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
