# East Dean Staycation Guide — Where to Stay & What to Do > Explore East Dean, West Sussex — a South Downs village of flint cottages and a duck pond, minutes from Chichester and Goodwood. Source: https://staycation.co.uk/east-dean-west-sussex (Staycation.co.uk). Cite the source page, not this text version. A chalk-valley village at the foot of the South Downs Photo © steven middleditch, Google Maps [Guide](https://staycation.co.uk/east-dean-west-sussex) [🏨 Hotels](https://staycation.co.uk/east-dean-west-sussex/hotels) [🏡 Cottages](https://staycation.co.uk/east-dean-west-sussex/cottages) [⛺ Camping](https://staycation.co.uk/east-dean-west-sussex/camping) [🎟️ Attractions](https://staycation.co.uk/east-dean-west-sussex/attractions) [🍽️ Restaurants](https://staycation.co.uk/east-dean-west-sussex/restaurants) East Dean is a small village tucked into a fold of the South Downs in West Sussex, around five and a half miles north-northeast of Chichester. It sits on a quiet lane linking Singleton on the A286 to Upwaltham on the A285, with the Goodwood Estate less than two miles away. There is no through traffic to speak of, just chalk downland, beech hangers and sheep pasture pressing in on every side. At the heart of the village is a pond and green ringed by houses built in the local vernacular of knapped flint and red brick, several dating back to the Middle Ages. The 13th-century All Saints Church looks down over the green, and the whole scene has the settled, unhurried look of a village that has changed very little in outline for several hundred years, even as Goodwood's motorsport and horseracing crowds pass close by. ## Getting to East Dean East Dean is reached via minor roads off the A286 (through Singleton) or the A285 (via Upwaltham), both of which connect to Chichester to the south. Chichester railway station, on the London Victoria to Portsmouth line via Barnham, is the nearest mainline station, with a onward drive or taxi needed to complete the journey into the downland lane network. There is no direct bus service into the village itself, so a car is the practical way to arrive, though the surrounding lanes are popular with cyclists. ## Best time to visit East Dean Late spring and summer bring long evenings on the green and easy walking conditions on the chalk paths, while the Goodwood Festival of Speed (July) and Goodwood Revival (September) draw crowds to the estate next door, so book accommodation well ahead if visiting for either event. Autumn brings good colour in Charlton Forest and quieter lanes, and even in winter the downland walking stays firm underfoot thanks to the chalk. ## Where to stay in East Dean [All hotels in East Dean →](https://staycation.co.uk/east-dean-west-sussex/hotels) About staying in East Dean Hotel choice directly in East Dean is very limited, with the handful of guest rooms above the Star & Garter pub on the green being the only accommodation actually in the village. The 18th-century flint-and-brick free house offers a small number of rooms alongside its restaurant, making it a characterful if compact base for a night or two of downland walking, with the added draw of Goodwood Estate less than two miles away for racing, motorsport or golf. Most visitors looking for a wider choice of hotels use East Dean as a day-trip or drive-through destination and base themselves instead in Chichester, around six miles to the south, which has a good spread of hotels, inns and B&Bs along with its cathedral, Georgian streets and Festival Theatre. Midhurst and Petworth to the north also offer historic coaching inns and boutique stays within easy striking distance of East Dean and the wider South Downs National Park. Wherever you stay, East Dean itself makes a rewarding stop for a walk around the pond and green, a look at All Saints Church, and a meal at the Star & Garter before heading on. [Tiger Inn The Green, Eastbourne](https://staycation.co.uk/eastbourne/hotels/tiger-inn) [Downs Edge Anex Holywell Road, Eastbourne](https://staycation.co.uk/eastbourne/hotels/downs-edge-anex) [Beachy Rise 5 Beachy Head Road, Eastbourne](https://staycation.co.uk/eastbourne/hotels/beachy-rise) [The Pilot Inn 89 Meads Street, Eastbourne](https://staycation.co.uk/eastbourne/hotels/the-pilot-inn) [Saltmarsh East Dean Road, West Dean](https://staycation.co.uk/west-dean/hotels/saltmarsh) [The Lamb Inn 36 High Street, Eastbourne](https://staycation.co.uk/eastbourne/hotels/the-lamb-inn) [The Manse B&B 7 Dittons Road, Eastbourne](https://staycation.co.uk/eastbourne/hotels/the-manse-b-b) [7.9 ★★★3 star Hydro Hotel Eastbourne Western seafront, Mount Road from £95/night](https://staycation.co.uk/eastbourne/hotels/hydro-hotel-eastbourne) ## Things to Do in East Dean [All attractions in East Dean →](https://staycation.co.uk/east-dean-west-sussex/attractions) Top things to do in East Dean East Dean rewards walkers and anyone happy to potter rather than sightsee, with some genuinely well-known Downland attractions within easy reach. - **South Downs National Park walking** — miles of footpaths and bridleways rise straight from the village onto open