East Sussex by car: Lewes on Day One, Rye on Days Two and Three, Battle on Day Four, Gatwick exit. Medieval county town, the most intact medieval town in England, and the field where 1066 was decided - all within 60 miles of Brighton.
Getting There
Car hire from Brighton city centre or Brighton station. The route is entirely on A roads and minor roads; no motorway required except the final leg to Gatwick. Total driving for the four days: approximately 120 miles.
Night One: Lewes
Lewes is 20 minutes east of Brighton by car. The county town of East Sussex sits on the chalk ridge above the Ouse, with a Norman castle, Harvey's Brewery, and a High Street of Georgian and older buildings.
Harvey's Brewery on Cliffe High Street has been brewing on the same site since 1790. The brewery shop sells the full range. The Best Bitter is the benchmark.
The Lewes Arms on Mount Place (a Harvey's pub, naturally) is the evening venue. The beer garden looks across the castle. The food is pub standard but the beer is as good as it gets in Sussex.
Nights Two and Three: Rye
Rye is 35 miles east of Lewes along the A259 coastal road, passing through Eastbourne, Pevensey (where William the Conqueror landed in 1066), and Bexhill. The drive takes approximately 1 hour.
Rye is the most complete medieval town in England - a hilltop town of cobbled streets, half-timbered buildings, and a 12th-century church, surrounded by the flat Romney Marsh on three sides. The town has changed less than almost anywhere in England since the 17th century; the Mermaid Street cobbled lane, running steeply from the Mermaid Inn to the town's eastern gate, is the defining image.
Rye Castle Museum in the 13th-century Ypres Tower gives context for the town's history as one of the Cinque Ports. The St Mary the Virgin Church on the hilltop has a working 16th-century clock mechanism visible from inside; the church tower gives views across the Marsh and out to sea.
Winchelsea, 2 miles west of Rye along the coast road, is the entirely planned medieval town built by Edward I in 1288 to replace the original Winchelsea consumed by the sea. The grid plan of the town is still visible; the Church of St Thomas is the finest medieval church in East Sussex.
Where to stay in Rye: The Mermaid Inn on Mermaid Street, in a building dating from 1420, is the atmospheric choice. The George in Rye on the High Street is more comfortable and well-positioned. Book ahead; Rye is popular with weekend visitors.
Night Four: Battle
Battle is 15 miles west of Rye along the A28. The town takes its name from the Battle of Hastings, fought on this site on 14 October 1066.
Battle Abbey was built by William the Conqueror on the field of battle, with the high altar of the church placed at the spot where Harold fell. The abbey ruins, the gatehouse (still standing), and the battlefield trail are managed by English Heritage. Entry approximately £13. The battlefield walk covers approximately 1 kilometre on a flat, well-maintained circuit through the site.
The Battle Museum of Local History in the Almonry on High Street covers the Saxon and Norman history of the area.
Where to stay in Battle: The Powdermills Hotel on Powdermill Lane, in an 18th-century country house on the edge of the battlefield, is the best choice. The Bull Inn on High Street is a reliable pub-hotel in the town centre.
Getting to Gatwick
Battle to Gatwick by car: take the A2100 north to the A21, then the M23 to Gatwick. Approximately 45 minutes without traffic. Return the hire car at Gatwick North or South Terminal. Allow 90 minutes before your flight for car return and check-in.