Petworth is a small and historic market town in the Chichester District of West Sussex and if you’re thinking of moving to Petworth, you’ll already know that the town is stacked with charm and personality. It sits about 48 miles south of London and 15 miles north of the coast. It also sits at an important junction, with the A272 going from east to west and the A283 from north to south.
Nearby towns include Midhurst (6 miles to the west), Arundel (11 miles south) and Guildford (20 miles north). The city of Chichester is also within easy reach. The Goodwood Hotel, Estate and Aerodrome are just a short drive away.
House prices
There’s quite a diverse range of properties in and around Petworth and according to Rightmove, the average property price in 2021 in the town was £642,522. This is well above the overall average for West Sussex properties. However, most properties sold last year in Petworth were detached and had an average sale price of £877,320.
Transport
Although the town is well served by the bus service, for trains, the nearest station is Pulborough (5 miles). A train journey to London can take a good hour and 45 minutes which is not ideal but an alternative and quicker route would be via Haslemere (10 miles).
Community
Petworth has a strong sense of community with something for everyone. For sport, what about tennis, cricket, martial arts or croquet? For the arts, there are the Petworth Players, the town band, and the Leconfield Singers, or what about the Arts Society, the town’s historical society, their fringe festival or the Petworth Arts Festival. For children, there are a number of primary schools in the area as well as scouts, and the Youth Association. The is no secondary school in the town but there are a number of excellent independent schools nearby including Seaford College and schools at Cranleigh and Haslemere. The town also has a regular farmers market and a number of churches and church communities.
Culture
Petworth is a veritable cultural hub and in addition to the many associations above, the town is home to Petworth House, Newlands Gallery and a number of smaller art galleries and boutiques. And any town which dates back to the Domesday is going to have history and interesting architecture in spades, with Petworth being no exception. It has a large number of listed buildings and heritage sites which give the town an abundance of curb appeal.
Shops and eateries
There are eateries both in and near Petworth for the hungry, whether you want Indian takeaway, pub lunches, coffee shops or a tea room. Top recommendations would have to be Noah’s Ark Inn in Lurgashall, Amberley Castle, Goodwood Hotel and E. Street Bar and Grill in Petworth.
If you’re moving to Petworth, you’ll want to know about the local shopping and in Petworth you have a Co-Op for essentials and an excellent deli in the form of The Hungry Guest. For larger supermarkets such as Tesco and Sainsbury’s head to nearby Pulborough. You also have a first-rate wine store in Petworth, and a large number of independent boutiques, for antiques, crafts, fashion and interiors as well as a well-established firm of solicitors, a dentist and a vet.
What else?
The South Downs are within sight and they offer mile upon mile of walking, hiking, running, cycling, and wide-open spaces! Arundel Castle is another beautiful local town. And if you need a place to stay while house hunting, here are 5 local suggestions: Places to Stay in Petworth.
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