{"id":360625,"date":"2026-07-31T19:37:21","date_gmt":"2026-07-31T19:37:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/uncategorized\/best-things-to-do-where-to-stay-visitor-tips\/"},"modified":"2026-07-31T19:37:21","modified_gmt":"2026-07-31T19:37:21","slug":"best-things-to-do-where-to-stay-visitor-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=360625","title":{"rendered":"Best Things to Do, Where to Stay & Visitor Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"


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If you\u2019re looking for a charming market town with a stylish vibe, Arundel in the South Downs might just be what you are looking for. Our guide covers the best things to do, where to stay and walks from the town.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll often hear Arundel described as England\u2019s most picturesque town. While many villages could be bestowed with this title, Arundel has all the right ingredients to make it a strong contender.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a towering medieval castle rising above tiny streets, an imposing cathedral, Georgian architecture, antique shops, rolling countryside and a meandering river.<\/p>\n

But Arundel also has great coffee, cool restaurants, a local farmers\u2019 market and some wonderful walks right from the centre of town.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s one of our top places to visit in England<\/a>, and we think anyone interested in historic towns, traditional pubs and country getaways will find something they love in Arundel.<\/p>\n

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\"Gravel
Amberley<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Traditional
Arundel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n

Best Things to Do in Arundel<\/span><\/h2>\n

1. Arundel Castle<\/span><\/h3>\n

Arundel Castle has been the home to the Dukes of Norfolk for over 850 years, and it\u2019s one of the best medieval castles in England.<\/p>\n

The oldest part of the castle is the Norman Keep, which was built shortly after the Norman Conquest. The views from the top, with the River Arun sweeping past the countryside, are well worth the entry ticket.<\/p>\n

Inside, it\u2019s lavish Victorian interiors; outside, the formal gardens are beautiful. Although the gardens and rooms are beautiful, there are a lot of activities for kids.<\/p>\n

The castle is only open from April to November. The gardens are open from 10 am to 5 pm and the rooms from 12 pm to 5 pm. Check the latest opening times and prices on the Arundel Castle website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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\"View
Arundel Castle <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n

2. Wander the Historic Town<\/span><\/h3>\n

The historic town of Arundel is both attractive and loaded with shops we actually find interesting \u2013 something slightly rare for us.<\/p>\n

Narrow streets are lined with independent boutiques, antique shops, galleries, great caf\u00e9s and traditional pubs. Generally we would say the food is above average for a market town in England.<\/p>\n

Start at the High Street to admire the beautiful Georgian houses, then wander down Tarrant Street, which is possibly the prettiest street in the town. It\u2019s full of period cottages, antique dealers and small boutiques.<\/p>\n

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\"Bakers<\/figure>\n
\"Pots<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n

3. Visit Arundel Cathedral<\/span><\/h3>\n

Arundel Cathedral is one of England\u2019s most impressive Gothic Revival churches. The building was completed in 1873 and features soaring spires, elaborate stonework, vaulted ceilings, and intricate stained-glass windows.<\/p>\n

Like most churches in England, you can step inside for free, provided there is no service underway.<\/p>\n

The most impressive vantage point, however, is from outside, where the elevated position dominates the rest of the town.<\/p>\n

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\"Side
Arundel Cathedral<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n

4. Swanbourne Lake<\/span><\/h3>\n

Swanbourne Lake is a lovely, peaceful spot around a 10-minute walk from the centre of town, surrounded by mature trees and rolling parkland.<\/p>\n

There is a wonderful flat path around the lake, making it a very easy stroll for all abilities.<\/p>\n

During spring and summer you can hire rowing boats and spend an hour on the lake or, if you\u2019re feeling less energetic \u2013 as we were \u2013 you can just grab an ice cream from the lakeside caf\u00e9. \u00a0<\/p>\n

From the lake you can continue on to Arundel Park, which has a series of footpaths that take you out into the open countryside. <\/p>\n

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\n Plan your trip with our detailed England guides including towns, cities & countryside.\n <\/p>\n


\n England
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\n \"England\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n

5. Walk Along the River Arun<\/span><\/h3>\n

Without a doubt, the highlight of Arundel is the River Arun, which snakes its way past the castle and the town. There are plenty of riverside walks you can take which give the best view of the castle.<\/p>\n

Start from the bridge on Mill Road, then follow the riverside path towards the Wetland Centre. This route is mostly flat and easy to follow with plenty of places to stop and enjoy the views.<\/p>\n

