Photo: AndyScott (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons
Things to do in West Sussex
The best holidays are planned around great days out. Here's what's on the doorstep in West Sussex, from big-ticket attractions to rainy-day savers.
🎟️ This weekend near West Sussex
Events from
Skiddle
Fri 13 Nov · 00:00
Sea Life Brighton Anytime Entry
Sea Life Centre, Brighton · 16.4 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Fri 13 Nov · 16:30
DIY Basics
Doityourself, Lewes · 20.6 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Fri 13 Nov · 18:30
30 Years of Volks Presents - AFU-RA - Body of the life force
The Volks Nightclub, Brighton · 16.5 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Fri 13 Nov · 18:45
Stabat Mater by Pergolesi in Guildford
Guildford Cathedral, Guildford · 21.1 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Aquariums
16.4 mi from West Sussex
Sea Life Centre
SEA LIFE Brighton is the world's oldest continually operating aquarium, opened in 1872 and designed by Eugenius Birch, the architect behind the West Pier. Inside, you'll find more...
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16.5 mi from West Sussex
Brighton Aquarium
SEA LIFE Brighton is the world's oldest continually operating aquarium, opened in 1872 and originally designed by Eugenius Birch. Inside you'll find more than 5,000 marine creature...
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Museums & Galleries
5 mi from West Sussex
BT Connected Earth Telecommunications Hall
5.1 mi from West Sussex
Munucipal Engine House (Gas engine display)
5.2 mi from West Sussex
Amberley Fire Station (museum exhibit)
6.8 mi from West Sussex
Steyning Museum
Steyning Museum tells the story of Steyning, Bramber, Upper Beeding, Ashurst, Wiston and Botolphs, from pre-history to the present day, through permanent exhibits and changing temp...
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7.3 mi from West Sussex
Petworth Cottage Museum
Petworth Cottage Museum, at 346 High Street, Petworth, West Sussex is a Leconfield Estate worker's cottage. It has been restored and furnished as it might have been in about 1910 w... — Wikipedia
8 mi from West Sussex
Arundel Museum & Heritage Centre
Arundel Museum is a small heritage centre exploring the town's story, from its historic port and castle to flint hand axes found nearby dating back half a million years. You can wa...
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10 mi from West Sussex
Rustington Museum
Rustington Museum sits in the Samuel Wickens Centre in the heart of Rustington village, telling the story of the local area through changing exhibitions, a family trail, an interac...
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10 mi from West Sussex
Worthing Museum and Art Gallery
Worthing Museum & Art Gallery cares for a nationally significant collection, including the largest costume collection of everyday wear in the UK, alongside fine and decorative arts...
11.1 mi from West Sussex
Marlipins Museum
Marlipins Museum, is a 12th to early-13th-century Grade II* listed building on the High Street in Shoreham-by-Sea, a town in Adur district in West Sussex, England. It is distinguis... — Wikipedia
12.2 mi from West Sussex
Dunsfold Collection
The Dunsfold Collection is a Surrey museum dedicated to Land Rover history, holding over 140 unique vehicles built up since 1968 by Brian Bashall and continued today by his son Phi...
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Theme Parks
10.9 mi from West Sussex
Harbour Park
Harbour Park is a children's beach adventure attraction in Littlehampton, offering over 15 attractions including outdoor rides, interactive arcades, a pirate-themed escape room and...
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14.6 mi from West Sussex
Butlins Bognor Regis
Butlin's Bognor Regis is a holiday camp in the seaside resort of Bognor Regis, West Sussex, England. It lies 55.5 miles (89 km) south southwest of London. Butlin's presence in the... — Wikipedia
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15.3 mi from West Sussex
Go Ape Crawley
Go Ape Crawley sits in Tilgate Park, just outside the city, offering high ropes adventures among the treetops. You can climb 11 metre platforms, swing on the legendary Tarzan Swing...
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22.7 mi from West Sussex
Go Ape Alice Holt
Go Ape Alice Holt sits in woodland near Binsted, East Hampshire, offering high ropes adventures including a 126-metre zip wire and the 41-crossing Treetop Challenge with its Tarzan...
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26.1 mi from West Sussex
Funland Hayling Island
Funland Hayling Island is an amusement park close to Portsmouth, offering over 18 rides such as rollercoasters, a carousel and dodgems, alongside an amusement arcade, a pirate-them...
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26.8 mi from West Sussex
Blackberry Farm Park
Blackberry Farm Park is a family run farm park set in the East Sussex countryside, offering a fun filled family day out. You can enjoy pony rides for ages 2 and up, feed our animal...
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28.2 mi from West Sussex
Chessington World of Adventures
Chessington World of Adventures combines a theme park, zoo and SEA LIFE aquarium under one roof, with over 1,000 animals including Southern White rhinos and Rothschild's giraffes a...
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Water Parks
20.5 mi from West Sussex
Saltdean Lido
Saltdean Lido at Saltdean Park Road, Saltdean, in the city of Brighton and Hove, in the ceremonial county of East Sussex, England, is an Art Deco lido designed by architect R.W.H.... — Wikipedia
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21.2 mi from West Sussex
Guildford Lido
Guildford Lido is a public, open-air swimming pool in Guildford, Surrey, England. In Stoke Park, to the north of the town centre, it is surrounded by 1.8 ha of landscaped grounds.... — Wikipedia
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Zoos & Wildlife
5.9 mi from West Sussex
Fishers Farm Park
Fishers Farm Park is a family-run adventure farm park in West Sussex, open 363 days a year and best suited to children aged 0-12. You can meet farm animals, take on outdoor rides,...
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23.3 mi from West Sussex
British Wildlife Centre
The British Wildlife Centre in Horne, Tandridge, is a wildlife park showcasing over forty species of native British animals, from tiny harvest mice to red deer. Visits include half...
