Around Midhurst
The Cowdray Estate is centered around the historic market town of Midhurst, West Sussex.
From town to coast, there are a whole host of things to see and do in the Midhurst area.
Midhurst
Street scene – Midhurst, West Sussex
Midhurst town itself, has a wide selection of cafes, pubs and restaurants as well as lots of individual shops set around its historic streets, and provides the perfect location for a leisurely stroll.
Goodwood
McLaren MP4-12C at Goodwood Festival of Speed
Approximately 8 miles away is Glorious Goodwood, with its wonderful tradition of summer horse racing with spectacular views across the South Downs. Also at Goodwood are the vintage and modern car events: The Festival of Speed and The Revival Meeting – see the official Goodwood website for dates. Additionally, a whole collection of smaller ‘meets’ are held all through the year. Goodwood also has its own aerodrome, and a rather nice cafe at the flying school, to which the public are welcome.
Petworth
Deer at Petworth House
A short drive from Midhurst is the small town of Petworth, home of Petworth House & Park, where the beautiful sight of the resident deer is common. A haven for antique shops, Petworth is another town in which to while away a few hours.
Chichester
Marc Chagall stained-glass window at Chichester Cathedral
Approximately 20 minutes drive away is the Roman City of Chichester, with its famous Cathedral, Festival Theatre and Market Cross. The city has a thriving shopping centre, yet retains its character with cobbled streets and elegant Georgian buildings. Chichester also has its own marina, where the selection of yachts is an impressive sight.
The South Coast
Bosham Harbour at sunset
Heading towards the coast, there are number of locations to visit, with attractions to suit all tastes. Bosham is a quaint fishing village with a handful of cafes and pubs set amidst delightful little streets; East and West Wittering are for beach dwellers and surfers; Bognor Regis & Littlehampton are for those want a traditional seaside resort and to eat fish and chips on the pier!
Portsmouth
Portsmouth seafront by night
Visitors to the area cannot fail to be impressed by the sheer sense of history that Portsmouth offers – this Hampshire city has been the spiritual home of the Royal Navy for many hundreds of years, and has rightly earned its place as one of the pillars of the maritime world. At Portsmouth Historic Dockyard museum, one can board Nelson’s iconic flagship, HMS Victory, and get a sense of what life was like at sea during the Napoleonic wars.
In recent years, the city has enjoyed an incredible degree of regeneration, including the construction of the Spinnaker Tower, an unforgettable landmark at the very heart of the Gunwharf Quays precinct.