East Sussex is a ceremonial county on the south coast of England, facing the English Channel. It covers 1,792 km2 (692 sq mi) and had 823,315 residents at the 2021 census. Lewes is the county town; Brighton and Hove is the largest settlement.
East Sussex County Council runs five districts: Eastbourne, Hastings, Lewes, Rother and Wealden. Brighton and Hove is a separate unitary authority and has held city status since 2000.
| Country | England, United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Region | South East England |
| Area | 1,792 km2 (692 sq mi) |
| Population (2021 census) | 823,315 |
| County town | Lewes |
| Largest settlement | Brighton and Hove |
| Districts | Eastbourne, Hastings, Lewes, Rother, Wealden |
| Highest point | Ditchling Beacon, 248 m (814 ft) |
| Postcode areas | BN, TN and part of RH |
Towns and Villages in East Sussex
East Sussex holds 394 named towns, villages and hamlets on record. The list below gives 256 of them, split between the county council area and the city of Brighton and Hove, alphabetical within each group.
East Sussex County Council area (225 of 363 listed)
- Alciston
- Alfriston
- Argos Hill
- Ashdown Forest
- Bachelor’s Bump
- Barcombe
- Battle
- Beckley
- Bells Yew Green
- Best Beech Hill
- Bevernbridge
- Bexhill-on-Sea
- Birchett’s Green
- Bishopstone
- Blackham
- Boarshead
- Bodiam
- Bodle Street
- Bowlers Town
- Brightling
- Broad Oak
- Broadland Row
- Broomham
- Broyle Side
- Budlett’s Common
- Burgh Hill
- Burnt Oak
- Burwash
- Burwash Common
- Burwash Weald
- Buxted
- Cackle Street
- Camber
- Caneheath
- Catsfield
- Chailey
- Chapel Cross
- Chapman’s Town
- Chelwood Gate
- Chilley Green
- Chiltington
- Churches Green
- Cliff End
- Cogger’s Cross
- Coleman’s Hatch
- Cooksbridge
- Coopers Green
- Cottenden
- Cowbeech
- Cripp’s Corner
- Crowborough
- Crowhurst
- Crowlink
- Dallington
- Danehill
- Davis’s Town
- Ditchling
- Ditchling Common
- Dodd’s Hill
- Down Street
- Dukes Green
- Eason’s Green
- East Dean
- East Hoathly
- East Saltdean
- Eastbourne
- Eridge Green
- Etchingham
- Ewhurst Green
- Fairlight
- Fairlight Cove
- Falmer
- Fisher’s Gate
- Five Ashes
- Fletching
- Flimwell
- Flowers Green
- Forest Row
- Foul Mile
- Foxhunt Green
- Framfield
- Frant
- Friar’s Hill
- Friday Street
- Friston
- Gallypot Street
- Glynde
- Goatham Green
- Great Maxfield
- Groombridge
- Grove Hill
- Guestling Thorn
- Hadlow Down
- Hailsham
- Hale Green
- Halland
- Hamsey
- Hartfield
- Hastings
- Hawkhurst Common
- Heathfield
- Hellingly
- Henley’s Down
- Herstmonceux
- High Cross
- Hollingrove
- Hollington
- Holton Hill
- Honey’s Green
- Horam
- Horney Common
- Horsebridge
- Hurst Green
- Icklesham
- Iden
- Isfield
- Jevington
- John’s Cross
- Jury’s Gap
- Kingston near Lewes
- Langney
- Lewes
- Litlington
- Little Common
- Little London
- Lower Dicker
- Lunce’s Common
- Lye Green
- Marden’s Hill
- Mark Cross
- Marle Green
- Mayfield
- Mill Corner
- Millbrook
- Mott’s Mill
- Mount Pleasant
- Muddles Green
- Netherfield
- Newbury’s
- Newhaven
- Newick
- Ninfield
- North Corner
- North End
- Northease
- Northiam
- Nutley
- Old Heathfield
- Ore
- Palehouse Common
- Peacehaven
- Peasmarsh
- Penhurst
- Peter’s Green
- Pett
- Pevensey
- Pevensey Bay
- Piddinghoe
- Playden
- Plumpton
- Plumpton Green
- Ponts Green
- Poundford
- Pounsley
- Pyecombe
- Ratton Village
- Ringmer
- Ripe
- Riseden
- Robertsbridge
- Rodmell
- Rotherfield
- Rushlake Green
- Rye
- Rye Harbour
- Saint Leonards-on-Sea
- Salehurst
- Seaford
- Sedlescombe
- Sharpsbridge
- Shortbridge
- Shortgate
- Sidley
- Skippers Hill
- South Chailey
- South Heighton
- Southease
- Splayne’s Green
- Staplecross
- Stone Cross
- Stonegate
- Stunts Green
- Swanborough
- Swiftsden
- Teasley Mead
- Telscombe
- The America Ground
- The Pound
- Three Cups Corner
- Three Oaks
- Ticehurst
- Tile Hurst
- Trolliloes
- Twelve Oaks
- Uckfield
- Upper Dicker
- Upper Hartfield
- Vinehall Street
- Vines Cross
- Wadhurst
- Wallcrouch
- Warbleton
- Watermill
- West Dean
- Westfield
- Westmeston
- Whatlington
- Wickstreet
- Wilmington
- Winchelsea Beach
- Windmill Hill
- Witherenden Hill
- Wivelsfield
- Wivelsfield Green
- Woolbridge
Brighton and Hove (31 of 31 listed)
- Aldrington
- Bevendean
- Black Rock
- Brighton
- Brighton Marina Village
- Brighton and Hove
- Coldean
- Hangleton
- Hollingbury
- Hollingdean
- Hove
- Kemp Town
- Mile Oak
- Moulsecoomb
- Ovingdean
- Patcham
- Portslade
- Portslade-by-Sea
- Preston
- Roedean
- Rottingdean
- Round Hill
- Saltdean
- Southern Cross
- Stanmer
- Waterhall
- West Blatchington
- Westdene
- Whitehawk
- Withdean
- Woodingdean
Geography
The county borders Kent to the north-east, West Sussex to the west and Surrey to the north-west. The Channel forms the southern edge.
