Discover Littlehampton: Beaches, Museum and Family Experiences

Littlehampton combines varied beaches, riverside scenery and activities for different types of holiday days. You can walk by the water, plan cultural discoveries or spend a day with the family in the park and by the coast. Those looking for accommodation in Littlehampton will find a place where beach, history and family-friendly activities can be combined for a varied trip.

Beaches, dunes and the long promenade

East Beach is a family-friendly sandy and shingle beach more than a mile long. You can plan a picnic or ball games on the waterside meadows. During the summer season, East Beach is monitored by RNLI lifeguards. A striking attraction on the promenade is The Long Bench: the bench is 324 metres long and runs from the kiosks on the seafront to East Beach Café.

West Beach offers a different landscape. The beach is part of one of only three dune systems in West Sussex; the ruins of Littlehampton Napoleonic Fort are also located there. West Beach can be reached by car or on foot via the red bridge opposite the railway station. From the bridge, a 15-minute walk continues along the river. These different beach landscapes can help you plan your day: East Beach is known for sand, shingle and open spaces, while West Beach combines dunes and historic traces.

Museum, railway and park experiences

For a cultural day, Littlehampton Museum is an interesting destination. It is housed in the Grade II listed Manor House. The galleries cover archaeology, social history, art and natural history. The museum also regularly holds Finds Sessions, where visitors can bring archaeological finds for identification. This allows you to combine a museum visit with a specific insight into archaeology.

The Littlehampton Miniature Railway has been operating since 1948. Its route runs from Mewsbrook Park Station through woodland and along the seafront to the Norfolk Gardens. In summer, boat trips are offered on the boating lake at Mewsbrook Park, and a children's playground complements the park's facilities. Harbour Park offers more than 15 attractions, including outdoor rides, arcades, a pirate-themed escape room and an indoor soft-play area. This means you can choose between outdoor activities and covered attractions depending on the weather and your interests.

Getting there and planning the right trip

Littlehampton is served regularly by trains from London Victoria, taking around two hours. There are also train connections from larger towns and cities on the south coast, including Chichester, Portsmouth and Brighton. From the River Arun, you can book charter boat trips for deep-sea fishing. When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home, it is therefore worth deciding first which days you want to spend on holiday: Would you mainly like to experience the beach and promenade, discover museums and history, enjoy park facilities or take a trip on the water? You can then choose the location of your accommodation according to which of these experiences is particularly important for your trip planning.

Other destinations in the surrounding area

If you would like to consider other places for your trip planning in addition to Littlehampton, you can also view Balcombe, Stedham, Madehurst, East Wittering, Hurstpierpoint, Slinfold, Petworth and Lindfield.

For the higher-level travel overview: West Sussex.