Leisure and Tourism: West Sussex

DCMS is committed to ensuring tourism drives growth and jobs across the country, including the constituency of East Grinstead and Uckfield alongside both East and West Sussex, home to attractions including the historic Bluebell Railway and the iconic South Downs.

DCMS collaborates closely with VisitEngland and the Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP) network - including the Sussex and Brighton LVEP - to embed the distinct needs of coastal and rural tourism into national policy. Locally, the Sussex and Brighton LVEP bridges the public and private sectors to drive investment and promote the region as a premier destination to visit, live, work, and invest.

Through VisitBritain’s ‘Starring GREAT Britain’ campaign, we are showcasing the UK’s film and TV locations, like the Bluebell Railway featured in The Women in Black and Downton Abbey, to global audiences while promoting diverse experiences available across all regions.

To support domestic tourism, VisitEngland launched the latest phase of its ongoing coastal campaign in June. The ‘My coast has the most…’ campaign calls on voices from across the tourism industry to take part in a nationwide social media activation, sharing short videos that celebrate what makes their local coastlines special and inspiring people to visit this summer and beyond.

Through a temporary VAT cut on eligible attractions, the Great British Summer Savings Scheme drives family footfall and provides vital support to seasonal tourism businesses over the summer months.