Chichester manages to combine being a cathedral city with sandy beaches and stunning countryside – and all within easy reach of London too! This charming, compact and well-to-do south coast city is a great place to explore on a camping holiday in West Sussex or neighbouring Hampshire. We’ve sought out the best camping and glamping sites in Chichester and the surrounding area for this collection.
Campsites in Chichester and the surrounding area are as varied as the landscapes around the city. Although Chichester is a proud cathedral city, with its 900-year-old cathedral dominating views, it manages to be a little be seaside and a little bit country too. The South Downs National Park is north of the city while the Chichester Harbour Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the beaches of West Wittering are to the south. That means you can choose from countryside and coastal camping when you’re camping in this area. And that’s not to mention glamping. The twin counties of East and West Sussex are particularly well serviced by glamping sites with everything from bell tents to shepherds huts jostling for glampers' attention.
A visit to the 900-year-old cathedral is top of most visitors’ list of things to do in Chichester. And while you’re there, you might like to take a look around the independent shops of the old walled city too. Out of town, head to the Witterings (East or West) for watersports or seaside fun or to the salt marshes and mudflats of Chichester Harbour Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty if you prefer the wilder side of the coast. The Goodwood Estate with its historic house, motor racing and sports events, is another of the area’s biggest attractions. Bustling Brighton and historic Portsmouth are both within an hour’s drive of Chichester too. If that hasn't whet your appetite for camping in Chichester, check out the Visit Chichester website for more ideas of things to do in the area.
The cathedral city of Chichester in West Sussex is a perfect place to visit on any camping holiday. Stacked with history that reaches back to Roman times and beyond, the city is perfectly poised between the Sussex coast, Chichester Harbour AONB and the South Downs National Park.