This historic town on the southern coast of England has officially been crowned the prettiest in the UK. Lewes, home to 99,000 -people, is in East Sussex.
Along with a bustling population, it also boasts incredible natural beauty and has beautiful scenery, with South Downs National Park being a vast beauty spot in itself.
The town is also close to miles of unspoilt coastline and beaches – giving it the best of both worlds. The town itself is packed with exciting history and culture and is located just 25 minutes away from Brighton by car and can also be reached quickly by train.
Perfect for those who love the outdoors, this town has a great array of places to stop off for a bite to eat or a drink after a hike.
The town’s prestigious title was highlighted in a TikTok video, labelling Lewes as the prettiest, and Slough in Berkshire as the “ugliest.”
Historians generally agree that Lewes’ name derives from the Old English ‘hlaews’ (‘hills’ or ‘mounds’) as Lewes is built into the slopes either side of the Ouse Valley.
If you plan to visit the area, you should wander around the pretty streets before visiting the gardens. Southover Grange Gardens is a site worth visiting – the land was once a private garden which was originally built 1542, but it is now open to the public.
One visitor on TripAdvisor said: “I have been visiting the Grange Gardens in Lewes for twenty years and I must say over the last two years it’s never looked so beautiful. Peaceful, tranquil and maintained to an extremely high standard, the gardener who maintains it is friendly and informative.”
The area is also home to an impressive castle, the Norman castle was built after the Battle of Hastings and has panoramic views of Sussex.
One visitor on Tripadvisor said: “This is a lovely castle! As you enter through a gate there is a wide open green where they had set up crafts for children.
“You then head to the back left and climb up stairs before being able to play dress up. With quite a few more stairs you can get a lovely view of Lewes. This really is quite a lovely castle and the £10 entrance fee was worth it.”
Lewes offers both the countryside and the coast and with an exciting hub in the town centre – it’s the perfect place for an autumn day trip.