chalk downland, with the Monarch's Way passing just to the south. - **Goodwood Estate** — under two miles away, home to Goodwood House, the racecourse, motor circuit and golf courses, and host to the Festival of Speed and Goodwood Revival. - **Charlton Forest** — a large tract of mixed woodland just north of East Dean, good for longer forest walks and cycling away from the open downland. - **All Saints Church** — the 13th-century parish church on the green, one of the oldest buildings in the village. - **Chichester** — the cathedral city is a short drive south, with its Roman and Georgian heritage, cathedral and the Festival Theatre. [Birling Gap ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/east-dean-west-sussex/attractions/birling-gap) [The Art House ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/east-dean-west-sussex/attractions/the-art-house) [Cineworld Eastbourne ⭐ 4.1](https://staycation.co.uk/east-dean-west-sussex/attractions/cineworld-eastbourne) [Boom Battle Bar Eastbourne ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/east-dean-west-sussex/attractions/boom-battle-bar-eastbourne) [Leos Play Den ⭐ 3.4](https://staycation.co.uk/east-dean-west-sussex/attractions/leos-play-den) [Tenpin Eastbourne ⭐ 4.1](https://staycation.co.uk/east-dean-west-sussex/attractions/tenpin-eastbourne) [Blue Lagoon Centre ⭐ 4.4](https://staycation.co.uk/east-dean-west-sussex/attractions/blue-lagoon-centre) [Treasure Island Eastbourne ⭐ 4.2](https://staycation.co.uk/east-dean-west-sussex/attractions/treasure-island-eastbourne) ## Where to Eat in East Dean [All restaurants in East Dean →](https://staycation.co.uk/east-dean-west-sussex/restaurants) Food and drink in East Dean The Star & Garter is the village's one significant food and drink stop, an 18th-century flint-and-brick free house on the green with a walled garden, log fire and a menu built around local, seasonal produce and seafood, alongside a handful of guest rooms. Beyond the pub, options thin out quickly, and most visitors head into Chichester or across to Midhurst for a wider choice. [Red Elephant Siam ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/east-dean-west-sussex/restaurants/red-elephant-siam) [🍽️Restaurant Birling Gap Cafe National Trust](https://staycation.co.uk/east-dean-west-sussex/restaurants/birling-gap-cafe-national-trust) [Touts @ Belle Tout Lighthouse ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/east-dean-west-sussex/restaurants/touts-belle-tout-lighthouse) [EL CHANGARRO ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/east-dean-west-sussex/restaurants/el-changarro) [🍽️Restaurant The Living Life Hub](https://staycation.co.uk/east-dean-west-sussex/restaurants/the-living-life-hub) [Green Street Kitchen ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/east-dean-west-sussex/restaurants/green-street-kitchen) [The Two Bulls Steakhouse ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/east-dean-west-sussex/restaurants/the-two-bulls-steakhouse) [Black Cat Tea Rooms ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/east-dean-west-sussex/restaurants/black-cat-tea-rooms) ## Attractions Near East Dean [All attractions in East Dean →](https://staycation.co.uk/attractions) Worth the trip — within 50 miles of East Dean. [1 mi Birling Gap Eastbourne · ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/eastbourne/attractions/birling-gap) [3 mi The Art House Eastbourne · ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/eastbourne/attractions/the-art-house) [3 mi Cineworld Eastbourne Eastbourne · ⭐ 4.1](https://staycation.co.uk/eastbourne/attractions/cineworld-eastbourne) [3 mi Boom Battle Bar Eastbourne Eastbourne · ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/eastbourne/attractions/boom-battle-bar-eastbourne) [4 mi Leos Play Den Eastbourne · ⭐ 3.4](https://staycation.co.uk/eastbourne/attractions/leos-play-den) [4 mi Tenpin Eastbourne Eastbourne · ⭐ 4.1](https://staycation.co.uk/eastbourne/attractions/tenpin-eastbourne) [4 mi Blue Lagoon Centre Eastbourne · ⭐ 4.4](https://staycation.co.uk/eastbourne/attractions/blue-lagoon-centre) [4 mi Treasure Island Eastbourne Eastbourne · ⭐ 4.2](https://staycation.co.uk/eastbourne/attractions/treasure-island-eastbourne) ## Camping in East Dean [All campsites in East Dean →](https://staycation.co.uk/east-dean-west-sussex/camping) About camping in East Dean East Dean sits inside the South Downs National Park, a landscape of open chalk downland, beech hangers and quiet farmland that draws walkers and campers throughout the year. As with everywhere else in England, wild camping is not legally permitted without the landowner's express permission, so anyone wanting to sleep out under the stars here needs to book a proper campsite or glamping pitch rather than pitching up on open access land. The terrain around East Dean is classic rolling chalk downland, with steep-sided dry valleys, close-cropped turf on the open hilltops and denser woodland in tracts like nearby Charlton Forest. That mix makes for varied, well-drained walking and cycling country, though the chalk paths can turn slippery