Nestled in the heart of West Sussex, the cute town of Arundel offers a delightful escape from bustling London. Situated along the banks of the River Arun, Arundel’s picturesque setting and well-preserved architecture is the quintessential English town. Its full of cute shops and cafés, and a few great small pubs – the vast majority of which are independent, local businesses.
Just a short train ride away, it promises a medieval castle, quaint streets, and rich history. Arundel is an ideal day trip from London, and has enough to extend it to a weekend away to give yourself time to explore the South Downs National Park.
The practical stuff
How long should you stay in Arundel?
Arundel is the perfect day trip from London, however consider staying over a night or two so that you can see more of it and the beautiful countryside around it. We stayed Friday afternoon to Sunday evening, and thought it was the perfect length. If we had an extra day, we would have spent more time in the South Downs, so there’s plenty to see and do.
Where should you stay in Arundel?
Arundel is a small town and you’ll probably stay in the centre. There’s a few hotels (think pub hotels, rather than chains) which are quaint and historical. AirBnb is also an option.
How do you get to Arundel?
The journey from London Victoria to Arundel station takes around 1 hour and 30 minutes, with regular direct trains available from London Victoria station. Arundel train station is a 10-minute walk from outside the town.
If you prefer to drive, Arundel is approximately 60 miles southwest of London, and the journey should take around 1 hour and 30 minutes, depending on traffic. Once in Arundel, there are several car parks available, including the Mill Road Car Park, which offers free parking for up to 4 hours.
What are the best places to go and things to do in Arundel?
Wander round Arundel Castle
Towering majestically over the town, the iconic Arundel Castle is an unmissable highlight of any visit and perhaps its main attraction. You’ll see it pop up in the distance from wherever you are in Arundel, and it provides the perfect background to the area (and your photos).
This medieval castle traces its origins back to the Norman conquest of 1067, when Roger de Montgomery was granted the land by William the Conqueror. Over the centuries, Arundel Castle has witnessed pivotal moments in British history, serving as a royal residence, a military stronghold, and the ancestral seat of the Dukes of Norfolk (its surprising how many moments in British history have been played out in some way at Arundal Castle. Even King Henry VIII was a fan).
We walked through the grounds first, and they were probably our favourite part of the castle. There are natural areas, such as the water garden (ok, it’s a pond) and the wildflower meadows, and formal areas such as the rose garden and the English gardens. We visited on a sunny day in June, and they were stunning. There’s a few buildings in the grounds, such as the beautiful Fitzalan Chapel.
Once you’ve gone through the gardens you can walk through the old moat to the Keep. There’s a small exhibition on the second duke of Norfolk (confusingly, the Duke of Norfolk is based here, not Norfolk) which gives the highlights of his Games-of-Thrones-esque life and provides some context to the castle. The keep has some beautiful views of the countryside, and there’s a few rooms which talk about elements of the castle’s history (as well as some dressing up boxes, which would have been rude of us to miss).
You’ll then go back to the main castle and walk through various rooms detailing parts of the castle’s history, as well as some of the work of the Duke of Norfolk. There’s also the guest bedrooms, which are occasionally closed when the Duke has guests.
We’d definitely recommend a visit, but felt there wasn’t a huge amount of information available once you left the keep. There are some information cards dotted about, but these mainly focus on the construction materials and methods of the different rooms (a bug bear of mine – I want to know the social history behind a room, not that it’s made from limestone).
Arundel Castle is open from 10am to 5pm daily, with last admission at 4pm. Inside the castle opens later at 12pm (until 5pm), but you can access the gardens beforehand. Tickets are slightly confusing, as a basic ticket is for the gardens. They then get more expensive as you add different bits to it. Although not cheap, we’d recommend getting the full ticket including the bedrooms if they’re open.
Why go? Majestic castle, beautiful grounds, views of Arundel.
How long? Three hours.
Arundel Town Centre
Arundel’s historic town centre is packed with beautiful buildings and independent shops. As you wander along the picturesque high street and side streets, you’ll discover antique shops, art galleries, and quirky boutiques tucked away in ancient timber-framed buildings.
Be sure to check out the independent shops in Nineveh House – lots of antiques and curiosities in an old church – and have a coffee in Green & Coal, a cute café with antique shop and garden centre vibes.
