The West Sussex coast

Understanding the West Sussex coast: a landscape of tide and shingle

The West Sussex coast is not a single, continuous beach. It is a sequence of distinct habitats, shingle, saltmarsh, mudflat, sand dune, and occasional chalk cliff, shaped by a tidal range that at Selsey Bill reaches 4.5 m on spring tides and falls to 2.0 m on neaps (UK Hydrographic Office, 2026). The predominant southwesterly wind (Met Office, 2025) and an average annual wind speed of 12.5 kn at Shoreham (Met Office, 2025) mean that any coastal plan must account for exposure, tide times, and habitat sensitivity. This page orients you across the main choices along the West Sussex coast, then routes you into four focused guides for deeper detail.

The coast in context: what determines your day

Four real planning constraints govern every trip.

Tide. The mean spring high water at Selsey Bill is 5.2 m above Chart Datum; mean neap high water is 3.2 m (UK Hydrographic Office, 2026). At low spring tides, extensive mudflats and sandflats are exposed in Chichester Harbour and Pagham Harbour. At high tide, those same areas become shallow lagoons. A walk that is dry at low water may be impassable two hours later. Check tide tables from the Admiralty EasyTide service or BBC Weather tide tables (UK Hydrographic Office, 2026; BBC, 2026) before setting out. The Environment Agency issues coastal flood alerts (Environment Agency, 2026), and the Met Office issues weather warnings (Met Office, 2026), both are worth consulting for exposed sections.

Wind. The southwesterly prevailing wind (Met Office, 2025) means the coast from Selsey to Worthing is often windy, especially in spring and autumn. For sailing on Chichester Harbour, wind direction and strength are critical; for walking, a strong onshore wind can make exposed shingle ridges uncomfortable. Use the Met Office coastal forecast or XCWeather (Met Office, 2026; XCWeather, 2026) for the day’s conditions.

Habitat. The coast contains multiple protected areas. Pagham Harbour is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and part of the Chichester and Langstone Harbours Special Protection Area and Ramsar site (Natural England, 2025). The Selsey Bill to Chichester Harbour SSSI, West Wittering to East Head SSSI, and the Chichester Harbour Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) all impose access restrictions. Seasonal dog bans apply on some beaches, for example, Bognor Regis and Littlehampton (West Sussex County Council, 2026), and nesting bird closures affect shingle beaches such as Selsey Bill (Natural England, 2026). MOD firing ranges may close some beaches east of Selsey (MOD, 2026) [Verify dates locally]. Always check the official source before visiting.

Transport. The coastal railway line serves Bognor Regis, Littlehampton, Worthing, and Shoreham-by-Sea, each with its own station (National Rail, 2026). Selsey has no station; the nearest is Chichester (National Rail, 2026). The Coastliner 700 bus and Compass Travel route 1 run along the coast (West Sussex County Council, 2026). National Cycle Network Route 2 follows sections of the coast (Sustrans, 2025). The England Coast Path is open in sections along the West Sussex stretch but is not yet fully continuous (Natural England, 2026).

Three main coastal zones

The West Sussex coast can be divided into three zones, each with a different character.

The Selsey Peninsula. From Selsey Bill east to Pagham Harbour, this is the most exposed and least developed stretch. Shingle beaches, saltmarsh, and mudflats dominate. The RSPB reserve at Pagham Harbour offers boardwalks and a visitor centre. Erosion is significant: the Environment Agency (2025) records an average of 0.5 m/year at Selsey Bill and 0.3 m/year at Pagham. This is the zone for birdwatching, solitude, and wild landscapes, but it has limited parking and no direct train access.

The resort towns. Bognor Regis, Littlehampton, Worthing, and Shoreham-by-Sea form a chain of seaside towns with piers, promenades, and shingle or sand beaches. Worthing Pier is a Victorian structure with a pavilion and café. Shoreham-by-Sea has a working harbour and a long shingle beach. These towns have railway stations, larger car parks, and more facilities. Crowd levels are moderate to busy in summer, quiet in winter. Erosion rates are lower: 0.1 m/year at Worthing (Environment Agency, 2025).

