Beyond Brighton
Newhaven: the back story
Town guide
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Michael Coppins · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsAbout Newhaven: the back story
Newhaven stands at the mouth of the River Ouse between Brighton and Eastbourne: a working harbour, the port for the ferry to Dieppe, and a Victorian fort on the cliff above the harbour mouth.
Watch the Dieppe ferry slide out between Newhaven’s harbour arms and you see why the town matters: this is the shortest route from Sussex to France.
The harbour
Newhaven grew up where the River Ouse meets the sea, a working harbour on the coast road between Brighton and Eastbourne, linked inland to Lewes.
Check opening times and trains on the official sites before you travel.
The fort
Newhaven Fort stands on the cliff above the harbour mouth. Restored after years of neglect, it now has an interactive timeline of its history, an escape room, an adventure playground, a café run by Cadence and a gift shop.
Across the water
Ferries sail from Newhaven to Dieppe in Normandy: a day trip or the start of a French holiday. See our East of Brighton guide and DFDS’s site for times and fares.
Practical notes
Newhaven is on the line from Brighton via Lewes to Seaford. The Hope Inn is the town’s pub by the water.
Our advice: explore the fort in the morning, lunch at The Hope Inn, and come back one day to take the ferry to Dieppe.
Why it's on our list
- The harbour
- The fort
- Across the water
- Practical notes
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Newhaven: the back story before you go.
What’s nearby
Distances from Newhaven: the back story are approximate, measured in a straight line (as the crow flies). Times are approximate too: walking at about 80 metres a minute, cycling at about 15 km/h and driving at typical city-traffic speeds. Traffic and routes vary.
Key sights
- Palace Pier8.7 miCar or taxi 42 min
- Royal Pavilion8.8 miCar or taxi 43 min
- Brighton Dome8.9 miCar or taxi 43 min
- The Lanes8.9 miCar or taxi 43 min
- The North Laine8.9 miCar or taxi 43 min
- Brighton i3609.3 miCar or taxi 45 min
- Hove Lawns9.9 miCar or taxi 48 min
- Preston Park10 miCar or taxi 48 min
Railway stations
- Brighton station9.1 miCar or taxi 44 min
- London Road (Brighton) station9.1 miCar or taxi 44 min
- Preston Park station10 miCar or taxi 48 min
- Hove station10 miCar or taxi 50 min