Visit Chichester

There's plenty to keep you busy in Chichester. The city has been a bustling civic centre since Roman times and today you can still see evidence of our long history all around you.

Walk the City Walls (the most intact Roman walls in southern England); admire the iconic Market Cross; venture to Priory Park to see The Guildhall, a Grade 1 listed building dating back to 1282, and the remains of a Norman motte; or explore the award-winning Novium Museum, built over the remains of a vast Roman bath house, to bring Chichester’s hidden history and heritage to life. If street art is more your thing, why not take our self-guided Chichester Street Art Trail?

Just around the corner from the museum is Chichester Cathedral (the only English cathedral with a surviving detached medieval bell tower) and its neighbouring secret garden, the Bishop's Palace Gardens, one of Chichester’s best kept secrets waiting to be explored. For more inspiration, check out our 48 Hours in Chichester itinerary.

Recommended: join a guided tour and benefit from the extensive local knowledge of your guide which will help you uncover more of the city’s past while exploring the city centre’s mix of Georgian and Edwardian architecture. A regular guided Chichester City Highlights tour runs every Sunday at 11:30am from the Chichester Cathedral Bell Tower. You need to pre-book but you can do so until 10:30am on the day. The tour costs £10 per person and lasts around 90 minutes. Chichester Tour Guides will also arrange bespoke tours or group tours according to your tastes and interests.

For culture lovers and those seeking creative inspiration, it may surprise you to know that Chichester offers these in abundance. The city is home to the nationally important Chichester Festival Theatre and the internationally recognised Pallant House Gallery, housed in what is considered to be one of the most important 18th century townhouses in England. Both are must-visits on a day trip or short break here.

There's also a selection of smaller but equally as fascinating galleries and studios. Chichester Cathedral is an essential destination for all art-lovers. Here you can see historic murals, the Marc Chagall window, the John Piper Tapestry, as well as pieces by Hans Feibusch and Graham Sutherland. In 2026, the Cathedral launches a brand new Art & Textiles Tours. These 45 minute tours explore the ideas, stories and creative decisions behind the artworks and look more closely at the Cathedral’s role as a centre for artistic innovation. 

Explore the city's streets spotting inventive street art - to see them all take our self-guided street art tour. You'll see colourful, eye catching pieces by leading street artists; Stik, Liqen and Thierry Noir. 

Whether you’re seeking leading theatre productions at Chichester Festival Theatre (be that gripping drama or crowd-pleasing musicals), world-class art at Pallant House Gallery, cinematic delights at Cineworld or Chichester Cinema (one of the UK’s most acclaimed independent cinemas), cultural Chichester has it all.

Don't miss: Pallant House Gallery's Thursday Lates - one Thursday per month except May and November the gallery opens until 8:30pm. Admission is either half price or if you purchase a ticket for that evening's talk or workshop, admission is free of charge. In summertime you might just find live music accompanies your visit, as well as food and drink and the opportunity to visit the amazing Pallant House gift shop.

You’ll be sure to find the perfect place to eat in the city of Chichester. From independent restaurants specialising in vegan or Greek food, to chain restaurants like Giggling Squid, Bill’s and Nando’s, Chichester has it all (discover some of our favourites here). There are plenty of ways to seek out good food in Chichester. Whether you’re looking for a healthy breakfast at The Fat Fig to start your day, a long and lazy brunch at The Ivy, a refuel at The Barn, whilst exploring the city, there are pubs, bars, kitchens, restaurants, cafés and inns to suit everyone in this historic city.

For a pre-theatre drink or an evening of cocktails, explore the centre of historic Chichester. Here you’ll find bars with DJs and live entertainment, real ale, or an interesting wine list.

Chichester is located a few miles from the beautiful coastline in one of the sunniest spots in the UK and is surrounded by vast areas of rolling chalkland making ideal growing conditions for vines. Chichester is increasingly making a name for itself as the capital of English wine with a selection of small, local vineyards making award-winning wines and winning rave reviews from the wine critics. Vineyard tours and tasting experiences bring your chilled, crisp glass of Sussex (yes – we even have our own PDO) to life as you learn more about the delicate process which gets the grapes into your glass. With the popularity of real ale here to stay, no visit should be complete without sampling a pint of locally crafted beer, whether from a local pub or direct from the tap room.

The Chichester District embraces magnificent rolling hills, far-reaching farmland and woodlands, and a wild and wonderful coast. It’s this diversity, along with the unique climate which allows the area to produce such a wealth of outstanding food and drink.  This foodie heaven is jam-packed with noteworthy places where you can sample Sussex produce. Buying local whilst you're here ensures low food miles, which has got to be a good thing.

Don't miss: The Ghost at The Feast - Chichester's buzzy food hall where at the time of writing you can find street food style vendors specialising in everything from your morning coffee to Pizza, Japanese, Mexican and brunch classics.

Chichester is a shopping haven to be discovered.  With nearly 200 independent shops as well as some of your high street favourites like The White Company, Oliver Bonas and Mint Velvet, you'll also find weekly markets and unusual boutiques, there's an interesting mix of stores to browse in Chichester.

From designer clothes, handbags and vegan shoes to jewellery, sports clothes, accessories and some excellent vintage clothing stores, you’ll find it all in our shopping hotspot.

The four main shopping streets of Chichester – North, East, South and West Street radiate from the distinctive Market Cross, and are host to a mix of high street favourites and small, independent retailers bringing variety to your retail therapy. Make sure you explore the City Centre’s ‘pallants’ and ‘twittens’ – within these secluded side streets you’ll find a myriad of interesting independents waiting to welcome you.

Don't miss: Winter's Moon on North Street where you'll find a carefully curated mix of homewares and gifts with a nod to vintage style but with a fairtrade focus.

