Arundel (England)

Arundel is a historical town in West Sussex in the South East of England.

Understand

Arundel Castle

Arundel sits at the midpoint of the South Downs, and is named after the River Arun, which passes through the western part of the town. The town is steeped in history, and was mentioned in the Norman Domesday Book.

Get in

By car

Arundel is on the main coast road through West Sussex, the A27, which runs east to Worthing, Brighton and Hove, and west to Chichester, Portsmouth and Southampton. The A284 links Arundel to nearby Littlehampton to the south and London via the A29.

By train

Arundel is on the Arun Valley Line (also known as the Mid Sussex Line). Direct trains are available from London Victoria, Gatwick Airport, Southampton, Portsmouth, Chichester and Bognor Regis. West Coastway Line services from Brighton, Worthing and Littlehampton will usually require changing at Barnham or sometimes Ford. From Epsom, Leatherhead and Dorking it will be necessary to change at Horsham.

Get around

Arundel is very compact, and you can easily discover its charms on foot, although the High Street is set on a very steep hill. Take your time and make the climb up the hill via St Nicholas Church to the Cathedral, well worth the climb.

By bus

The town is served by buses operated by Stagecoach and Compass Travel.

By taxi

There is taxi rank at Arundel Station and information can be found at Arundel Visitor Information Centre.

See

Sanctuary of the Arundel Cathedral

• 🌍 Arundel Castle, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Tu-Su 10AM-5PM. 11th-century castle and gardens. One of the most complete and impressive castles remaining in Britain. Also host special events such as jousting, Shakespeare, period combat tournaments where additional charges may apply. £9.00 for adults, £7.50 for keep and gardens only.  
• 🌍 Zimmer Stewart Gallery, Tarrant Street, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Established in 2003 this contemporary art gallery shows new and established artists in a rolling programme of 8-10 exhibitions each year. 
• 🌍 Amberley Museum and Heritage Centre, Station Road, Amberley, BN18 9LT (next door to Amberley Railway Station), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Industrial heritage centre in a rural 36 acres (15 hectares) disused chalk quarry with heritage bus and rail transport and traditional craftsmen.  

Do

• 🌍 Arundel Wetland Centre, Mill Road BN18 9PB (about a mile down Mill Road at the east end of the town just north of the River Arun), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Winter 9:30AM-4:30PM; Summer 9:30AM-5:30PM. Wetland wildlife park with walks, talks and a variety of native and exotic species with a boat safari included. Very wheelchair/pushchair friendly. £11.18 adult; £5.64 child (4-16). (updated Jul 2017)
• 🌍 Arundel Cathedral (Cathedral Church of Our Lady and St Philip Howard), London Road, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Founded by Henry, 15th Duke of Norfolk, the building was completed on 1 July 1873 to the designs of Joseph Hansom, inventor of the Hansom cab. All are welcome to pray, meditate, contemplate or simply view the architecture Free; donation to upkeep welcome.  
• 🌍 Arundel Lido, Queen Street, BN18 9JG (by car: use Fizalan Pool Car Park off of the Causeway; on foot: use the alley on Queen St just south of the river crossing), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Generally May to early September: M-F noon-6PM, Sa Su noon-7PM. Outdoor main, entry and child swimming pools in landscaped grounds with refreshments Adult day ticket £7; concessions and cheaper sessions available. (updated Jul 2017)
• 🌍 Chalk Springs Trout Fishery, Park Bottom BN18 0AA (immediately to the right on a small road between two lodges after the final roundabout on the A27 Arundel by-pass westbound), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. 8AM-dusk. Rainbow and brown trout fly fishery and farm in woodland valley. Pre-booking recommended as spaces limited. Fresh trout also sometimes sold, again best to call first. From £25 with two fish limit. (updated Jul 2017)
• 🌍 Swanbourne Lodge and Lake (about 1 km down Mill Road), ☎ [phone]. Tea Lodge, 1,000 acres (400 hectares) park and rowing boat hire March-September (weather permitting) (updated Jul 2017)
• 🌍 Arundel Museum, Mill Road, BN18 9PA (mill round is off the roundabout at the lower end of the high street, the museum is on the right), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. 10AM-4PM. Local collections of Arundel history from Roman times to present including clockmaking, horseracing, railwayana from Ford and children experiences. £3.50 adult. (updated Jul 2017)
• 🌍 Mill Road Leisure Putting and Tea Room, Mill Road, BN18 9PA. April to September. Putting green and tea room. (updated Jul 2017)
• 🌍 Waterside Cafe and Boat Hire, Mill Road, BN18 9PA, ☎ [phone]. Waterside café with view of river Arun with small boat hire available (updated Jul 2017)

