Family Fun

Newhaven Fort reopens for half term with packed 2026 events programme

Visitors are welcomed back to Newhaven Fort this February half term, as the historic site reopens its doors for the 2026 season with a packed programme of events. The 19th-century coastal fort has become a sell-out destination in East Sussex following the completion of its £7.5 million restoration last year. Reopening on Saturday 14 February after its winter closure, the fort’s new season promises plenty to look forward to, from intriguing talks to brand-new family events. The season will kick off with a craft drop-in on Valentine’s Day, where visitors can create their own wooden noughts and crosses game with a heart-shaped twist. Sessions cost £2 per person and will take place in the fort’s Palmerston Room, led by local craft business The Woven Owl. Animals from Horsham-based Little Sherwood Farm will take centre stage at the ‘Farm at the Fort’ event on 1 April. Between 11am and 3pm, visitors will get the chance to meet pigs, sheep, goats and more, plus there will be farm-themed crafts and activities.

Lindsay Lawrence, general manager at Newhaven Fort, said: “There’s something for everyone to enjoy, including history-themed days, seasonal craft activities and brand-new events, including our Celebration of Sussex in July. “We’ll also have an exciting new exhibition opening in the summer, so watch this space for further announcements.”

Other springtime events include a talk on the River Ouse on 1 March, a family-friendly Easter trail during the school holidays and a historic falconry event on 10 May. Visitors are also invited to step back in time for a Victorian Weekend between 16-17 May. Summer highlights include a midsummer picnic on the evening of 24 June, along with themed seaside and nature weeks throughout the summer holidays. Morris dancers, folk singers and local food and drink providers will welcome visitors on 11 July as part of Newhaven Fort’s Celebration of Sussex event. The fort’s notoriously haunted tunnels will be open for spooky ghost stories between 26-31 October, with families invited to put the tales to the test during a ghost hunt on 29 October. Award-winning mobile zoo Reptylers will return on 27 October, offering visitors the chance to meet some creepy crawlies up close. In addition to its events programme, Newhaven Fort has a gripping 1970s-themed escape room which is available for bookings throughout the year, as well as an adventure playground for younger visitors. Events this year include: