Local Attractions

This beautiful part of England has largely been the preserve of the discerning few but its recent designation as a National Park has brought it the recognition it deserves.

Graffham is an outstanding base for walking and cycling without having to get into the car.

There is a wide variety of sports available nearby including angling, canoeing, golf, hot-air ballooning, horse racing and riding, mountain biking, polo, sailing, swimming, table tennis and water sports.

If you are interested in historic sites, museums or exploring nearby cities and towns, this is an exceptionally rich area. Only a few miles away the ancient city of Chichester is particularly interesting with its cathedral, museums, art galleries, excellent theatre and restaurants.

There are a number of beautiful market towns close by including Petworth, Midhurst and Arundel. They all provide excellent and interesting shopping, farmers markets and historic houses to visit.

Home to Petworth House and numerous antique shops. Petworth is one of Sussex’s best kept secrets. The Petworth Festival runs from mid-July to the beginning of August every year. It always has a surprisingly varied and international programme featuring world-class performers, combined with a welcoming, inclusive, arts-for-all, fun approach. It’s a great opportunity to explore all kinds of arts and music, and there’s something for everyone, including trad jazz, secret gardens, acclaimed quartets, salsa rhythms, poetry readings, piano recitals and abstract Sussex landscapes.

Midhurst was recently voted the second most desirable place in Britain in which to live. It is full of charming cobbled streets and a variety of interesting and varied period properties, which provided the setting for many stories by past resident HG Wells. Today Midhurst is closely associated with Cowdray Park, well known for the Polo held from spring onwards and in particular the Cowdray Gold Cup which is hosted each summer. There is a good mixture of shops and restaurants and there are beautiful scenic walks in the town and in the nearby grounds of the Cowdray Ruins.

Goodwood is the seat of the Duke of Richmond. The principal house is open to the public during the summer months. Goodwood holds a number of world famous events throughout the year including The Festival of Speed and the Goodwood Revival Meeting. It is also home to Goodwood racecourse, “the world’s most beautiful racecourse”. The Goodwood Flat Racing season runs from April to October incorporating ‘Glorious Goodwood’ in July.

West Dean Gardens are also worth visiting partly because of their beautiful setting but also to view the fascinating walled garden complete with Victorian greenhouses.

Singleton is home to the Weald and Downland Museum which has many significant historic buildings that have been relocated from across the south of England that have been rescued, reconstructed and preserved on the 40 acre site. Special events take place at the museum throughout the year.

For further information on the area please go to www.westsussex.info