Serviced Apartments in West Sussex

Discover the best activities and attractions West Sussex has to offer, and find out what makes this city a vibrant and exciting place to live or visit.

South Downs National Park (West Sussex section)
The South Downs is a protected landscape of rolling chalk hills, dramatic ridges (including the famous Devil’s Dyke), patchwork farmland and coastal access that draws hikers, cyclists, wildlife watchers and photographers year‑round. Its presence underpins a strong local outdoor‑tourism economy: it supports rural businesses (B&Bs, pubs, guides, bike hire), uplifts sales of local food and craft producers via farm shops and markets, and creates conservation and visitor‑management jobs. The park is special for accessible long-distance walking (the South Downs Way), scenic viewpoints, dark‑sky areas and programmes that connect communities with nature and heritage, making it a major draw for both day visitors and longer stays.

Goodwood Estate (Festival of Speed, Goodwood Revival, Racecourse & House)
Goodwood is an internationally renowned country estate that hosts motorsport spectacles (Festival of Speed, Goodwood Revival), horseracing, and luxury events, as well as daily attraction to visitors via the house and estate activities. These events generate substantial seasonal and year‑round economic activity: they bring thousands of paying visitors, support hospitality, hotels and transport, employ seasonal staff, and boost local supply chains (caterers, artisans, accommodation). Goodwood’s appeal comes from its unique blend of historic country house, world‑class motorsport heritage and high‑end social events that attract global audiences and media attention.

Arundel Castle & Gardens
Arundel Castle is a historic, family‑owned castle with restored rooms, formal gardens and frequent public events (tours, concerts, medieval reenactments). As a focal point for heritage tourism in the region, the castle supports local employment, museum‑education roles, and spurs spending in the town’s independent shops, cafes and accommodation. Its special qualities include well‑preserved medieval and Victorian architecture, riverside setting, seasonal festivals and weddings, which together help sustain craft and hospitality businesses and promote Arundel as a cultural destination.

Weald & Downland Living Museum (Singleton)
This open‑air museum conserves and interprets historic rural buildings from across Sussex and the South East, offering hands‑on demonstrations, traditional crafts, schools programmes and seasonal events. It contributes to the local economy by attracting educational visits, heritage tourists and craft learners who spend on tickets, cafés and nearby accommodation; it also sustains specialist conservation and craft jobs. The museum is unique for its living‑history approach to vernacular architecture — visitors can see rescued timber framed houses, mills and workshops rebuilt in a parkland setting, preserving everyday heritage that would otherwise be lost.

Chichester city centre — Cathedral, Festival Theatre, shopping & restaurants
Chichester combines a Roman-born city plan, an impressive cathedral, the renowned Chichester Festival Theatre and a compact mix of independent shops, boutiques and restaurants, making it the cultural and retail heart of West Sussex. The city’s arts programme and eateries attract cultural tourists and day‑trippers, supporting galleries, hospitality, retail jobs and specialist food producers. Chichester’s strength is this concentrated cultural offer — high‑quality theatre seasons, gallery exhibitions (including nearby Pallant House Gallery), a lively farmers’ market and a diverse dining scene — which together create year‑round footfall and a resilient local economy.

Explore the diverse transport options available in West Sussex, from efficient public transportation systems to convenient road networks. Whether you're commuting to work or exploring the city, this section will give you an overall look at the available transportation systems.

