From the rolling South Downs to its lively coastal towns, Sussex has long inspired artists, writers and visionaries. Now, with a wave of bold new gallery openings and cultural festivals springing up across the region, this creative spirit is luring like-minded residents seeking community in the county.
“It is more spiritual than London,” poet and painter William Blake wrote in 1800 of his new home in Felpham, West Sussex. “Heaven opens here on all sides her golden gates.” Historically a single county, Sussex was split into East and West in 1889. Today, the divide remains culturally distinct: the west is known for its classic charm and rural grandeur; the east for its bohemian, progressive spirit.
In West Sussex, grand estates are central to the story. At Petworth House, where both Constable and Turner were regular guests, the 17th-century stately home houses a major National Trust art collection. The town itself, set in the heart of the South Downs National Park, has also become a cultural destination in its own right. “We get many weekenders who are drawn to Petworth,” says Justin Theobald, director of Savills Country House Department and a local resident. “There are a lot of art galleries and antiques shops – it’s a real little hub.”
Nearby, the Goodwood Estate launched its Art Foundation in spring 2025, with two contemporary woodland galleries, and artworks spread across the 70-acre park. “They do a lot to promote art and artists,” Theobald says. “There’s also Goodwood Health Club, where you can do yoga in the sculpture park.”
