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

 * The Great Sussex Way website

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

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:

Do

 * Walk the old city walls
 * Take part in the annual Chichester Festivities
 * 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.
 * 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.
 * 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.

Drink

 * Tinwood Estate 5 miles northeast is a vineyard; they offer tours and also have rooms.
 * Tinwood Estate 5 miles northeast is a vineyard; they offer tours and also have rooms.
 * Tinwood Estate 5 miles northeast is a vineyard; they offer tours and also have rooms.
 * Tinwood Estate 5 miles northeast is a vineyard; they offer tours and also have rooms.

Connect

 * As of Feb 2023, Chichester and its approach roads have 4G from all UK carriers, and town centre has 5G from Vodafone.



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