Ancient English village once owned by a king named one of the best in the country
A TINY village in the UK that was once owned by an English king has been named one of the greatest in the country.
Located in East Sussex, Ditchling is home to just 2,000 residents.
First mentioned in 765AD, King Alfred the Great owned it during the 9th century.
Its royal ties don’t stop there – King Henry VIII gave Anne of Cleves Ditchling Garden Manor as part of their divorce settlement.
Now called the Wings Place, the house is regarded as one of the best Tudor Houses in the country.
The English village later became a hit with artists after sculptor and letter cutter Eric Gill moved to the village in 1907.
Other craftsmen soon settled in the village, forming the Guild of St Joseph and St Dominic – a Roman Catholic community of artists and craftsmen, including painters, silversmiths, sculptors, ceramicists and weavers.
The Sussex village remains popular with artists and craftspeople to this day, with an art trail in the village.
A description on its website reads: “We aim to be the kind of village that’s becoming increasingly rare; busy pubs that welcome locals and visitors with the same warmth, cosy cafes serving up the best Sussex produce and well-tended walking and cycling routes, so that it’s easy to get out and explore the glorious countryside that surrounds us.”
While Ditchling sounds like its too good to be true, it was actually named among the best in the country by the Telegraph last year.
Ditchling is home to over 40 listed buildings, adding to its quaint and picture-perfect atmosphere.
There are several places holidaymakers can visit too, including Ditchling Museum of Art & Craft.
Despite its small size, the museum houses a significant collection of work, including pieces by Edward Johnston – the man responsible for creating the typeface used for the London Underground.
The museum is open from Wednesday to Sunday, with entry tickets starting from £10 for full-paying adults.
Other nearby attractions include Oldland Windmill, a restored working post mill that’s open to visitors on the first Sunday of each month.
The windmill is open to visitors between April and October, with a donation required to enter.
Ditchling Fair, which celebrates the history of the village, takes place every two years so the next one will be 2026.
Need a drink? There are several pubs in the village, including The White Horse and The Bull.
Or for something finer, there are plenty of wineries and vineyards, including Ridgeview Wine Estate, which has won a number of awards and you can even tour.
Despite being in the Sussex countryside, Ditchling also has quirky accommodation options nearby, including Blackberry Wood Camping, Glamping and Treehouses.
Located at the foot of the South Downs National Park, the family-run campsite is open every day of the year, including Christmas.
Guests can book to stay in a converted helicopter, a treehouse and a ‘fire engine’ to name a few.
Ditchling is a 30-minute drive from Brighton.
Sun Travel's favourite UK towns and villages
Here are the UK villages that The Sun’s travel team like to visit the most.
Harrogate, North Yorkshire – Hope Brotherton, Travel Reporter
For the last few years, my annual trip to Harrogate has been an immovable fixture in my calendar.
The Victorian spa town is the perfect place for a little bit of R&R thanks to its history of spa tourism, which is very much alive.
Head to The Harrogate Spa at the DoubleTree by Hilton Harrogate Majestic Hotel if you’d like a pamper, which is a personal favourite of mine.
Lavenham, Suffolk – Kara Godfrey, Deputy Travel Editor
ONE of my favourite villages I’ve ever visited in England is Lavenham, which is beautiful in autumn.
Said to be the best preserved medieval village in the UK, it is known for two buildings – the 600-year-old Crooked House and the De Vere House, which featured in the Harry Potter films.
Warm up at The Swan Hotel, which has its cosy Weavers Spa onsite.
Robin Hood’s Bay, Yorkshire – Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor
Perched atop a craggy cliff, overlooking a dinky shore, Robin Hood’s Bay seems like something from a fiction tale or a North Yorkshire postcard.
In summer, you’ll find dogs sprinting along the sands, while owners tuck into fresh crab sandwiches from the beachside hut and little ones fish for treasures in the rock pools.
I prefer the village in winter, though, when the weather takes a turn and nature comes alive with the grassy dunes dancing in the wind and moody waves thrashing on the rocks.
Hay On Wye, Wales – Caroline McGuire, Head of Travel (Digital)
WHEN I first set foot in Hay-On-Wye, I couldn’t believe I’d left it until my late thirties to visit – what a waste of a few decades.
The small town on the Welsh borders that sits on the River Wye is probably best known for hosting the annual Hay literary festival, and it’s definitely a book-lovers paradise – with more than 20 book stores to explore.
They sit among the many antiques shops, which sell everything from fabulous Welsh rugs to toy soldiers, trinkets and beautiful furniture.
Letchmore Heath, Hertfordshire – Lisa Minot, Head of Travel
THIS quintessential little village may seem very familiar to some. It’s tiny – with just 150 houses, a village green, a pond and a lovely pub, The Three Horseshoes.
But with Elstree Studios just up the road, it has been used as a set in countless films, in particular the 1960s British horror movie, Village of the Damned.
Its close proximity to London – just half an hour away on a train from nearby Radlett or Elstree and Borehamwood station – means it’s easy to get to.
Alnwick, Northumberland – Ryan Gray, Travel Reporter
The North East of England is a treasure trove for quaint villages and towns, with Alnwick standing out among them.
For bookworms, it’s the perfect place to go, with Barter Books both one of the largest second hand book shops in Europe and easily one of the most beautiful.
Harry Potter fans are particularly keen to head to Alnwick, which is home to Alnwick Castle, or Hogwarts as many know it, with the ornate fortress used to represent Harry’s magical school in some of the film series’ more memorable scenes. Visitors to the castle can even take part in broom flying lessons.
For younger kids, Lilidorei at Alnwick Garden is the largest play structure in the world, while the rest of the garden is home to some unique attractions and features, including its famous poison garden.
Meanwhile, one of England’s prettiest villages had a starring role in a hit TV show.
And this tiny English village is home to award-winning vineyards and celebrities.