Two upland belts shape it. The South Downs run west to east behind Brighton and Eastbourne, ending in the chalk cliffs of the Seven Sisters and Beachy Head. North of them the High Weald rises to sandstone ridges and deep wooded ghylls around Crowborough and Ashdown Forest.
The rivers Ouse, Cuckmere and Rother cut south through the Downs to the sea at Newhaven, Cuckmere Haven and Rye. Flat grazing marsh fills the gaps: the Pevensey Levels behind Eastbourne and the western edge of Romney Marsh beyond Rye.
Demographics
The 2021 census counted 276,454 people in Brighton and Hove and 546,861 across the five districts. Wealden is the largest district by population at 160,711, followed by Eastbourne at 101,601 and Lewes at 100,166.
Most residents live on or near the coast. Brighton and Hove, Eastbourne, Hastings, Bexhill-on-Sea, Seaford, Peacehaven and Newhaven form an almost continuous coastal strip.
Inland the pattern is small towns and villages: Crowborough, Uckfield, Hailsham, Heathfield, Battle, Rye, Wadhurst and Lewes itself. Brighton has a notably young population; Rother and Wealden are among the older districts in England.
Economy and Local Life
Tourism runs along the whole coast, from Brighton’s beach and Royal Pavilion to Eastbourne’s seafront and the 1066 sites at Battle and Hastings. Conferences and language schools extend the season.
Brighton has a large digital and creative sector alongside two universities, the University of Sussex at Falmer and the University of Brighton. Eastbourne and Bexhill lean on health and care work.
Farming means sheep and cattle on the Downs and Levels, and increasingly vines. The chalk south-facing slopes now carry some of England’s biggest sparkling wine estates, including Ridgeview at Ditchling and Rathfinny at Alfriston. Newhaven works as a cross-Channel port.
History
The Kingdom of Sussex was founded in the fifth century and gave the county its name, from the South Saxons. Sussex was split into eastern and western administrations from the medieval period.
William of Normandy landed at Pevensey in 1066 and defeated Harold at Senlac Hill, where Battle Abbey now stands. Hastings, Rye and Winchelsea were Cinque Ports, supplying ships to the Crown in return for trading privileges.
The Weald was England’s iron-making district from Roman times until the eighteenth century, its furnaces fed by charcoal from the woods. Brighton grew from the fishing village of Brighthelmstone after doctors recommended sea bathing, and the Prince Regent’s Royal Pavilion sealed its reputation from 1787.
Getting There
There is no motorway in East Sussex. The A23 and M23 come south from London to Brighton. The A22 runs to Eastbourne and the A21 to Hastings, while the A27 and A259 follow the coast.
The Brighton Main Line reaches Brighton from London Victoria in about an hour. The East Coastway line runs Brighton to Lewes, Eastbourne, Bexhill and Hastings. The Hastings line runs north to Tunbridge Wells and Charing Cross, and the Uckfield line serves the Weald.
Gatwick Airport is roughly 30 miles north of Brighton and is the county’s main air gateway. DFDS ferries sail from Newhaven to Dieppe.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of East Sussex?
823,315 at the 2021 census: 546,861 in the county council area and 276,454 in Brighton and Hove.
What is the largest town in East Sussex?
Brighton and Hove, a city of about 276,000. Eastbourne, Hastings and Bexhill-on-Sea are the largest towns after it.
How many villages are there in East Sussex?
Gazetteers record about 394 named towns, villages and hamlets across the ceremonial county.
Which councils cover East Sussex?
East Sussex County Council, with district councils for Eastbourne, Hastings, Lewes, Rother and Wealden, plus Brighton and Hove City Council as a separate unitary authority.
Is Brighton in East Sussex?
Yes, for ceremonial purposes. Brighton and Hove runs its own services as a unitary authority, so it is not part of the county council area.
What are the postcodes for East Sussex?
BN covers Brighton, Hove, Lewes, Eastbourne and Newhaven. TN covers Hastings, Bexhill, Battle, Rye and Crowborough. A small area in the north falls into RH.