Chichester

Chichester is a cathedral city in West Sussex, on England's South East coast.

Understand

Chichester Cross - at the heart of a busy town

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.

Chichester is famous for the annual Chichester Festivities and the Chichester Real Ale and Jazz Festival.

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 the United Kingdom.

🌍 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, ☎ [phone]. based at the railway station taxi ranks and operate wheelchair accessible hackney carriages. 
• Starline (☎ [phone]) - private hire firm who also operate some luxury and disabled access vehicles
• Central Cars (☎ [phone]) - minicab hire firm based at across the north car park Chichester Railway station.
• Dunnaways Taxi's (☎ [phone]) - family-run business for five generations since the 1800s.

See

• 🌍 Chichester Cathedral, The Royal Chantry, Cathedral Cloisters, PO19 1PX, ☎ [phone]. 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), ☎ [phone]. 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)
• 🌍 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), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. 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)
• 🌍 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 octogon 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, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. 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), ☎ [phone]. See Website for specific shows. Charity-run planetarium open for specific shows on specific days. (updated Jul 2017)

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, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Motor Circuit with variety of motor participation activities and the annual Goodwood Revival Festival (updated Jul 2017)

Eat

• 🌍 Smith & Western, Station Approach, PO19 8DN (next to the train station), ☎ [phone]. M-Sa 11AM-11PM, Su noon-10PM. American diner. 
• 🌍 The Kennels, Kennel Hill, Goodwood, PO18 0PN, ☎ [phone]. 7:30AM-midnight. 

Drink

• 🌍 Dolphin & Anchor, West St, PO19 1QD, ☎ [phone]. Wetherspoons pub near the cathedral. (updated Feb 2017)
• 🌍 Jasmine House, 28 The Hornet, PO19 7JG, ☎ [phone]. W-M 5PM-11:30PM. Good all-you-can-eat Chinese restaurant. Friendly atmosphere and cheap prices. 

Sleep

• 🌍 The Nags Head, 3 St Pancras, PO19 7SJ, ☎ [phone]. 

Connect

The post office building has closed and the post office moved to a shop in North Street. Parcel pick-up and drop-off points can be found in shops. Many Wi-Fi hotspots are available in cafes and other establishments; Wi-Fi time can also be purchased from national providers. With access to the internet also being possible through the mobile telephone network there are no internet cafes left in Chichester, however computers are available in the public library.

• 🌍 Post Office, 9 North St, Chichester PO19 1LB. M 9AM-5:30, Tu 9:30AM-5:30PM, W-F 9AM-5:30PM, Sa 9AM-3PM. (updated Jun 2017)
• 🌍 Chichester Library, Tower St, PO19 1QJ (Tower street is opposite the cathedral), ☎ [phone]. M-F 9AM-7PM; Sa 9AM-5PM. Computers that may be reserved by adult non-members subject to an acceptable use policy. Wi-Fi is also available. (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