Laughton Showground

The Laughton Showground sits just outside Hailsham, a proper working space that's been hosting the Sussex County Show and local events for decades. It's not a tourist attraction in the glossy sense - there's no gift shop or café - but it's genuinely interesting if you catch it during an event. The grounds themselves are fairly modest, just open fields with some permanent structures, but that's rather the point. This is a working agricultural venue, the kind of place where the local farming community actually gathers.

When there's nothing on, it's basically a field, so don't plan a special trip expecting to wander round. But if you're camped nearby at Golden Cross Holiday Park or Dernwood Farm and spot something happening - a craft fair, a car boot, a horse show - it's well worth a look. The Sussex County Show in June is the main event, drawing crowds from across the region with livestock competitions, local crafts, and vintage machinery. It's the sort of day out that gives real insight into rural Sussex life rather than being staged for tourists.

Families with kids generally enjoy the show days, particularly if there are animals and tractors on display. It's less compelling during quiet periods. Allow a couple of hours if there's an event on, less if you're just driving past. Check the Sussex County Show website for the annual schedule before planning your camp holiday around it. The showground's accessible from Hailsham, making it a straightforward addition to a broader Sussex break.