Take your time to explore the nooks and crannies of the town, admiring the medieval architecture and soaking up the quintessentially English atmosphere.
Why go? Charming streets and shops
How long? Probably two hours, or longer if you spend more time in the shops.
Walk through Arundel Wetlands Centre
Arundel Wetlands Centre is a beautiful place to wander round on a sunny day. There’s a range of wetland areas and different bird habitats to walk around, as well as different places to watch wildlife and the world go by.
We’d recommend getting the boat trip, which is a 20-minute trip on an electric boat through part of the wetlands. It was very relaxing silently drifting through the reeds, with our guide pointing out things of interest. It cost £3 per person when we went – a bargain.
Its about a 20-minute walk from the town, but we’d recommend taking the pathway which follows the River Arun. This took about 45 minutes, but it was a lot more scenic and went through some beautiful landscapes.
How long? Two hours plus.
Why go? Birds, pretty landscapes.
Go for a hike
The landscape around Arundel is very impressive – not surprisingly, its part of the South Downs National Park. This picturesque landscape of rolling hills, chalk cliffs, and picture-perfect villages offers various hiking trails, scenic drives, and opportunities for outdoor activities like cycling, horseback riding, and birdwatching.
There’s a range of walks available from Arundel, from 1 hour to all day. They aren’t always marked very well, so check online for a route and use Google Maps (mobile signal was fine – even better than in Arundel).
Swanbourne Lake is a beautiful lake just outside Arundel. It’s worth going for a walk around it, and you can easily extend it to loop back round to Arundel.
How long? One hour to one day.
Why go? Beautiful landscapes and nature.
Eat and drink
We found loads of great places to have a coffee, food or a drink. Some highlights are:
The Black Rabbit pub – upmarket pub on the river, with a lot of outside seating. Prices were fair and the food was good, but there weren’t many lighter options if you want something smaller for lunch. The Black Rabbit is the perfect place on a sunny day, especially if visiting the wetlands centre.
Motte and Bailey café – great for breakfast, but can get a bit busy and noisy. The vegetarian English breakfast was great.
Green & Coal coffee shop – cute little café, great for breakfast and lunch (breakfast was good, but the menu was limited and was mainly scrambled eggs on toast).
Waterside Café – we didn’t eat here but had a beer (only bottled is available). It’s close to the Arundel Museum and Arundel Castle. Our main reason for including it is the location, right on the River Arun.
The Red Lion – normally has live music, and opens late. It can get pretty busy in the evening.
The Eagle Inn – friendly local, with good beer.
The Kings Arms – friendly, cosy and a bit ramshackle, with a nice (but tiny) garden. The oldest pub in Arundel.
The Norfolk Arms – where we stayed, but it has a few different bars available to non-residents. The Tap was relaxed and comfortable, with a few nice local beers on.
Fauna Brewery and Taproom – local brewery with a range of beers. There’s nice outside seating, as well as inside. The pizza was great, but more lunch-sized than for dinner.
The St Mary’s Gate Inn – another nice pub, from the same people as The Black Rabbit. Friendly and nice beer, with a small beer garden. It’s a short walk from Fauna Brewery.
Seasonal events and festivals
Our visit didn’t coincide with one of the many special events and festivals, but we’d heard great things about them, including:
The Arundel Festival – a nine-day celebration held in August that features live music, theatre performances, art exhibitions, and a vibrant street market.
Arundel by Candlelight in December where the town’s streets are illuminated by thousands of candles. Very festive.
Arundel Tulip Festival in May, where you can admire over 60,000 tulips in bloom across the town’s gardens and green spaces.
The monthly Arundel Farmers’ Market is a great place to sample delicious regional specialties and support local businesses.
During the summer months, there’s various events in the Arundel Castle grounds such as jousting tournaments and historical re-enactments.
Nearby Attractions
We didn’t have time to go outside Arundel, but if you’re there for longer then we can recommend:
Petworth House – a magnificent 17th-century mansion surrounded by a vast deer park and gardens. Explore the opulent state rooms, admire the world-class art collection, and stroll through the expansive grounds.
Bognor Regis – a seaside town offering a traditional English seaside experience with a long stretch of beach, pier, and promenade lined with fish and chip shops, arcades, and ice cream parlours. It’s a great place to soak up some sun, enjoy fresh seafood, and take in the coastal air.