Pretty Sussex seaside gem named among England's best 'chocolate box villages'
England's ' chocolate box villages ' are some of the country's most distinct and charming elements. Though each village is slightly different, they are all typically defined by thatched cottages, cobblestone streets, quaint pubs and a tranquil atmosphere.
The term 'chocolate box village' refers to the picturesque cottages that used to front the classic Cadbury boxes. While there are plenty of these beautiful villages across the country, a new round-up has named a seaside town in West Sussex amongst the best.
Bosham is a small coastal village on one of the small inlets of Chichester harbour. It was inhabited by the Romans and so perfectly combines historical significance with natural beauty. This after news that an abandoned UK Butlin's site is now seaside town's 'hell hole' hotel.
Chichester harbour is renowned for its photogenic nature as a sanctuary for migrating wildfowl, shellduck, and many more and so Bosham is an ideal location to explore the area. From Bosham you are also within convenient distance to West Wittering and East Wittering beaches, as well as Selsey.
Adding to the natural wonder of the area, Bosham is home to historic architectural gems and a peaceful atmosphere that has seen it named one of the country's most beautiful chocolate box villages.
In a ranking of these honorary villages by Independent Cottages, Bosham in West Sussex came in sixth place. The ranking was based on several key factors, including the number of historic buildings in each village, the oldest recorded age of the village (a measure of the depth of its history), its status as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), and its prevalence in internet searches and TikTok.
Bosham was recorded as having 73 listed buildings and its suggested age according to the publication is 731AD. The village is also a designated AONB and received modest internet interest because of the Bosham Inn.
The Bosham Inn is a former vicarage that has been painstakingly restored. Not only is this country pub set against a beautiful natural landscape, but it offers a range of delightful cask ales, wines and seasonal dishes for visitors to enjoy.
Another important fixture that reflects Bosham's impressive history is the Holy Trinity Church: a Grade I listed church and the oldest place of known worship in West Sussex . It is located at the foot of the South Downs National Park.
In addition to being known as a chocolate box village, Bosham is a prime sailing hub. Visitors are likely to see many boats and yachts moored at the harbour and the dinghy sailing taking place.
At Bosham Quay you can take in the people, the boats, and the natural wildlife at leisure. The only catch? When the tide comes in, it usually floods the road immediately next to the harbour so take care with where you park.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
9 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Man jets off to exotic destinations for just 24 HOURS... flying across the globe and back in one day
A day trip to Egypt? Lunch in Ireland? A morning walk in Rome? Kevin Droniak has experienced it all and gotten home in time for supper. The 28-year-old travel influencer has jetted off on 14 'day-trips' throughout 2025, flying from his home in New York City to an exotic destination across the globe and returning home within 24 hours. He books red-eye flights to various countries, explores them for one day, and then heads back home that evening. He's been documenting it all on his TikTok and Instagram, teaching his 300,000 followers how to save time and money while traveling the world. 'I weigh out the activities in that location and how much am I going to have to spend on the ground,' he dished. He's taken day trips to Paris, France, Rome, Italy, Costa Rica, the Bahamas, and even Iceland. He breaks down the cost in his videos. Trips range from $200-$1,000, including food, activities, and transportation, and most average around $500. One of his most expensive day trips was an $800 round-trip to Cairo, Egypt, but he said it was totally worth it as he couldn't pass up spending a day at the pyramids. But his 24-hour trip to Ireland, which ended up costing him almost $900 thanks to a flat tire that ate up his time, may not have been worth the price tag. Still, 'It's more fun to have a flat tire in Ireland than just being bored at home,' he said. His cheapest day trip cost him about $120 - a round-trip flight to Puerto Rico allowed him to spend the day at the beach and make it back to sleep in his bed that night. Finding affordable flights is a challenge, especially when the round trip takes place within one day, so Droniak monitors Expedia and Google Flights ahead of his trips. He likes to use the 'explore' or 'map' features to see which destinations are cheapest on days he's hoping to travel. If an airline ticket is below the average cost, he considers the journey worth it. 'I think that's another essential thing if you're trying to find a cheap flight, is being flexible with your dates,' he explained. 'I probably book my trips between two weeks and a month in advance.' While embarking on a day trip, he recommended just pick one or two things to do, and don't expect yourself to see the whole city in one day. 'When you land, you wanna jam everything in, but I try not to have too much planned since the time is fleeting,' he said. 'I believe that you can experience a place on the ground for just a day because there's nowhere else to go. You don't have a hotel. There's no time to just sit and scroll on your phone.' To save money, he finds cheap or even free activities. He walks, takes public transportation, and eats cost-efficient meals. Droniak started day-tripping not only to see the world, but to embrace solo-travel. 'I was tired of waiting around for people to go on trips with me,' he said. 'I think day-tripping is great because you get a little taste of solo traveling, there's not much of a risk… It's less commitment and you're able to learn about yourself.' But Droniak said day trips are not a vacation - they're not supposed to be relaxing, and often, they're exhausting. 'It's like a race with time,' he joked. Getting as much sleep as possible on the plane is crucial. On one of his first trips, he watched movies instead of resting, and it turned out to be a bitter mistake. 'You don't want to be overly tired walking around the next day. You need energy, so just make sure you're able to get some shut-eye on the plane there,' he recommended. Despite the potential for exhaustion, Droniak pointed out that jet lag is never an issue. 'You don't have enough time there to acclimate to that time zone,' he dished. He hopes to spend more time in these bucket list locations, but Droniak loves the rush of a short trip. And his followers do too. 'Right now I'm just getting such a thrill out of popping around and seeing new places in a short amount of time,' he said. In the end, he encouraged aspiring day-trippers to be flexible and adventurous like him. 'It's just unpredictable, [you] have to be down for anything,' he concluded.
