Discover Arundel: history, nature and hotels

When looking for a hotel in Arundel, the focus of your stay can make all the difference: castle history, nature watching, market activity or rail connections each offer a different emphasis.

Castle, museum and cathedral

Arundel Castle was built at the end of the 11th century by Roger de Montgomery, Earl of Arundel. The castle offers views across the South Downs and the River Arun—a scenic counterpoint to its architectural history. The Arundel Museum tells the story of the town, its harbour, castle and residents, and also offers a children’s trail. Arundel Cathedral adds a single architectural detail to this broader history of the town: its rose window was created in 1873 by Hardman’s of Birmingham. This gives you three different perspectives to choose from: the castle’s architectural history, the town and harbour history at the museum, and a single, dated detail of the cathedral.

Festival and event dates

The Arundel Festival is an annual ten-day celebration of music, art, theatre, culture, food and drink. For travellers interested in a multi-day cultural programme, it can provide a distinct focus for planning a stay. Since the programme dates are important for your trip, check the festival dates before booking.

Wetlands and birdwatching

Nature watching takes centre stage at the Arundel Wetland Centre. Expansive wetlands offer a sense of nature’s sights and sounds. The walk-through Coastal Creek aviary is home to diving ducks, avocets and redshanks; observation hides offer close-up views of birds and wetland wildlife. The broad impression of the wetlands differs from the specific wildlife-watching opportunities: you can take in the natural landscape as a whole or focus on the named bird groups and animals from the hides.

Market and rowing boats

Tarrant Square Market takes place every Saturday from 9 am to 3 pm, offering fresh produce, craft stalls and live music. If you plan to visit the market, check the date and time again before your trip. At Swanbourne Lodge on Swanbourne Lake, 15 rowing boats are available to hire. Boat hire is seasonal, so check whether it will be available on your visit date. For planning purposes, the festival and market differ: the festival takes place annually over ten days, while the market is scheduled every Saturday. For the boats, seasonal availability is the key factor to check.

Getting there and route

Arundel railway station is directly connected to London Bridge, London Victoria and Gatwick Airport via the main line. The station is a short walk from the town centre. Check the timetables before travelling if you plan to use one of these connections. One route passes through Arundel Castle Park and the High Street, then crosses the River Arun and continues to Warningcamp. The railway connections and this route offer different points of reference for your planning: the rail connections name direct destinations, while the route sets out the sequence of park, High Street, river crossing and Warningcamp.

Discover more destinations: Henfield, Crawley, Wisborough Green, Horsham, Petworth, Southwick, Ford, Ansty

For the broader travel overview: West Sussex.