Frequently Asked Questions about Chichester

Common questions answered

Answers to the most common questions about Chichester, West Sussex.

What is Chichester known for?

Chichester is known as a historic cathedral city in West Sussex. The Norman cathedral, with its distinctive spire visible from the sea, is the centrepiece. The city also has Roman origins as Noviomagus Reginorum, with the street plan dating from the first century. The Market Cross of 1501 stands at the junction of the four main streets. Fishbourne Roman Palace, the largest known Roman domestic building in Britain, is just to the west. The Chichester Festival Theatre, founded by Laurence Olivier in 1962, is one of England's leading producing theatres. Goodwood estate, with its racecourse and motor circuit, lies just to the north.

Is Chichester a city?

Yes. Chichester is a city, and has held city status since at least the twelfth century by virtue of being the seat of a bishop. The diocese of Chichester was established in 1075 when the bishop's seat was moved from Selsey. Despite its small size, with a population of around 30,000, Chichester is formally a city and the administrative centre of Chichester District Council. It is the only city in West Sussex. The compact scale is part of its character; everything in the centre is within walking distance.

How do I get to Chichester by train?

Chichester railway station is on the West Coastway line, south of the city walls on Stockbridge Road. Direct services run to London Victoria via Gatwick Airport (approximately one hour and forty minutes), to Brighton (approximately one hour), and to Portsmouth and Southampton along the coast. Services are operated by Southern. The station is about a ten-minute walk from the Market Cross. There is a car park at the station and bus connections from the forecourt.

What are the best shops in Chichester?

Chichester's shopping is concentrated along the four main streets and the connecting lanes within the city walls. North Street has larger retailers. East Street and the Hornet have a mix of independents and chains. The Butter Market, behind North Street, houses smaller shops in a covered setting. South Street runs towards the cathedral and has cafes, bookshops and galleries. The Pallants quarter has specialist shops and galleries. For larger retail, the Portfield Retail Park on the eastern edge of the city has supermarkets and household stores. There is no large enclosed shopping centre; the city's retail character is based on its historic streets.

Where can I park in Chichester?

Chichester has several car parks around the city centre. The Avenue de Chartres car park, south of the walls, is the largest and most central. Northgate car park serves the northern side. The cattle market car park on East Walls and Little London car park provide additional spaces. There are also car parks at the railway station and near the Festival Theatre. On-street parking within the walls is limited and mostly restricted. Park-and-ride services have operated at various times from sites on the city's approaches. Charges and hours vary; Chichester District Council manages most city centre car parks.

What schools are in Chichester?

Chichester has several primary schools including Jessie Younghusband, Parklands, Central CE, Rumboldswyke CE, and Lancastrian Infant and Junior Schools. Chichester High School on Kingsham Road is the main state secondary, with a large campus serving the city and surrounding area. Chichester Free School provides an alternative state option. The Prebendal School is an independent preparatory school attached to the cathedral. The University of Chichester, with its campus on College Lane, provides higher education. West Sussex County Council manages school admissions for state schools.

Is there a hospital in Chichester?

Yes. St Richard's Hospital on Spitalfield Lane is the main acute hospital for the Chichester area. It provides accident and emergency, maternity, surgery, cancer treatment, and outpatient services. The hospital is run by University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust. It sits on the eastern side of the city, in the Parklands area, and is accessible by bus and car. There is parking on site, though spaces can be limited during busy periods. For specialist services not available at St Richard's, patients may be referred to hospitals in Brighton, Portsmouth or Southampton.

What is the Chichester Festival Theatre?

Chichester Festival Theatre is a major producing theatre in Oaklands Park, west of the city centre. It opened in 1962 with Laurence Olivier as its first artistic director. The main auditorium is a distinctive hexagonal building with a thrust stage and seating for 1,300. A smaller studio space, the Minerva Theatre, was added in 1989. The theatre runs a season of productions from April to November, typically staging six to eight shows. Productions regularly transfer to the West End. The theatre's founding was instrumental in the creation of the National Theatre in London. It is one of the most important regional theatres in England.

