Newhaven
Newhaven is a small coastal town in East Sussex.
Understand
Newhaven lies at the mouth of the River Ouse, in the valley the river has cut through the South Downs. Over the centuries the river has migrated between Newhaven and Seaford in response to the growth and decay of a shingle spit (shoal) at its mouth.
Get in
By train
There are two train stations in Newhaven; Newhaven Town and Newhaven Harbour. Unsurprisingly, Newhaven Harbour station is next to the port, while Newhaven Town station is, well, in town. There is only about a two minute journey between the two stations and they're both on the same line, so there's no problem if you miss the station you were meant to get off at. You can get to Newhaven easily with direct trains from Lewes and Brighton. You can also, with changes, get there from Eastbourne via Lewes, Gatwick Airport via Brighton, Portsmouth and Southsea station via Brighton and London Victoria via Lewes as well.
By ferry
If you are in Europe, you can take a ferry from Dieppe to Newhaven. The journey's about four hours, but there is a great restaurant on the ship serving cooked food with a nice, sea view. The price of one adult travelling with a small car at 6pm in December is roughly £117 one way, and travelling just on foot is roughly £25 one way.
By car
From Brighton, take the A259 east to Newhaven and from Eastbourne, take the A259 west to Newhaven. From Lewes, take the A26 south, then the A27 east briefly, before taking the A26 southbound again. From Gatwick Airport (and Crawley), take the M23 southbound, then the A23 southbound. Just before you reach Brighton, take the A27 east, then take the A26 southbound from near Lewes.
Get around
The town is not big enough to warrant taking a bus around, it is only about a fifteen minute walk from the entrance to the port to the north end of town (in an industrial estate). Car parking is available at the Fort and Paradise Park. Both of these places are within walking distance from the station and ferry port.
See
- Newhaven Fort, Fort Road, BN9 9DS, ☏ +44 1273 517622, info@newhavenfort.org.uk. 10:30am-6pm May to September, 10:30am-5pm October, Closed November to April. A fort in operation since Napoleonic times, it ceased operation after WW2 and has been converted into a fascinating museum. Adult: £6.50, Child: £4.30.
- Tide Mills. is a derelict village about a mile south east of Newhaven. Not a great tourist attraction, part of the old course of the Ouse River; before it broke through and 'New - Haven' was created. There are various specialist plants. Possible to walk to the nearby town of Seaford, very pleasant on a sunny day
Do
- Paradise Park. Originally a garden centre but has had bits added to it, now includes a model railway, dinosaur museum, a mini arcade
- Newhaven Museum, Avis Road.
Buy
- Fish Newhaven has a small fishing port and various places around the town sell fresh, local fish
- Tents etc. If you need one, or other sporting goods there is a sporting shop, ask locals for directions
- Food Newhaven has two supermarkets, which should supply a traveller with any food he or she needs
- Ferry Tickets From the 'Transmanche' desk, in the Western Harbour; it is signposted from the main road
Eat
- The Drove, +44 1273 612356.
- Bridge Street, 12 Bridge Street.
- The Hope (underneath the fort). serves good food
Drink
Being a port there's a fairly decent selections of drinking establishments, most pubs that serve food also serve alcohol
Sleep
- Bed and Breakfasts Ask at the ferry port or a local.
- Travel Inn (on the road between Newhaven and Seaford.). generic hotel
- Buckle Camping. It's near Seaford, but still only about 3-4 miles from Newhaven.
Go next
- Catch a ferry to Dieppe, see the Get in section.
- Brighton to the West is a simple bus (£2.50 taking about an hour) or train (£3.60 return taking about half an hour) by car it is easily accessible along the coast road
- Take a walk on the beach towards Seaford, passing the old Dieppe Seaplane station, tidemills water mill (disused) and the old railway to Seaford (it was moved in the late 1800s)
- Visit Cuckmere Haven