Buy

Buy art and antiques - Arundel is full of antique shops and galleries.

• 🌍 Nineveh House (Arundel Arts, Craft & Antiques Market), Tarrant Street, BN18 9NJ, e-mail: [e-mail]. 10AM-5PM. Antiques market in the former Trinity Chapel, early Victorian building - 1837 to 1981 - raised by the Congregational Dissenters under the Rev Orlando Thomas Dobbin to replace the Old Chapel two doors down (now Larkin's Supermarket). 

Eat

Arundel has many places to eat dotted about the town, particularly around the High Street, Tarrant Street and Queen Street.

• 🌍 White Hart, 12 Queen Street (if you're approaching Arundel from the train station, the pub is on your right hand side, just before you reach the river), ☎ [phone]. Real ale and pub food, reports of dodgy pints have been heard. 
• 🌍 Pizza Express, 33 High Street, ☎ [phone]. 
• 🌍 China Palace, 67 High Street, ☎ [phone]. This Chinese restaurant is slightly on the higher priced range, but is known throughout the area for its high quality food and polite service. 

Drink

Arundel has many pubs around the town:

• 🌍 The Eagle, 41 Tarrant Street. Pub with food and noted for live music. 
• 🌍 The Kings Arms, 36 Tarrant Street. Traditional free house pub with real ales, opened circa 1625. 
• The Norfolk Arms Hotel, 22 High Street. 
• 🌍 The Red Lion, 45 High Street, BN18 9AG (Corner with Tarrant Street), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Traditional English pub with local food, ales and a beer garden 
• 🌍 The St. Mary's Gate, London Road, BN18 9BA (Near King Street west of the Cathedral), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. A traditional pub with food, drink and a few B&B rooms. 
• 🌍 The Swan Hotel, 27-29 High Street, BN18 9AG, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Pub and restaurant with 14-bedroom accommodation. 
• 🌍 The Black Rabbit, Mill Road, BN18 9PB (past the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Pub and restaurant with riverside views of the Arun. 

Sleep

• 🌍 The Norfolk Arms, High Street, BN18 9AB, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Restaurant and bar with 33 Bedrooms from standard doubles to superior suites. From £45. 
• 🌍 Comfort Inn, Crossbush BN17 7QQ (take A284 towards Littlehampton just off junction with A27), ☎ [phone]. Modern hotel with 53 en-suite rooms, breakfast/bar area. 
• 🌍 Amberley Castle, BN18 9LT, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Provides luxury rooms in an exclusive environment. A table for lunch, tea or dinner can be reserved by non-residents but children must be over 8 and well behaved. 
• 🌍 Premier Inn, Crossbush Lane, Crossbush, BN18 9PQ (Behind Crossbush Beefeater), ☎ [phone]. Premier Inn with free onsite parking. (updated Jul 2017)

Go next

Other places of interest in the Arundel area:

• Littlehampton
• The South Downs
• The village of Amberley.
• Littlehampton seaside town, located only four miles away. Regular bus service to and from Littlehampton available.

Routes through Arundel

Portsmouth ← Chichester ←

W  E

→ Worthing → Brighton