Hailsham

Hailsham itself has a small selection of accommodation, mostly town-centre pubs with rooms and bed and breakfasts, reflecting its role as a working market town rather than a tourist destination in its own right. What it offers instead is a genuinely central location: close enough to Eastbourne to borrow from its much larger choice of seafront hotels and guest houses, yet within easy reach of Michelham Priory, the Cuckoo Trail and the South Downs, making it a practical base for exploring inland East Sussex without the higher prices of the coast.

Visitors who want a quieter, more rural stay will find farmhouse bed and breakfasts and converted barns in the villages that ring Hailsham, including Hellingly, Herstmonceux and Horam, many set among the orchards and hop gardens characteristic of the Weald. These tend to suit couples and walkers wanting easy access to the Cuckoo Trail or a day out at Herstmonceux Castle, while families are often better served by the wider choice of hotels, holiday parks and self-catering cottages along the Eastbourne and Pevensey Bay coastline, a short drive to the south.

Whichever type of stay you choose, Hailsham's position just off the A22 means most accommodation in and around the town gives quick access to the wider attractions of East Sussex, from the historic town of Lewes to the cliffs at Beachy Head, without the premium prices found in more heavily touristed parts of the county.

Hailsham's own attractions are modest but likeable, and the town makes an excellent base for exploring some of East Sussex's best-loved sights, all within a short drive or cycle.

• The Cuckoo Trail — an 11-mile traffic-free walking and cycling route built along the former Cuckoo Line railway, running from Heathfield through Hailsham and Hellingly down to Polegate, with leafy cuttings, old bridges and plenty of wildlife along the way.
• Michelham Priory House & Gardens — a moated Augustinian priory founded in 1229, just outside the town, with a medieval watermill, working forge, rope museum, Elizabethan Great Barn and seven acres of gardens to explore.
• Hailsham Country Park — a 22-acre green space of woodland, wildflower meadows and ponds, popular for a gentle walk or picnic without leaving the edge of town.
• Hailsham Pavilion — a striking Art Deco cinema and theatre built in 1921, still showing films and hosting live performances and community events in the town centre.
• Knockhatch Adventure Park — a family attraction just outside Hailsham with a toboggan run, boating lake, small zoo and indoor and outdoor play areas.
• Herstmonceux Castle and the Observatory Science Centre — a moated fifteenth-century castle with parkland and walled gardens, plus the neighbouring science centre with hands-on exhibits, a short drive from Hailsham.
• Hailsham Market — a Saturday market at the old livestock market site, along with a monthly farmers' market selling local Sussex produce.

The High Street has a decent choice of independent cafés and takeaways alongside the usual small-town chains, while several traditional pubs serve Sussex ales and pub food. The Grenadier and the George Hotel are long-standing fixtures of the town centre, and the Saturday and monthly farmers' markets are a good source of local cheese, meat and produce from the surrounding Wealden farms. A little further out, country pubs in villages such as Hellingly and Herstmonceux offer a more rural setting for a Sunday roast or a pint after a walk on the Cuckoo Trail.

Camping around Hailsham means making the most of the gentle Wealden countryside that surrounds this East Sussex market town, with the South Downs and the coast at Eastbourne within easy striking distance. As everywhere in England, wild camping is not permitted without the landowner's express permission, so plan on booking a proper campsite, caravan park or glamping site rather than pitching up on a whim in a field or wood — even the tempting stretches of woodland along the Cuckoo Trail are private land or nature reserve and are not open for camping.

The Weald around Hailsham is a landscape of small fields, orchards, hop gardens and hedgerows rather than dramatic hills, so sites here tend to be quiet, family-run affairs set among farmland, offering an easy base for cycling the Cuckoo Trail or visiting Michelham Priory rather than a wilderness experience. A handful of touring and camping parks sit within a few miles of the town, generally with good access to the A22 and A27, making them convenient for both a rural retreat and day trips to the coast.

Late spring to early autumn is the best window for camping in this part of Sussex, when the Weald's orchards and hedgerows are at their most attractive and evenings are long enough to enjoy a campfire or a walk before dark. The shoulder months of May, June and September tend to be quieter and cooler, while July and August bring the best chance of settled weather but also busier sites, particularly around school holidays. Winter camping is possible on the handful of all-year sites, though most smaller campsites close over the colder months.

For those who would rather skip the tent, glamping options in the wider Hailsham area range from shepherd's huts and safari tents to converted shipping containers and yurts, often on working farms, giving a comfortable way to enjoy the countryside without needing your own kit. These sites typically combine the same rural, orchard-and-farmland setting as the area's campsites with proper beds, heating and en-suite facilities, making them a good option for a short break outside the main summer season.