Chichester

Chichester is a cathedral city in West Sussex, on England's South East coast. Chichester is famous for the annual Chichester Festivities and the Chichester Real Ale and Jazz Festival.

Understand

Chichester has been occupied since before Roman times, when it was believed to have been one of the bridgeheads of the Roman invasion of Britain. The city centre is built on the Roman town of Noviomagus, and it benefits from the cross-shaped design favoured by the Romans - North Street, South Street, East Street and West Street converge on the Chichester Cross, a medieval market cross. The city centre is still surrounded by much of the Roman wall.

Visitor information

Get in

By car

The A27 runs east from Chichester, past Arundel, to Worthing and Eastbourne; and goes the other way west to Portsmouth, where it joins the M27 and goes on to Southampton and the New Forest. The A286 heads north, eventually reaching Guildford.

By train
Wikivoyage has a guide to Rail travel in Great Britain

🌍 Chichester station is just south of the City Centre. It is served by Southern services from London Victoria, Gatwick Airport, Brighton, Portsmouth and Southampton; and First Great Western services from Bristol and the West Country.

By bus

Chichester is served by the daily 315 National Express south coast service from Cornwall to Eastbourne and by the 206 route from Poole to Gatwick Airport via Southampton and Portsmouth (nine times a day and some overnight services).

The Stagecoach South Coastliner 700 service provides frequent direct services to Chichester from Portsmouth, Havant, Emsworth, Bognor Regis and Littlehampton. Stagecoach also provide frequent services to Chichester from Midhurst, Selsey, and Bracklesham Bay. Emsworth District Coaches provide up to four services a day on their service from Petersfield while Compass provide infrequent services from Arundel and Petworth.

Get around

The centre of Chichester is small, and can easily be covered on foot. As with most other towns in England, the town is well served by buses and taxis.

By bus

There is a bus station situated next to the railway station, south of the city centre. It is a hub for main south coast and local services. Many services also stop outside the cathedral in West Street, as do a large number in Market Road at the end of East Street.

By taxi

Most taxis in Chichester are private hire vehicles. There are a number of locally based companies to Chichester:

  • Station Taxis, ☏ +44 1243 884 884. based at the railway station taxi ranks and operate wheelchair accessible hackney carriages. 
  • Starline, ☏ +44 1243 531 666. Private hire firm who also operate some luxury and disabled access vehicles. 
  • Central Cars, ☏ +44 1243 789 432. minicab hire firm based at across the north car park Chichester Railway station. 
  • Dunnaways Taxi's, ☏ +44 1243 782403. Family-run business for five generations since the 1800s. 

See
  • 🌍 Chichester Cathedral, The Royal Chantry, Cathedral Cloisters, PO19 1PX, ☏ +44 1243 782595. Built in 1075, it is the only medieval cathedral to have a separate bell tower, and the only cathedral in England visible from the sea. Try to visit during evensong. Free entry and guided tours, suggested donation £4. (updated Aug 2017)
  • 🌍 Chichester Market Cross (The Cross). directly at the meeting of the four main city centre routes, this stone built market cross is easy to find. 
  • 🌍 Pallant House Gallery, 9 North Pallant, PO19 1TJ (SE quadrant of city centre), ☏ +44 1243 774557. One of the best and most varied collections of art displayed in an attractive combination of Georgian house and 2000s annex. £12.50. (updated Aug 2017)
  • 🌍 Chichester Canal (From the City center follow south street past the railway crossing and take basin road). You can walk or cycle the canal's 4.5 mi (7.2 km) towpath all the way to Chichester Harbour. Rowboats can be hired at the Chichester Basin although dropped bridges mean only a limited section of the canal is navigable. Public and private canal boat trips are also available. 
  • 🌍 Fishbourne Roman Palace. (updated Mar 2017)
  • 🌍 Novium Museum, Tower Street, PO19 1QH. Chichester's new heritage museum opened in 2012, to replace the previous smaller Little London museum; built above a Roman bathouse. Free. (updated Jun 2017)
  • 🌍 Chichester Festival Theatre, Oaklands Park, PO19 6AP (Access from Northgate Longstay Car Park. Cyclists may use entrance from Broyle Road). The Chichester Festival Theatre with its distinctive octagon shape and protruding stage is known for originating shows and productions that go on to transfer for West End runs. The Minerva Theatre is situated alongside. As well as opera, plays and music the theatre organises participation and youth activities. (updated Jun 2017)
  • 🌍 Chichester Gate Leisure Park, Terminus Road, Chichester (Follow signs to industrial estate from A27 'Tesco' or Stockbridge (A286) roundabouts, or about 5 minutes walk south of the station.). The park contains a cinema, bowling complex, gymnasium, various chain restaurants, bar, Premier Inn hotel and a car park that can sometimes be quite full. (updated Jun 2017)
  • 🌍 Chichester Cinema at New Park, New Park Road, PO19 7XY, ☏ +44 1243 786650, . Small community cinema showing innovative and specialist programme (updated Jun 2017)
  • 🌍 Chichester War Memorial (Litten Gardens), Litten Gardens, St Pancras Road, PO19 8EY (The Junction of St. Pancras and Newlands Lane). 1921 War Memorial moved to its current location in Litten Gardens in 1940. (updated Jun 2017)
  • 🌍 Southdowns Planetarium (Kingsham Road entrance to Chichester high schools satnav PO19 8AE then south end of campus), ☏ +44 1243 774400. See Website for specific shows. Charity-run planetarium open for specific shows on specific days. (updated Jul 2017)

