Account
Sussex Picnic Guide: 9 Spots to Pack a Basket & Go
Start exploring
Published 28 July 2021 • Updated 2 September 2026
Sussex is full of good picnic grounds, from wide sandy beaches to chalk hills, old forests and quiet vineyards. The best spot for you depends on the season and the kind of day you want. Here are 9 lovely places to spread a blanket across Sussex, with a note on when each one is at its best.
Quick picks by type
- Vineyard: Bolney Wine Estate, West Sussex
- Beach: West Wittering, West Sussex
- Forest: Ashdown Forest, East Sussex
- Hilltop view: Devil’s Dyke, West Sussex
Jump to a section
The Best Sussex Picnic Spots At A Glance
Each of these 9 spots suits a different kind of picnic. Use the table below to find the right one for your day out, then read on for the details.
| Spot | County | Type | Best season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bolney Wine Estate | West Sussex | Vineyard | Summer |
| West Wittering Beach | West Sussex | Beach | Summer, quiet in winter |
| Ashdown Forest | East Sussex | Heath and forest | Spring, summer |
| Devil’s Dyke | West Sussex | Downland hill | All year |
| Petworth Park | West Sussex | Historic deer park | Autumn, winter |
| Wakehurst | West Sussex | Botanic garden and woodland | Spring, summer |
| Sheffield Park and Garden | East Sussex | Lakeside garden | Autumn |
| Nymans | West Sussex | Woodland garden and ruins | Spring, summer |
| Seven Sisters and Cuckmere Haven | East Sussex | Chalk cliffs and coast | Spring, autumn |
Bolney Wine Estate
A picnic in the vineyard in West Sussex
Best for: a summer picnic with wine made on site
Where: Bolney, near Haywards Heath, West Sussex
Bolney Wine Estate is a working vineyard first planted in 1972. There are picnic areas dotted around the estate grounds, with rows of vines and open countryside on every side, and views out towards the Sussex Weald.
Jargon explained: vineyard
A vineyard is a plot of land planted with grapevines for making wine. English vineyards like Bolney sit further north than most of Europe’s wine regions, which shapes the style of wine grown here.
What to expect
Through the summer months, the estate offers a picnic hamper made to order, and also arranges picnics set out in the vineyard rows, paired with wine made on site. It suits anyone who would rather have the food and setting arranged for them than pack a bag and find their own spot.
For pointers on packing your own hamper and choosing a wine to go with it, see our guide to picnic food ideas and wine to pack.
West Wittering Beach
A wide sandy beach for a coastal picnic
Best for: families, sea views and long summer days
Where: West Wittering, near Chichester, West Sussex
West Wittering is a large, privately managed beach on the edge of the Chichester Harbour Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The beach holds Blue Flag status, meaning its water is regularly tested and meets set standards for cleanliness and safety.
Worth knowing: Blue Flag beach
A Blue Flag is an international award given to beaches that meet strict standards for water quality, safety and environmental management. It is a good sign to look for when choosing a beach for a family day out.
Getting the timing right
At low tide, the sand stretches far, giving plenty of room to set up away from the crowds. The beach is open all year, with shorter hours in winter, and dogs are free to run on most of the sand outside the main summer season. Disposable barbecues are not allowed anywhere on site, so a cool box and a flask work better than a grill.
Wildlife nearby
The neighbouring Chichester Harbour is one of the best places in Sussex for birdwatching, with waders such as curlew, redshank and oystercatcher feeding on the mudflats depending on the season, alongside geese, terns and the occasional osprey passing through.
Top tip
Book your parking online before you go, especially in summer. The car park regularly sells out on warm weekends and there is no alternative parking nearby.
Ashdown Forest
Open heathland made famous by Winnie-the-Pooh
Best for: a walking picnic with plenty of space to roam
Where: Forest Row and Wych Cross area, East Sussex
Ashdown Forest covers over 10 square miles, making it one of the largest open access spaces in the South East. It sits within the High Weald National Landscape, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and is best known as the setting for A. A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh stories.
Worth knowing: SSSI
SSSI stands for Site of Special Scientific Interest, a legal protection given to land that is home to rare habitats, plants or wildlife. Ashdown Forest carries this status because of its rare lowland heathland.
Wildlife to look out for
The heathland is home to the Dartford warbler, a small resident bird found on only a handful of English heaths, along with the nightjar, a summer visitor from Africa that is best heard at dusk. Foxes, roe deer and rare butterflies such as the silver-studded blue also live across the heath.