Public Transit System
- Rail services (Southern, Thameslink, Gatwick Express) - Comprehensive rail coverage across the county with main lines including the Brighton Main Line, West Coastway Line, Arun Valley and Mid‑Sussex routes; key stations include Gatwick/Crawley, Horsham, Haywards Heath, Burgess Hill, Worthing, Chichester, Bognor Regis and others; Thameslink provides cross‑London services while Southern and Gatwick Express provide frequent regional and airport links.
- Bus services (Stagecoach South, Metrobus, Compass Travel and local operators) - Extensive local and regional bus networks serving towns, villages and commuter corridors; Metrobus/Fastway provides bus rapid transit style services around Crawley/Gatwick; rural services are more limited and vary by route/operator.
- Coach services (National Express and other long‑distance coaches) - Long‑distance coach connections to London and major UK cities plus airport coach links feeding into Gatwick and other hubs.
- Air transport (Gatwick Airport; Shoreham/Brighton City Airport) - Gatwick is a major international airport (Crawley) with integrated rail/road links; Shoreham handles general aviation and smaller commercial flights.
- Community transport, taxis and private hire - Community minibuses, dial‑a‑ride and volunteer schemes for rural areas, plus local taxi fleets and app‑based private hire services for first/last mile connections.
- Park‑and‑ride / station parking - Park‑and‑ride provision is limited but available in some towns and many rail stations offer long‑stay and commuter parking (notably around Gatwick/Crawley and larger stations).
- Freight and logistics links - Significant freight movements by road and rail serving distribution centres, ports and Gatwick; strategic freight corridors follow the main A‑roads and M23/M25 access.

Major Highways
- M23 - Primary motorway link connecting Gatwick/Crawley to the M25 and London; main northbound route for airport traffic and commuters.
- M25 - London orbital motorway accessible via the M23, providing wider access to the national motorway network.
- A23 - Major trunk road between London and Brighton that serves north–south traffic through parts of West Sussex and feeds into the M23 corridor.
- A27 - Principal east–west coastal route linking Chichester, Arundel, Worthing and adjacent south coast communities; key for local and regional traffic.
- A24 - North–south route connecting Horsham and the coastal area around Worthing with routes toward London via Dorking/Leatherhead.
- A259 - Coastal road connecting Littlehampton, Bognor Regis, Worthing and Shoreham, important for local east–west movements along the coast.
- A264 - Important cross‑county link connecting Horsham and Crawley, used heavily by commuters and local traffic.
- A29 - Connects Bognor Regis and the Arun valley northwards to join inland routes such as the A24.
- A272 - Cross‑country route across the Weald providing a scenic east–west link between inland areas and the south coast via West Sussex.

Cycling Infrastructure
- Cycle routes and lanes (Downs Link, National Cycle Network routes, local lanes and hubs) - A mix of on‑road cycle lanes in towns and segregated/traffic‑free facilities in places; the Downs Link (traffic‑free route between Guildford and Shoreham via Horsham) and National Cycle Network Route 2 along parts of the coast are key long‑distance routes; quality and continuity vary by area and Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs) are guiding upgrades and new infrastructure.

Recent and Upcoming Improvements
- Thameslink and rail service enhancements - Recent timetable and capacity upgrades (Thameslink programme and operator improvements) have increased cross‑London capacity, benefiting Gatwick, Haywards Heath, Horsham and other commuter flows.
- Gatwick interchange and airport improvements - Ongoing passenger interchange, station and terminal improvements to streamline connections between rail, buses, taxis and car parking at Gatwick.
- A27 corridor improvements (planning and staged works) - National Highways and local authorities have been progressing planning and targeted upgrades to reduce congestion and improve safety on A27 pinch points around Chichester/Arundel and adjacent sections (programme of improvements, phased delivery).
- Active Travel funding and LCWIP delivery - West Sussex County Council and district partners have been using Active Travel/Local Growth funding to deliver safer cycling and walking links, school routes and town centre schemes (Chichester, Worthing, Horsham, Crawley and others feature in LCWIPs).
- Bus priority and fleet modernisation - Investments in bus priority measures, real‑time information, and vehicle upgrades (including low‑emission buses) aim to improve reliability and attractiveness of bus travel; Metrobus/Fastway continues to be a focus for corridor improvements.
- Station accessibility, parking and EV infrastructure - Access for All and local schemes have delivered step‑free access at multiple stations, expanded cycle parking and rollout of EV charging points at station car parks and key park‑and‑ride sites.
- Smart ticketing and passenger information - Wider adoption of contactless and mobile ticketing, improved real‑time passenger information and integrated journey planning tools have made multimodal journeys easier for commuters and visitors.