace Pier, Eastbourne Pier, and Hastings Pier are popular places for entertainment. Many other piers from the past no longer exist.
Other important places to visit include Ashdown Forest, Drusillas Zoo Park near Alfriston, and Michelham Priory. The county has two narrow-gauge railways: the Hastings Miniature Railway and Volk's Electric Railway. Volk's Electric Railway is the oldest working electric railway in the world. Many castles also attract visitors.
Annual events bring tourists to the county. Brighton Pride is one of the UK's biggest pride events. The London to Brighton Veteran Car Run is the world's longest-running car event. Cars must be very old (built before 1905) to take part.
Many interesting towns and villages are great for exploring by car. These include Alfriston, Battle, Ditchling, Herstmonceux (with its castle), Lewes, Rottingdean, and Rye.
Traditions and Celebrations
The Lewes Bonfire is a big celebration held on Guy Fawkes Night. It remembers the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. It also honours the Lewes Martyrs, who were Protestants burned at the stake long ago. This event attracts thousands of people every year. Many other bonfire societies exist in East Sussex.
Sports in East Sussex
Football
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. is the most successful football club in East Sussex. They play in the top league, the Premier League. They also played in the 2023–24 UEFA Europa League. The oldest club in East Sussex is Eastbourne Town F.C., started in 1881.
Lewes F.C. is a semi-professional club. Their men's team plays in the Isthmian League. They also have a very successful women's team. In 2023–24, the women's team played in the second-tier Women's Championship.
Cricket
Cricket started in counties like Kent, Surrey, and Sussex. East Sussex does not have its own cricket team. It joins with West Sussex to form the Sussex County Cricket Club. They play matches in both East and West Sussex. There are about 25 local cricket clubs in East Sussex.
Rugby
East Sussex has around 15 rugby clubs. Many of them have several teams, including women's and girls' teams. Seaford Rugby Club is special because its home games are played below sea level!
Cycling
The 1994 Tour de France had a stage that ended in Brighton. It included a tough climb over Ditchling Beacon. The hilly landscape of the Downs is great for cyclists. There are at least eight cycling clubs in East Sussex.
Golf
East Sussex has 42 golf courses. Many are on the downland hills. Four of these are public courses, while the rest are private clubs or resorts.
Other Sports
Other popular sports in East Sussex include sailing, bowls, and tennis.
See also
In Spanish: Sussex Oriental para niños