after heavy rain, and shelter from the wind on the open ridges is scarce, so a well-pitched tent and decent kit matter more here than the modest hill heights might suggest. Late spring through early autumn is the most comfortable season for camping in this part of West Sussex, with long daylight hours for walking from the pitch and generally settled weather, though the Downs can still turn cool and damp overnight even in summer. Campsites tend to fill up fastest around the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July and the Goodwood Revival in September, both held barely two miles from East Dean, so early booking is worthwhile if a visit coincides with either event. For those who prefer more comfort than a tent allows, glamping sites scattered across the wider South Downs National Park offer bell tents, shepherd's huts and pods with proper beds and cooking facilities, letting visitors enjoy the same chalk-downland scenery and Goodwood-adjacent location without needing to carry or pitch their own gear. [Wayfaring Farm Camping ⭐ 5.0](https://staycation.co.uk/filching/camping/wayfaring-farm-camping-filching) [Bramley Park Camping ⭐ 4.7 · from £30/night](https://staycation.co.uk/polegate/camping/bramley-park-camping) [Alfriston Glamping ⭐ 4.4 · from £200/night](https://staycation.co.uk/alfriston/camping/alfriston-glamping) [Alfriston Camping Park ⭐ 4.4 · from £18/night](https://staycation.co.uk/eastbourne/camping/alfriston-camping-park) [Sharnfold Farm ⭐ 4.2 · from £35/night](https://staycation.co.uk/pevensey/camping/sharnfold-farm) [Sunnyside Park ⭐ 4.4](https://staycation.co.uk/east-sussex/camping/sunnyside-park) [Peel House Farm ⭐ 4.3 · from £35/night](https://staycation.co.uk/polegate/camping/peel-house-farm) [⛺Campsite Peel House Farm Caravan Park](https://staycation.co.uk/hailsham/camping/peel-house-farm-caravan-park) ## Self-Catering Cottages in East Dean [All cottages in East Dean →](https://staycation.co.uk/east-dean-west-sussex/cottages) [🏡Cottage Beachy Barn 3 bed · sleeps 6 · from £832](https://staycation.co.uk/wealden/cottages/beachy-barn-ukc6126) [🏡Cottage Chestnut Lodge 3 bed · sleeps 5 · from £807](https://staycation.co.uk/wealden/cottages/chestnut-lodge-ukc6128) [🏡Cottage Fig Cottage 2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £792](https://staycation.co.uk/wealden/cottages/fig-cottage-ukc6129) [🏡Cottage Folly Cottage 2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £792](https://staycation.co.uk/wealden/cottages/folly-cottage-ukc6130) [🏡Cottage Giddy Cottage 2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £777](https://staycation.co.uk/wealden/cottages/giddy-cottage-ukc6127) [🏡Cottage Hop Cottage 1 bed · sleeps 2 · from £652](https://staycation.co.uk/wealden/cottages/hop-cottage-ukc6134) [🏡Cottage Little Scarlett 1 bed · sleeps 2 · from £652](https://staycation.co.uk/wealden/cottages/little-scarlett-ukc6132) [🏡Cottage Thyme Cottage 3 bed · sleeps 6 · from £832](https://staycation.co.uk/wealden/cottages/thyme-cottage-ukc6131) ### 🏨 Find Hotels in East Dean Search hotels, B&Bs and self-catering on Booking.com. [Search Accommodation →](https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-101762279-15734754?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.booking.com%2Fsearchresults.en-gb.html%3Fss%3DEast%2BDean%252C%2BUnited%2BKingdom) Affiliate link ### Explore East Dean - [🏨 Hotels & B&Bs](https://staycation.co.uk/east-dean-west-sussex/hotels) - [🏡 Cottages](https://staycation.co.uk/east-dean-west-sussex/cottages) - [⛺ Campsites & glamping](https://staycation.co.uk/east-dean-west-sussex/camping) - [🎟️ Attractions](https://staycation.co.uk/east-dean-west-sussex/attractions) - [🍽️ Restaurants](https://staycation.co.uk/east-dean-west-sussex/restaurants) ## Staycation ideas for East Dean [All staycation ideas →](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas) [The Best Last-Minute UK Staycations Six well-connected UK towns and cities worth booking at short notice, chosen for easy travel and a decent spread of accommodation once the school-holiday crowds have thinned.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/best-last-minute-staycations) [Rainy Day Staycations: Best UK Breaks for Bad Weather When the forecast turns grim, these UK cities and spa towns keep their appeal indoors, with museums, galleries and grand architecture to fill a wet weekend.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/rainy-day-staycations-uk) [The Best Dog-Friendly Staycations in Britain From Cornish coast paths to Lake District fells, these six British destinations offer the open beaches, moors and forests that make a staycation genuinely enjoyable for dogs and their owners alike.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/dog-friendly-staycations) [The Best UK Staycations for Families with Young Kids From New Forest ponies to Cornish rock pools, these six UK destinations combine easy logistics, safe beaches and family-friendly attractions for a stress-free break with young children.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/best-staycations-for-families)