Arundel Wetland Centre
Set on 26 hectares of naturalised landscapes and wetland habitats, Arundel Wetland Centre is home to hundreds of exotic wildfowl from around the world. The centre also attracts many wild birds to the lakes, reed beds and woodland areas and quiet electric boats will take you closer to them all as you glide along with beautiful waterways (weather permitting).
The centre offers a unique opportunity to see some of the rarest ducks in the world, feed the exotic wildfowl and take an exciting walk through one of the biggest and best reedbeds in Sussex.
There are plenty of facilities on site, including a restaurant with views over Swan Lake.
Chichester Cathedral
Chichester Cathedral has welcomed visitors, worshippers, seekers, tourists, people of all faiths and none through its doors for over 900 years. This living, working building continues to lie at the centre of life in the city and is the mother church of the Diocese of Chichester and services take place daily.
The magnificent building is also a popular tourist attraction and visitors from all over the world to enjoy a unique combination of the ancient and modern, with treasures including the 12th century Lazarus Reliefs and works by Sutherland, Chagall and Piper.
Entry is free and the cathedral is open from 7.15am to 6.00pm in the winter and 7.00pm in the summer months.
Chichester Harbour
Chichester Harbour straddles the boundary of West Sussex and Hampshire and is one of the few remaining undeveloped coastal areas in Southern England. It’s vast stretches of tidal flats, saltings and intricate creeks are of outstanding ecological significance and home to a rich plant life as well as large populations of wildfowl and waders.
In 1971, an Act of Parliament charged Chichester Harbour Conservancy with a duty to conserve, maintain and improve the area for recreation, natural conservation and natural beauty. Today, the harbour, sea walls and footpaths are favoured by the residents and tourists who explore the charming nearby villages that include, Bosham, Chidham, West Wittering, Itchenor, Emsworth and Langstone.
Set amidst the south coast’s most popular sailing waters, thousands of sailors take to the sea and many compete with the 14 sailing clubs that make up the Chichester Harbour Federation. A number of harbour tours operate all year round and are as popular with birdwatchers in the winter as with tourists in the warmer months.
Photograph courtesy of Chichester Harbour Conservancy.
Chichester Museum
Housed in an eighteenth century corn store, the Chichester Museum explores the history of Chichester and its surrounding district. Find out about geology and fossils and pre-history, including Boxgrove Man, Roman, Saxon and Medieval Chichester itself.
Visitors can explore the role that Chichester played during the English Civil War and how the city has changed since Georgian times. A wide range of hands-on activities take place around the galleries including pottery sorting, mosaic rubbing, word searches and activity sheets.
Fisher’s Farm, Wisborough Green
Fishers Farm Park is an award-winning family attraction located set in the heart of the West Sussex countryside. It is open all year round and offers a unique mixture of farm animals and adventure play; the ideal place for family visits, birthday parties, school trips and group outings.
The park is designed for families with children from 2 to 11 years old and there’s plenty for everyone to see and do. Credit cards are accepted at the shop, entrance and Saddle Rooms Restaurant.
Hollycombe Steam Railway
The Hollycombe Steam Railway is set in Liphook on the Hampshire/Sussex border and is the largest traditional heritage fairground in the country. It includes a fully working steam fairground with narrow gauge and miniature steam railways as well as traction engines, tractors and ploughing engines to wander around.
As well as traditional fairground rides for adults and children, everyone can feel the power of the steam locomotives on the Quarry Railway or the small engines on the Garden Railway.
The railway is open from Easter to mid-October and a full calendar of special events, night time extravaganzas and steam rallies takes place throughout the season.
Pallant House
Set in the heart of Chichester, Pallant House Gallery holds one of the country’s best collections of 20th century art and includes works by Andrews, Auerbach, Blake,
Caulfield, Freud, Hamilton, Hodgkin, Nicholson, Moore, Paolozzi. Piper, Sickert, Sutherland and others.
Every year Pallant House organises an extensive programme of exhibitions, events, education and outreach schemes which deliver creative projects to the broader local community.
Onsite, a gallery bookshop offers arguably the most comprehensive range of new, remaindered and out of print books on Modern British Art in the UK and is a focal point for those interested in art. The gallery shop also sells a wide range of prints, designs and sculptural pieces, whilst the Field & Fork cafe restaurant offers a sumptuous selection of inspired dishes to visitors.
