Picturesque Sussex hotspot named UK’s second best stargazing spot

A study by photography retailer Jessops has found that South Downs Dark Sky Reserve is the UK’s second best stargazing spot.

"Despite being just 90 minutes from the brightly lit city of London, is renowned for its clear, dark skies,” a Jessops spokesperson said.

“It was designated as a Dark Sky Reserve in 2016 and has since become a magnet for astronomers from all over the country.

“The park hosts 30 annual stargazing events and boasts 15 prime viewing locations across the region.

"One of the standout spots is Bignor Hill, known for being one of the darkest and highest points in the area, offering breathtaking views of the night sky.”

Here are the top ten stargazing locations based on the number of stargazing events, viewing locations across the region and accommodation:

– Northumberland Dark Sky Park;

– South Downs Dark Sky Reserve;

– Exmoor Dark Sky Reserve;

– North York Moors Dark Sky Reserve;

– Yorkshire Dales Dark Sky Reserve;

– Brecon Beacons Dark Sky Reserve;

– Cranborne Chase Dark Sky Reserve;

– Bodmin Moor Dark Sky Landscape;

– Elan Valley Dark Sky Park;

– Snowdonia Dark Sky Reserve

The Jessops spokesperson added: “A Dark Sky Reserve is a protected area awarded by DarkSky International that restricts artificial light pollution to preserve the natural darkness and beauty of the sky.

“To qualify as a Dark Sky Reserve, an area must have effective lighting management plans to control light pollution and demonstrate a commitment to public education about the importance of dark skies.

“These reserves are often located in remote locations, away from the bright lights of urban areas. This not only increases opportunities for astronomy but also supports the well-being of wildlife that can be affected by excessive artificial lighting.

“As of May 2024, there are over 200 Dark Sky Places worldwide, with the UK being home to 19 of these, according to DarkSky.”