Southover Grange Gardens
Southover grange is a house built in 1572. it is not open to visitors, but has lovely gardens which are. beautiful flowers and trees including, at 350, one of the oldest mulberry trees in the country, and a knot garden with a fountain. the park is open from dawn to dusk all year round, and has a tea and ice-cream kiosk in the summer.
Glyndebourne
(http://www.glyndebourne.com/) is an internationally renowned opera house, just a few miles from lewes. enjoy great opera in a purpose built opera house situated in the grounds of an english stately home. the 80 minute intervals allow you to enjoy a picnic on the lawns.
Walking
On the south downs, through the riverside railway land, through the landport woods, anywhere along the river ouse.
Beach
Aside from the infamous brighton beach, taking a short trip outside of lewes one can discover several beaches that are more traditional, quiet and less crowded or spoilt, such as newhaven, tide mills and the like.
Shopping
From antiques, organic clothing and art to old-school penny sweets, vinyl and skateboarding equipment, lewes offers a real variety of shops alongside many coffee shops, tea rooms and general cafes.
Local events
Easily found listed and promoted via the lewes magazine both in print and online (http://www.vivalewes.com/home/ , lewes caters to all tastes with year-round festivals and celebrations of food, music, art, film and many other attractions. just outside of lewes one can find "middle farm" which hosts cider festivals, there are beer festivals, organic food markets galore and that's not even counting the regular farmer's markets in the precinct or the regular french market in town.