What to See & Do in Newhaven
Sights Newhaven Fort: an award-winning attraction, Newhaven Fort houses a range of exhibitions and audio-visual-olfactory presentations, along the lines of the Jorvik Viking Centre in York. Paradise Park: offers a unique blend of exotic plant houses, a museum of natural history, dinosaurs and the history of Sussex. There is a vast garden and gift centre with a terrace café overlooking the gardens. The ‘Treasures of Planet Earth’ exhibition combines an extensive botanical collection of the world’s flora with fossils, minerals, crystals and the ever-popular story of the dinosaurs. Leisure gardens form a backdrop to the Sussex History Trail and the local history museum is an essential visit for those that enjoy history and nostalgia. Town Centre: this has a number of old buildings, including the White Hart (1726), the Ship Hotel (also 18th century) and the Bridge Hotel (1623). The Bridge Hotel was the first stop for the fleeing Louis Philippe and his wife, the last King and Queen of France. They landed close to the present-day lifeboat station. Food & Drink Newhaven has a good choice of eateries, with food from just about everywhere in the world. Menus feature local produce like Selsey prawns, freshly caught fish from Newhaven boats, Sussex cheeses and Romney Marsh lamb. Sussex vineyards are now producing acclaimed vintages, particularly the exceptional sparkling wines, which regularly beat French Champagne in international competitions. Pubs are great for food too: in rustic hostelries, waterside taverns and elegant coaching inns, you’ll find good value grub served up with wines, real ales and local brews. Back to Newhaven
