Living in West Sussex
Few places in England can match West Sussex when it comes to quality of life. Found on the south coast the county offers the best of both worlds combining a bucolic seaside charm with close proximity to London.
With much of the South Downs national park making up the historic county, there are endless meandering country walks to explore and charming villages to find. From the remote Weald with its picturesque towns of Midhurt, Horsham, and Steyning, to the bustling beaches in seaside towns like Bognore Regis and Littlehampton, as well as the major centres Worthing and Chichester, West Sussex has everything.
As it borders Hampshire, Surrey and East Sussex, it couldn't be more conveniently located. And that's without mentioning its short distance and excellent transport links to London, making it the ideal destination for those commuting to the capital.
Transport Links
Thanks to West Sussexs' prime location the area is well supported with excellent transport links. From the south of Crawley the M23 motorway takes you to London, and the A24 takes you from Worthing straight to the capital. The A23 also takes drivers from nearby Brighton.
At the north edge of the county is Gatwick Airport, the UK's second busiest airport. Meaning wherever you are in West Sussex, you are not far from taking to the skies. There are also strong rail links throughout the area with three main rail routes. The Brighton Mainline, the West Coastway Line, and the Arun Valley Line.
Schools and Nurseries
West Sussex is blessed with some of the best schools in the country. It is well stocked with a blend of county-run comprehensive and academies as well as over two dozen independent primary, prep, secondary and all-through schools. There is also a mix of private and publicly run nurseries and childcare settings, and two colleges and universities for school leavers at the University of Chichester and Chichester College.
Things to do
West Sussex is an ideal place to enjoy the great outdoors. The South Downs National Park makes up a great deal of the county and is awash with outdoor and active pursuits. With miles of country walks, and well kept cycleways in historic forests and scenic river valleys. Combine this with a number of castles and country houses like Arundel Castle and Goodwood House, there are plenty of excuses to enjoy some fresh air at the weekend.
The pleasant climate also makes West Sussex home to a number of vineyards such as Tinwood Estate and Bluebell Vineyard, ideal for a day trip. As a coastal county West Sussex boasts a wealth of beautiful beaches ideal for watersports or lounging on the sand. West Wittering Beach, Littlehampton Beach and Bracklesham Bay are but a few of the golden gems on the Sussex coast.
Shopping
Throughout its town and cities West Sussex has a range of shopping options. Chichester boasts some of the best shopping in the county with a range of chain and independent stores found throughout its pedestrianised centre. Horsham is also blessed with a variety of different shops across its centre including Swan Walk shopping centre. Due to being seaside resort towns Littlehampton and Bognor Regis are well appointed for tourist shops and boutiques.
Bars and Restauarants
You don't have to look to far to find the quintessential English country pub in West Sussex. The Royal Oak in Poynings and Amberley's The Bridge Inn are two of the finest examples, but there are plenty more. The George at Burpham near Arundel and The Half Moon inn Kirdford are another two worth visiting.
There's also no shortage of excellent eateries either. Many of which take full advantage of the local produce from the sea and verdant countryside to great effect. The Camilla Restaurant at South Lodge and the Pig in South Downs are excellent restaurants, as is interlude in Horsham.