Holidays in West Sussex

All places to stay in West Sussex

Apartment 9 Barton Manor

🏖️ 0.71 miles from Pagham (Good water quality)

Chichester, Southern England

Sleeps 4

£972 per break

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The Hen House

🏖️ 2.29 miles from Felpham (Good water quality)

Bognor Regis, Southern England

Sleeps 2

£387 per break

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Apartment 3 Barton Manor

🏖️ 0.71 miles from Pagham (Good water quality)

Chichester, Southern England

Sleeps 4

£1,252 per break

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Candle Cottage

Arundel, Southern England

Sleeps 4

£581 per break

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Travelodge

✓ Free on-site parking available first come, first served

Chichester

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The Brambles

Chichester, Southern England

Sleeps 4

£577 per break

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Sea breeze

🏖️ a few minutes' walk from Pagham (Good water quality)

Bognor Regis, Southern England

Sleeps 2

£467 per break

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Applegarth Camping and Caravaning

✓ Family-run site close to the South Coast and South Downs National Park

Chichester

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Treetops

🏖️ 0.69 miles from Middleton-on-sea (Excellent water quality)

Bognor Regis, Southern England

Sleeps 2

£373 per break

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Thalassa

🏖️ a few minutes' walk from Pagham (Good water quality)

Bognor Regis, Southern England

Sleeps 6

£507 per break

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Keeds Barn

Arundel, Southern England

Sleeps 2

£631 per break

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Havant Travelodge

✓ Ideally placed for South Downs National Park and Emsworth Harbour

Chichester

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The Goodwood Hotel

✓ Set on the edge of the South Downs National Park in West Sussex

Chichester

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Yew Tree Granary

Arundel, Southern England

Sleeps 2

£367 per break

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The Roundabout Hotel

✓ 26 en-suite rooms with modern amenities in a village setting

West Sussex

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Warre Cottage

Arundel, Southern England

Sleeps 6

£677 per break

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Green Lawns Caravan Park

🏖️ 0.82 miles from Selsey (Excellent water quality)

Chichester

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Pensway

Arundel, Southern England

Sleeps 4

£727 per break

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West Sussex is one of those counties that rewards a bit of planning. There are castles and grand houses, a stretch of coast with fairground rides and chip shops, and quiet commons where you can walk off a big lunch. Chichester makes a natural base, and with 324 places to stay on BritStays across the region you can pick somewhere that suits a week of days out or a single lazy weekend.

Best for families

The coast does the heavy lifting here. Funland Hayling Island and Harbour Park are both straightforward seaside theme parks — the sort of place where children set the pace and you follow with the bags. Butlins Bognor Regis is the biggest name on this stretch, and even if you're not staying there it's worth knowing about when you're planning a week with children of different ages.

For something gentler, Cowdray Model Farm is a good choice with smaller children who want animals at eye level rather than queues and loud music. Pair it with a short walk and a bakery stop and you have a full, unhurried day.

Funland Hayling Island — rides and arcade energy near Chichester
Harbour Park — classic seaside amusements
Cowdray Model Farm — animals, slower pace, good for toddlers
Butlins Bognor Regis — the large-scale option

Best for a rainy day

West Sussex has a good supply of small, characterful museums, which is exactly what you want when the forecast turns. Haslemere Educational Museum is a proper old-fashioned collection of the kind children remember years later, and the Doll's House Museum is a genuine curiosity — small, detailed and surprisingly absorbing for adults too. Bognor Regis Museum is a sensible add-on if you're already on that part of the coast and the weather has gone against you.

A useful rainy-day trick: book a museum for the morning, then hold a tea room in reserve for the afternoon. FIKA and Cafe Coho both work well as somewhere to sit out a heavy shower rather than trudging back to the car.

