Haywards Heath

The town of Haywards Heath in West Sussex is just 36 miles south of london and only 12 miles from Brighton. Burgess Hill and Horsham are nearby and Haywards Heath is a commuter town with its own busy railway station. 

The town is noted for nothing particularly special having a main road running through it with adequate shopping facilities and a number of good restaurants. South Road is the main shopping area in the town and it does have its own shopping arcade called "Orchards". 

This blob of residential pile in the West Sussex countryside  is surrounded by some nice villages and it does have the Bluebell Railway with its preserved steam trains and day trips for families. Ardingly Reservoir is not too far away either. This is a town that developed rapidly in the 1970's to provide much needed housing for people working in London.

There is not a great deal of anything of any historical interest here but as a residential area it has everything you would need.

East Grinstead

East Grinstead in West Sussex is an affluent town just south of London. It is known for its historic buildings and its previous importance as a staging post for coaches on one of the main routes to Brighton.

The 14th century timber framed buildings in the High Street of East Grinstead are of particular interest as they are the longest continuous run of this type of building in England. Ashdown forest lies to the south of the town and visitors travel through some of the nicest Sussex countryside on route to and from the town.

The Christmas carol ' Good King Wenceslas' was written here by John Mason Neale during his stay at the Sandstone Almshouse. Just outside the town is Standen Country House belonging to the National Trust which features a late Victorian family home brought vividly to life in this gem of the Arts & Crafts Movement.

Horsham

The name Horsham is thought to originate from the words 'Horse Ham' which means a place where horses are kept or the land on which horses are kept ( the word ham being home ). Originally a market town on the River Arun it has been known as a horse trading town since Saxon times.

Horsham branches out from the Carfax. You will hear this word used a lot. It is derived from the Latin word meaning 'four forked' which in Horsham's case is the place where four roads meet up and where the modern day town of Horsham grew up around.

Horsham is an affluent Sussex town with a good number of well known chain stores and independents. The Rising Universe, an eye catching fountain in the main shopping precinct is designed to catch your attention. Known locally as the Shelly Fountain it is a large and moving water sculpture. The ball rises and falls as water cascades from it.

Chichester

Chichester dates back to its importance as a great Saxon and Roman city. With its 12th century cathedral and many old buildings it is a prosperous and busy tourist attraction in its own right.

Chichester is situated on the River Lavant which is supposed to have its source at the nearby village of East Dean some 6 miles away.

The cathedral is one of the main attractions of the city but it is also very close to the coast and therefore benefits from this in terms of the number of visitors from the nearby coastal resorts. West Wittering beach is at the entrance of Chichester harbour and is a blue flag beach.  Chichester is also set in beautiful countryside and nature lovers will fall in love with the South Downs National Park.

Chichester has much to offer the visitor. Check out the Chichester Festival Theatre and the Pallant Gallery with its extensive 20th century collection of art. For a visit out of town you could try the magnificent Petworth House and Park, a National Trust Property in Petworth with its own extensive grounds and art collection.

For more photographs of Chichester click here

East Dean

East Dean is a small village just 6 miles from Chichester. With its village green, very English church and characteristic country pub 'The Star and Garter', it typifies what an idyllic village in West Sussex should, and indeed does, look like.

The pond is said to be the original source of the River Lavant and flint is used as a commond building stone in East Dean. In fact flint can be found in the surrounding fields and downs and there is evidence of settlements here since Celtic and Roman times.

In terms of claim to fame the playright Christopher Fry lived here before his death in 2005. For those that like walking and panoramic views of fabulous countryside this will appeal. In terms of facilities and any kind of shop then you are plain out of luck. Other than the pub there is nothing else here in the village.

 

 

Middleton-on-Sea

Middleton-on-Sea is a small village near Felpham ( Bognor Regis ) and Littlehampton in West Sussex.  It is a quintessentially English village and prosperous by virtue of the fact it is within commuting distance of London.

Middleton-on-Sea is situated right on the coast by a beach of sand and shingle protected by timber groynes. First mentioned in the Domesday Book it expanded rapidly in the 1920's when a certain Captain Coldicott built quality individual homes in the village, many of which retain an old world style with their thatched roofing and timber framed brickwork. 

Storrington

Storrington is a village near Worthing in West Sussex. A settlement has been present here since the Domesday Book when it was called 'Estorchestone' meaning a place well known for storks.  The village was known for its market and tanning industry. These days its location within easy striking distance of London has made Storrington a prosperous village. In just over an hour by train commuters can be in London's Victoria Station.

