Midhurst: History, Trails and Hotels

Explore Midhurst through several distinct themes: town history, historic trails, landscape and polo. Midhurst Museum, the Heritage Trail, South Downs Centre and the tradition of Cowdray Park Polo Club give your stay different cultural, landscape and sporting focuses. Current visiting conditions and how to get there are also important when planning your trip.

Culture and History

Midhurst Museum is located in Knockhundred Market, a well-preserved 16th-century building in Midhurst’s historic centre. It features a rich and comprehensive exhibition on the town’s history, as well as collections of objects and collectibles. Monthly themed exhibitions also cover changing topics alongside the broad history of the town. The museum is open Tuesday to Saturday; check current opening hours before your trip.

Cowdray Heritage Ruins are among England’s most significant early Tudor houses. The Cowdray Ruins are currently closed to general visitors. Take this restriction into account when planning and check the current visitor status before your trip.

Trails Through Town and Countryside

The Midhurst Heritage Trail is an easy, mostly flat route through a mix of town and countryside. It covers more than 6,000 years of history, including Roman trade routes and the era of the Tudor kings. Along the way, a clearly described route meets a broad sweep of history. If you’d like to take in history as you walk, this trail combines exercise with themes from different eras.

The Woolbeding, River Rother and Midhurst circular walk starts in the centre of Midhurst and returns to the high street. By comparison, the Heritage Trail is characterised by its easy, mostly flat terrain, its mix of town and countryside, and its historical themes. When choosing between the two routes, you can weigh up whether the Heritage Trail’s sweep through history or the circular walk’s route from the centre back to the high street matters more to you.

Landscape, Events and Getting There

South Downs Centre in Midhurst is a visitor gateway to the South Downs National Park. There, you can learn about the history of the landscape and the people who look after it. Staff can help you plan your visit and provide leaflets about walking routes and other places to visit. If you’d like to use these resources, ask whether leaflets are currently available.

Cowdray Park Polo Club has hosted the British Open for the Cowdray Gold Cup since 1956. If you’d like to combine your stay with a possible visit to the tournament, check match dates and tickets in advance; both may vary.

Midhurst has no railway line. Bus services connect the town with Haslemere and Chichester railway stations. Check current services before your trip, as transport network information can change.

Discover more destinations: Albourne, Westbourne, Wiston, Ford, Billingshurst, Trotton, Lindfield, Ferring

For the broader travel overview: West Sussex.