Top things to do in Chichester
Being the perfect blend of city and beach, there’s something to suit everyone in Chichester.
From sunny beach days and walks with breath-taking views to bustling pubs and restaurants, Chichester has you covered.
Culture & Arts:
One of the most infamous spots in Chichester, the entire Goodwood estate has lots to offer, including the famous Festival of Speed, a stunning golf course and afternoon tea. There’s even a hotel! Goodwood is a glorious place to relax and is the very essence of Britishness.
With their excellent deals and offers for 16-25 year olds, Chichester Festival Theatre is the perfect place for students.
Their Prologue scheme offers young people the chance to purchase tickets for just £5, as well as 10% off in the restaurants and cafes.
The Festival Theatre often showcases musicals which eventually make it to the West End, so it’s a great place to catch a show before it skyrockets in popularity! As well as an amazing selection of musicals and plays, they also conduct pre-show talks, theatre tours and cocktail making classes.
Chichester is surrounded by history and the Novium Museum celebrates all thing historical in the city.
Built over a Roman bathhouse, the museum tells the interesting story of Chichester’s heritage. Every year, the museum presents exciting collections, displays and exhibitions for the whole city to see. They also offer craft sessions, guided walks and archaeological digs.
Only a 15-minute walk away from campus, Chichester cathedral is a beautiful, historic building in the heart of Chichester city.
Are you a Harry Potter fan? The architecture of Chichester Cathedral is often compared to Hogwarts! So you can explore the 900 year old building and live out your Harry Potter dreams!
Outdoor & Sports:
Just minutes down the road from Chichester is this hidden gem.
With beautiful views of Chichester Harbour and the South Downs, West Wittering Beach is a stunning place to visit. The Beach Café is on-hand for snacks throughout the day and the sandy beaches make it a cut above other beaches on the South coast. Every day is a beach day!
With student tickets priced at just £16, who fancies a zoo day?
Marwell is home to a range of endangered and exotic animals, set in a beautiful landscaped park. From white rhinos and cheetahs to flamingos, penguins and snow leopards – there’s so much to explore!
Located on the outskirts of Chichester, Chichester Water Sports is the perfect venue for an action-packed day out. Plus, with no membership required, you and your friends can just turn up and have fun!
Offering activities such as water-skiing and stand up paddle boarding, there’s something to occupy everyone. They also offer kayak and wetsuit hire, so all you need to bring is your A-game!
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Chichester City Walls Walk
The Roman walls and gates were built over 1800 years ago and more than 80% of the structure is still intact today.
The walls themselves encompass the main city which now houses all of Chichester’s shops and restaurants. The Chichester City Walls Walk is a great way to soak up Chichester’s rich history and an excellent way to see everything the city has to offer.
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South Downs Way
Considering Chichester is so close to the South Downs it would be rude not to head off on an adventure at some point during your time at Chichester!
These walks are a great way to escape, with it taking just a few minutes to only takes a few minutes to head out of the city and into the countryside.
While the entire route is 160km, you don’t have to do all of it! Dip in and out and explore what’s there. It’s a great way to spend a free evening or even a weekend walk with a picnic.
Food & Drink:
Chichester is a city bursting with good food. There are your class favourites, like Pizza Express, Wagamama’s and Nando’s, but between the chain restaurants, there are also some hidden gems. Here are a few of our favourites:
Up in the Goodwood estate lies this gorgeous restaurant, known for using food farmed in the local Goodwood estate.
It’s one of the only self-sustaining organic farms in Europe so certainly worth a try!
Established in 1977, The Lunch Box was the first original ‘made to order’ sandwich shop in Chichester. It is a family run business and they make GREAT sandwiches as well as offering student discount!
Of course, like every good city, Chichester has a great Wetherspoons. The Dolphin and Anchor is located opposite the cathedral and is always filled with locals and students enjoying a good old Spoons deal!
In the basement down a side street in Chichester is La Havana, a bar and music venue. They have open mic nights as well as a jazz club and a bar alongside it. It’s a different way to spend the evening and a great way to see what talents are out there in Chichester.
The Escapist is an independent bar dedicated to a selection of craft beers from local to national breweries. Not a beer fan? Don’t worry, they also have a range of artisan spirits, wines and organic prosecco, so there’s something for everyone!
