Roman history? Tick. Magnificent cathedral? Tick. Ancient city walls? Tick. Boutique shopping, tranquil gardens and cosy cafes? Tick, tick, tick. Canterbury and Chichester are two of England’s best southern cities for a short break, but while one is constantly packed with tourists, the other remains blissfully crowd-free.
Smaller and more relaxed, Chichester has just been named one of 2027’s must-visit places in Expedia Group’s Unpack ’27: The Trends in Travel™ report, making this autumn the ideal time to go. Once word gets out (and now it has – sorry!) its hidden gems – including art galleries, cosy pubs and independent shops – won’t be nearly as crowd-free.
Chichester comes 10th in Expedia’s 2027 Destinations of the Year list, meaning, alongside Hyogo in Japan, Holbox in Mexico and Busan in South Korea, it’s one of the world’s fastest growing travel hot spots. The list, which also features Punta del Este in Uruguay and Perugia in Italy, is based on search data that identifies where traveller interest is surging and, while I was surprised to see Chichester next to the modern metropolis of Busan, I think it deserves its place on the list. According to Expedia, searches have increased by 30% since last year.
Aerial view of Chichester city centre.
If you go now, there are wonderful autumn walks to do nearby – it’s close to the South Downs National Park and the West Sussex coast – plus there’s plenty to keep ‘Trip Snackers’, another 2027 travel trend according to Hotels.com, entertained. I’d argue Chichester will become the new Canterbury next year, so get there before the crowds descend. Here are my top tips for what to see and do…
WHAT TO SEE
Chichester Cathedral (left) and the stained-glass window by Marc Chagall (right)
Chichester cathedral, of course! Dating back to 1075, this stunning building with Norman and Gothic influences and a rare double-aisle layout, was rebuilt after a series of devastating fires in the 1100s. Its Victorian spire (designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott, the famous architect behind St Pancras and the Albert Memorial) is the only one in England visible from the sea, while its detached medieval bell tower, built around 1400, is the only one surviving in England. Book a self-guided audio tour to learn more about its incredible history and find out why it has become the unexpected home of spiritual modern art. There’s a vibrant stained-glass window by Marc Chagall from 1978 and an equally bold contemporary tapestry behind the High Altar by British artist John Piper that was installed in 1966 (and is far easier to visit than the Bayeux at the moment). Chichester is also home to Pallant House Gallery, an important venue for modern British art with more than 5,000 works in its collection, including those by Barbara Hepworth, Graham Sutherland and Damien Hirst.
WHAT TO DO
Roman Market Cross (left) and Bishop’s Palace Garden (right)
After visiting the cathedral, walk through the cloisters to the tranquil Bishop’s Palace Garden, which is bordered by the city’s Roman walls. The pedestrianised city centre is also enclosed within these late third or fourth century AD defences, and you can walk along parts of them for fabulous views over the rooftops.
Go shopping in the many independent boutiques along Chichester’s elegant Georgian streets – the four main ones, known as ‘pallants’, are handily called North, East, South and West Street, and all of them meet at Chichester's distinctive Roman Market Cross. I loved exploring some of the hidden, historic side streets known as ‘twittens’, too.
From fashion and homeware to jewellery, toys, music and art – you’re not short of choice when it comes to what to shop for – Vintro is a great place to find a Goodwood Revival outfit (The Goodwood Estate with its motor circuit and racecourse is a 10-minute drive away) and Winter’s Moon is fab for Christmas gifts. Stop for a coffee (and pick up some beans to take home) in Trading Post Coffee Roasters, where they roast on site, and take in a performance in the evening at Chichester Festival Theatre – The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time, based on the book by Mark Haddon, is on in November.
WHERE TO EAT
As well as chain restaurants (Chichester has branches of Piccolino, Bill’s and The Ivy Brasserie), there are plenty of independently run places to pick from. Places worth the visit include The Fat Fig on South Street, for delicious vegetarian and vegan breakfasts; The Ghost at the Feast food hall, for a rotating selection of street food kitchens; Lemongrass by Nasir, for Thai classics, and the family-run Santorini Chichester for a taste of Greece.
DON’T MISS
Detail of the floor mosaic at Fishbourne Roman Palace
Fishbourne Roman Palace & Gardens, site of many a school visit (I remember going as a 12-year-old) – thanks to it being the largest excavated Roman home in Britain. Built in the 1st century and discovered in its entirety in the 1960s, it was the grandest Roman palace in northern Europe, with 100 rooms and a footprint larger than Buckingham’s. The mosaic floors are remarkable, including black and white geometric designs, flowers, shells and even a dolphin.
The Weald & Downland Living Museum is a 40-acre site containing more than 50 relocated buildings telling the stories of the people who lived and worked in them from 950 AD to the 19th century. You can visit an original (and still working) watermill, a Tudor farmstead and kitchen, a toll house and a Victorian railway signalman’s cottage. It’s also where BBC’s The Repair Shop is filmed.
WHERE TO STAY
Beautiful views over the south downs in West Sussex
If you want to be in the heart of the city, the four-star Harbour Hotel & Spa is in a beautiful 18th-century building close to the cathedral. However, I’d recommend staying just outside the city walls to get the best of town and country. The White Horse is a dog-friendly pub in Chilgrove, a tiny hamlet nestled in the West Sussex countryside, just under seven miles from Chichester, which is a 16-minute drive. There are 15 chic rooms in what was once a 15th-century coaching house – and the food is so exceptional, it’s worth a mini-break of its own. Don’t miss the Turkish Eggs for breakfast, the lamb Scotch egg for lunch and Fish and Field specials for dinner, including prime Aberdeen Angus and Hereford Cross beef dry-aged on the bone for a minimum of 28 days. Yum.
There are walks you can do that handily start from the front door (including the seven-mile South Downs Circle) and you’ll get a far more peaceful night’s sleep than one spent in earshot of the cathedral bells.