How to spend 48 hours in Arundel
Visit Arundel throughout the year
Arundel has so much to see in the Spring with many ways to fill your days – The Carpet of Flowers at the Cathedral is held during the Festival of Corpus Christi, usually somewhen between 21st May and 25th June. – Visit the Arundel Castle Cricket Club – one of the most famous and beautiful in the whole world. The Club has an outstanding and varied fixture list. Visitors are always welcome.
The Arundel Castle Tulip Festival has the most amazing display of some 80 000 tulips all blooming in their garden. Take a tour of the Castle itself where many of the original features such as the Norman Keep, medieval Gatehouse and Barbican still survive. Get involved in the varied historical events which often take place there.
Just a few miles out of town is Denmans Gardens – a highly unusual ornamental garden with two dry riverbeds, gravel gardens, water features, a walled garden and glass houses. A peaceful, private garden with meandering paths, quiet sitting spaces and unusual plantings. Homemade meals and afternoon tea are available in the large, newly renovated Tea Rooms. A little further along the road is Aldingbourne Country Centre. A great place to visit with children. Meet the animals on the open farm, explore the Woodland Walk, and have fun in the castle playground. There is also indoor soft play, sand and water play, and ride on tractors; and can you find your way around the Maze without getting lost? Throughout the West Sussex school holidays there are also plenty of event days to choose from.
Take the train from Arundel to Amberley and visit the unique Amberley Museum and Heritage Centre where you can take a ride on a narrow-gauge railway and explore the site in a vintage bus. Across the road is the Riverside Tea Rooms – a perfect place to get some refreshments and you can also hire a bike or a boat from there.
During the evening the Chichester Festival Theatre just a few miles away offers a great selection of entertainment.
The Jailhouse in the High Street offers live entertainment from Comedy Nights to live music and dancing.
If you want to stay in Arundel for a couple of nights then there is a great selection of accommodation to choose from including the Norfolk Arms, the Swan Hotel or B&Bs like Arden House and Arundel House all in the town centre. Eat out in fabulous restaurants including The Parsons Table and The Burger Shop – both found right in the middle of Arundel.
The Arundel Festival will be in full swing during August- several days filled with fantastic entertainment. This event just can’t be missed. The Festival was established 41 years ago and is more vibrant and popular than ever. With street entertainment, music in the Jubilee Gardens, the long established Arundel Gallery Trail, and with many other arts and traditional events to see, there is something for everyone.
The Arundel Lido offers 2 outdoor pools and fun for all the family. They hold many events during the summer months and it’s a great place for children of all ages.
Swanbourne Lake has rowing boats to hire or the Waterside Café has motor boats for hire so you can explore the River Arun. The Arundel Wetland Centre has special events throughout the year and lots of entertainment for the children including pond dipping or a boat ride on their lake to spot the water voles! Mill Road Leisure nearby has an 18 hole putting course and tennis courts can be hired there.
Arundel Castle has many events on during the summer and their garden will be full of colour with lots to see including the glasshouses, rose garden, stumpery and water features.
If you want to visit other gardens then West Dean or Denmans Gardens may be of interest. Both unique and easy to get to by car.
Take yourself on a train trip for the day from Arundel Station. A direct link to Amberley, a beautiful village in the South Downs, is only a few miles away. Here you can hire a bike or a boat from the Riverside Tea Rooms. Across the road and right next to the station is Amberley Museum and Heritage Centre. A 36 acre museum dedicated to local industrial heritage. Craftspeople, historic railway and buses, exhibition halls, nature trails, café, shop and more!
Feeling energetic? At Mill Road Leisure there is an 18 hole putting course and tennis courts to hire and a children’s playground next door.
Back in Arundel you can get a lovely ice cream from the Moathouse and sit in the historic Jubilee Gardens amongst the ruins of the old Priory and watch the River Arun flowing by.
Treat yourself to an overnight stay in the town centre at the local B&Bs such as Portreeves or Arden House. Or just out of town is the Comfort Inn and further along towards the coast you will find Bailiffscourt or right on the beach, the Beachcroft Hotel offers very unusual accommodation in their own luxurious Beach Huts – right next to the sea!
Take a walk around the towns and visit the many antique shops . Nineveh House and Bridge Antiques offer a large selections of different stalls – just perfect to browse around. If you are in town on a Saturday, the Farmers Market held on the 3rd Saturday of each month is definitely worth a visit. Lunch in The Burger Shop is a great way to try out the amazing variety of burgers they have on offer. A short drive out of town takes you to Denmans Gardens which would be full of marvellous colour and beautiful plants at this time of year. Their tea room, serving afternoon cream teas would be a great placed to visit when you have completed your walk around their gardens.
At the north end of the town, majestically set overlooking Arundel, you will find the magnificent Arundel Cathedral and just a little further along the road is the historic Church of St Nicholas – an outstandingly beautiful 14th Century church building overlooking the town of Arundel in West Sussex.
Opposite the Castle entrance in Mill Road, you will find Arundel Museum. A perfect place for families with a Children’s Trail. They often hold special events and exhibitions during the weekends and school holidays. There is something of interest to everyone. A small café inside the Museum can provide hot drinks.
Digby Fine English has an elegant tasting room in the High Street. Enjoy one of their tasting flights, while learning how they make exceptional English sparkling wine. They also hold special events like blending masterclasses, vertical tastings and sparkling cocktail making.
Visiting the town during the Arundel by Candlelight celebrations is an absolute must. Usually held on a Saturday in early December. The whole day is taken up with entertainment and music with the roads in the town centre closed to traffic The event provides people with a great opportunity to ‘shop local’ for presents in the many independent shops in the town. Real Christmas trees decorated with simple white lights adorn all the shops, restaurants and pubs, plus many private houses. This really creates an enchanting day, full of fun and festive cheer; an opportunity for everyone to come together and celebrate a memorable day in the run up to Christmas.
Spend a day at the Fontwell Park races and enjoy the fun and excitement at this unique figure of eight track. They often have special Themed days including the very popular Boxing Day Meeting.
Driver over to the Festival Theatre in Chichester to watch a show or live entertainment is often available in Arundel from Drip Action Theatre, or music at the Red Lion and the Brewhouse.
The ducks and wildfowl on Swanbourne Lake will be glad to see you with a bag of corn and a walk around the lake there is always lovely whatever time of the year.
Visit the cosy pubs in Arundel with real log fires like the Kings Arms, the Norfolk Arms or the Red Lion. All have a great selection of beers.
There may be entertainment such as Comedy Nights and Music held at the Jailhouse – the original town prison with many original features still to be seen there including the cells! – such an amazing place to visit.
Digby Fine English has an elegant tasting room in the High Street. Enjoy one of their tasting flights, while learning how they make exceptional English sparkling wine. They also hold special events like blending masterclasses, vertical tastings and sparkling cocktail making.
At the north end of the town, majestically set overlooking Arundel, you will find the magnificent Arundel Cathedral and just a little further along the road is the historic Church of St Nicholas – an outstandingly beautiful 14th Century church building overlooking the town of Arundel in West Sussex.
Arundel Museum is a perfect place to learn about the history of the town and its’ people. There is a Children’s Trail and they often hold art exhibitions. Hot drinks are also available.
Stay at the cosy old coaching inn, the Norfolk Arms situated right in the town centre with open fires and great food and drink. Or Bailiffscourt and Spa, just a few miles from Arundel, near the sea, would be a lovely place to relax after a busy day.