Coombes Maize Maze

The maze changes every year at Coombes, carved fresh into a massive maize field somewhere between Lancing and the South Downs. You get lost in it - properly lost sometimes - wandering through towering stalks while trying to spot the answer stations hidden among the rows. It's one of those attractions that works brilliantly for families with kids aged five to fifteen. Younger children might need herding; teenagers will either love the challenge or find it tedious within twenty minutes.

Go in late summer or early autumn when the maize is tall enough to actually create that disorienting effect. Mid-July feels too sparse. The whole thing takes between forty minutes and two hours depending on your navigational abilities and how many dead ends you hit. It's not complicated enough to frustrate adults, but it's engaging enough to stop kids whining about boredom.

Admission isn't free - budget a few quid per person - and it's worth timing your visit for midweek if you can, since weekends get rammed with school groups. The location means it pairs well with a caravan stay at Washington, just five miles away. Combine it with a Downs walk from nearby towns and you've got a decent family afternoon sorted. Don't expect profound experiences or Instagram moments; expect an hour of gentle chaos and some actual exercise. It delivers exactly that.