For those looking for a more active stay, there is plenty to do from hot-air ballooning to clay pigeon shooting, from beautiful walks to golf or canal boat rides. Plaistow is ideally situated for events at Goodwood, such as the Festival of Speed and the Revival, and musing round the historic towns of Petworth, Arundel and Chichester.
Amberley Museum – and Heritage Centre is a 36 acre site set in the South Downs National Park. Dedicated to the industrial heritage of the South East, exhibits include a narrow-gauge railway and bus service, Connected Earth telecommunications hall, electricity hall, printing workshop and much more.
Arundel Castle, Stately Home & Gardens – set high on a hill in West Sussex, this great Castle commands the landscape with magnificent views across the South Downs and the River Arun. Built at the end of the 11th Century, it has been the family home of the Dukes of Norfolk and their ancestors for nearly 1000 years.
Bignor Roman Villa – is a large Roman courtyard villa which has been excavated and put on public display on the Bignor estate near Chichester. It is well known for its high quality mosaic floors which are some of the most complete and intricate in the country.
Brighton Sealife Centre – right on the seafront next to Brighton’s iconic pier, Sea Life Brighton is the world’s oldest operating aquarium and provides a fascinating insight into life below the waves.
Canal Boats – in the neighbouring village of Loxwood, the Wey and Arun canal is a partially restored, 23-mile-long canal in the south east of England. It runs southwards from the Rivery Wey at Shalford to the River Arun at Pallingham. There is also a nice pub on the canal, the Onslow Arms.
Clay Pigeon Shooting – takes place at nearby Pallingham Manor Farm in Wisborough Green.
Cycling – cyling is very popular in this part of West Sussex and we are on several cycle paths. We suggest you contact the National Cycle Network for the different routes. Storage for bikes is available.
Eating Out – we are surrounded by old country pubs and good restaurants that serve good food and delicious ales. We have a recommended list ready for you in your room on arrival.
Fishbourne Roman Palace – a large palace that was built in the 1st century AD, around thirty years after the Roman conquest of Britain on the site of a Roman army supply base established at the Claudinian invasion in 43 AD. The rectangular palace surrounded formal gardens, the northern half of which have been reconstructed.
Golf – Foxbridge golf course is situated only a mile from Longbourn and there are other courses close by in Chiddingfold, Slinfold and Goodwood.
Goodwood – we are a short drive from Goodwood for Glorious Goodwood, the Festival of Speed, the Revival and other events that are hosted during the year.
Hot Air Ballooning – whether you are flying over the south coast with panoramic views of the English Channel and the Isle of White or flying over the magical South Downs, the British School of Ballooning has a base in nearby Ebernoe.
Petworth House and Park – the beautiful Petworth House and Park are just six miles from Plaistow and are a must if you are staying with us. If you fancy a full day out to explore other National Trust properties, we would be happy to help to plan a route and recommend some good pubs for lunch.
Pulborough Brooks RSPB and Wildlife Centre – are set in the sheltered Arun Valley within the South Downs National Park. The visitor centre and reserve is open all year and boasts a great variety of habitats including wetlands, woodland, and heathland. Pulborough Brooks is a haven for a wide range of wildlife, and a fantastic day out for people of all ages.
Shopping – There is great shopping in Guildford, Horsham and Chichester or for more boutique style shops, try Haslemere. For antiques, the best shops are to be found in Petworth or Arundel and there is always the ancient market town of Midhurst to be explored.
South Downs National Park – this is England’s newest National Park having become fully operational on 1 April 2011. The park, covering an area of 1,627 square kilometres in southern England, stretches for 140 kilometres from Winchester in the west to Eastbourne in the east through the counties of Hampshire, West Sussex and East Sussex.
South Downs Planetarium – have you ever wondered what a lunar eclipse looks like? Or wanted to see the Aurora Borealis? Well you can in Chichester, at one of the largest planetariums in the country.
Walks – Plaistow borders the South Downs National Park. Our village and those nearby are full of interesting and beautiful walks suitable for all ages and abilities. Don’t forget your walking boots. A book of local walks is available to borrow.