HISTORIC sites and other attractions are beginning to reopen their doors to the public again as the coronavirus lockdown is eased further.

Battle Abbey and Battlefield is one of the first English Heritage sites across the country to reopen today.

The charity has announced a phased reopening of its 400 historic buildings, gardens and monuments.

A further 45 sites will reopen in July, including Pevensey Castle, with the rest to follow in August.

Visitors need to book in advance, even if they have a membership, and must arrive at their designated time slot.

The site of the Battle of Hastings in 1066 includes a stone marking the spot where King Harold fell and a battlefield trail lined with sculptures of Norman and Saxon soldiers.

The abbey ruins, its grounds and the battlefield will all be open for visitors to explore at a safe distance from one another, while the visitor exhibition, the gatehouse and indoor areas will remain closed.

The Battle Abbey shop will also be open from Monday with a one-way system in place, and the cafe will be providing a takeaway service.

The Weald and Downland Living Museum in Singleton has confirmed it will reopen on Monday, June 22.

Initially the 40-acre site, which is where popular BBC2 series The Repair Shop is filmed, will be open to members only, before reopening to the wider public on July 6.

Tickets can be booked online from Wednesday and visitors need to book in advance by midnight the day before their scheduled arrival.

The museum, which tells the stories of people who lived and worked in rural Sussex over 1,000 years, has a collection of more than 50 historic buildings to explore, including a medieval farmstead and a watermill.

Stewards will be in place at some of the building entrances to manage the flow of people through the space, as it not always possible to see how many are inside.

It follows the Government announcement earlier this week that outdoor attractions, including zoos and safari parks, can reopen as long as they follow social distancing rules.

Laurence Smith, managing director at Drusillas Park near Alfriston, said he was “delighted” by the news, but the park is still waiting on clarification about when it can open its play areas and rides.

Mr Smith had planned to reopen the zoo on July 4, but the team is now “doing everything they possibly can to accommodate this change and welcome the public back”.

Stephanie Smith, chief executive at Raystede Centre for Animal Welfare near Lewes, said the animal rescue home was now planning a “gradual reopening”.

Knepp Wildland Safaris, which offers walking tours and safaris around wildlife hot spots in the 3,500 acre site near Horsham, is hoping to reopen from July 4.

The National Trust began its phased reopening of sites earlier this month, including Sheffield Park and Garden near Hayward’s Heath and Standen House near East Grinstead.