Towns and Villages in West Sussex

A small village at the foot of the South Downs, in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Perhaps the most famous visitor to Amberley was Charles II, who stayed at the castle here once. The village is built along its original medieval street pattern, with winding lanes now lined primarily with 16th and 17th century houses.
Amberley, West Sussex, England

Attraction Type: Village
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OS Grid TQ03181321
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The lovely West Sussex village of Arundel packs an awful lot into a small space. First and foremost there is Arundel Caste, the home of the Duke of Norfolk. The imposing castle is primarily 19th century, but is built around the remains of an authentic 12th century castle, of which the keep still stands. Beside the castle is Arundel Cathedral, a Catholic cathedral in Victorian Gothic style. Adjoining the cathedral is the ancient 14th century parish church.
Arundel, West Sussex, England

Attraction Type: Village
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OS Grid TQ015075
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A small town with many attractive older buildings. Billingshurst is laid out along the line of the old Roman road known as Stane Street. The parish church of St Mary dates to the 12th century and features a 15th century wagon roof with finely carved bosses.
Billingshurst, West Sussex, England

Attraction Type: Town
Location: 7 miles south west of Horsham, on the crossing of the A29 and A272
Website: Billingshurst
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OS Grid TQ090271
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If you want sunshine, head for Bognor Regis. While no one can guarantee that the weather will be fine, Bognor Regis is the place with the most sunshine in England. Bognor owes its history as a popular spa town to Sir Richard Hotham, who tried at Bognor to emulate the success of Brighton as a watering place for high society. While Hotham's scheme never truly succeeded, he created some of the town's more imposing buildings, including The Dome, and Hotham Park House and Gardens, now a venue for concerts.
Bognor Regis, West Sussex, England

Attraction Type: Town
Location: Located 6 miles south west of Arundel, on the A259
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OS Grid SZ935995
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Bosham is a delightful village situated on an arm of Chichester Harbour. Bosham has a long history; it is thought that it was one of the first sites in Sussex were the Saxon St Wilfrid preached, around the year 681 AD. Three centuries later, it was at Bosham that King Canute, tongue in cheek, ordered the waves to cease their movement. Canute's daughter is buried at Holy Trinity parish church, which features a superb 11th century chancel arch and a Saxon tower.
Bosham, West Sussex, England

Attraction Type: Village
Location: Located 3 miles west of Chichester, on the A286
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An attractive little village near Chichester, most notable for the remains of Boxgrove Priory, a 12th century abbey founded as a daughter house of Lesay Abbey in France. Though the abbey was disbanded bu Henry VIII, the abbey church survives as the parish church of St Mary and St Blaise. Within the church is the grandiose chantry chapel of the powerful De la Warr family. The chapel is strangely empty, as the De la Warr's were actually buried at Broadwater rather than here in Boxgrove.
Boxgrove, West Sussex, England

Attraction Type: Village
Location: Located 2 1/2 miles northeast of Chichester, just off the A27
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A classic downland village, Bramber boasts the remains of a Norman motte and bailey castle built in 1070 by the powerful de Braose family. Today only the gatehouse survives to any great extent. The village was once a busy seaport on the River Adur, but the silting of the estuary left Bramber well inland.
West Sussex, England

Attraction Type: Village
Location: On the A283, 13 miles south of Horsham
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OS Grid TQ 1872 1064
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The historic city of Chichester is one of the real highlights of any visit to West Sussex. The city was founded by the Romans at a point where two of their major roads crossed - a point marked by the lovely 16th century buttercross. The prize of Chichester is its superb medieval cathedral, the only English cathedral visible from the sea.
Chichester, West Sussex, England

Attraction Type: Town
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OS Grid SU871079
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A small downland village, Clayton lies astride an old Roman road. The little Saxon church of St John the Baptist boasts some very early wall paintings, which are probably the work of monks from St Pancras Priory at Lewes. The paintings have been variously dated from 1080 to 1140, making them some of the earliest surviving examples in England.
Clayton, West Sussex, England

Attraction Type: Village
Location: About 4 miles north of Chichester, off the B2141
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OS Grid TQ29851409
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A small hamlet in the West Sussex downland, at the foot of Telegraph Hill. Nearby is the long barrow known as Bevis' Thumb
Compton, West Sussex, England

Attraction Type: Village
Location: 8 miles south wet of Midhurst, on the B2146
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OS Grid SU 7765 1474
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