Chichester Harbour. This large, shallow tidal harbour is an AONB and a key site for sailing, birdwatching, and coastal walking. Access points include West Wittering, East Head, and the harbour’s many creeks. The harbour is less developed than the resort towns but more accessible than the Selsey Peninsula. Parking is limited and fills early on summer weekends.

How to choose

Your choice depends on your priorities.

• For birdwatching and wild landscapes: choose the Selsey Peninsula or Pagham Harbour. Go at low tide for waders, at high tide for wildfowl. Check the RSPB website for seasonal highlights.
• For a classic seaside day: choose Worthing or Littlehampton. Both have railway stations, piers, and a range of cafes. Check tide times if you want to walk on the beach at low water.
• For sailing or harbour walks: choose Chichester Harbour. The best access is from West Wittering or East Head. Check wind forecasts and tide times. Parking is limited.
• For a quiet, dog-friendly walk: choose the shingle beaches at Selsey or Pagham, but check seasonal dog bans (West Sussex County Council, 2026) and nesting closures (Natural England, 2026).

The South Downs and the coast: a pairing

The South Downs National Park runs parallel to the coast, separated by a narrow coastal plain. The South Downs Way, a 100‑mile National Trail, crosses West Sussex from Cocking to Ditchling Beacon (South Downs National Park Authority). It does not reach the coast, but several viewpoints, Cissbury Ring and Chanctonbury Ring, offer panoramic coastal views. Kingley Vale, an ancient yew woodland near Bow Hill, is a National Nature Reserve (Natural England). Pairing a downland walk with a coastal visit is practical: for example, walk on Cissbury Ring in the morning, then drive to Worthing for the afternoon. The chalk geology of the Downs (well‑drained, alkaline) contrasts with the clay of the Weald and the shingle of the coast.

Chichester: the coastal gateway

Chichester is the principal city on the West Sussex coast. It is the nearest railway station for the Selsey Peninsula and a good base for Chichester Harbour. The city has its own heritage, a Norman cathedral, Roman remains at Fishbourne Roman Palace, and the Chichester Harbour AONB office. The harbour is a 10‑minute drive or a 30‑minute cycle from the city centre. Park‑and‑ride services operate during peak seasons [Check current details with West Sussex County Council].

Arundel: the inland coastal town

Arundel sits on the River Arun, about 4 km inland from the coast. Arundel Castle is a Norman castle with extensive gardens (open seasonally, check the official website). The Arundel Wetland Centre, run by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT), has managed wetlands with boardwalks and is a key site for bitterns and kingfishers. The town is accessible by train (Arundel station is on the Arun Valley line) and by road. The coast at Littlehampton is a 10‑minute drive or a 20‑minute cycle along the River Arun towpath.

Worthing: the seaside town

Worthing is the largest coastal town in West Sussex. It has a Victorian pier, a long shingle beach, and a promenade. The town is well‑served by rail (Worthing station) and road (A27). It is a practical base for exploring the western end of the coast, including Shoreham‑by‑Sea and the Adur estuary. The South Downs are a short drive north: Cissbury Ring is 4 km north of the town centre.

Crawley: inland, not coastal

Crawley is a large town in the north of West Sussex, on the edge of the Weald. It is not on the coast. The town is a transport hub (Gatwick Airport, M23, mainline railway) but has no coastal character. It is included here as a reference point: if you are based in Crawley, the West Sussex coast is a 30‑45 minute drive south via the A23 and A27. The nearest coastal town is Worthing (about 40 km).

What to do next

This page gives you the overview. For detailed guidance on specific stretches, routes, and logistics, turn to the four focused guides:

• The Selsey Peninsula and Pagham Harbour, for birdwatching, wild beaches, and tide‑aware walking.
• The resort towns: Bognor Regis, Littlehampton, Worthing, Shoreham, for family days, pier walks, and rail access.
• Chichester Harbour, for sailing, harbour walks, and AONB access.
• Pairing coast and Downs, for combined itineraries linking downland viewpoints with coastal visits.

Each guide assumes you have read this overview and handles its own planning constraints, tide, wind, habitat, and transport, in detail.