Newhaven

Newhaven is a small coastal town in East Sussex. The main landmark in the town is the Newhaven Fort. The parish includes part of the Brighton to Newhaven Cliffs Site of Special Scientific Interest. The cliffs are mainly of geological interest, containing many Santonian and Campanian fossils. The open land surrounding Newhaven to the west, north and east is part of the South Downs National Park.

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.

Local information

Get in

By train

There are two train stations in Newhaven; 🌍 Newhaven Town and 🌍 Newhaven Harbour. Counterintuitively, you should get off at the Newhaven Town station for the port - not Newhaven Harbour. 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 boat
See also: Ferry routes to Great Britain

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 is about £50-£70 one way, and travelling just on foot is about £30 one way.

Newhaven Port

The port was built in the mid-19th century and has a passenger terminal. There is also a car park at the terminal, which costs £4.50 per 24 hour period (however, this can only be paid for at the terminal and can't be pre-booked). More car parks are available in the town, most on the other side of the river though (see below). There isn't anything else really at the terminal, so long waits there won't be fun. If you want to buy anything like a newspaper or magazine, the Sainsbury's just along the A259 to the east about 10 minutes walk away will be the best option.

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.

Car parks

If you are catching a ferry, you may wish to park your car in the town. There are a few of them in Newhaven.

On foot

Should you be so moved, the Vanguard Way from East Croydon in South London ends its 66.2-mile (106.5-km) path here.

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, . May to September: 10:30AM-6PM; October: 10:30AM-5PM; closed November to April. A fort in operation since Napoleonic times, it ceased operation after World War II and has been converted into a fascinating museum. Adult: £6.50, Child: £4.30. 
  • 🌍 Tide Mills. 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

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

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.
  • 🌍 Premier Inn, 10 Avis Rd (on the road between Newhaven and Seaford.). Generic hotel. from £60. 
  • 🌍 Buckle Camping (near Seaford, about 3-4 miles (4½-6 km) 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
Routes through Newhaven
END ←  N  S  → Dieppe
London ← Uckfield ←  N  S  → END
Brighton ← Peacehaven ←  W  E  → Seaford → Eastbourne


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