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23.4 mi from West Sussex
Birdworld
Birdworld is the UK's only dedicated bird park, spread across 18 acres of landscaped gardens in Berkshire, home to 181 bird species including penguins, flamingos and owls, alongsid...
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28.1 mi from West Sussex
Drusillas Park
Drusillas Park is a family-run zoo in Alfriston, East Sussex, combining hundreds of exotic animals with play and rides for children. Alongside the animal habitats, you'll find SPAR...
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28.3 mi from West Sussex
Hobbledown
Hobbledown is a family adventure park and zoo in Epsom, Surrey, combining outdoor play villages, indoor play in The Great Barn, and animal encounters ranging from meerkats and gian...
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Where to stay near West Sussex
Places to stay within easy reach of these days out.
Planning days out in West Sussex
West Sussex suits a relaxed pace. You can mix castles and country houses with old-fashioned seaside fun, and keep a couple of museums in reserve for wet weather. The suggestions below are grouped by type, so you can build each day around who you're travelling with and what the sky is doing. Check opening days, seasonal closures and booking requirements before you set off, because they vary from place to place.
Heritage: castles, country houses and National Trust
If history is your thing, West Sussex gives you plenty to choose from. Arundel Castle is the obvious headline and is worth building a whole morning or afternoon around. Castle Goring is another heritage option for castle enthusiasts. Wiston House is a stately home, so check in advance how and when visitors can get in.
National Trust members have two strong options in Uppark House and Woolbeding House. If you're paying on the day rather than visiting as a member, compare the cost of entry with the price of a membership. It can make sense when you plan to see both houses on the same trip.
Family days out
For children, a theme park day is usually the easiest win. Harbour Park and Butlins Bognor Regis are both listed as theme parks in the region. If you're thinking of visiting Butlins just for the day, check first how day access works.
Younger children and animal lovers may prefer something gentler. Cowdray Model Farm, listed in the Chichester area, gives you a slower-paced day with plenty of room for little legs. A good plan is to pair it with one indoor stop, so you have a fallback if the weather turns.
Rainy day ideas
Keep these up your sleeve for grey days:
- Bognor Regis Museum, in the Chichester area, is a good choice if you want local history under cover.
- Doll's House Museum is a small, detailed collection that tends to appeal to both children and adults.
- Arundel Castle, Uppark House and Woolbeding House all have indoor interiors to explore. Even so, plan your route between buildings, as you may still be walking outside.
Getting outdoors
The National Trust properties are your best bet for combining culture with fresh air. You get a historic house to see and space to stretch your legs. Pack waterproofs and sensible footwear whatever the forecast says. Leave yourself time to wander rather than rushing between rooms. Outdoor-focused days also go well with a picnic, or with a long, unhurried pub lunch afterwards.
How to group a sensible day
The easiest way to avoid a day spent in the car is to pick one main attraction and add one smaller stop. Check the travel time between them on a map before you commit. Some combinations to consider:
- Heritage day: Arundel Castle in the morning, lunch, then a smaller heritage stop such as Castle Goring if it suits your route.
- Family day: Harbour Park as the main event, with a fish and chip supper to finish.
- Chichester-area day: Cowdray Model Farm for the outdoorsy part, with Bognor Regis Museum as the indoor half.
- National Trust day: Uppark House and Woolbeding House, if timings and opening days line up.
Where to eat
All of these places hold a 5-star food hygiene rating. Check their locations against your route for the day.
- Fish Kingdom is a fish and chip shop, ideal after a seaside or theme park day.
- GAIL's is a bakery, handy for picking up breakfast or picnic supplies early.
- FIKA and Cafe Coho are tea rooms for a mid-afternoon break.
- St Georges Inn is a pub for a proper sit-down meal at the end of the day.
Turning it into a short break
A long weekend gives you room for one heritage day, one family or outdoor day and a slower morning before you head home. BritStays lists 309 places to stay in West Sussex. Choose a base close to the attractions you care about most, and you'll spend less time driving. Chichester is a practical starting point for anyone focusing on Cowdray Model Farm and Bognor Regis Museum.
Practical tips before you go
- Confirm opening days and times directly with each attraction, especially stately homes and National Trust houses.
- Book theme park tickets ahead where you can, and check what's included.
- Keep a rainy day plan ready. The two museums make an easy swap.
- Bring your National Trust card if you have one.
- Leave some slack in your plans. Two good stops beat four rushed ones.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best heritage attractions in West Sussex?
Arundel Castle is the headline choice. Castle Goring, Wiston House, Uppark House and Woolbeding House are also listed as heritage and stately home options. Check how and when each one can be visited before you go.
Which National Trust properties can I visit in West Sussex?
Uppark House and Woolbeding House are both National Trust properties and work well for a combined day out if their opening days line up.
What can families do in West Sussex?
Harbour Park and Butlins Bognor Regis are listed as theme parks. Cowdray Model Farm offers a gentler, animal-focused day, which suits younger children.
What is there to do in West Sussex on a rainy day?
Bognor Regis Museum and the Doll's House Museum are both good indoor choices. The interiors at Arundel Castle and the National Trust houses are another option.
Where can I eat on a day out in West Sussex?
Fish Kingdom (fish and chips), GAIL's (bakery), FIKA and Cafe Coho (tea rooms) and St Georges Inn (pub) all hold 5-star food hygiene ratings. Check their locations against your route for the day.
How many places to stay are there in West Sussex on BritStays?
BritStays lists 309 places to stay in West Sussex. Chichester is a practical base if you plan to visit Cowdray Model Farm and Bognor Regis Museum.
More ways to explore
Not booked yet? See the best places to stay in West Sussex.