Lewes Holiday Lets
We are currently talking to several Lewes holiday homes and apartments about adding them to our selection. If you own a Lewes holiday home and would like to join us, please get in touch.
Lewes is a lovely market town, eight miles from the city of Brighton. It's accessible by rail direct from London, Brighton and Eastbourne, and is nestled in the South Downs National Park.
Places to see in Lewes
Lewes Castle was built in 1069 and the remains of the castle still tower over central Lewes. It and the attached museum are very interesting and the castle is open most of the year, although it is closed occasionally for a few hours as it's a popular wedding venue.
Close to the castle is the modern high street, and Harvey's brewery. The brewery does run tours, but the waiting list is currently over a year long so you'll be better off trying out some of the many fine pubs of Lewes instead, and enjoying the beer without seeing how it is created.
Just outside Lewes is Firle village, and the very impressive Firle Place country house and gardens. The house is open to the public and holds fine furniture, paintings and a beautiful collection of porcelain. The gardens are very beautiful and if you're visiting in the spring or summer are a must.
Bonfire Night in Lewes
On November 5th, Lewes commemorates not only the uncovering of Guy Fawkes and the gunpowder plot, but the memory of seventeen Protestant martyrs from the town who were burnt at the stake for their beliefs during the Marian Persecutions.
The whole town and several local villages turn out to take part in a huge procession of burning torches, explosives and the parading of effigies of Guy Fawkes, Pope Paul V (head of the Catholic church during the Persecutions) and current politicians or TV personalities. These effigies are then burnt at different bonfires around the town.
Bonfire Night in Lewes is a remarkably anarchic night for a town which is usually quiet and genteel. The sight of 5-6 simultaneous firework displays spanning the town, after the massive parade, is amazing and everyone should experience it at least once.
