Littlehampton is a town on the south coast of England in West Sussex (in the Arun District). It’s about 50 miles south of London, in between Worthing and Bognor Regis. It sits on the banks of the River Arun and has its own port, marina, and lifeboat station. Although it feels like a modern little town, there have been people living in the Littlehampton area for thousands of years.
Littlehampton recently hit the headlines with the release of the film Wicked Little Letters. The film centres on a true story that happened in Littlehampton in the 1920s, when someone started sending obscene letters to the residents. The film stars Olivia Coleman and Timothy Spall and was filmed in and around the area.
Things to do in Littlehampton
Start any visit to Littlehampton with a trip to Littlehampton Museum, which you’ll find in an 18th century Manor House located on Church Street, close to the High Street. This is a great museum with lots of different collections that include social history, natural history and archaeology, art and more. Entry is free, so it’s a good way to find out more about the town.
East side
Once you’ve left the museum, head down to the seafront for a walk. Start your walk at Pier Road and walk south along the side of the river to the sea and pier. Littlehampton originally had two piers, one on each side of the river. The remaining east side pier dates back to the 1730s. Maybe try a bit of crabbing here and if you’ve got children in tow, the next stop is probably Harbour Park Amusements Park, described by many as “good old-fashioned fun”.
Seaside walks and long benches
From the pier, walk along the seafront and the wide promenade. The promenade, formerly known as Esplanade, was built in 1868 and the beach is a Blue Flag beach patrolled by lifeguards in the summer. Look out for the Long Bench (thought to be the longest bench in Britain and one of the longest in the world). It’s 1,000 foot long and can seat 300 people, and it wiggles and whirls along the seafront.
When you spot an unusual-looking building, you’ve reached East Beach Café. The building was designed by Thomas Heatherwick and his design team, headed by Peter Ayres, and it has won a number of design awards.
Miniature railways and pitch and putt
The Littlehampton Miniature Railway runs along the seafront between Norfolk Gardens (Norfolk Road Station) and Mewsbrook Park. The railway is operated by the Littlehampton Heritage Railway Association (LHRA). It’s super cute and although they close for the winter (November to January), they do host a couple of Santa Specials (these sell out fast).
At Norfolk Gardens, you’ll also find a small complex that includes all-weather tennis courts, a nine-hole, par-three links-style golf course, a nine-hole pirate-themed adventure golf course and lawn bowls. If you keep walking, you come to the Skatepark, Mewsbrook Park and Lake, and The Beach café. You used to be able to hire pedalos at Mewsbrook but nesting birds and poor water quality have resulted in closures in recent years.
The Beach café is the place to go if you fancy other watery activities, because in addition to their rooftop terrace, they offer water sports and fitness.
You can keep walking if you want. You’re on the King Charles III England Coastal Path and you can carry on walking to Worthing, Brighton and beyond. But if you want to carry on exploring Littlehampton, here is a good place to turn back.
West side
To the west of the river is West Beach Local Nature Reserve and the Yacht Club. It’s also where you’ll find Littlehampton Fort (next to Rope Walk and amidst the sand dunes).
The fort
The fort was built in 1854 and is a Scheduled Monument and Building at Risk with Historic England. It was built to protect against a French invasion, decommissioned in 1873, but refortified in WWII. It’s the subject of a restoration project at present. You can see it from Rope Walk (a boardwalk in the sand dunes), and again, you’re on the Coastal Path here, so you can keep on walking all the way to Climping, Bognor, and beyond if you choose. If you don’t want to keep walking, West Beach is a large and impressive expanse of beach, perfect for mucking about in the water and sand.
Fun facts about Littlehampton
As you walk down the side of the River Arun from the lifeboat station, there are a series of six oyster waymarkers that feature seafood recipes. Oysters were big business here in the 19th century and these are a nod to the town’s use of nearby Oyster Pond (now a boating lake) to store oysters before they were shipped on to London. Recipes include Baked Stuffed Bass, Grilled Plaice and Pollock Fish Cake! But if you don’t fancy cooking, grab some fish and chips from Osca’s or Fred’s on Pier Road (just watch out for the seagulls). But don’t be fooled into thinking that nearby Mussel Row is all about the mussel trade. It was originally called Muscle Row after the chaps that lived there!
Littlehampton has seen its fair share of both shipbuilding and shipwrecks over the years, and there are a series of information boards along the riverside that tell tales of the town’s connection to the Falklands Islands, Krakatoa, and of course, smuggling!
Things to do near Littlehampton
This little corner of West Sussex is rich in things to do. A short drive inland and you come to the historic town of Arundel which has a magnificent Medieval castle, museum and wetlands. Keep going and you will reach Amberley which also has a castle and museum.
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