Saturdays are brunch days, regardless of whether you have slept in or not at all.
Drunk or not, there are few things that cannot be fixed by meeting friends in the early afternoon.
And London isn’t the only city with good brunch spots, this West Sussex village supposedly has the perfect spot.
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Henfield is a large village between London and Brighton and is one of the largest in the Horsham district.
Due to its size, there is a lot to do without the crowds, as the village has just under 5,400 inhabitants.
And if you want that extra seclusion, the Sussex Prairie Garden is the place for you.
It’s a naturalistic eight-acre garden with plenty of paths to explore the plants.
The beautiful displays change with the seasons
(Image: Mark / CC BY 2.0)
The plants are perennials, which means that they bloom again and again, and some of the plants can even be bought in your nursery.
There are also resident artists who create sculptures that you can spot around the garden.
The garden currently bears the TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice 2021 badge and has previously received awards such as Visit England Hidden Gem 2016.
A five-star rating from TripAdvisor called it “the nicest place to visit” while another said they drove two hours to get there and it was “really justified”.
Henfield is also home to more wilderness, which can be found in the Woods Mill Nature Reserve.
This mix of wetlands and woodland serves as an environmental education center and home to the Sussex Wildlife Trust.
The wild nature reserve is great for reconnecting with nature
(Image: Paul Farmer / Geographer)
As you wander through the streams and forests, you might hear a nightingale and see owls and kingfishers.
Visitors have also spoken of mink, swans, cows and deer and say this reserve is “ideal if you are interested in nature”.
After you’ve done the day on foot, don’t forget to refuel before heading back to the big city.
Henfield is full of pubs and inns, five of which are on the main street alone!
At the top of every list is Wheatsheaf, just outside of town near the Sussex Prairie Garden.
The Country Pub serves British pub food with a Brazilian twist, such as the “X Tudo” burger with roquito pepper relish and Brazilian fish stew.
They also have British classics like fish and chips and steak, and reviewers say the sticky toffee pudding is “worth checking out” on its own.
Others promise to “keep coming back” and praise the “brilliant staff”.
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If you think brunch is an all day affair, you’ve come to the right place at Relish.
Located right on the main drag, this place serves up all your brunch favorites: Avocado on Sourdough, English, and Eggs Benedict are just a few options.
They also have an extensive vegan menu with croissants, porridge, and a vegan version of their full English.
One of many five star reviews called it “the perfect brunch stop” and another said “we would go out of our way to come back!” while a third raved that this was “a gem of a village restaurant”.
How to get there
By public transport, a direct train from London Victoria will take you to Burgess Hill in less than an hour, where you’ll have to take a cab for the last 15 minutes.
Driving times are similar – in 70 minutes you will have passed Croydon and Crawley and reached your destination.
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