Classic Drives Worth Taking the Long Way For
We've done the planning, you just choose the car.
Discover some of our favourite driving routes through Sussex and beyond, taking in brilliant roads, country pubs, historic stops and places worth pulling over for. No rush. No boring motorways.
Just a classic car and a bloody good day out.
The car is only the beginning.
Hiring a classic car isn't really about getting from A to B.
It's about taking the long way. Stopping somewhere you didn't know existed. Finding a brilliant country pub. Pulling over because the view is too good to drive past. And remembering that driving can actually be part of the day, not just the bit you have to do to get there.
We've put together some of our favourite routes through Sussex and the South Downs, designed to make the most of a day behind the wheel of one of our classics.
Choose your car. Pick a route. Take your time.
THE GOODWOOD RUN
South Downs • Goodwood • Midhurst • Petworth
If there's one place that belongs on a classic car day out, it's Goodwood.
Head through the Sussex countryside towards the South Downs and Goodwood, taking in some fantastic driving roads along the way.
Stop around Goodwood Motor Circuit, continue towards Charlton for a proper country pub lunch, then head through Midhurst and past the historic Cowdray Estate before making your way to Petworth.
Take some time to wander around Petworth's independent shops, antique dealers and beautiful streets before climbing back into the car for the drive home.
Make a stop at:
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Goodwood Motor Circuit
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The South Downs
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Cowdray
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Midhurst
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Petworth
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A country pub for lunch
Best for: Motoring lovers, birthdays and anyone who wants a proper day behind the wheel.
Our choice: Jaguar XJS or Triumph Stag.
THE GOODWOOD RUN — Approx. 90–105 miles | Full day
South Downs → Goodwood → Midhurst → Petworth → return
Photo: Ian Moodie / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
CASTLES, VILLAGES & COUNTRY PUBS
Steyning • Amberley • Arundel • South Downs
This is pretty much the classic English road trip you have in your head.
Wind your way through the South Downs towards Steyning and Storrington before continuing to beautiful Amberley.
From there, head towards Arundel where you can park up and spend some time exploring the historic town, visit Arundel Castle or simply find somewhere for coffee and watch the world go by.
Add a long country pub lunch and a leisurely drive back through the Downs and you've got a pretty perfect day.
Make a stop at:
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Steyning
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Amberley
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Arundel
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Arundel Castle
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South Downs viewpoints
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A country pub along the way
Best for: First-time classic car hire, couples and relaxed days out.
Our choice: Something with the roof down whenever the British weather allows it.
CASTLES, VILLAGES & COUNTRY PUBS — Approx. 75–90 miles | 5–7 hours
Steyning → Storrington → Amberley → Arundel → South Downs → return
Photo: Chensiyuan / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
THE A272 & PETWORTH ESCAPE
Sussex countryside • A272 • Petworth • South Downs
Some roads are simply better when you're driving a classic.
The A272 has long been loved by drivers and makes a brilliant backbone for a day exploring the Sussex countryside.
Take your time heading towards Petworth, park up and explore the town's antique shops, independent businesses and historic streets.
If you want to make more of the day, visit Petworth House before heading back into the countryside in search of a good pub and an even better road home.
This isn't about getting anywhere quickly.
That's rather the point.
Make a stop at:
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The A272
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Petworth
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Petworth House
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Local antique shops
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South Downs countryside
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A pub lunch
Best for: People who genuinely love driving.
Our choice: Alfa Romeo Spider.
THE A272 & PETWORTH ESCAPE — Approx. 70–85 miles | 4–6 hours
Sussex countryside → A272 → Petworth → South Downs → return
Photo: Martinvl / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
THE ROMANTIC ONE
Ditchling • Devil's Dyke • South Downs • Petworth
Dinner is nice.
Flowers are lovely.
But handing someone the keys to a beautiful classic car and disappearing into the Sussex countryside for the day is considerably harder to beat.
Start with coffee, head towards Ditchling and climb into the South Downs before making your way through some of Sussex's prettiest countryside.
Stop when you fancy it. Find somewhere lovely for lunch. Wander around Petworth. Put the roof down if the sun appears.
There doesn't need to be much more of a plan than that.
Make a stop at:
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Ditchling
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Devil's Dyke
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South Downs viewpoints
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Petworth
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Somewhere excellent for lunch
Best for: Anniversaries, birthdays, date days and surprise gifts.
Our choice: Mercedes SL.
THE ROMANTIC ONE — Approx. 75–90 miles | Full day
Ditchling → Devil's Dyke → Steyning → Amberley/Petworth → return
DOWNS TO THE SEA
Petworth • Midhurst • Goodwood • Chichester • The Coast
Want to make a full day of it?
This one's for you.
Start amongst the rolling Sussex countryside before heading towards Petworth and Midhurst.
From there, continue towards Goodwood and Chichester before pointing the car south and heading for the coast.
Find somewhere for lunch, walk by the sea, grab an ice cream and then take the scenic route home.
Countryside, classic cars and the coast all in one day.
Make a stop at:
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Petworth
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Midhurst
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Cowdray
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Goodwood
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Chichester
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The Sussex coast
Best for: Full-day hires, summer days and special occasions.
Our choice: Jaguar XJS V12.
DOWNS TO THE SEA — Approx. 120–140 miles | Full day
Petworth → Midhurst → Goodwood → Chichester → coast → return
THE PUB LUNCH RUN
South Downs • Petworth countryside • Lurgashall
Not every great drive needs an itinerary.
Sometimes you just need a beautiful car, a few hours and somewhere very good for lunch.
