Newhaven used to be named Meeching until the 16th Century when a great storm diverted the course of the Sussex Ouse so forming a NewHaven. Wealden oak, wine and spirits from the continent and slab ice from the Baltic were shipped through the port. The town flourished with shipbuilding yards and breweries. The railway reached Newhaven in the 1840s and the first ferry service was established soon after, providing the shortest land- sea route between London and Paris. Both the ferry service and the Dieppe Raid have forged strong links between Newhaven and Dieppe. Each year the Mayor of Dieppe and entourage are the guests of Newhaven for a commemorative service to the 1,000 Canadian and Allied servicemen who embarked from Newhaven and died on the beaches of Dieppe. Their memory is preserved by an impressive granite plinth in a garden of remembrance by the harbour.
Transportation in Newhaven
By Car: From London take the M25, M23, A23, then A26 into Newhaven.
By Train: Newhaven Harbour train station is located at the harbour. Newhaven is connected to most of the country by it's rail network.
By Coach: Regular buses (operated by South Coast Buses / Brighton & Hove) arrive and depart daily from Brighton, Peacehaven, Seaford, Bexhill, Folkestone, Dover, Rye and Hastings. National Express coaches operate services to and from Newhaven.
By Ferry: Newhaven ferry port is a small but busy port located at the mouth of the River Ouse between the seaside resorts of Eastbourne and Brighton. Newhaven is well served by road and rail making it the ideal gateway from France via a Dieppe Ferry. Year round services operate from Newhaven to Dieppe with the French operator - Transmanche Ferries and seasonally by Hoverspeed using their Seacat Fast craft from March to October.
Though a busy port and industrial town, there is plenty of interest in Newhaven. The Marina offers excellent facilities for yachting, scuba diving and a range of water sports. West Quay provides an ideal spot to see the colourful fishing fleet and fresh fish is sold daily. Newhaven Lifeboat Station, also on the Quay, is open to visitors.
Both sea and freshwater anglers are catered for with boat hire available. Bathers have a choice of beaches or the town centre's Seahaven Pool offering a five lane heated swimming pool. There is a range of interesting shops in the town centre and the "fleamarket" held in a former chapel is worth a visit. Families can choose from Newhaven Fort, Newhaven Museum, Seahaven Pool and the Indoor Ski Centre and Paradise Family Leisure Park for a day of fun. For those with an interest in industrial archaeology, Tidemills to the east of the harbour is a short walk away.