Where to stop
A designated picnic area is on site, though the forest’s open heath and woodland paths also make it easy to find your own quiet spot. Families following the Pooh Sticks trail often stop for a picnic near Gills Lap, one of the sites believed to have inspired the books.
Top tip
Gills Lap car park is the starting point for most of the Winnie-the-Pooh sites, including Poohsticks Bridge, but it gets busy at weekends. Quarry and Piglet car parks are quieter alternatives close by.
Devil’s Dyke
Sweeping South Downs views from a chalk ridge
Best for: a flask and a view, any time of year
Where: near Poynings and Fulking, West Sussex
Devil’s Dyke is a National Trust site on the South Downs, around five miles from Brighton. It sits at the top of the UK’s longest, deepest dry valley, and the grassy slopes around the car park offer wide views across the Weald.
Chalk grassland and wildlife
The site is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and the rare chalk grassland supports wildflowers, butterflies and grazing Dartmoor ponies, which help keep coarse plants from crowding out the flowers. Skylarks nest in the open grass through spring and summer.
Good for the colder months too
Devil’s Dyke is one of the few spots on this list that works well in every season. On a clear autumn or winter day, a short walk up from the car park and a hot drink from a flask, with the whole valley spread out below, is hard to beat. Dogs are welcome across the site, and the South Downs Way runs right past it for anyone who wants to turn the picnic into a longer walk.
Top tip
The car park fills up fast on warm weekends. Arrive early, or come later in the day for a quieter sunset picnic over the valley instead.
Petworth Park
A historic deer park with room to spread out
Best for: autumn walks and spotting wildlife
Where: Petworth, West Sussex
Petworth Park is a 700-acre deer park landscaped by Capability Brown, with two lakes and views towards the South Downs. Between 700 and 800 fallow deer live in the park, a herd that has grazed here for over 500 years, alongside veteran oak trees thought to be close to 1,000 years old.
Where to picnic
There is plenty of open grass to choose from, with good spots near the Upper Pond for views back towards Petworth House. Autumn is a particularly good time to visit, when the deer rut brings extra activity to the park, and the parkland stays largely mud-free even in wet weather, so it also works well for a winter walk.
Top tip
Use the Deer Park car park on the A283, not the Petworth House car park, if a picnic in the park is the main plan for the day.
Wakehurst
Kew’s wild botanic garden in the Sussex Weald
Best for: a quiet picnic among wildflowers and woodland
Where: Ardingly, West Sussex
Wakehurst is managed by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and covers over 500 acres of gardens, woodland and wetland in the High Weald. It is also home to the Millennium Seed Bank, a global project that stores seeds from wild plant species, and to the Loder Valley Nature Reserve, a 150-acre reserve of wetland, meadow and woodland habitats.
Where to sit
The gardens set out several picnic spots, including by the Water Gardens, overlooking Westwood Lake, and in Bloomers Valley, which fills with wildflowers in the warmer months. Families with children often head for the Labyrinth, a natural play area with plenty of nearby benches.
Top tip
Picnics can be pre-booked when you buy your garden tickets, which is worth doing if you would rather not carry your own hamper.
Sheffield Park And Garden
Lakes and Grade I listed autumn colour
Best for: autumn colour reflected across the water
Where: near Uckfield, East Sussex
Sheffield Park and Garden is a National Trust garden built around four lakes joined by a waterfall. It holds a Grade I listing, partly for the international importance of its autumn planting, first laid out by owner Arthur Soames in the early 20th century.
Wildlife on the water
The lakes and surrounding wetland are home to kingfishers, birds of prey, butterflies and dragonflies, and waterlilies cover parts of the lakes through the summer months.
Picnic spots
Picnic tables sit in the parkland opposite the car park, with benches around the garden, or you can spread a blanket wherever suits. The garden is also worth a visit in spring, when rhododendrons and azaleas come into bloom around the lakes.
Nymans
A romantic garden with the ruins of a country house
Best for: spring and summer picnics among rare plants
Where: Handcross, West Sussex
Nymans is a National Trust garden developed by three generations of the Messel family from the 1890s. The garden holds a Grade II* listing and is known for its rare plant collections, along with the gothic ruins of the house, which was partly destroyed by fire in 1947.
Where to picnic
Nymans allows picnics anywhere in the garden, from the rolling lawns in front of the ruins to quieter corners of the ancient woodland. Spring brings magnolias, azaleas and bluebell woods, while the walled rose garden is at its best through the summer.
