Ardingly Showground

The Ardingly Showground, just outside East Grinstead, is where Sussex's agricultural heritage comes alive - or at least it did, properly speaking. This is genuine working farmland with a Victorian-era showground at its heart, the sort of place where the county has held its annual show since the 1800s.

What you're looking at is essentially a large open-air venue that hosts everything from the Sussex County Show (the big annual event in June) to smaller craft fairs and local gatherings throughout the year. Between events, it's quieter - sometimes just fields and period buildings - but that's rather the point. It's not a theme park. This is real agricultural ground, the kind where families can wander about, kids can see working demonstrations if you time it right, and there's proper space to breathe.

If you're camping at Hook Farm or Worth Forest Glamping nearby, it's worth checking what's on before you visit. The main show is the draw - livestock competitions, vintage machinery, local food producers, craft stalls. Outside those peaks, it can feel a bit thin. History buffs will appreciate the bones of the place; walkers heading into the Ashdown Forest area will find it a logical stop rather than a destination in itself.

Allow a couple of hours if there's an event on, less if you're just passing through. It's free to walk the grounds between shows, though parking and admission vary depending on what's happening. Call ahead to check opening times and whether there's anything worth timing your visit around.