Things to Do in Chichester

A Norman cathedral with medieval architecture, modern art installations, and a cloister garden. Entry is free, though donations are welcomed.

🕐 Mon–Sat 07:15–18:00, Sun 07:15–17:00

💡 Visit the Treasury for free to see the cathedral's silver collection. The spire climb is paid but optional.

Norman cathedral built in 1108 with a distinctive 15th-century spire, medieval stained glass, and the Chagall window. Entry to the main building is free, but there is a suggested donation.

🕐 Mon-Sat 08:00-19:00, Sun 12:30-15:00

💡 Look for the small modern art installations tucked into side chapels – they change regularly and often feel a world away from the stone arches.

Largest Roman residential building north of the Alps, with well-preserved floor mosaics and an early formal garden. Admission is £12 for adults but the grounds and viewing area from the outside are free.

🕐 Wed-Sun 10:00-17:00 (closed Mon-Tue Nov–Mar)

💡 If you don't want to pay for the full tour, walk the public footpath along the eastern side of the site – you can see the outline of the garden beds and mosaic fragments through the glass wall.

Local history museum with Roman artefacts, a 1st-century bathhouse excavation in the basement, and the Chichester Roman walls. Entry by donation.

🕐 Mon–Sat 10:00–17:00, Sun 10:00–15:00

💡 The viewing gallery upstairs gives you a close look at the Roman bathhouse. Allow 45 minutes.

A modern art gallery in a Queen Anne townhouse with a contemporary extension. Free entry to the permanent collection on Saturdays before noon.

🕐 Tue–Sat 10:00–17:00, Sun 11:00–16:00; free entry Sat 10:00–12:00

💡 Go early on a Saturday morning to avoid queues. The cafe does good cakes.

Modern British art gallery in a Queen Anne townhouse with a contemporary wing. Main collection is free on certain days; temporary exhibitions cost. Check website for free entry dates – typically first Sunday of the month.

🕐 Tue-Sat 10:00-17:00, Sun 10:00-17:00

💡 The garden terrace café does proper loose-leaf tea and cakes that are cheaper than the tourist spots near the cathedral.

A large public park with sports fields, a skate park, and remains of Chichester's medieval priory. Good for a quiet walk or picnic.

🕐 Daily 07:30–dusk

💡 The priory ruins are fenced off but visible from the path. Check the noticeboard for free summer events.

Public park on the northern edge of the city centre with a bowling green, tennis courts, and a play area for children. Flat paths lead to the city walls with views over the rooftops.

🕐 Always open

💡 Bring your own picnic – the M&S Foodhall on East Street is a ten-minute walk away and you avoid the inflated deli prices near the park gates.

A restored canal basin with towpath walks, narrowboats, and a small nature reserve. Free to explore on foot.

🕐 Open 24 hours

💡 Walk the towpath towards Birdham for kingfisher sightings. The basin's bench near the lock is a good spot for a packed lunch.

Flat, traffic-free towpath following the 18th-century canal from the basin near the city centre out to Chichester Harbour. Takes about 45 minutes each way. Look out for herons and the occasional kingfisher.

🕐 Always open

💡 Start at the Basin Road bridge and head east – the best light for photos is the first two hours after sunrise, when the mist lifts off the water.