areas within Sussex
White chalk cliffs, shingle beaches and country lanes.
Living in Sussex
Sussex is split into two counties - East Sussex and West Sussex. For the house buyer, there is a world of difference between the two.
The Sussex coastline is dotted with traditional English seaside towns, which are full of historic architecture and Victorian charm. Bognor Regis, Worthing and Brighton in West Sussex retain much of their holiday appeal.
Eastbourne, Bexhill-On-Sea and Hastings in East Sussex are slightly quieter and popular for retirees moving away from London.
The south of East Sussex is relatively poorly serviced by main roads with the A21, A22 and A26 all predominantly single-lane. This means that many southern areas, particularly towards Rye, are quieter and more rural.
East Sussex has some lovely country houses but in the main, a poor road network has left prices somewhat behind those of its neighbours in Surrey and West Sussex.
West Sussex is a diverse county - from the new town of Crawley growing around Gatwick, to the undulating South Downs and the sailors' haven of Chichester Harbour.
Surprisingly, given its close proximity to the capital the total population is only circa 750,000. There are several reasons for this. The county is predominantly made up of small and medium-sized towns, controlled in size by the district councils.
Over half the county is made up of Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and in the past large estates such as Goodwood, Cowdray and Petworth have not released land for development.
Relatively few houses and ease of access have combined to push property prices firmly upwards, particularly in towns such as Horsham and Haywards Heath which are popular with commuters.
In the north-east the Thames Link commuter train service to London Bridge and Blackfriars (33 and 43 minutes respectively from Three Bridges) along with the M23 provide easy access to London.
In the country house market, areas along the South Downs and coastal plains are increasingly in demand for second homes, particularly between Midhurst and Petworth.
Transport
Road and rail links are excellent in West Sussex, with Thameslink operating fast, direct trains to the capital from Brighton, and good connections elsewhere.
West Sussex residents living close to the Hampshire border benefit from access to Portsmouth to Waterloo services.
By road, the M23/A23 road runs from Brighton to the capital and is generally rarely congested.
West Sussex has its own airport - Gatwick, which is the second largest airport in the UK (after Heathrow) and the sixth busiest international airport in the world.
In East Sussex the county's road network includes trunk roads from London to Hastings, Brighton and Eastbourne.
Regular train services connect main towns with London, whilst the south coast rail route connects Lewes, Eastbourne and Hastings, and has a spur from Lewes to Seaford and Newhaven.
The port at Newhaven offers regular ferry services to Dieppe.
History and culture
Known as 1066 Country, the coast of East Sussex is synonymous with the invasion of William the Conqueror, who landed in Pevensey, one of the 'Cinque Ports', in 1066.
The Battle of Hastings was fought on a site inland which is now occupied by the quiet rural town of Battle, no doubt a far cry from the violent scenes witnessed there almost 1,000 years ago.
Sussex's landscapes have inspired generations of artists, poets and writers, including Turner and Constable, who both painted locally, and poets such as Blake, Shelley, and Poet Laureate Alfred Lord Tennyson.
Oscar Wilde wrote perhaps his most well-known play, The Importance of Being Ernest, in Worthing, and Frederick Delius famously wrote 'La Mer' from a hotel room overlooking the sea in Eastbourne.
There are many theatres and concert venues throughout Sussex, although the cultural centre, without doubt, is Brighton, which has traditional galleries and venues.
East of the border, the Congress Theatre in Eastbourne is well-liked by residents and has hosted some excellent productions.
Glyndebourne continues to bring the best of English opera to one of the most picturesque areas of East Sussex, located near the coast between Eastbourne and Brighton.
For further information visit www.glyndebourne.com; www.eastbournetheatres.co.uk/congress.asp; www.eastsussex.gov.uk; www.westsussex.gov.uk