Polegate Library

Polegate Library sits in this modest Sussex town just inland from Pevensey, and honestly, it's the kind of place you'd only really visit if you're staying nearby or need to pick up a book mid-holiday. It's a proper working library - nothing fancy - with the standard mix of fiction, non-fiction, local history sections and a children's corner if the kids need quieting down on a rainy afternoon.

The local history section is the main draw for anyone interested in the area. Pevensey's got serious historical weight - Roman fort, medieval castle, the lot - so the library's collection of regional material can fill in gaps if you're doing a deeper dive into East Sussex history. Staff are generally helpful if you ask about local stuff.

If you're based at Warren Wood Country Park or any of the other campsites within a few miles, this is a useful stop rather than a destination in itself. Grab a book, check the noticeboard for local events, maybe pick up a map. On a drizzly day when the beach feels less appealing, it's somewhere warm to spend 45 minutes. But don't plan your day around it. The real action - Pevensey Castle, the seafront at Pevensey Bay - is what you're here for. The library's just a handy backup.