Chichester city centre has a variety of accommodation on offer, with something for all tastes and budgets. For hotel stays, you will find everything taken care of at the Chichester Harbour Hotel, or find budget friendly options at the Premier Inn and Travelodge. A traditional welcome awaits at the city's B&Bs, while self-catering offers you the flexibility of a home from home. It may surprise you to learn that you can even stay within the grounds of Chichester Chichester - there's a variety of rooms, apartments and homes to choose from here, some of which even offer you a view of the spire!

Whether you’re travelling alone, with friends, family or attending a wedding, you’ll find great accommodation in Chichester. Stay close to the City Centre to explore Chichester Cathedral, Chichester Festival Theatre and Pallant House Gallery, or stay just outside in a cosy pub, a delightful self-catering cottage for close access to Goodwood, our wonderful array of visitor attractions or even for easy access to West Wittering Beach. You can also find campsites just outside the city centre - sites like Concierge Camping are within easy reach and offer excellent facilities.

Our pick: The Clockhouse in central Chichester is perfectly located to let you experience Chichester like a local. Set in a charming historic building it's a characterful city centre hideaway for two within easy reach of bars and restaurants, shops and Chichester's vibrant cultural attractions.

Chichester is a perfect location for school holidays or weekend breaks with kids as it's packed full of family-friendly activities and things to experience. Discover modern art to inspire little minds, the South Downs Planetarium for a virtual trip to the stars, bring history to life at our museum or in our Cathedral, enjoy some outstanding theatre, or let off some steam with Ten Pin bowling. Enjoy bouncing at Flip Out, discover the thrill of an escape room or learning watersports, as well as a huge variety of cycling or walking routes. Uncover local wildlife on a family friendly canal experience and refuel at our range of welcoming cafés and restaurants.

With something for all ages and interests, Chichester makes a great destination for a family friendly short break.

Chichester city and the surrounding area is very dog-friendly and you’ll find a whole range of places to explore with your dog, including Chichester Cathedral. You'll find a variety of pubs, cafes and restaurants which are dog friendly, as well as green spaces and parks to enjoy a walk. Outside the city centre, attractions like West Dean Gardens and Weald & Downland Living Museum warmly welcome dogs on short leads. Maybe you'll come to Chichester for Goodwoof, Goodwood's annual weekend which is all about the dog.
Our Tip: Many City centre pubs warmly welcome dogs including The Nags Head, The Chichester Inn, George & Dragon or The Duke & Rye.

Take a gentle 10-minute walk from the City Centre and find yourself in another world at Chichester Canal. This secret waterway is a haven of local wildlife and offers unique views of the Cathedral and stunning Sussex South Downs. Alternatively, jump on the bus or in the car for a 10-minute drive to West Dean Gardens –  a garden lover's paradise and one of the greatest restored gardens open to the public today. Explore the impressive Victorian glasshouses and seasonal planting, as well as historic features and the odd surreal tree. You even can sign up to a garden-themed short course here to hone your green-fingered skills. 

Its neighbour, the Weald & Downland Living Museum offers a fascinating glimpse into Britain's rural history with its collection of rescued and restored rural buildings set out next door to each other, including recreated, working gardens reflecting the period and social status of homes from the 16th to the 19th centuries.

With West Sussex fast building a reputation for itself as the capital of English wine, thanks to its combination of climate and soil conditions, you simply cannot visit here without sampling some for yourself. Within Chichester’s immediate surrounding areas, you can discover two award-winning vineyards - Tinwood Estate and Ashling Park (and there’s plenty more a little further afield). Take a tour and learn more about how the grapes get into your glass, enjoy an afternoon tea or dinner overlooking the vines, or even lend a hand with the harvest.

Adjacent to the South Downs National Park and just a few miles from the coast, Chichester and its surrounding areas boast some of the most beautiful scenery in Sussex and offer a variety of opportunities to be immersed in nature and to spot wildlife – from woodland walks to expansive views from elevated viewpoints.

Chichester’s location amid vast areas of countryside close to the coast offers a wide variety of places to walk, with terrain and scenery to suit you. A short distance from the city you’ll find hilly climbs like the ever-popular Kingley Vale, The Trundle overlooking Goodwood Racecourse or the walk to Halnaker Windmill following part of Stane Street, the Roman Road to London, all of which deliver stunning vistas to the sea and beyond.

Flatter landscapes offer more accessible walks such as Centurion Way where you’ll encounter the Chichester Road Gang sculptures or strolls along the canal towpath accompanied by the sights and sounds of the resident wildlife – maybe even a Kingfisher if you’re lucky! 

Prefer life on two wheels? Why not cycle the Centurion Way by hiring an App Bike from Chichester Park Hotel. The 5.5 mile (9km) trail runs between Chichester, Lavant and West Dean following the old dismantled Chichester to Midhurst railway line, which closed in 1991. It connects with the South Coast Cycle Route at Fishbourne, where you can continue westwards to visit Fishbourne Roman Palace and Bosham. Northwards, the route continues to West Dean House and Gardens and the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum at Singleton.

Further afield, there’s no better place to make the most of the great outdoors than the Witterings in West Sussex. Home of some of the area’s best beaches including East Wittering and West Wittering, greatest watersports and finest views, it’s no surprise that the crowds flock here during the summer months.

But it’s not just the summer that offers the thrills. Visit off-peak for empty beaches, rolling waves and thrill-seeking sports to yourself. From SUP, windsurfing, surfing, kitesurfing and fitness to great walks and children’s camps, there’s something for all.

The pretty market towns of Midhurst and Petworth and the seaside town of Selsey are not far away and well worth a visit whilst you're in the area.