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Staying in Chichester

The Medieval town walls of Chichester hold its rather gorgeous Georgian centre in a loving embrace. There are many hotels in Chichester, the administrative capital of West Sussex, that lie within this historic market town area, and there are just as many reasons to visit.

Chichester nestles between the South Downs and the sea and has been occupied since Roman times. Indeed, the town played a pivotal role in allowing the legions to gain a foothold in Britain. The centre of Chichester still bears traces of this storied heritage, built as it is on the ancient Roman road of Noviomagus. If you stroll down its shopping streets today, you’ll still arrive at a Medieval market cross, where the Roman roads once met.

History is written into Chichester’s walls. There’s the splendid cathedral, the handsome streets lined with 18^th-century townhouses, the Medieval walls and the distant traces of its past as a Roman port. Modern pleasures can be found here as well, like the famous theatre and the pedestrianised shopping streets packed with independent shops and regular markets.

To the north, the South Downs National Park shelters some bracing walks over chalky escarpments and some thrilling races at Goodwood, while Sussex’s finest sandy beaches are not too far away in East and West Wittering to the south.

Choosing your hotel in Chichester

There’s no shortage of places to stay in and around Chichester. The city centre itself is home to a wide assortment of hotels, inns and guesthouses, ranging from 2-star budget choices to 4-star luxury boutiques. The 4-star Chichester Harbour Hotel offers a taste of the high life with its resplendent décor, while budget-friendly options, like the The Chichester Inn still supply modern amenities and comfortable guestrooms. Family-friendly hotels in Chichester often offer a play area outside, games inside and are usually flexible about rearranging beds to accommodate your needs.

If you don’t want to be so close to the centre, and fancy seeing a bit of the beautiful Sussex countryside, there are a couple of glamping options nearby. Adventurous travellers who prefer their excitement with plenty of comfort and a splash of style will appreciate these unique options – camping grounds offer facilities to rival the finest hotels, including complimentary Wi-Fi, free area shuttles and a hearty full English breakfast. You can even rent a fabulous ‘tentalow’; with a functioning kitchenette, comfortable bedding and a private garden, complete with barbeque grill and picnic area, this is camping at its most glamourous. The charming countryside that surrounds Chichester also boasts a number of hotels, bed and breakfasts and guesthouses.

When to book your stay in Chichester

It can’t be denied that the Downs and the Sussex coast are at their best in summer, but Chichester is a year-round destination. Its centre is particularly attractive lit up in Christmas lights during the festive season, and spring sees poppies and wildflowers in bloom all over the undulating grassy hills of the Downs.

When the Festival of Speed or motor- and horse-racing events are taking place at Goodwood, hotels in Chichester spike in popularity due to their convenience as a home base, so it's important check whether your visit coincides with these.

Similarly, if you are looking to book a hotel in Chichester during June and July’s Festival of Chichester and the Chichester Real Ale and Jazz Festival, it would be best to plan your break ahead as rooms in local hotels are snatched up quickly.

Things to see and do around Chichester

Chichester Canal offers an idyllic experience for lovers of the great outdoors, taking you out into the peaceful countryside and towards Chichester Harbour. Here you’ll find a sailing playground and a nature reserve where ornithology enthusiasts can spot sea birds soaring overhead. If you’d rather set off on a bike, Chichester can also oblige. Centurion Way is a rural cycle path which follows the route of a disused railway line.

If that all sounds a little too energetic, you can find plenty of parkland to relax in within Chichester itself. Priory Park is undoubtedly the highlight, with the city walls wrapped around the exterior of the grounds and the remains of Chichester Castle to explore inside.

Away from the retail highlights of the main streets, the quieter historic enclaves of the Pallants, St Martin's Square, St John's Street and Newtown contain fine Georgian townhouses that are perfect for a romantic evening stroll.

Chichester’s city centre is also graced with the towering presence of the cathedral, which is home to a family of peregrine falcons that swoop over its streets at dusk.

Saving money on your Chichester hotel.

If you are booking a flight as well as a Chichester hotel, you can save money on both when you arrange your break with Expedia.