Daily Mirror
18 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Brit abroad in Benidorm warns tourists to 'never rent car' during August
If you're heading out to Benidorm soon, then you may want to heed the advice of a Brit abroad in the Spanish city, as he warned you may want to just get a transfer and not a hire car A Brit abroad shared if you're going to Benidorm in August, you should try to avoid renting a car. Harry, who posts on TikTok as @harrytokky, revealed the "warning" for anyone who may be considering driving around the city, because parking is such an issue. Harry explained that "right now in Benidorm it's absolutely rammed" because kids are on their school holidays and their parents have taken them away - plus the weather is glorious. But this does mean that parking has become a nightmare, and Harry's pal said it's better to get about on "little scooters" as an alternative. "So, if you're coming out to Benidorm, especially for the month of August, then I don't recommend renting a car," Harry shared. Harry described the parking as "unreal," saying it took him "one hour to get a space," likening it to a "nightmare" situation. It's high tourist season, with peak occupancy in the city, and there are also limited spaces. The city is rammed full of Spanish and international visitors during this time, leading to increased demand for parking spots. While free parking areas exist, they can be difficult to find and access due to the crowds. Harry's pal also revealed a "lot of entertainers are late for their shows" because they simply cannot find anywhere to park. He also claimed they're having to "park half an hour out of town," which is causing chaos. They also shared the prices of renting cars is "ridiculous," so Harry said his "important message" is that "it's just not worth it," and you should "get a transfer". In the comments, someone wrote: "What Harry hasn't told you, a lot of Spanish head to the coast in August, so it affects parking. It's 'tourist' parking, but it's Spanish people who have driven to the resorts." Harry replied: "Lots of Spanish, 100% lots of Europeans too, either way, there's definitely no parking in Benidorm at the moment. Took me an hour to get parked." Another penned: "Free at the bus station or on that car park just before you come into town, or only €16 a day for one of the car parks. Rented a drop top for pride." Thankfully, not everything in Benidorm is expensive, however, as Harry shared in a previous video that McDonald's meals are seriously cheap. Sitting outside, he said: "And just like that, the food has arrived. Now you will not believe how cheap this was. We've got two meals here. Guess how much this costs? €11 (£9.53)." Harry continued, explaining there are two fries, two burgers, two drinks, and some chicken nuggets on the side as well. He gushed: "I mean, €11? What do you think, guys? I think that's an absolute bargain, let's be honest. €11? In the UK, that'd probably be at least £20." In the UK, a large Big Mac meal costs around £7.69, depending on location. Meanwhile, six chicken nuggets cost around £3.49, depending on location. So Harry is right, it is significantly cheaper in Benidorm. The whole meal would cost roughly £18.87.
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Daily Mirror
Pretty Sussex seaside gem named among England's best 'chocolate box villages'
Situated on an inlet of Chichester harbour, this picturesque village is considered one of the most beautiful and historically significant 'chocolate box villages' in the country England's ' chocolate box villages ' are some of the country's most distinct and charming elements. Though each village is slightly different, they are all typically defined by thatched cottages, cobblestone streets, quaint pubs and a tranquil atmosphere. The term 'chocolate box village' refers to the picturesque cottages that used to front the classic Cadbury boxes. While there are plenty of these beautiful villages across the country, a new round-up has named a seaside town in West Sussex amongst the best. Bosham is a small coastal village on one of the small inlets of Chichester harbour. It was inhabited by the Romans and so perfectly combines historical significance with natural beauty. This after news that an abandoned UK Butlin's site is now seaside town's 'hell hole' hotel. Chichester harbour is renowned for its photogenic nature as a sanctuary for migrating wildfowl, shellduck, and many more and so Bosham is an ideal location to explore the area. From Bosham you are also within convenient distance to West Wittering and East Wittering beaches, as well as Selsey. Adding to the natural wonder of the area, Bosham is home to historic architectural gems and a peaceful atmosphere that has seen it named one of the country's most beautiful chocolate box villages. In a ranking of these honorary villages by Independent Cottages, Bosham in West Sussex came in sixth place. The ranking was based on several key factors, including the number of historic buildings in each village, the oldest recorded age of the village (a measure of the depth of its history), its status as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), and its prevalence in internet searches and TikTok. Bosham was recorded as having 73 listed buildings and its suggested age according to the publication is 731AD. The village is also a designated AONB and received modest internet interest because of the Bosham Inn. The Bosham Inn is a former vicarage that has been painstakingly restored. Not only is this country pub set against a beautiful natural landscape, but it offers a range of delightful cask ales, wines and seasonal dishes for visitors to enjoy. Another important fixture that reflects Bosham's impressive history is the Holy Trinity Church: a Grade I listed church and the oldest place of known worship in West Sussex . It is located at the foot of the South Downs National Park. In addition to being known as a chocolate box village, Bosham is a prime sailing hub. Visitors are likely to see many boats and yachts moored at the harbour and the dinghy sailing taking place. At Bosham Quay you can take in the people, the boats, and the natural wildlife at leisure. The only catch? When the tide comes in, it usually floods the road immediately next to the harbour so take care with where you park.