Head into the Sussex countryside, enjoy the roads around the South Downs and Petworth, then make your way towards one of the area's country pubs.
Have lunch.
Have pudding.
Sit there considerably longer than you intended.
Then enjoy the drive back.
Simple.
Make a stop at:
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South Downs countryside
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Petworth
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Lurgashall
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A very good country pub
Best for: Sunday drives, half-day adventures and people who take lunch seriously.
Our choice: Triumph Stag.
THE PUB LUNCH RUN — Approx. 60–75 miles | 4–5 hours
South Downs → Petworth countryside → Lurgashall → return
THE SEVEN SISTERS RUN
Lewes • Firle • Alfriston • Seven Sisters • East Dean
If there’s one East Sussex drive that deserves to be done in a classic car, this might be it.
Start around Lewes before heading east towards Firle, with the South Downs rising around you. Take your time through the village before continuing towards Alfriston, one of those places that feels made for slow mornings, coffee stops and cars with a little history of their own.
From Alfriston, head towards the coast and Seven Sisters Country Park at Exceat.
Park up and stretch your legs, wander towards Cuckmere Haven or simply take in one of the most recognisable landscapes on the south coast.
Then continue towards East Dean before taking the long way back to Lewes.
Make a stop at:
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Firle
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Alfriston
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Seven Sisters Country Park
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Cuckmere Haven
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East Dean
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A country pub for lunch
Best for: First-time visitors to East Sussex, full-day hires and anyone who wants the views to be as memorable as the car.
Our choice: Triumph Stag or Mercedes SL.
Approx. 45–50 miles • Full day
THE TIGER INN LUNCH RUN
Approx. 45–50 miles • 5–6 hours
Lewes • Glynde • Firle • Alfriston • East Dean
Some drives need a destination.
This one has a pub.
Leave Lewes and make your way through the countryside towards Glynde and Firle before continuing through the South Downs towards Alfriston.
Stop for a wander, grab a coffee if you fancy it, then get back behind the wheel and head towards East Dean.
Your destination is The Tiger Inn, sitting right on the village green and providing a very good reason to stop for a long lunch.
Afterwards, take the scenic route back towards Lewes.
No complicated itinerary. No rushing around trying to tick off attractions.
Just good roads, beautiful villages, a classic car and lunch in a proper Sussex pub.
Make a stop at:
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Glynde
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Firle
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Alfriston
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East Dean
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The Tiger Inn
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South Downs viewpoints
Best for: Sunday drives, couples, birthdays and people who take lunch seriously.
Our choice: Jaguar XJS.
Approx. 45–50 miles • 5–6 hours
THE SUSSEX VILLAGE RUN
Lewes • Glynde • Firle • Alfriston • Litlington • East Dean
Forget the motorway.
This drive is all about the villages.
Leave Lewes and head towards Glynde before continuing to Firle, nestled beneath the South Downs.
From there, make your way towards Alfriston. Park up and explore the village, find somewhere for coffee or simply sit for a while and watch the world go by.
Continue towards Litlington and then on to East Dean, with plenty of opportunities along the way to stop when somewhere catches your eye.
There's no need to rush this one.
In fact, we'd strongly recommend you don't.
Make a stop at:
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Glynde
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Firle
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Alfriston
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Litlington
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East Dean
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A country pub along the way
Best for: Relaxed days out, couples and anyone who'd rather explore villages than sit in traffic.
Our choice: Triumph Stag.
Approx. 40–45 miles • 5–6 hours
THE DOWNS TO THE COAST
Lewes • Firle • Alfriston • Cuckmere Haven • Seven Sisters • Birling Gap • East Dean
Start amongst the rolling green hills of the South Downs and finish looking out across the English Channel.
This is the one for a sunny day and, preferably, a car with the roof down.
Leave Lewes and head east through the countryside towards Firle and Alfriston before turning south towards Cuckmere Haven and Seven Sisters.
Take some time out of the car to enjoy the landscape before continuing along the coast towards Birling Gap.
From there, head towards East Dean for something to eat before pointing the classic back towards Lewes.
Countryside, coast and some very good roads in between.
Make a stop at:
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Firle
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Alfriston
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Cuckmere Haven
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Seven Sisters
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Birling Gap
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East Dean
Best for: Sunny days, full-day hires, anniversaries and special occasions.
Approx. 50–55 miles • Full day
THE ULTIMATE EAST SUSSEX CLASSIC DRIVE
Lewes • Glyndebourne • Firle • Alfriston • Seven Sisters • Birling Gap • East Dean
If you've only got one day and want to see what East Sussex has to offer, make it this one.
Start in historic Lewes before heading towards Glyndebourne and into the countryside.
Continue towards Firle, stop to explore the village and Firle Place, then head on towards Alfriston for coffee and a wander.
After that, it's time for the coast.
Make your way towards Seven Sisters Country Park and Cuckmere Haven before continuing towards Birling Gap.
Then finish the adventure at East Dean, where The Tiger Inn makes a very tempting final stop for a proper pub lunch or early dinner.
All that's left is the drive back.
Although after a day like this, you might not be quite ready to hand the keys back.
Make a stop at:
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Glyndebourne
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Firle
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Firle Place
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Alfriston
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Seven Sisters Country Park
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Cuckmere Haven
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Birling Gap
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East Dean
-
The Tiger Inn
Best for: Full-day hires, gifts, birthdays, anniversaries and anyone visiting East Sussex for the first time.
Our choice: Jaguar XJS, Triumph Stag or Mercedes SL.
Approx. 50–60 miles • Full day
