Worthing has come a long way since the 19th century when it was home to a hive of smugglers who used to battle it out with coastguards to bring their ill-gotten goods ashore. The West Sussex town has grown into a holiday destination in its own right and a worthy alternative to its nearby big brother, Brighton.
Worthing’s cause is helped by having some of the best coastline on the South Coast, with Worthing Beach stretching for 10 miles either side of the town’s pier, taking in rock pools, wide sand and shingle beaches and more water sports than you could shake a paddle at. Our hotels in Worthing are in the heart of the action on the leafy Marine Parade, a short stroll from the pier, the Pavilion, the town’s Lido and dozens of bars, pubs, cafés and restaurants.
Elsewhere, the town has a buzzing theatre and cultural scene with several historic venues in the heart of Worthing plus two vintage cinemas brilliantly brought up to modern day standards. Plus, a short distance from Worthing you’ll find one of the UK’s oldest hill forts, gorgeous summer gardens and mile-after-mile of beachfront.
Things to do in Worthing
Activities
A historic seaside resort, the beachfront is the perfect place to wander and explore in Worthing. There you’ll find Worthing Pier which includes leading events space The Pavilion and an ice-skating rink with the open-air Lido and Splashpoint Leisure Centre close by. There’s plenty to explore out of the town centre too, including Cissbury Ring, one of the UK’s oldest hill forts and the gorgeous summer displays at Highdown Gardens.
Entertainment
With kite-surfing, vintage cinemas and three theatre venues to choose from, you’re never short of entertainment options in Worthing. The main beach stretches for nearly 10 miles and offers a wide range of water sports and several excellent nearby cafés, while the theatre and cinema scene in Worthing spans historic venues, Art Deco cinemas and several large venues covering everything from live orchestras, musicals and stand up comedy.
Shopping
Set a few streets back from the beachfront, Guildbourne Shopping Centre is Worthing’s largest indoor shopping mall. The centre has over 20 stores and food outlets including plenty of local retailers spanning jewellery, toys, perfumes as well as a gym and hairdressers.
Nearby just off Marine Parade is The Royal Arcade Shopping Mall, a wonderfully restored Edwardian arcade packed with independent outlets spanning fashion, homeware, and more.
Getting Around
Gatwick is the nearest airport to Worthing, with the 30-mile drive taking around 50 minutes by car and just over an hour via a direct bus service with four departures each day. The second-busiest UK terminal with nearly 50 million passengers each year, Gatwick has hundreds of flights each day across the UK, Europe and the rest of the world from some of the biggest airlines including British Airways, Emirates, Virgin Atlantic, easyJet and more. To make your journey even simpler, you could stay the night before you travel at one of our hotels near Gatwick airport.
If you’re travelling by train, the main terminal is Worthing Railway Station. The largest of five train stations servicing the town, Worthing Railway Station offers regular direct services to London Victoria, Brighton, Southampton and Portsmouth. The three-platform station is located in the centre of town, around a mile from our Worthing Seafront hotel.
Shopping in Worthing
