Group holiday activities in West Sussex

The best group holidays elevate life’s simple pleasures: a setting with space for everyone to feel at home, moments of unhurried togetherness – balanced with the freedom to drift off alone – and experiences that linger long after your return. 

But what are the most memorable group holiday activities in West Sussex? They often include shared meals, unique discoveries, and time spent enjoying experiences that bring everyone together. The real luxury lies in creating connections: feeling time stretch and obligations fall away, so that you can be present with one another.

 The key to this easeful enjoyment is curating the right kind of itinerary, with pockets of time to suit everyone. To help you get started, we’ve compiled a selection of our top, tried-and-tested ideas for group holiday activities here in West Sussex.

Looking for unforgettable things to do in West Sussex with a group? At nearby Goodwood, shared days can be as exhilarating or unhurried as you choose. Channel your inner child with an exclusive tree climbing experience or opt for a relaxed cycle tour of the wider estate. Or, step back to the glamour and thrill of vintage motor racing, driving restored classic cars around Goodwood’s famous circuit.

 Providing a gentle counterweight to other activities, guided tours of Goodwood House slow things to a graceful linger. Here, you can admire Regency interiors and splendid state apartments before settling down to afternoon tea in the ballroom, featuring estate-reared, organic ingredients.

The West Sussex landscape epitomises the best of British country life. Ancient woodland becomes the backdrop to clay shooting parties, while lakes and riverbanks invite the peaceful pursuit of fly-fishing. At Cowdray Park, in Midhurst, you can also sit back as a spectator, watching championship polo fixtures with a picnic hamper at your side. It’s little wonder people often ask: where can groups try traditional country sports in West Sussex? The answer lies here.

A day at the races is a failsafe crowd-pleaser. Steeped in horseracing tradition, Hickstead is the home of majestic show jumping (with hospitality packages available for an added sense of luxury), while the Fontwell Park racecourse features a unique figure-of-eight steeplechase circuit.

West Sussex invites exploration at a gentler pace. If you’re staying as a group, guided walks help to keep everyone on track and free up life’s usual navigators for easy conversation. Sussex Walks offers a walking tour of Arundel and the South Downs hills, while Wellness Walking Tours hosts private bespoke walks especially for groups.

Alternatively, combine a day outdoors with the seasonal beauty of our local gardens. From the splendour of Borde Hill’s landscaped grounds to intimate by-arrangement visits through the National Garden Scheme, each offers a glimpse into the story and spirit behind these gardens.

What could be nicer than an hour or two spent strolling around vineyards and sipping fine wines? Many travellers also wonder: what are the best winery tours in West Sussex for groups? Wiston Estate is one of the finest examples. Encompassing 6,000 acres of the soft-chalk South Downs, Wiston draws on the natural shelter of its location to produce award-winning English wine.

Learn more about this fascinating process and cultivate your sommelier’s instinct with a winery tour and tasting. Experiences like this are a fantastic way to spend time together in a new and different setting – sparking fresh conversation and connection.

If your group is gathering for a milestone event, make it special by celebrating in style. We can advise on private dining venues for your party, but with lavish mansions and manor houses among our boltholes, it can be equally impactful to entertain back at base.

Our partners include private chefs with Michelin-star experience. Both trained at the Cordon Bleu school, honing the credentials and confidence to create bespoke and fine dining menus. So, if you’d like to craft a truly one-off evening, or even arrange catering throughout your stay, just let us know.

Set in vast estates and parkland, many of our larger West Sussex properties boast group activities already on hand. At Hunters, for instance, you’ll find a croquet lawn and tennis lawn, while Greenoaks features a badminton net and rackets – ideal for friendly team competitions. 

Hospitality also extends to cinema rooms – choose Langham Manor or Oak Lodge if this chimes with your guests – and wellness facilities like swimming pools and gyms. Cowdray House even contains a bowling alley and billiards table, making a “quiet evening in” an occasion in its own right. 

As local experts, we truly love creating a bespoke experience for group holidays. This may be as simple as suggesting the best properties for your tastes, or as detailed as planning and booking activities while providing a full concierge service. If you’re still seeking inspiration, or need any help, just get in touch.