West Sussex by train

West Sussex by train: Choose a rail corridor, then build your day around the last train

The simplest way to plan a day in West Sussex by train is to pick one of the three main rail corridors, decide how far you want to go, and note what time you need to be back. Each corridor opens onto a different landscape: the Downs, the coast, or the market towns. The last train from London Victoria or London Bridge to West Sussex stations typically departs between 22:00 and 23:30, depending on the destination (National Rail, 2025). From Portsmouth, the last trains to West Sussex stations run between 22:30 and 23:30 (National Rail, 2025). Your real constraint is not the distance but the evening frequency: Sunday services can drop to every two to three hours, and engineering works can replace trains with buses. Always check National Rail for the exact date of your journey before you set out.

The one fact that sets the material below apart: West Sussex has no railway line running through the centre of the South Downs National Park, so every hill walk from a station begins with a deliberate approach on foot or by bus.

The three corridors

West Sussex has three main rail lines (National Rail, 2025). The Brighton Main Line runs from London Victoria and London Bridge through Crawley, Horsham, and on to Brighton. The Arun Valley Line branches off at Horsham and goes south through Pulborough, Arundel, and Ford to the coast. The West Coastway Line runs along the coast from Brighton through Shoreham-by-Sea, Worthing, Littlehampton, Bognor Regis, and Chichester, then continues into Hampshire. Choose your corridor based on what you want to see.

South Downs by train

The South Downs National Park covers about 1,627 km² in West Sussex, roughly 60% of the park (South Downs National Park Authority, 2023). Three stations give you walking access: Hassocks (on the Brighton Main Line) for the eastern end near Ditchling Beacon, Arundel (on the Arun Valley Line) for the central Downs, and Chichester (on the West Coastway Line) for the western end.

Pick a walk that starts and ends at the same station

If you want a South Downs walk from a station, use this decision rule: choose a walk where the station is within 2 km of the trailhead, and where the return route brings you back to the same station without needing a bus. The South Downs Way runs 160 km from Eastbourne to Winchester, passing through West Sussex (South Downs National Park Authority, 2023). A good station-based section is from Cocking to Chichester: take the train to Chichester, then a bus (service 60) to Cocking, walk the 10 km section of the South Downs Way back to the city. Check the bus timetable on the day, as services can be infrequent on Sundays.

Family-friendly and wet-weather advice

For families with pushchairs, stick to the flat sections of the Centenary Way or the Stane Street path near Pulborough. The chalk of the South Downs becomes slippery when wet (Met Office, 2024, average annual rainfall 800-1000 mm), so avoid steep sections after rain.

Chichester by train

Chichester is the county town of West Sussex (West Sussex County Council, 2023) and the best-served stop in the west of the county. From London Victoria, direct trains run every 30 minutes on weekdays, taking about 1 hour 30 minutes (National Rail, 2025). From Portsmouth, trains run every 30 minutes, taking about 30 minutes (National Rail, 2025).

The cathedral and the Roman villa

From the railway stop, you can walk to Chichester Cathedral (open 07:30-18:00 Monday, Saturday, 08:00-17:00 Sunday according to the cathedral’s official site, 2025; check before visiting) in 15 minutes. For a longer day, take the bus (service 55) from the stop to Bignor Roman Villa (open February to November according to its official site, 2025; check the current season). The villa has the largest collection of in-situ Roman mosaics in Britain. The bus journey takes about 20 minutes from the city.

Coastal walking from the city

For a coastal walk, walk from the railway stop to the Chichester Harbour footpath network. The harbour is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a tidal harbour, so check tide times before walking along the shore. The RSPB’s Pagham Harbour reserve is accessible by bus (service 60) from Chichester.

Arundel by train

Arundel station is on the Arun Valley Line, about 1 hour 20 minutes from London Victoria (National Rail, 2025). The stop is a 15-minute walk from Arundel Castle (open March to October according to its official site, 2025; check the current season) and a 20-minute walk from the Arundel Wetland Centre (WWT). The castle sits on a hill; the wetland centre is on the floodplain. They have separate entrances and parking.

Family checklist for Arundel

If you have a family, use this checklist: the wetland centre has accessible boardwalks and is pushchair-friendly. The castle has steep paths and steps, so it is not suitable for pushchairs. Both have cafes, but the wetland centre’s cafe is more spacious. Check opening times for both on their official sites before you go.

The River Arun walk to Littlehampton

From Arundel, you can also walk to the River Arun path and follow it south to Littlehampton (about 8 km, flat, pushchair-friendly). From Littlehampton, you can catch the West Coastway Line back to Arundel or on to Worthing. The walk is tidal in places, so check tide times.

Worthing by train

Worthing is on the West Coastway Line, about 1 hour 20 minutes from London Victoria (National Rail, 2025). The railway stop is a 10-minute walk from the seafront and Worthing Pier (300 m long, Worthing Borough Council, 2024). The pier has a cafe and pavilion.

Beach and coastal path walks

For families, the beach is shingle, not sand. The promenade is flat and pushchair-friendly. For a longer walk, follow the coastal path west to Littlehampton (about 8 km, flat, pushchair-friendly) or east to Shoreham-by-Sea (about 10 km, flat, pushchair-friendly, but check tide times for the section near the harbour mouth). Both walks take you past the working harbours of Littlehampton and Shoreham.

Getting around the town

Worthing has a park and ride service that runs from the outskirts to the town centre. Check West Sussex County Council’s website for current operating times and charges.

Crawley by train

Crawley is on the Brighton Main Line, about 45 minutes from London Victoria (National Rail,2025). It is the largest town in West Sussex by population (West Sussex County Council,2023 census). Crawley itself is a modern town, but its railway stop gives you access to the High Weald and Wakehurst, Kew’s wild botanic garden.

Wakehurst and the Millennium Seed Bank

From Crawley station, take the bus (service 272) to Wakehurst (open 10:00-17:00 daily, last entry 16:00, according to its official site, 2025; check the current season). The bus journey takes about 25 minutes. Wakehurst has the Millennium Seed Bank, a temperate rainforest, and extensive gardens. It is pushchair-friendly on the main paths, but some woodland paths are steep.

Horsham as an alternative

Alternatively, from Crawley station, take the train one stop south to Horsham, then walk to the Horsham Museum or the St. Mary’s Church. Horsham is a market town with a historic centre.

Checklist for a rail-based day trip

Before you leave, confirm these five things:

1. Last train time, Check National Rail for your return station. Sunday services may be reduced to every two to three hours.
2. Engineering works, Check National Rail for planned disruptions on your line.
3. Tide times, If walking on the coast at Chichester Harbour, Pagham Harbour, or between Worthing and Littlehampton.
4. Opening hours, Check the official site for any attraction you plan to visit. Small venues may close earlier than advertised, especially in shoulder seasons.
5. Toilet availability, West Sussex has about 50 public toilets (West Sussex County Council, 2024), but they may be closed for maintenance or locked outside the season.

What to do when things go wrong

If the car park at a popular site is full by 10am (common at Kingley Vale and Cissbury Ring on sunny weekends), have a backup plan: walk a different section of the South Downs Way, or head to a less crowded site like Pulborough Brooks (RSPB) or Amberley Museum. If the cafe is closed, carry a packed lunch. If the train is cancelled, check if a replacement bus is running, or use the West Sussex bus network (Stagecoach, Compass Travel, Metrobus; West Sussex County Council, 2024). In rural areas, mobile phone signal can be weak, so download maps and tickets before you leave.