Chichester lends itself to a day out on foot. The cathedral, The Novium Museum and Pallant House Gallery offer three different ways into the city’s history and art, while gardens, parks and the canal provide places to spend time outdoors between visits.
Choose one or two indoor attractions rather than trying to fit everything into a single day. The most useful decision comes before you leave: The Novium is currently closed on Sundays and Mondays, while Pallant House Gallery normally closes on Mondays. A weekend visit therefore needs a different plan depending on which day you choose.
Before you go
Check individual venues for special closures, exhibitions and holiday arrangements. The Novium’s Sunday opening is seasonal, and boat trips and theatre performances need their own booking checks.
Map of things to do in Chichester
Use the map to find the places in this guide. The Places to visit layer marks nine attractions and landmarks, including both theatres. Arrival and parking marks the railway station and three car parks. Select a pin for visitor notes and official information, or open the larger map for directions.
Open the Chichester visitor map in Google My Maps. Venue pins are location guides. Check the relevant venue for entrances, step-free access and opening times.
Visit Chichester Cathedral
The cathedral on West Street is a useful starting point for a first visit. Its collection brings medieval stone carving together with modern work by artists including Graham Sutherland, Marc Chagall and Ursula Benker-Schirmer. Looking for those contrasting works gives a visit a focus beyond simply walking around the building.
Admission is by donation, with £7 per person suggested by the cathedral. It remains a working place of worship, so services and events can affect sightseeing access. The Chichester Cathedral visitor information explains access arrangements and group bookings. The address is West Street, Chichester, PO19 1PX.
Find the Roman bathhouse at The Novium
The Novium Museum was built around the remains of a Roman bathhouse, which visitors can see inside the museum. Its displays extend beyond Roman Chichester to objects and stories from across the district, making it a useful introduction before exploring the streets outside.
General admission is free, although some special exhibitions and events may charge. Current opening hours are Tuesday to Friday, 10am to 4.30pm, and Saturday, 10am to 5pm. The museum’s summer Sunday opening has finished for 2026.
Find it on Tower Street, PO19 1QH, opposite the library. There is no museum car park or café; the tourist information desk inside can help with local maps and suggestions. Check The Novium’s visiting information and museum displays before choosing your day.
Make time for Pallant House Gallery
Pallant House Gallery offers a more concentrated art visit at 8–9 North Pallant, PO19 1TJ. Give it its own part of the day if you want to explore the exhibitions, rather than treating it as a quick stop between shops.
The advertised adult admission is £17, including a £2 donation; under-18s enter free. The ground-floor and Print Room exhibitions can be visited free of charge. The Pallant House admission page also sets out concessions and companion arrangements.
Normal opening is Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm, and Sundays and bank holidays, 10am to 4pm, with last admission an hour before closing. It is normally closed on Mondays. Use the gallery’s visit planner to check the programme for your date.
Take a break in the gardens or Priory Park
Bishop’s Palace Gardens sit beside the cathedral. Entrances include Canon Lane, reached from South Street, and the cathedral cloisters. Planting and a rose-covered pergola make this an alternative to another indoor stop.
Priory Park, reached from Priory Road or Priory Lane in Chichester, combines open space and a children’s play area with the Guildhall, city walls and the remains of a Norman motte. It is a particularly useful addition to a family itinerary with a museum visit.
Pet dogs are not permitted in either Priory Park or Bishop’s Palace Gardens. Check the council’s Chichester parks and gardens information when planning a visit with a dog.
Walk down to Chichester Canal
The canal basin provides a different setting south of the railway station. The Canal Centre is at Canal Wharf, PO19 8DT; from South Street, the route crosses the railway at the level crossing. A walk beside the water can round off a city visit without adding another indoor attraction.
Boat trips are a separate, bookable activity. The canal’s scheduled Kingfisher trips last about 75 minutes and run seasonally from spring to autumn. Check the actual date and availability rather than assuming a sailing operates whenever the centre is open. The Chichester Canal boat-trip page has booking and boarding information, while the Canal Centre directions explain how to reach the basin.
Add a theatre visit at Oaklands Park
Chichester Festival Theatre and the Minerva Theatre are at Oaklands Park, PO19 6AP. A booked performance can turn a daytime visit into an evening out, but check the running time against your journey home. The theatre’s foyers and café also give visitors a reason to stop without attending a performance.
The Chichester Festival Theatre visit guide includes access information, accessible performances and family facilities.
How to get to Chichester
The attractions are in and around Chichester city centre, West Sussex. For a central starting point, use Chichester Cathedral, West Street, Chichester, PO19 1PX. Drivers should navigate to their chosen car park rather than the cathedral, which has no visitor parking.
By train and on foot
For arrivals by train, the cathedral’s suggested walk follows Southgate and South Street to the Market Cross, then turns left into West Street. It estimates about ten minutes from the station. That gives you a straightforward starting route without needing to drive between the central attractions.
By bus
Bus services stop on West Street for the cathedral and central attractions. The number 60 Stagecoach service stops near Chichester Festival Theatre. Check Stagecoach journey information for the service and timetable that suit your starting point.
By car and parking
Drivers can compare long-stay options including Avenue de Chartres, PO19 8DJ, and Basin Road, PO19 8PU, on Chichester District Council’s car-park guide. Avenue de Chartres has a 1.93m height limit. Use the named car park’s details rather than a venue postcode when setting your route.
Temporary parking change: Chichester Festival Theatre advises that Northgate car park is closed for the Sloe Fair from 18 October until noon on 21 October 2026. Choose another car park if visiting during that period.
Accessibility and planning your visit
For step-free access, Pallant House has a street-level entrance through its Contemporary Wing and lifts to all levels. Two wheelchairs can be borrowed by prior arrangement. Its access guide has the detail needed to plan a gallery visit; check the other venues individually rather than assuming every historic building or outdoor route has the same facilities.
A manageable day in Chichester
For a first visit, start with the cathedral and gardens, then choose The Novium or Pallant House for the afternoon. Families could pair The Novium with Priory Park, while visitors with theatre tickets may prefer to leave the canal for another trip. On a Sunday, build the indoor part around Pallant House and the cathedral rather than arriving expecting The Novium to be open.
For more Sussex day-out ideas, see our Brighton and Hove family guide or plan a separate coastal visit with our Seven Sisters guide.
More ideas for your visit
- Explore more of West Sussex for nearby towns, coast and attractions.
- Rainy-day outings across Sussex includes The Novium and South Downs Planetarium.
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