Best for the outdoors

Frensham Common is the big open space for walking, with the sort of sandy, heathy ground that drains quickly after rain. Nearby, The Flashes at Churt Common is quieter and smaller in feel — a better bet if you want a short, level wander rather than a proper hike. Both are National Trust, so if you're members you'll get the parking benefit; if you're not, it's worth checking the Trust's own arrangements before you set off.

Woolbeding House is the other National Trust option, and it's the one to keep for a fine day when you want gardens and grounds rather than a car park and a boot-full of muddy dogs.

Best for heritage

Arundel Castle is the headline act, and it deserves a proper half-day rather than a quick look. Uppark House, also National Trust, is a different sort of visit — house, interiors, and a slower rhythm. Wiston House and Castle Goring round out the picture for anyone who likes stately homes and older stonework; check ahead on public access for each, as grand houses in this part of the country vary enormously in how often they open.

How to group them into a sensible day

The mistake is trying to combine a castle and a theme park. Instead, pick a theme and stick to it:

Coast day: Harbour Park or Funland Hayling Island in the morning, Fish Kingdom for lunch, beach or arcade in the afternoon.
Heritage day: Arundel Castle for the bulk of the day, with St Georges Inn for a late lunch and Castle Goring as a drive-by if you're curious.
Green day: Frensham Common in the morning, a picnic or a bakery run from GAIL's, then The Flashes, Churt Common for a shorter second walk.
Wet day: Haslemere Educational Museum, then the Doll's House Museum, with FIKA between the two.

Where to eat

All of these hold five-star hygiene ratings, which is a reasonable starting filter when you're somewhere unfamiliar. Fish Kingdom is the obvious coast lunch. GAIL's is the one to use for picnic supplies before a common walk. FIKA and Cafe Coho are both tea rooms and suit a mid-afternoon stop or a slow breakfast. St Georges Inn is your pub option for a sit-down meal at the end of a long day out.

Turning it into a short break

Three nights is the sweet spot. Base yourself near Chichester, give one full day to Arundel Castle, one to the coast at Bognor Regis or Hayling Island, and keep the third flexible so the weather can decide between Frensham Common and a museum run. Four nights lets you add Uppark House or Woolbeding House without rushing.

Practical points before you go: confirm opening arrangements directly for Wiston House, Castle Goring and the smaller museums, as these change seasonally. Take cash for seaside parking and arcades. If you're visiting Frensham Common or The Flashes, pack boots and a spare towel for the boot — sandy heath is forgiving underfoot but not when it's wet. And book a table at St Georges Inn if you're eating late on a Saturday.

Frequently asked questions

Where should I base myself for a short break in West Sussex?

Chichester is the most practical base. It puts you within reach of the coast at Bognor Regis and Hayling Island, the heritage sites inland, and the National Trust commons. There are 324 places to stay in the region listed on BritStays.

Which attractions are best on a rainy day?

Haslemere Educational Museum, the Doll's House Museum and Bognor Regis Museum are all indoors and suit a wet day. Combine two of them with a stop at FIKA or Cafe Coho to break up the day.

What are the National Trust places in the region?

There are four: Frensham Common, The Flashes at Churt Common, Uppark House and Woolbeding House. Frensham Common and The Flashes are open spaces for walking, while Uppark House and Woolbeding House are house-and-grounds visits.

What is there for families with young children?

Cowdray Model Farm is the gentlest option for toddlers and small children. Funland Hayling Island and Harbour Park are seaside theme parks with rides and arcades, and Butlins Bognor Regis is the large-scale choice for mixed-age groups.

Where can I eat with confidence about hygiene standards?

Fish Kingdom for fish and chips, GAIL's for bakery items and picnic supplies, FIKA and Cafe Coho for tea rooms, and St Georges Inn for a pub meal. All five hold five-star hygiene ratings.

How much time should I allow for Arundel Castle?

Treat it as the main event of a day rather than something to squeeze in alongside other attractions. Allow a good half-day at least, and plan a late lunch at St Georges Inn afterwards rather than trying to fit in a theme park the same day.