Further out
  • 🌍 Tangmere Military Aviation Museum, Tangmere Rd, Tangmere, PO20 2ES (Follow signs from the A27 at Tangmere, or turn off the B2144 for Tangmere at Shopwhyke. The Stagecoach 55 bus from Chichester terminates at the museum), ☏ +1243 790 0990, . February to November 10AM-4:30PM. A military aviation museum on the site of the former airfield, with many notable military and speed record aircraft. (updated Jun 2017)
  • 🌍 Weald and Downland Living Museum, Town Lane, Singleton PO18 0EU, ☏ +1243 811363. Daily Apr-Oct 10:30AM-6PM, Nov-Mar 10:30-4PM. Extensive open-air collection of medieval, Tudorbethan and other buildings. Adult £15.50, concession £13.50, child £7.50. (updated Jun 2021)

Do
  • Walk the old city walls
  • Take part in the annual Chichester Festivities
  • 🌍 Chichester Heritage Trails (pick up leaflets from the Library or Tourist Information at the Novium). 4 heritage trails around each of the four quadrants of the city. (updated Jun 2017)
  • 🌍 Goodwood Motor Circuit, Claypit Lane, PO18 0PH, ☏ +44 1243 755060, . Motor Circuit with variety of motor participation activities and the annual Goodwood Revival Festival (updated Jul 2017)
  • Horse-racing: Fontwell Park is a National Hunt (jumps) racetrack along A27 six miles east of Chichester, with most races Nov-March. The National Spirit Hurdle in February is a qualifier for the Cheltenham Cup.
  • Chichester Art Trail. Trail of accessible venues displaying art open on a couple of weekends annually in spring. Free. (updated May 2022)

Eat

Drink

Sleep
  • 🌍 Chichester Harbour Hotel, 57 North St, Chichester PO19 1NH, ☏ +44 1243 778000. Smart hotel and spa in a Georgian town house. Assistance dogs only. B&B double from £160. (updated Aug 2020)
  • 🌍 The Nags Head, 3 St Pancras, PO19 7SJ, ☏ +44 1243 785823. 
  • 🌍 Crouchers, Birdham Road, Chichester PO20 7EH (On A286), ☏ +44 1243 784995. Modern hotel in converted farm buildings, with Potager and adjacent Cider House restaurants. B&B double £160. (updated Jul 2020)
  • 🌍 Crab & Lobster, Mill Lane, Sidlesham PO20 7NB, ☏ +44 1243 641233. Pub with four stylish rooms and fine dining. It looks onto Pagham harbour and wetland, which used to cut off Selsey at high tide. B&B double £200. (updated Jun 2020)
  • 🌍 Halfway Bridge, Lodsworth, Petworth GU28 9BP (On A272), ☏ +44 1798 861261. Charming pub with seven nearby rooms, great dining. B&B double £150. (updated Jun 2020)
  • 🌍 The Old Store, Stane Street, Halnaker PO18 0QL (on A285), ☏ +44 1243 531977. Attractive comfy B&B open Mar-Dec, no dogs. B&B double £90. (updated Jun 2020)
  • 🌍 The Millstream, Bosham Lane, Bosham PO18 8HL, ☏ +44 1243 573234. Friendly comfortable hotel in picturesque village. No dogs. B&B double £140. (updated Jul 2020)
  • 🌍 Park House Hotel, 1 Bepton Road, Bepton GU29 0JB, ☏ +1730 819000. Gorgeous hotel and spa by the South Downs, gets great reviews for comfort, service, facilities and dining. B&B double £150. (updated Jul 2020)
  • 🌍 White Horse, 1 High St, Chilgrove PO18 9HX (on B2141), ☏ +44 1243 519444. Splendid country inn with rooms on the edge of the South Downs, dog-friendly. B&B double £100. (updated Aug 2020)

Connect
  • As of Feb 2023, Chichester and its approach roads have 4G from all UK carriers, and town centre has 5G from Vodafone.
  • Chichester Library, Tower St, PO19 1QJ (opposite cathedral), ☏ +44 1243 777351. M-F 9AM-7PM,, Sa 9AM-5PM. Computers may be reserved by adult non-members subject to an acceptable use policy. (updated Jun 2017)

Go next

Other places of interest in the Chichester area

  • Arundel Picturesque town with impressive castle; 40 min by frequent train, change at Barnham
  • Emsworth little fishing town has some great restaurants, pubs and an excellent food festival in early September.
  • Selsey popular coastal destination
  • Bognor Regis Traditional seaside resort, popular with families
  • Bracklesham Bay popular coastal destination notable for surfing and kitesurfing

A little further afield, but worth the trip:

  • Brighton an hour by frequent train, the Royal Pavilion is a knock-out
  • Portsmouth 40 min by frequent train, see the Historic Dockyard
Routes through Chichester
Portsmouth ← Emsworth ←  W  E  → Arundel → Brighton



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