Chichester

Chichester has been occupied since before Roman times, when it was believed to have been one of the bridgeheads of the Roman invasion of Britain. The city centre is built on the Roman town of Noviomagus, and it benefits from the cross-shaped design favoured by the Romans - North Street, South Street, East Street and West Street converge on the Chichester Cross, a medieval market cross.
Chichester is famous for the annual Chichester Festivities and the Chichester Real Ale and Jazz Festival.

By car

The A27 runs east from Chichester, past Arundel, to Worthing and Eastbourne; and goes the other way west to Portsmouth, where it joins the M27 and goes on to Southampton and the New Forest. The A286 heads north, eventually reaching Guildford.

By train

is just south of the City Centre. It is served by Southern services from London Victoria, Gatwick Airport, Brighton, Portsmouth and Southampton; and First Great Western services from Bristol and the West Country.

By bus

Chichester is served by the daily 315 National Express south coast service from Cornwall to Eastbourne and by the 206 route from Poole to Gatwick Airport via Southampton and Portsmouth (nine times a day and some overnight services).
The Stagecoach South Coastliner 700 service provides frequent direct services to Chichester from Portsmouth, Havant, Emsworth, Bognor Regis and Littlehampton. Stagecoach also provide frequent services to Chichester from Midhurst, Selsey, and Bracklesham Bay. Emsworth District Coaches provide up to four services a day on their service from Petersfield while Compass provide infrequent services from Arundel and Petworth.

The centre of Chichester is small, and can easily be covered on foot. As with most other towns in England, the town is well served by buses and taxis.

By bus

There is a bus station situated next to the railway station, south of the city centre. It is a hub for main south coast and local services. Many services also stop outside the cathedral in West Street, as do a large number in Market Road at the end of East Street.

By taxi

Most taxis in Chichester are private hire vehicles. There are a number of locally based companies to Chichester:

• Station Taxis

  phone: +44 1243 884 884
  based at the railway station taxi ranks and operate wheelchair accessible hackney carriages.

• Starline

  phone: +44 1243 531 666
  private hire firm who also operate some luxury and disabled access vehicles

• Central Cars

  phone: +44 1243 789 432
  minicab hire firm based at across the north car park Chichester Railway station.

• Dunnaways Taxi's

  phone: +44 1243 782403
  family-run business for five generations since the 1800s.

• Chichester Cathedral

  phone: +44 1243 782595
  address: The Royal Chantry, Cathedral Cloisters, PO19 1PX
  Built in 1075, it is the only medieval cathedral to have a separate bell tower, and the only cathedral in England visible from the sea. Try to visit during evensong.

• Chichester Market Crossdirectly at the meeting of the four main city centre routes, this stone built market cross is easy to find

• Pallant House Gallery

  phone: +44 1243 774557
  address: 9 North Pallant, PO19 1TJ
  One of the best and most varied collections of art displayed in an attractive combination of Georgian house and 2000s annex.

• Chichester CanalYou can walk or cycle the canal's towpath all the way to Chichester Harbour. Rowboats can be hired at the Chichester Basin although dropped bridges mean only a limited section of the canal is navigable. Public and private canal boat trips are also available.

• Fishbourne Roman Palace

• Novium Museum

  address: Tower Street, PO19 1QH
  Chichester's new heritage museum opened in 2012, to replace the previous smaller Little London museum; built above a Roman bathouse

• Tangmere Military Aviation Museum

  phone: +1243 790 0990
  address: Tangmere Rd, Tangmere, PO20 2ES
  A military aviation museum on the site of the former airfield, with many notable military and speed record aircraft.

• Chichester Festival Theatre

  address: Oaklands Park, PO19 6AP
  The Chichester Festival Theatre with its distinctive octogon shape and protruding stage is known for originating shows and productions that go on to transfer for West End runs. The Minerva Theatre is situated alongside. As well as opera, plays and music the theatre organises participation and youth activities.

• Chichester Gate Leisure Park

  address: Terminus Road, Chichester
  The park contains a cinema, bowling complex, gymnasium, various chain restaurants, bar, Premier Inn hotel and a car park that can sometimes be quite full

• Chichester Cinema at New Park

  phone: +44 1243 786650
  address: New Park Road, PO19 7XY
  Small community cinema showing innovative and specialist programme

• Chichester War Memorial

  address: Litten Gardens, St Pancras Road, PO19 8EY
  1921 War Memorial moved to its current location in Litten Gardens in 1940.

• Southdowns Planetarium

  phone: +44 1243 774400
  Charity-run planetarium open for specific shows on specific days.

• Walk the old city walls
• Take part in the annual Chichester Festivities

• Chichester Heritage Trails4 heritage trails around each of the four quadrants of the city.

• Goodwood Motor Circuit

  phone: +44 1243 755060
  address: Claypit Lane, PO18 0PH
  Motor Circuit with variety of motor participation activities and the annual Goodwood Revival Festival

• Smith & Western

  phone: +44 1243 788886
  address: Station Approach, PO19 8DN
  American diner.

• The Kennels

  phone: +44 1243 755132
  address: Kennel Hill, Goodwood, PO18 0PN

• Dolphin & Anchor

  phone: +44 1243 790280
  address: West St, PO19 1QD
  Wetherspoons pub near the cathedral.

• Jasmine House

  phone: +44 1243 786719
  address: 28 The Hornet, PO19 7JG
  Good all-you-can-eat Chinese restaurant. Friendly atmosphere and cheap prices.

• The Nags Head

  phone: +44 1243 785823
  address: 3 St Pancras, PO19 7SJ

The post office building has closed and the post office moved to a shop in North Street. Parcel pick-up and drop-off points can be found in shops. Many Wi-Fi hotspots are available in cafes and other establishments; Wi-Fi time can also be purchased from national providers. With access to the internet also being possible through the mobile telephone network there are no internet cafes left in Chichester, however computers are available in the public library.

• Post Office

  address: 9 North St, Chichester PO19 1LB

• Chichester Library

  phone: +44 1243 777351
  address: Tower St, PO19 1QJ
  Computers that may be reserved by adult non-members subject to an acceptable use policy. Wi-Fi is also available.

Other places of interest in the Chichester area

• Arundel Picturesque town with impressive castle; 40 min by frequent train, change at Barnham
• Emsworth little fishing town has some great restaurants, pubs and an excellent food festival in early September.
• Selsey popular coastal destination
• Bognor Regis Traditional seaside resort, popular with families
• Bracklesham Bay popular coastal destination notable for surfing and kitesurfing

A little further afield, but worth the trip:

• Brighton an hour by frequent train, the Royal Pavilion is a knock-out
• Portsmouth 40 min by frequent train, see the Historic Dockyard