The Ancient English Town Tourists Always Miss (But Shouldn’t)
Welcome to a journey through one of England’s most enchanting hidden gems, located just a scenic one-hour train ride from London. If you are looking for a place where every cobblestone tells a story, then Lewes is your ultimate destination for a perfect day trip or a long weekend away. Nestled within the rolling hills of the South Downs National Park, Lewes offers a breathtaking blend of medieval history, independent spirit, and stunning Sussex landscapes. In this video, we explore why Lewes remains a must-visit location for history buffs, antique hunters, and anyone looking to escape the modern world for a moment.
The history of this market town is nothing short of epic. Dominating the skyline is Lewes Castle, an imposing Norman fortress built shortly after the Battle of Hastings by William de Warenne. Climbing to the top of its towers gives you a panoramic view of the town that truly puts its strategic importance into perspective. Standing on the battlements, you can see the site of the 1264 Battle of Lewes, where Simon de Montfort took on King Henry III. But the military history is just the beginning. Further down in the valley lie the atmospheric ruins of Lewes Priory, once one of the most significant monastic sites in Europe until it became a victim of Henry VIII’s Dissolution of the Monasteries.
Speaking of the Tudors, no trip here is complete without visiting the Anne of Cleves House. While Henry VIII’s fourth wife never actually lived in this specific timber-framed house, it was given to her as part of her divorce settlement. Today, it stands as a beautifully preserved museum that shows what life was like in the 15th and 16th centuries, complete with a traditional Tudor garden and an authentic ironworking gallery. What makes this location so special isn’t just the long history; it’s the lifestyle. This town is a sanctuary for those who loathe the clone town feel of modern high streets. It is a place of rebellion, art, and incredible local produce.
For collectors, the town is a literal paradise. From the sprawling stalls of the Lewes Antiques Centre to hidden workshops tucked away in the Cliffe, you could spend an entire weekend hunting for Victorian treasures or mid-century gems. The narrow lanes, known locally as Twittens, are home to some of the best independent bookshops in the UK. Whether you’re looking for a rare first edition or a cosy corner to browse new releases, the literary vibe here is unmatched. From the world-famous Harvey’s Brewery to the artisan bakeries, the local pride is palpable. It is also the bonfire capital of the world, culminating on November 5th in a celebration of fire and tradition unlike anything else on Earth.
Whether you’re hiking the surrounding chalk hills or getting lost in the winding medieval streets, there is a certain soul to this place that you won’t find anywhere else. It’s a town that respects its past while maintaining a vibrant, creative present.
Helpful Links:-
https://www.southernrailway.com
Sussex Past – Historical experiences and family days out in Sussex
https://www.lewespriory.org.uk
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00:00 Overview of Lewes
00:39 Getting to Lewes
01:28 Lewes Priory
04:38 Anne of Cleves House
13:02 Southover Grange Gardens
15:13 Keere Street
16:49 15th Century Book Shop
18:15 Bull House Thomas Paine
20:52 Pipe Passage “Twittens”
23:35 Lewes Castle & Museum
29:33 Castle Gate Walk
31:23 Martyrs & Bonfires
32:17 Quirky Shops
34:21 Harvey’s Brewery & Shop
37:20 Lewes Avalache Snowdrop Inn
#lewes #englishtown #englishcountryside
27 Comments
For more medieval towns and cities check out this playlist https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7ZS1Ml0SItTvVq6AUqWzyNj404I0i9tg
Helpful Links:-
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https://sussexpast.co.uk
https://www.lewespriory.org.uk
https://thomaspainelegacy.org
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Lovely town with enchanting views, cobblestone streets, ancient stone houses, manor, garden, Lewes castle, high street, buildings etc just amazing 😊 it's just as u said small town with huge history, love the way u managed with so many places & its wonderful history in one video 💯👌 thank u for sharing ❤ with lots of love & best wishes.
Waters polluted by the monks upstream 😂
This was a great video . Lewes would be a wonderful town to visit . Thank you !
I’ve always been fascinated by old buildings, especially when they’re preserved in close to original condition. Also when they can still be used in modern life. 😃
Oh, thank you both! That was splendid. Lewes looks like a must-see for me. I will definitely go there on my next UK visit (and again– thanks for such a beautiful virtual wander. A perfect break while I rested up from another day to purging and packing to move house!) If you ever visit Canada, I think you'd enjoy Stratford, Ontario.
So interesting to see the Tudor house. Neat boot scraper with convenient location. Thomas Paine, a well known name. Beautiful church organ. Definitely trying a town filled with history. So interesting. The architecture is dirverse. So nice. The castle is unique being on two mounds. Good strategy. Very enjoyable video. So full of history. Thanks much.😊
Poor old Tom Paine certainly shot himself in the foot by publishing an anti-sky-fairy treatise while trying to live in the boogeyman capital of the world! 😱😈
Mathematical tiles are tiles hung on a timber frame to simulate brickwork.
Thank You guys for such an interesting and varied video!
That was some walking you did and we really appreciate your input!
Never knew Lewes was such a beautiful town and area. Absolutely captivating!😊
Fantastic walk around and enjoyed the history lesson. Your channel is fantastic, it's so nice to come across a channel on YouTube that isn't AI voices or loud mouthed Americans .
I really love history. This video really was interesting. We have a old brick building, that no one, in 50 years has money, to be saved. Just a shell. Maybe bricks could go into new buildings like these towns people did. It's not perfect solution, but it is recycling and gives the new buildings a historic story all their own. And the view of Tudor life, the chores to survive, even having to make own fabric dyes, shows they needed many people, to do all that work. Why they needed, so many servants. I always wondered why so many servants. Thanks for explaining.
I love taking a walk around a lovely town with you while learning local history! Anne of Cleves' story is interesting to me and I enjoyed seeing the property, even though she never lived there. She was rejected by Henry, accepted the terms of annulment, and then went on to outlive him and all the other wives. A very fortunate lady in many ways.
Ik heb weer genoten van al het moois. Wat is er in uw land toch veel geschiedenis bewaard gebleven, prachtig om te zien en al uw kennis daarover te horen.❤❤
Such an interesting & beautiful town. Thank you for always letting us go on these enchanting adventures with you!❤❤❤
Fabulous video about one of my favourite towns. Thank you both. I used to live just 45 minutes away by train. Spent many happy times there, whether visiting the castle, the many great pubs, or browsing the antique shops to add to my glass collection. I now live in Cornwall, but went back to Lewes recently for a family wedding in Pelham House. How I wish I was still only a 45 minute rain ride away….
Don't miss the lovely nineteenth century Lewes Prison. A spot of shoplifting should get you a tour of the inside. I had the dubious pleasure of working there for a number of (very long) years.
A very picturesque and historic tour! Many thanks!
🙋♀️🤜🤛🥰🇨🇦
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Another good one 🤜🤛🇨🇦
Another great little gem to explore. Thank you.
27:53 only Council could get away with constructing a 7 storey eyesore in such an historic town
….. whilst dictating planning laws to everyone else 😂
It is good to see history of England. I always enjoy where you are visiting. I am not good at English , but I try to understand it. I am looking forward to the next place.Thank you 😊
Visited there many years ago and loved it. Virginia Wolfe’s house was a treat worth seeing.
You know I've forgotten all about Lewes, and I can't remember ever visiting, which is quite annoying as I used to go to Brighton quite often. Looks like a smashing day or weekend out with loads to see and do – thanks for taking us there – and you had decent weather as well!!
Fantastic video! I know Lewes well and you’ve shown some areas I didn’t even know about!
Beautiful town ❤