While Sussex is home to many great villages, many you've probably heard of and or visited.
Well, if you are looking for somewhere new, this "secret" village tucked away in the South Downs is worth a visit, and is said to be like "stepping back in time".
Marden, in West Sussex, comprises the villages of North Marden and East Marden, as well as the hamlet of West Marden.
With the village of Up Marden nearby, it is said to be among the most beauitful in the country, and here's why.
All to know about Sussex's Marden villages
North Marden is among the smallest villages across all of Sussex, with East Marden similarly tiny.
At the end of the 19th century the population was said to be between just 20 and 30 people.
West Sussex info says North Marden lies close to the B2141 Chichester to Petersfield Road, adding that "if you didn't know it was there, you might miss it altogether".
It describes the 12th-century St Mary's Church as "exceptional", explaining that part of it was built out of "good quality Caen stone shipped over from France".
It adds: "In the days before the car became commonplace, North Marden had a school, post office and butchers' shops as well as a cricket team and social club. Now it's as sleepy as can be."
On East Marden, the website says it could be home to the smallest village green in West Sussex.
It says: "The great philosopher Bertrand Russell lived in East Marden for a while, opening a school in Battine House in 1928 to 1931.
"Although the school did not last especially long, it helped to pioneer libertarian education and the belief that freedom would bring maturity and responsibility to boys and girls.
"Russell himself wasn't too sure that his experiment was a successful one, though, remarking in later life 'it wasn't at all the sort of place I had imagined it would be'."
Why the Marden villages in Sussex are worth visiting
While the Marden villages are small, meaning there are not umpteen things to do, but there is walking routes and local businesses to try.
Besides the village itself, being nestled in the stunning South Downs National Park is a bonus in itself.
The South Downs is home to a number of exciting trails, villages and picturesque spots to explore.
Earlier this year, The Daily Mail included the Mardens on its list of Britain's 24 most beautiful villages.
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It described The Mardens as a cluster of "easy-on-the-eye secluded hamlets nestled in the chalk hills of the South Downs".
Speaking to the Mail, Jennie Hancock, founder and director of West Sussex buying agency Property Acquisitions, said of the area: "There’s a stunning 12th-century church surrounded by farms and flint cottages and a tranquil landscape of ancient fields and wooded hills.
"It’s like stepping back in time to a bygone age, and not many people even know they’re there. A real hidden gem."
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