West Sussex
The county of West Sussex lies in the south east of England. According to tradition the Saxon Ella landed here in 477, defeated the inhabitants and founded the kingdom of the South Saxons (the origin of the name Sussex) which was absorbed by Wessex in 825. Sussex is now divided into 2 separate counties - East and West Sussex. West Sussex covers an area of just under 800 square miles and has a population of about 700,000. It's administrative headquarters is the town of Chichester.

Other major towns in West Sussex include

Crawley
Horsham
Haywards Heath
Worthing
Littlehampton
Bognor Regis

The Weald is a natural attraction in the area and Arundel Castle and Goodwood are among the main attractions.

The "spine" of Sussex is the South Downs, an ancient chalk ridge that separates the Weald from the English Channel. The South Downs Way footpath runs for 80 scenic miles from Beachy Head to Buriton in Hampshire. Much of the Weald, once an ancient forest, is now farmland - but some areas, such as Ashdown Forest, are still preserved in more or less their original state. The rivers Adur, Ouse, Rother and Arun, have cut their way through gaps in the chalk, draining into the English Channel.

East Sussex
The county of East Sussex in the south east of England has a special place in the history of England. According to tradition the Saxon Ella landed here in 477 defeated the inhabitants and founded the kingdom of the South Saxons (the origin of the name Sussex) which was absorbed by Wessex in 825. But it is the year 1066 which gave this area its greatest claim to fame however when the Battle of Hastings was fought and the Norman King William triumphed over King Harold. The site of the Battle of Hastings is at Senlac Hill near the appropriately-named town of Battle. The whole of this area is now known (for tourism purposes) as 1066 Country.

A 15th Century castle stands at Herstmonceux and the famous ' Long Man' chalk hill figure is carved into the turf above Wilmington. Romney Marsh is one of the county's famous natural features. Other famous landmarks of East Sussex include the Greenwich Royal Observatory and the castles at Hastings, Lewes, Pevensey and Bodiam.

Other places of note include the famous seaside resorts of

Brighton
Eastbourne
Bexhill
the cross-channel port of Newhaven

Alfriston
Battle
Bexhill-on-Sea
Brighton
Burwash
Chailey
Crowborough
Ditchling
Eastbourne
Forest Row
Hailsham
Hartfield
Hastings
Heathfield
Herstmonceux
Hove
Lewes
Newhaven
Newick
North Chailey
Northiam
Polegate
Ringmer
Rotherfield
Rottingdean
Rye
Seaford
St. Leonards on Sea
Ticehurst
Uckfield
Wadhurst