Petworth House and Park
Petworth House is an imposing, late 17th century mansion set within the 700 acre deer park in West Sussex that was landscaped by Capability Brown and magnificently immortalised in the paintings of William Turner.
Home to the National Trust’s finest collection of paintings by Turner, Van Dyck, Reynolds and Blake as well as other works of art, including sculpture, carvings and fine furniture, Petworth House a trove of historic treasures.
The park offers guided walks in the spring and autumn and a number of events are held in the grounds throughout the year. These include music concerts, open air theatre, family and living history events, lecture lunches and Christmas functions.
Visit the website for opening arrangements for both house and park facilities.
Queen Elizabeth Country Park
Queen Elizabeth Country Park is the biggest in Hampshire and is set in the heart of the South Downs on the A3, three miles south of Petersfield. It comprises 1400 acres of open access woodland and downland within the East Hampshire Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, including Butser Hill, which is the highest point on the Downs.
The park has over 20 miles of trails catering for horse riders and cyclists, including specially-made trails for mountain bikers. Walkers can enjoy several long distance footpaths which run through the park and include Staunton Way, Hangers Way and the South Downs bridleway.
The Spinnaker Tower
The Spinnaker Tower is situated in the heart of Gunwharf Quays and, at 170 metres above Portsmouth harbour, it is taller than the London Eye, Big Ben, and the Blackpool Tower. It offers incredible 350º panoramic views of Portsmouth Harbour, the South coast and the Isle of Wight with views stretching out for up to 23 miles.
The tower has become an iconic landmark for the city with amazing views by day and a glittering sea of lights by night. Visitors have the chance to visit View Deck 1, which boasts Europe’s largest glass floor, giving you the sensation that you’re walking on air. While you’re there, Gunwharf Quays has a great variety of shops and restaurants to visit, as well as a cinema.
Stansted Park
Stansted Park is a beautiful stately home on the South Downs overlooking the coast, within 1800 acres of ancient forest on the borders of Hampshire and Sussex. Every year, thousands of visitors support Stansted Forest, which helps to conserve wildlife habitats. The House itself sits at the end of a two-mile avenue of beech trees and has a private chapel, exquisite mansion rooms and fully-furnished servants’ quarters.
The grounds host many different events throughout the year, including the Garden Show, open-air theatre and, of course cricket, which has been played on the lawns here since the 1740s. Stansted Park is open to visitors from Easter to September. (Image courtesy of Stansted Park.)
Tangmere Military Aviation Museum
The Tangmere Military Aviation Museum has been a popular attraction for military enthusiasts since 1982. Set on the former RAF Tangmere airfield, the museum is home to countless fascinating exhibits, including Neville Duke's world record breaking Hawker Hunter and authentic equipment that was used by the brave SOE agents who were carried into occupied France on 'black Lysander' flights from Tangmere.
You’ll also find flight simulators where you can try your hand at flying and a full sized replica of the very first Spitfire prototype and much more.
Weald and Downland Open Air Museum
Designated by the government for its outstanding collections of national importance, the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum is set in 50 acres of beautiful Sussex countryside and is home to nearly 50 historic buildings dating from the 13th to the 19th century.
This fascinating collection of buildings was rescued from destruction, each being carefully dismantled and rebuilt to their original form, many with period gardens and exhibits including a medieval shop, Victorian school, workshops, granary and a tread wheel from the South Downs. A delightful array of woodland walks, farm animals and a picturesque lake have helped make this a Winner of the Museum of the Year, Community Museum of the Year and a number of national awards for interpretation and education.
The Museum is open daily from March to December and during February half term week and on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 2nd January to 28th February. See the website for opening times.
West Wittering beach
Situated just to the south of Chichester, West Wittering beach is regarded as one of the south’s best beaches, with extensive sandy dunes making it a great attraction and also a very special environment for wildlife and birds.
With breathtaking views of Chichester Harbour and the South Downs,as well as its outstanding water quality and excellent facilities, West Wittering remains one of the premier Blue Flag beaches in the UK. There is a large car park with well tended areas of grass, which are ideal for a barbecue. West Wittering beach is also a major attraction for windsurfers and kite surfers.
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Pallant Holiday Lets is a Henry Adams company