Days out from London, reviewed honestly
Every castle, garden, village and viewpoint on this blog is somewhere Doru Constantinescu and the drivers actually go. When a place is a tourist trap, we say so. When it is worth the tank of petrol and the early start, we say that too.
GUIDE No. 14 · CASTLES · EAST SUSSEX
Bodiam Castle: the one that looks like a child drew it, in a good way
Verdict: worth it, before 11am
Castles
the ones worth the moatBodiam Castleworth it, before 11am
Leeds Castlemixed, read before you book
Hever Castleworth it, do the gardens first
Scotney Castleworth it, quiet even in August
Gardens
green, and honest about the entry feeSissinghurstworth it, weekday in June
Great Dixterworth it for garden lovers
RHS Wisleyworth it, pre-book and go early
Villages
chocolate box, or chocolate trapRyeworth it, a proper half-day
Castle Combegorgeous, but plan around it
Lavenhamworth it, quieter than the Cotswolds
Viewpoints
worth the climb, or notBox Hillworth it, on a clear morning
Devil's Dykeworth it, dress for the wind
Leith Hillworth the climb, if the tower's open
the no-driving version
Some readers do this as a driven day trip: picked up in London, at the gates before the coaches, the good lunch spot booked, home by six. The car waits, nobody checks the parking app. We run these through Klass Chauffeur, the sister firm that keeps this blog going.
Book the driven version
Any of these days out, done for you: picked up in London, at the gates before the coaches, home by evening. Send the date and you get a fixed price back within the hour.