Storrington lies on the main A283 route which connects it with nearby Steyning and Pulborough. The High Street gives Storrington a small town feel and it does have a good selection of shops and its own shopping centre square.For such a small place it has two fish and chip shops and two butchers and three pubs as well as a good number of places to eat out.

Worthing

Worthing is a particularly pleasant West Sussex seaside town. Close to Bognor and Brighton it has a host of top class restaurants, delightful cafes and plenty of accommodation and bars.

The Marine Parade with its tree lined promenade and wide shingle beach stretches along the entire seafront of the town. Worthing has a magnificent pier and one of the suniest climates in Britain.

Prior to mass tourism this used to be an agricultural village known for its growing of tomatoes, grapes, cucumbers and figs. On a smaller scale the town had its own fishing boats and fishing still takes place today.

For more photographs of Worthing click here or view on 

Littlehampton

The Arun passes along the eastern side of the town and out to sea. A settlement has been known at Littlehampton since prehistoric and Roman times. In its more recent history it has moved from being a small fishing village to a thriving tourist destination. 

Although Littlehampton may be dwarfed by nearby Worthing and Bognor Regis is certainly packs a punch when it comes to attracting tourists.  With its award winning beach, busy marina and lots of activities, Littlehampton has something for 

everyone.

Visitors can go deep sea fishing or take part in a variety of waters sports. Mewsbrook Park with is boating lake is one of several parks and gardens in and around Littlehampton. There is also the East Beach Cafe with its unusual and iconic building and a host of amusements, restaurants, cafes and bars. 

The Littlehampton Ferry takes visitors across the river Arun to the West Beach with its sand dunes and open countryside beyond. There is a miniature railway which runs from Mewbrook Park to Norfolk Gardens along the seafront and the amusements and fun park at Harbour Park.

The world famous Body Shop has its headquarters just outside the town and the Port of Littlehampton which used to be a fishing port is now home to a wide range of leisure craft but it still attracts commercial shipping from Europe with vessels carrying mainly stone and timber. 

For more photographs of Littlehampton click here or view on You Tube

Felpham

Felpham is a small village near Bognor Regis. It is right on the coast and is one of the oldest most established settlements in Sussex having been mentioned in the Domesday Book and being even older than Bognor Regis.

The picturesque little village with its high street, 12th century church and public house is thought to be the inspiration of the poem 'Englands green and pleasant land' as a result of William Blake living in the village for three years. In a poem dedicated to the village he writes;

 Away to sweet Felpham for heaven is there:
 The Ladder of Angels descends through the air
 On the turrett its spiral does softly descend
 Through the village it winds, at my cot it does end.

The main beach

The Lobster Pot Cafe

The Beachcroft Hotel

Bognor Regis

Bognor Regis is a seaside resort in West Sussex. It is near Worthing and Littlehampton within easy travelling distance of London and just 6 miles from Chichester. The long seafront promenade at Bognor stretches from the village of Felpham to Aldwick.

Bognor is reputed to get more hours of sunshine  than any other location in the UK. With its busy bars, amusements, hotels, parks and gardens the town has something for all tastes but it is beginning to look a little dated and it is a town with many contrasts. The town centre has been partly pedestrianized but it is definitely in need of a major upgrade. The long wide shingle beach with its pier is dotted with small boats, snack shacks and bouncy castles and is visited by many tourists during the summer months.

Butlins have a large camp here known as the Butlin's Bognor Regis Resort. Incidentally, Bognor used to be called just plain old Bognor and many still refer to it as such but it is also known as Bognor Regis since it was used as an ideal location for King George V to convalesce during 1929 and following his stay in the town he granted it the royal suffix. There has been a settlement at Bognor since Anglo Saxon times and it is one of the oldest Anglo-Saxon place names in the county of West Sussex.

For more photographs of Bognor Regis click here

Arundel

Arundel attracts thousands of tourists throughout the year. It is famous for its castle and cathedral. The rivier Arun from which the town gets its name, passes through the town on the eastern side. The river which is noted for the quality of its fishing and the presence of Mullet has led to a local tradition of people from Arundel being referred to as Mullets. The town is in the county of West Sussex and Arundel is only a few miles from Littlehampton and Bognor Regis. Arundel is a Fairtrade town.

With its Georgian and Victorian buildings, smart restaurants and swish cafes, Arundel has a wealth of privately owned shops. The castle towers over the town and there are plenty of things to do and see in Arundel. Visit the cathedral, take a trip along the river or visit the town farmer's market which is held on the third Saturday of each month and which is famous for the quality of the local produce on offer.

For more photographs of Arundel click here or view on You Tube