West Sussex

Properties and events in West Sussex

Before heading out for your Heritage Open Days visit, please check entries for last-minute changes.

Print selected events below

Arundel Museum

Arundel Museum, Mill Road, Arundel, West Sussex, BN18 9PA
In person
Pre-booking not required

Arundel Museum is open for FREE this Heritage Open Day on Saturday 12 September In the purpose-built Museum, enjoy seeing displays charting the history of Arundel. There are great activities for children too!

Burton Mill

Burton Mill, Burton Park Road, Petworth, West Sussex, GU28 0JR
In person
Pre-booking not required

Burton Mill is a working watermill producing stoneground flour and hydro-electricity. Visitors will see water-powered flour milling and dressing and other heritage machinery. There is a small exhibition of interesting historical artefacts and photos.

Capturing Old Shoreham – Everyday Histories in the Landscape

The Shoreham Centre, Pond Road, Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, BN43 5WU
In person
Pre-booking not required

A community exhibition exploring Old Shoreham as a living landscape where nature, history and community are inseparable — created through maps, artwork, photography, textiles, soundscape and research by local volunteers, artists, historians, schools

Coultershaw Heritage Site

The Coultershaw Heritage Site, Station Road, Petworth, West Sussex, GU28 0JE
In person
Pre-booking not required

See our historic water wheel driven pump along with other working and hands-on exhibits in a beautiful riverside setting. Special activities will challenge our young inventors.

Explore 800 Years of Civic History at the Chichester City Council House

Chichester City Council, The Council House, North Street, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 1LQ
In person
Pre-booking not required

Visit Chichester’s historic Council House during Heritage Open Days for rare room access, new displays, and special exhibits celebrating nine centuries of civic history, with guided tours available.

Explore the history of Sullington - Walking Tour

Sullington Manor Farm, Sullington Lane, Storrington, Pulborough, West Sussex, RH20 4AE
In person
Pre-booking preferred

Discover manorial buildings spanning 1000 years with additions & changes reflecting every century. In the heart of the South Downs & still a working farm, these buildings have found a 20th c. purpose including a cafe on site and open for HODs.

Fernhurst Furnace Open Weekend

Furnace Wood, Vann Road, Fernhurst, West Sussex, GU27 3NH
In person
Pre-booking not required

See the recently conserved Wealden Blast Furnace site. Admire the Sealed Knot skirmish. Many demonstrations, displays and refreshments. Country location in beautiful woodland. Guided tours.

Flint Knapping - The Oldest Craft

St Mary's Church, North Marden, Chichester, West Sussex, PO18 9JU
In person
Pre-booking required

Join a walk to visit a local flint knapper practising one of humanity’s oldest crafts. We’ll admire flint buildings along the way before discovering more about flint, how it is knapped, and how it’s used in traditional building.

Keeping the Wheels Turning

Linch Road, Redford, West Sussex, GU29
In person
Pre-booking required

Keeping the Wheels Turning is a 2-mile heritage walk to visit a traditional wheelwright. See how wood is shaped into strong cart wheels, learn about the tools and skills involved, and hear about the challenges of keeping this remarkable craft alive.

Newtimber Church - A rural church celebrates global stories

St John the Evangelist, Newtimber Church, Church Lane, Newtimber, Hassocks, West Sussex, BN6 9BT
In person
Pre-booking not required

Today we celebrate the indomitable spirit of those people whose heritage is connected to Newtimber’s global imperial past.

Nymans

Nymans, Staplefield Road, Handcross, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH17 6EB
In person
Pre-booking not required

Discover Nymans Garden and House with free entry on Friday 18 and Saturday 19 September.

Pallant House Gallery Open Day

Pallant House Gallery, 9 North Pallant, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 1TJ
In person
Book on day

Join us for an art-filled day of discovery and creativity – all for free! Pallant House Gallery will be opening its doors for visitors to explore our collection and experience our current major exhibition 'British Landscapes: A Sense of Place.'

Petworth Cottage Museum

346 High Street, Petworth, West Sussex, GU28 0AU
In person
Pre-booking not required

The museum, a.k.a. Mrs. Cummings's Cottage, is an Estate worker's house restored, furnished and equipped as if it were 1910. Mrs. Cummings was a seamstress who worked at Petworth House and at home. Nostalgic and educational.

Shoreham Fort HODs Tour

Shoreham Fort, Forthaven, Shoreham Beach, Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, BN435HY
In person
Pre-booking required

Come and join the volunteers at Shoreham Fort, a hidden gem in Adur's Crown, with more history than you can shake a stick at... Let us share why we are more than just bricks and mortar.

Shoreham Fort Steps you Back in Time

Shoreham Fort, Forthaven, Shoreham Beach, Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, BN435HY
In person
Pre-booking not required

Come and join us at Shoreham Fort - A hidden gem on the South Coast. Witness this unique Scheduled Monument come to life.

Showing of the Barone Hopper film, followed by a tour/talk of the Chapel heritage displays and exhibitions

Blomfield Drive, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 6BZ
In person
Pre-booking required

🎬 Barone Hopper Film Screening & Chapel Heritage Talk Enjoy a showing of the Barone Hopper film, followed by a fascinating tour and talk on the Chapel’s history from our Heritage volunteers.

St Mary de Haura church, New Shoreham

St Mary de Haura Church, Church Street, Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, BN43 5DQ
In person
Pre-booking not required

An architectural gem of a church which dates from 1103 with both romanesque and gothic styles. As well as some curiosities, there features from English history will be seen - one from the 12th, one from the 17th and one from 20th centuries.

St Mary's Church, Sompting, Sussex - Tours/Medieval re-enactment

Church Lane, Sompting, Lancing, West Sussex, BN15 0AZ
In person
Pre-booking preferred

Haestingas Regias re-enactors showing Mediæval working life (first weekend only). Guided tours at fixed times describing the building of the church from the 10th Century or take yourselves round. Have your picnic in the nature-friendly churchyard.

Standen's Exhibition: Benevolent Beales

Standen House and Garden, West Hoathly Road, East Grinstead, West Sussex, RH19 4NE
In person
Pre-booking not required

Explore Standen and enjoy our exhibition during Heritage Open Days. Discover the fascinating stories of the Beale family through the Benevolent Beales exhibition, celebrating compassion, community spirit and the people who shaped Standen's history.

Talk - The Sussex Windmill

Samuel Wickens Centre, Broadmark Lane, Rustington, Littlehampton, West Sussex, BN16 2NW
In person
Pre-booking preferred

A peep into a once vital industry without which we wouldn't be here today.