To ask about free or inexpensive things to do in West Sussex

[JaceLancs]

Holiday soon in West Sussex with adult children
Staying inland - but will visit seaside resorts dependent on weather
We all like history sites and museums, looking for bad weather suggestions, but must be economical
Any hidden gems that locals know of? Or any must see special exhibitions

Arundel Wildfowl Trust, Woods Mill nr Henfield

Thanks LIZS
Any free entry museums that are worth visiting?

Yes! Shoreham Fort.

Well worth a visit if they're having one of their many open weekends when you're down.

Walking in the South Downs. There really is some stunning walking in this area. I'd just don waterproofs and carry on really.

Pet worth House and Gardens are well worth a visit but only free if you are NT members.

Arundel is worth a visit for a stroll around the town and walk along the river.

Brighton is always worth a visit. Lots to see even if it's raining.

Not really great wet weather ideas but I'm sure it'll be decent weather. It's glorious down here at the moment

Chichester- Novium Museum is free entry, Cathedral, walls and canal. If you go to Felpham beach then there's free parking and a good cafe (Lobster Pot).
Walk near Goodwood - if you climb the Trundle you can watch any horse racing or wander around the car track (unless there's a special event on) - note, do not go any where in the Goodwood area next weekend as it's the Festival of Speed.

Isn't Brighton East Sussex? Where abouts will you be op? Chichester cathedral is nice, and there is a pool in Chichester too. Lots of the South Downs is lovely for walking. Also some nice national trust places if you are a member?

Arundel is lovely, castle, lake, wetlands centre etc. Depends where you're staying, there's a lovely little tea rooms in Wiston near Steyning where you can have breakfast or lunch then stay and feed the farm animals they have there.
Worthing Pier,
Ardingly Reservoir for a walk and picnic,if it's sunny

Brighton & Hove sits right on the vertical dividing line between west and east. So it's easy enough to get to from either side :-)

Staying near Billingshurst
Arundel and Chichester sound good
I'm trying to avoid Brighton area purely because I'll be staying in Brighton at some point this summer, and can do that area then
Is Portsmouth worth a visit these days?

From billingshurst petworth park and the deer might be nice?

Portsmouth has the spinnaker tower which is great, and also Gunwharf Quays which is really nice, I think Portsmouth is worth a visit these days for sure

Oooh, DH is from Billingshurst! If the weather is dry then Chanctonbury Ring is a gorgeous spot (I may have misspelt it!). Petworth is very nice for a wander. Have lunch in the fantastic beer garden of the Horseguards in Tillington (book if it's the weekend). By far my favourite pub to eat in. Arundel is definitely a good option too.

Portsmouth Dockyard is worth a visit and the ticket is valid for a year so you could spend more than a day there. Pricey but includes a lot and cheaper online. Southsea Pier nearby with space for kites, outdoor games etc. For museums Fishbourne and Bignor Roman sites are nearby, again may be a bit costly. For an outdoorsy museum try Amberley or Weald and Downland.

Horsham Museum is free.
Lots of restaurants and pubs in the area for evenings out. Nice pint & sunset at many traditional pubs.
Wey & Arun Canal for boat trips.
Go Ape in Crawley.
Mary Rose in Portsmouth.
South Downs National Park
Pulborough Brooks for bird watching
Parham House for heritage & deer.

Lots to do at a gentle pace.

West Wittering beach is nice
Brooklands Park in Lancing - boating lake, playground,paddling pool, miniature train, pitch & putt, go karts, pony rides,cafe & just across the road from the beach
Tailgate Park in Crawley
Horsham is a nice place to potter round

Going further afield to East Sussex...
Brighton...museum, pavilion,pier,Brighton eye, sealife centre, Laines for quirky shops
Charleston House & Gardens (country retreat of the Bloomsbury group) nr Lewes
Drusillas Zoo
Day visit to Bognor Butlins
Weald & Downland Museum
Amberley Museum
Roman villa & palace at Bignor & Fishbourne (near Chichester)
Worthing museum is tiny but good & often does kids/family workshops

That would be Tilgate park

Stansted House is lovely, very cheap (it's free to enter the grounds) and they have a wee railway and a maze. Very easy to take a picnic and lose a whole day there. It's just on the Hampshire/Sussex border.

Tilgate park has a nature centre which is great. You have to pay a fee now (was free when I was a kid - well they asked for donations).

Can't think of anywhere ales that hasn't been mentioned.

And as I hit post...

It's a way from billingshurst but in hartfield they have the Winnie the Pooh walk which is free. They have a shop there and you can play pooh sticks off pooh bridge.

Watching this thread with interest as DH is from West Sussex but when we visit the PILs he is completely rubbish at suggesting places we can go with the DCs.

I second West Wittering beach but my BIL warned us that in sunny days the queues can be horrendous to get into the car park so go really early.

Had a few great walks on the South Downs - I'd love to do more but will need to do my own research.

There are occasionally themed walks - we tried to do a Gruffalo in the woods one three years ago when we decided to have our summer holiday in Sussex but that year the rain was torrential and it was cancelled - so annoying as the rest of the time the weather seems to be gorgeous!

Fishers Farm isn't free but the DCs liked. Petworth is very cute (nice chocolate shop and cafe), also v naice farm shop on one of the big estates (Cowdray?). Went to the Horseguards for PILs wedding anniversary and can vouch for its loveliness.

We had a look at one of the vineyards last time we were down. I can't remember which one as there are a few. I don't think it was Nyetimber but whatever it was, even my SIL who grew up in France and whose DF has a wine cellar claimed to like it!

Ooh near Billingshurst there is Pulborough Brooks and Sumners Ponds which are nice with kids but outdoorsy, south water country park, horsham park and amberly museum