Selsey is home to a host of well-known attractions including Selsey’s fantastic beaches, Selsey Lifeboat Station and Selsey Bill.
Explore Selsey’s history on a variety of local trails which take in the town’s quirky railway carriage homes, a series of funky artistic seals and the Blue Plaques which commemorate notable residents and historical events.
Selsey’s lifeboat station is open for visitors, where an All-Weather Shannon Class lifeboat and D-Class inshore lifeboat is housed.
Follow our 48 Hours in Selsey itinerary to make to most of this sunny seaside town.
Selsey's Beaches
Selsey’s long shingle beaches are some of the best in the district and are popular with holiday makers, with the family resort of Seal Bay offering direct access to the beach at West Sands. The clear waters are also popular with divers for the rich range of marine life to be seen, as well as the off shore D-day heritage trail where various WW2 landing craft and vehicles lie.
There are miles of coastline to explore at Selsey, from the headland of Selsey Bill, which has protected local fishermen for hundreds of years, to the wildlife havens of RSPB Medmerry and RSPB Pagham Harbour, both important habitats for bird life.
Family-Friendly Selsey
This is a seaside town which welcomes families with open arms.
The popular Seal Art Trail, uses decorated seals as signposts.
Pagham Harbour nature reserve and a great day out for all the family. Follow the short Discovery Trail which is suitable for buggies. During the school holidays, there family events from pond dipping, bug hunting and arts and crafts, to seashore safaris and mud-sifting (Children must be accompanied by an adult.)
Why not have a go at kite flying on breezy West Beach?
Teens may like to visit the Selsey skate park. A concrete street-style park with plenty of opportunities to show off skating skills.
Dog Friendly Selsey
If you’re looking to holiday with your dog, then Selsey is the place to go. Dogs are allowed on West Beach all year round and on East Beach they are prohibited from designated areas (between groynes E26 & E33) between 1st May and 30th Sept. They should also be kept on lead on the sea wall.
The peaceful Pagham beach is a haven for dog-lovers; they are welcome year round. Dogs are welcome around all public footpaths and bridleways but should be kept on leads to avoid disturbing sensitive wildlife.
Nature Watching in Selsey
On the Manhood Peninsula, south of Chichester, there are two wild and wonderful RSPB reserves: RSPB Pagham Harbour and RSPB Medmerry offering important and plentiful habitats to all kinds of bird life from waders to birds of prey, as well as a host of other animals and insects. The unspoilt stretches of shoreline at Selsey are home to all kinds of marine life while offshore discover mackerel, crab, lobster, maybe even a pipefish if you’re lucky. Seals are often seen in the clear waters and sometimes even on the shore.
Enjoy the tranquillity of the RSPB nature reserves on foot or by bike while the clear waters offer the perfect playground for stand up paddle boarding (SUP), swimming, snorkelling or diving.
Take a look at our Under the Sea at Selsey blog.
Walking in Selsey
Selsey’s location on the tip of the Manhood Peninsula means that walking in Selsey and the surrounding areas is generally flat, however you’ll still find a variety of terrain to explore, from shore-side strolls or observing the bird life at the RSPB Nature Reserves of Pagham Harbour and Medmerry, to exploring the town and its heritage.
Selsey's seafood
The historic fishing town of Selsey is known across the world for its crab, which is still caught daily by the fleet moored off the beach here and delivered to leading restaurants. It’s certainly something not to be missed when you visit, with several seafood huts offering this local delicacy and other delicious seafood located on the town’s East Beach - you won’t find anything fresher.
