Sussex Wine & Sparkling Festival — a 3-day weekend in Sussex

The weekend, day by day

1. Day 1

   Arrive in Lewes

   Land at London Gatwick Airport (LGW), settle in and walk the old town in the afternoon. Light dinner near your accommodation — save your appetite for the festival day.

2. Day 2

   Sussex Wine & Sparkling Festival

   Festival day — arrive early to avoid the lunchtime crowd. Insider tip: Arrive early to taste Wiston's reserve bottlings and Rathfinny's library vintages—both producers hold back limited bottles for the festival only. Bring a wine cooler bag; the South Downs' chalk terroir produces delicate, complex bubbles that degrade quickly in summer heat.

3. Day 3

   Wine country day in Sussex

   Use the third day for a single winery visit (booked ahead) and a long lunch at one of the regional addresses below before heading home.

Where to stay

Three angles for the festival window. Festival hotels book out 6+ months in advance — apartments are the contingency when the main shortlist is sold out.

• Hotels in Lewes

  Live inventory around the festival window — 2 adults, all star ratings.

• 4–5 star options near Lewes

  Higher-end shortlist when you want the milestone weekend treatment.

• Apartments in Lewes

  Self-catering option — useful when festival hotels sell out 6+ months ahead.

Booking.com links — we may earn a commission. We never recommend hotels we wouldn't use ourselves.

Practical

Nearest airport

London Gatwick Airport (LGW)