Famous faces who live in Sussex

Hollywood royalty, music icons, and prime-time TV and radio hosts all share a common address in Sussex. The county has become a popular retreat for celebrities seeking the south coast without the intense scrutiny of London or Los Angeles. Famous faces live across East and West Sussex, in environments defined by historic lanes, market towns, and stretches of coastline. These locations offer a mix of heritage and everyday life that creates settings both cinematic and lived-in.

From West Wittering to the South Downs

From Titanic Star to Country Estate

Kate Winslet’s Grade II-listed 17th-century estate sits near West Wittering. After her international success with Titanic and awards for films like The Reader and Mare of Easttown, Winslet relocated to Sussex in 2013. She has been based in both London and Manhattan before moving here. The location provides a setting that supports a global film career while allowing for grounded family life. The quiet beaches and relaxed atmosphere of the area help her balance these demands.

Legendary Beatles frontman Sir Paul McCartney owns Blossom Wood Farm, a 160-acre organic plot near Peasmarsh. He acquired the property in 1973 to escape public attention. It functions as a working farm rather than a showpiece. He houses his recording studio in a converted windmill in the village of Icklesham. This setup allows him to live and work in the rural East Sussex countryside.

Just outside Plaistow, Julie Walters and her husband, Grant Roffey, live on a 200-acre working farm. Walters, known for Harry Potter, Billy Elliot, and Mamma Mia, has resided in the area for two decades. The holding includes livestock such as cattle, sheep, and hundreds of chickens. Roffey manages the farming operations, while Walters focuses on her screen work and rural pursuits.

Fatboy Slim’s Beachfront Home and Legacy

Fatboy Slim, also known as Norman Cook, has lived in Hove since his student days at Brighton Polytechnic in the 1980s. His home on Millionaires’ Row (Western Esplanade) overlooks the sea. Over the years, he has acquired several beachfront mansions. These properties house his family, private studio, and office. His influence extends beyond his home address; he jointly owns Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club, manages the Big Beach Cafe, and organized the 2002 Big Beach Boutique II event.

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Jodie Kidd lives in a 17th-century cottage just outside Kirdford. She told The English Home in 2020 that the home is a “gingerbread house” with big inglenook fireplaces and beams. The property sits among rolling open fields. It is a short walk to the village center, where she restored the old local pub, The Half Moon, in 2017.

Downton Abbey and Paddington star Hugh Bonneville lives in a converted 19th-century coach house near the South Downs, just outside Midhurst. The house retains much of its original architecture. The former carriage room is now his kitchen, and the hayloft serves as his study. The land near the Hampshire border provides him with a secluded hideaway.

Piers Morgan has deep ties to Newick, having grown up in the East Sussex village. His family home there features oak interiors, a swimming pool, a 5-acre garden, and a personal football ground. This white-fronted, ivy-clad country house serves as his main escape from the studio and the capital.

Redlands: A Sanctuary for The Rolling Stones

The link between Keith Richards and West Wittering is Redlands, a Grade II-listed, moated, thatched property from the 13th century. Richards purchased it in 1966. The site became famous in 1967 during a police raid on Richards, Mick Jagger, and Marianne Faithfull. Decades later, the secluded coastal estate remains his primary UK home base and creative sanctuary.

Rag ‘n’ Bone Man, the blues and soul singer Rory Graham, lives on three acres in Cross-in-Hand, near Heathfield. The East Sussex native bought the four-bedroom property to serve as a secluded home base and private creative studio. Located deep among the trees, the home is ideal for the British hitmaker who wanted to be close to his Uckfield childhood home.

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Roger Daltrey, lead singer of The Who, resides at Holmshurst Manor, a Jacobean manor house near Burwash. He acquired the property in 1970 and spent ten years restoring it. His 420-acre working farm includes cattle, horses, and the Lakedown Fishery. He also runs Lakedown Brewing Co. with his son Jamie from the property.

Tom Baker, the fourth Doctor Who, lives just off the ancient citadel of Rye. The actor and his wife, Sue Jerrard, moved there after living in London, Kent, and France. They found “paradise” at their former fruit farm a few miles out of town. The house sits outside the famous cobbled street of Rye, where locals occasionally see him at places like The Mermaid Inn.

Zoe Ball Returns to the Coast

Broadcaster Zoe Ball moved back closer to the coast in 2024. She sold her £2 million countryside home in Newick for a townhouse between Brighton and Hove. The period property underwent a complete makeover with Arior Design. Ball swapped neutral tones for bold pink, rustic Tuscan reds, and eclectic artworks. The location places her near her ex-husband, Fatboy Slim.

A Mix of Style and Location

The homes in Sussex demonstrate a clear preference for historic architecture and rural settings. This is evident in the restored coach house of Hugh Bonneville and the thatched Redlands of Keith Richards. These properties offer privacy while remaining connected to the local community. The rolling open fields of Julie Walters’ farm and the coastline near Jodie Kidd’s cottage provide the backdrop for a life away from the spotlight. The mix of agricultural land, market towns, and sea views creates a diverse environment for these residents.