Seven Sisters And Cuckmere Haven
Chalk cliffs and a meandering river mouth
Best for: dramatic coastal views away from the crowds
Where: between Seaford and Eastbourne, East Sussex
Seven Sisters Country Park sits where the South Downs meet the sea. The park covers around 700 acres of chalk grassland, cliffs and the meandering Cuckmere River, and forms part of the South Downs National Park. Roughly 30 to 40cm of the chalk cliff edge is lost to erosion each year, so the coastline is slowly changing shape.
Wildlife to spot
The river valley and grazing marshes are an important stop for migrating birds, and grazing animals are kept on parts of the site to help manage the grassland. Ground-nesting birds use the site between March and September, so dogs are asked to stay on leads where signs request it.
Where to picnic
Designated picnic areas sit in the north and south car parks, and a flat path follows the old river down to Cuckmere Haven, which suits families and pushchairs. For a quieter spot, the grassy tops above the cliffs make a fine place to sit, well back from the edge, with views along the Sussex Heritage Coast.
Top tip
Head for the Country Park visitor centre at Exceat rather than Birling Gap. It has a bigger car park and tends to fill up later in the day.
What To Pack For A Sussex Picnic In Any Season
A good Sussex picnic does not need to stop at the end of summer. Each season calls for a slightly different kit and a different wine style.
Spring and summer
Pack a cool bag for anything perishable and chill your wine before you leave, since it warms up fast once out of the fridge. A crisp white or a light sparkling wine both work well in warm weather. Our white wine guide and sparkling wine guide are useful starting points if you are new to choosing between styles.
Autumn and winter
Swap the cool bag for a flask of tea, coffee or hot chocolate, and dress for the wind on any hilltop or cliff. A red wine served at room temperature travels well in a wine flask and pairs nicely with the kind of hearty food that suits a cold walk. Our guide to red wine for beginners can help you choose.
Glasses and extras
Unbreakable outdoor glasses hold up far better than delicate stemware for a picnic. See our wine glasses guide for what to look for, and our notes on what to look for when buying wine if you want a bit more background before you shop. If you are turning your picnic into a longer trip around the county, our Sussex staycation guide covers more places to stay and things to see.
Pack A Basket And Come And See Us
If a vineyard picnic sounds like your kind of day out, Bolney Wine Estate is open for tastings and tours across the year, with picnic hampers available through the summer months.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best time of year to picnic in Sussex?
Summer is the most popular season, especially for beach picnics, but Sussex has good picnic ground all year. Devil’s Dyke and Petworth Park both work well for an autumn or winter picnic, with a flask in place of a cool bag.
Can you picnic on Sussex beaches?
Yes. West Wittering allows picnics across the beach, but disposable barbecues aren’t permitted anywhere on site, so bring cold food or a portable stove instead.
Do you need to book a picnic at Bolney Wine Estate?
Picnic hampers are made to order, so book ahead, especially in the summer months when demand is highest. Check the estate’s tours and tastings page for current availability.
Are dogs allowed at these picnic spots?
Most of the spots on this list welcome dogs, though rules vary by season and location. West Wittering has seasonal restrictions on its main swimming beach between May and September, and National Trust sites generally ask for dogs to be kept on a lead near livestock or deer.
What should I bring for a picnic in the South Downs?
A windproof layer is worth packing even in summer, since the open hills can be breezy. In colder months, a flask, a blanket to sit on and wine served at room temperature travel better than anything that needs to stay chilled.
Sources
- National Trust: Devil’s Dyke – location, dry valley and dog access
- National Trust: Petworth House and Park deer park – deer numbers and park history
- National Trust: Sheffield Park and Garden – garden listing and autumn planting
- National Trust: Nymans – garden history and listing
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: Wakehurst – picnic spots and site size
- The Conservators of Ashdown Forest – site size, protection status and management
- The Conservators of Ashdown Forest: Wildlife – heathland birds and species
- West Wittering Estate – beach rules, opening hours and dog access
- Chichester Harbour Conservancy – harbour birdlife and designations
- Seven Sisters Country Park – site size, picnic areas and access
The Best Autumnal Walks In West Sussex
With the cooler weather drawing in, there’s no better time to experience Sussex in its autumnal glory as leaves turn orange and crunch underneath your walking boots. Whether you’re a seasoned walker or just prefer a light stroll, it’s time to wrap up and experience some of the best walks in Sussex – why not reward yourself with a visit to Bolney after!
