Worthing is a vibrant West Sussex coastal town just west of Brighton. It has the wonderful South Downs just to the north and looks out over miles of beach and sea. It’s also a town that has a long and interesting history, diverse architecture, and a thriving business and cultural scene, all of which make it a great place for a visit. So, if you’re heading south for the day, a weekend or a holiday, here are just some of the best things to do in Worthing.
Start with a Heritage Trail
There are seven Heritage Trails in and around Worthing, which include a Blue Plaque Trail (think Jane Austen, Harold Pinter, et al) and trails at Tarring, Highdown and Cissbury. Visit Time for Worthing and The Worthing Society for details. This is a great way to find out more about the town, its history and its diverse architecture.
Tarring
To the north of the town, Tarring (or West Tarring as it’s officially called) is well worth a detour. It dates back to at least the time of by King Æthelstan in the 10th century. He apparently gave Tarring to the archbishops of Canterbury. It’s also believed that the famous martyred archbishop, Thomas Beckett, visited Tarring in the 12th century and you’ll find a pub named after him nearby. Others think St Richard, Patron Saint of Sussex, may have also visited.
There is plenty of evidence of Tarring’s history and it is very pretty. The Old Palace is a 13th century, Grade I listed building allegedly built on the site of Archbishop Becket’s palace, and there is a 13th century church, The Parsonage (apparently the oldest restuarant in Worthing) and the famous figs!
The Tarring Fig Gardens date back to 1745 or earlier with the belief being that the fig tree there is the oldest in England and was planted by Thomas Becket. Whilst this may not be true, the fig orchard was probably established in 1745 with cuttings from the Old Palace, and Thomas Beckett may have introduced fig trees there. Whatever the truth, the fig trees have long been an attraction and the Fig Gardens open to the public one day a year.
The Pier and the Lido
You can’t visit Worthing and not visit the Art Deco Pier which is Grade II listed and one of a number of focal points of the town. It was officially opened in 1862 after which a pavilion was added, as was a souvenir shop. In 1913, the pier was badly damaged in a storm but then rebuilt before the pavilion was destroyed by fire in 1933. Once again it was repaired, rebuilt and re-opened. During WWII the Pier was deliberately damaged to help protect against invasion. In recent years, more improvements and refurbishments have brought it back to life once more and it was named Pier of the Year in 2006 and 2019.
At the land end of the Pier are the Pavilion Theatre and Pavilion Atrium Bar whilst on the Pier itself is an amusement arcade in the middle and the South Pavilion at the end. The South Pavilion has been many things over the years but is now a rather stylish café. In between the Pavilion and the amusement arcade you’ll find Art on the Pier, an outdoor gallery that showcases a range of different work by local artists, community art groups, art students and children. It is very eye-catching.
A hop, skip, and a jump away from the Pier is Worthing Lido. No longer containing a swimming pool, it is now home to children’s rides, souvenirs and ice cream amongst other things.
Museums, galleries, theatres and the arts
Worthing has a thriving cultural scene and is home to Worthing Theatres and Museums. This is an arts and heritage charity that consists of the Connaught Theatre, Studio and Cinema, Pavilion Theatre, Assembly Hall, and the Museum and Gallery, all of which means whether you’re after history, music, dance, exhibitions, film or art, there is likely to be something for you.
Not far from the Pier is the distinctive Dome Cinema which first opened in 1911. In addition to this, the town has dozens of creative outlets. If you head east along the seafront, you come to the East Beach Artists Studios which is described as a creative hub and a great place to meet local creatives and see their work. You’ll also find the Two Faced Twin Art Gallery on the seafront at Steyne Gardens and let’s not forget Colonnade House which is described as “the home of local art in Worthing”.
Worthing beach
Worthing beach stretches east and west of the Pier for several kilometres with long stretches of promenade, beach huts, seafront cafés, and even the occasional Worthing Gin van! It’s a gently sloping beach with a mix of sand and shingle, and at low tide, there are vast stretches to explore and great rock pooling to be had. Alternatively, walk all the way to Goring, Ferring, and beyond, or try your hand at fishing, windsurfing or swimming (if safe to do so).
The festival scene
Worthing has a number of festivals. They have a food and drink festival in September in Steyne Gardens, The Worthing Music and Arts Festival in the early part of the year, Worthing Festival (music, art, community and heritage) and other notable events include fireworks displays, Worthing Pride and a Worthing Tap Takeover.
Food and drink
Worthing has got a fabulous food and drink scene. Not far from the town is Wiston Estate Winery which offers tours and tastings and produce outstanding sparkling and still wines. Worthing is also home to craft gin makers including Worthing Gin and Slake Spirits (who offer tours). For beer drinkers, head to the Brewhouse and Kitchen Brewpub where you’ll find freshly brewed, hyper-local, and award-winning craft beers.
Highdown Gardens
Just north of Worthing, where the town meets the South Downs, are Highdown Gardens. These date back to 1909 and include an incredible collection of plants from around the world and an unusual Chalk Garden. It’s open all year and there’s also a café nearby and access to Highdown Hill which is home to the rather charismatic tomb of a local legend. Highdown Hill was also a Bronze Age hillfort, with spectacular views and the local Morris Dancers (Sompting Morris) hold various events here.
The Sistine Chapel in Worthing?
On the outskirts of the town, the Church of the English Martyrs looks like an ordinary church. Then you step inside and wow, just wow. It doesn’t matter what your religious persuasions, the 2/3 replica of the original ceiling in the Sistine Chapel (in perfect proportion) is incredible, all the more so because it was painted by a local man, Gary Bevans, who is a self-taught artist and was a sign writer.
The South Downs
Any visit to Worthing should include at least a short walk up on the South Downs. One of the nearest points of interest is Cissbury Ring, the largest Iron Age hillfort in Sussex which dates back over 5,000 years. After a steep climb, you can either walk the circumference of the peak, sit and enjoy the views, or use it as a starting point for your South Downs adventures. There are various local nature reserves in the area too including Mill Hill and Lancing Ring, and of course, the South Downs offers fantastic walking. Alternatively, there is a bike hire shop (South Downs Bikes) in Goring Road in nearby Goring.
High Salvington Windmill
North west of the town, is High Salvington Windmill which was built around 1775 and was a working windmill until 1897. There is also a windpump on the site and both the windmill and pump have been beautifully restored. The windmill is open to the public on the first and third Sundays of the month between April and September.
Angmering
Just north west of Worthing, is the little village of Angmering. It’s a nother little village with a long history that dates back to the Stone Age. Just north of the village, the Angmering Park Estate has a network of footpaths through beautiful woodland.
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