If you are looking for a longer walk, we recommend a loop to South Stoke, which we cover further on in this guide.<\/p>\n

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\"Aerial
River Arun<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n

6. Arundel Wetland Centre<\/span><\/h3>\n

The WWT Arundel Wetland Centre, located just a short walk from the town, is set on 65 acres of lakes, reedbeds and marshland. There\u2019s a network of accessible paths and boardwalks where you can spot kingfishers, herons, ducks and geese.<\/p>\n

There are also seasonal safari boats with guides that will help you spot wildlife in the meandering waterways. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Arundel Wetland Centre is open every day from 10 am to 4:30 pm.<\/p>\n

7. Arundel Museum<\/span><\/h3>\n

If you want to learn more about the town\u2019s history, the Arundel Museum provides a great introduction to how this small market town developed over the centuries.<\/p>\n

The museum covers everything from the construction of the castle to the influence of the Dukes of Norfolk and how they capitalised on the town\u2019s inland port on the river.<\/p>\n

You don\u2019t need long to have a look around, but the museum is staffed by local volunteers who will be happy to share recommendations for other things to do in Arundel.<\/p>\n

8. Browse the Independent Shops<\/span><\/h3>\n

If there\u2019s one thing we don\u2019t love about towns in England, it\u2019s the abundance of chain stores piled into the high street.<\/p>\n

Arundel is different, and the independent stores are one of the main things we love about the town, even though we wouldn\u2019t describe ourselves as shoppers.<\/p>\n

As mentioned above, the best streets are High Street and Tarrant Street, but wander down small lanes and courtyards, and you\u2019ll find plenty of surprises.<\/p>\n

Nineveh House is a converted Victorian Chapel on Tarrant Street with a collection of independent traders selling crafts, artwork and gifts.<\/p>\n

The other thing we loved in Arundel is the farmers\u2019 market which takes place on the third Saturday of the month.<\/p>\n

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\"Wooden<\/figure>\n
\"Trays<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n

9. Visit Amberley (or Stay There)<\/span><\/h3>\n

Amberley is a small historic village around 4 miles west of Arundel on the edge of the South Downs National Park. It\u2019s a lovely village made up of flint cottages, thatched roofs and medieval buildings.<\/p>\n

If you have the time, we recommend popping in for a quick visit.<\/p>\n

The other way to see it is by staying there. Amberley Castle is a 900-year-old fortification converted into a luxury hotel. We stayed here the last time we visited Arundel, and it was a truly unique luxury experience.<\/p>\n

We had dinner in the 12th<\/sup>-century Queen\u2019s Room, which was beautiful, and the rooms are very swish.<\/p>\n

The highlight was a hidden door in our bathroom that opened onto a secret staircase leading up to a private turret. Apparently, there are several hidden corners in the hotel.<\/p>\n

Check prices for Amberley Castle<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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\"Twin
Castle Gatehouse, Amberley<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Stone
Manor House, Amberley Castle<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Modern
Our bathroom with the secret staircase<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Carved
Amberley Castle<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n

10. Circular Walk to South Stoke<\/span><\/h3>\n

The final thing we really loved in Arundel was the circular walk to South Stoke via the river.<\/p>\n

The 8-mile walk starts in the town, heads up the High Street, passes the cathedral, then enters the castle\u2019s landscaped gardens.<\/p>\n

The path drops to the river, which it follows to the village of South Stoke, which has a charming 11th<\/sup>-century church.<\/p>\n

On the way back, we stopped at the Black Rabbit for a well-deserved pint overlooking the river.<\/p>\n

We have all the details plus a map in our guide to the best walks near London.<\/a><\/p>\n

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\"arundel
Mark on the South Stoke Walk<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"arundel
South Stoke<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n

Practical Information<\/span><\/h2>\n

Getting There<\/span><\/h3>\n

Arundel is easy to reach by both train and car, and it\u2019s one of our favourite day trips from London<\/a>.<\/p>\n

By Train:<\/strong> Arundel station is on the Arun Valley line, with regular services from London Victoria taking around 90 minutes. The station is a 10-minute walk from the town centre.<\/p>\n

By Car: <\/strong>Arundel is just off the A27 between Chichester and Worthing. The drive takes around 30 minutes from Brighton<\/a>, 45 minutes from Portsmouth and 2 hours from Central London.<\/p>\n

We would recommend going by car if you can.<\/p>\n

Parking<\/span><\/h3>\n

There are several pay-and-display car parks within a short walk of the town centre, making Arundel easy to see by car.<\/p>\n