How far is Chichester from the beach?

The nearest beaches to Chichester are at West Wittering and East Wittering, roughly seven to eight miles to the south-west on the Manhood Peninsula. West Wittering beach is a popular sandy beach with views across to the Isle of Wight. East Head, a sand spit at the entrance to Chichester Harbour, is managed by the National Trust. Selsey, about eight miles south, has a shingle beach. Bognor Regis, approximately seven miles to the south-east, has a traditional seaside promenade. The drive to any of these beaches takes around fifteen to twenty minutes from the city centre.

What is Goodwood?

Goodwood is the estate of the Dukes of Richmond, situated on the South Downs north of Chichester. The estate encompasses Goodwood House (open to the public at certain times), a racecourse, a motor circuit, a golf course, a hotel, and extensive parkland. The racecourse, established in 1802, hosts the Glorious Goodwood festival each summer. The motor circuit, originally a wartime airfield, hosts the Goodwood Revival (historic motor racing) and the Festival of Speed (hillclimb event), both of which attract international visitors. The current Duke of Richmond has developed Goodwood into a major events and hospitality destination.

Is Chichester a good place to live?

Chichester is a compact, well-served cathedral city with good schools, a hospital, cultural venues, and direct rail links to London and the coast. The South Downs are immediately to the north, the harbour and beaches to the south. Property prices are higher than the national average, reflecting the desirability of the location and the limited housing stock within the city. The city is relatively quiet and safe. The main drawbacks are the cost of housing, the traffic congestion on the A27 during peak hours, and the limited nightlife. It suits families, professionals, and those who value a smaller, historically rich city over the bustle of a larger centre.

What is the population of Chichester?

The population of Chichester city is approximately 30,000. The wider Chichester district, which covers a large rural area including the Manhood Peninsula, the harbour villages, and the downland settlements, has a population of around 124,000. The city's population has grown modestly in recent decades, constrained by the South Downs to the north and the limited land within the district. The University of Chichester adds a student population during term time.

What is Pallant House Gallery?

Pallant House Gallery is an art gallery in the Pallants quarter of Chichester, housed in a Queen Anne townhouse of 1712 and a modern extension opened in 2006. The collection began with a donation of modern British art by Walter Hussey, Dean of Chichester, and now holds over 4,000 works. Artists represented include Graham Sutherland, John Piper, Ivon Hitchens, Eduardo Paolozzi, and Peter Blake. The gallery won the Gulbenkian Prize for Museum of the Year in 2007. It runs a programme of temporary exhibitions alongside displays from the permanent collection. Entry charges apply, and there is a cafe and shop.

What postcodes does Chichester use?

Chichester uses postcodes in the PO18, PO19 and PO20 areas. The city centre and most residential areas fall within PO19. Lavant and the downland villages to the north use PO18. Donnington, Hunston, and the villages to the south use PO20. Fishbourne uses PO19. The PO postcode area is centred on Portsmouth and covers much of south Hampshire and West Sussex. Some areas near Chichester use PO18 postcodes that might be expected to be PO19, reflecting the boundaries of the original postal delivery routes.

Are there walks near Chichester?

There are many walks within easy reach of Chichester. The city walls provide a circular walk of about a mile within the centre. The Centurion Way, built on a former railway line, runs from the city northward through the Lavant valley towards West Dean, providing a flat, traffic-free route into the South Downs. The Chichester Canal towpath runs four miles south to the harbour at Birdham. The South Downs Way national trail passes a few miles north of the city. Chichester Harbour has footpaths along the shoreline. Kingley Vale, a few miles north-west, has one of the finest yew forests in Europe and is managed as a national nature reserve.

When is Chichester market?

Chichester holds markets in the city centre on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The Wednesday market is a general market on East Street and the surrounding area, selling produce, clothing, household goods and food. The Saturday market tends to focus more on food and local produce. A farmers' market is held on the first and third Friday of each month in East Street and North Street. The markets operate in the morning and early afternoon. The tradition of market trading in Chichester dates back centuries, and the Market Cross of 1501 was originally built to shelter market traders.