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Telegraph
08-04-2025
- Telegraph
How to spend your weekend in West Sussex, Britain's sunniest county
West Sussex is a county of contrasts, blending lush green landscapes and beautiful beaches with bustling towns and postcard-worthy villages. With the South Downs National Park at its heart and the picturesque shores of the Witterings, Selsey and Littlehampton at its feet, it offers the perfect retreat for bucolic downtime or lazy beach days. The county is also home to vibrant, tourist-friendly towns like Chichester, Crawley and the increasingly desirable East Grinstead, all with enticing restaurants, art galleries and historic landmarks. Proudly known as Britain's sunniest county, West Sussex is easily accessible from London by train or car. History enthusiasts will find much to admire in its stately homes, including Parnham House and Goodwood House, while wine lovers can indulge in tastings at local vineyards such as Nutbourne and Tinwood, showcasing some of England's finest vintages. West Sussex is emerging as one of the UK's most exciting destinations for foodies with offerings such as Michelin-starred dining in a manor house using homegrown ingredients and afternoon tea in a converted railway station. For more on West Sussex, see our guides to the city's best hotels, restaurants, attractions and bars. In this guide: How to spend your weekend Day one: morning The pretty market town of Arundel is home to a medieval castle with impressive gardens and museum, both in its historic town centre, and a whopping 206 listed buildings (in the county only Chichester has more). You may recognise the place from the film Wicked Little Letters, with Olivia Coleman and Jessie Buckley, which was filmed here (despite the story being based in nearby Littlehampton). You could easily spend a whole day in Arundel Castle, which dates back to 1067, as friendly and helpful expert guides walk you through its interior answering questions about the decoration and art collection. The castle has an excellent café, too, serving freshly made sandwiches, quiches and cakes if you want lunch before exploring the town. (The café's kitchen used to be the servants' hall.) Afternoon Next to the castle is Spencer Swaffer Antiques – a beautiful Aladdin's cave of brilliantly sourced antiques, many of which wouldn't be out of place at the Sir John Soane's Museum. Also nearby, you can stock up on award-winning sparkling wines (or enjoy a tasting) at Digby Fine Wines' Tasting Room – the first tasting room on a UK high street. If you're visiting on the 3rd Saturday of the month you can stock up local fruit, veg and seafood at Arundel Farmers Market. Arundel Wetland Centre (just under a mile from the castle) is the perfect place for all the family to get up close and personal with feathered friends and a snack at its Water Edge Café. Six miles away from the centre is Amberley Museum, which celebrates Sussex's industrial past with working steam trains and craft demonstrations. It also has a changing calendar of events including classic car shows and Halloween specials. Evening End your day with dinner at The Pig Hotel. Part of the Pig Group, this West Sussex outpost is housed in an 18th-century, Grade II-listed Georgian house. If you're driving, stop off for a quick stroll through the beautiful South Downs en route. Day two: morning Chichester is the only city in West Sussex – the Romans called it Chichester Noviomagus, which translates as new marketplace. The city is home to an impressive cathedral and Roman ruins including a bath house and amphitheatre – one of only a handful of Roman amphitheatres discovered in Britain – that is now a park. Chichester Cathedral was dubbed 'the most typical English Cathedral' by critic Ian Nairn and also has impressive cloisters – the grassy area in the middle is charmingly named 'Paradise'. Chichester is the last cathedral in the UK to grant free access to visitors. The food at the Cloisters Kitchen & Garden is, pun intended, heavenly, with an emphasis on local ingredients in its hearty breakfast and lunch menus and homemade cakes and bakes. There's a great kids menu, too. Afternoon and evening Get an art fix at Pallant House Gallery which focusses on British art with a changing calendar of exhibitions as well as an impressive permanent collection of works from 1900 to present day, before stepping back in time at the Novium Museum. Built on top of the remains of a Roman bath house it tells the story of the city with interactive displays and also has great city views from its upper floors. If you're still hungry for all things Roman, Fishbourne Roman Palace & Gardens is a good stop off on the way to the coast. The largest Roman home in Britain, it offers a fascinating insight into how the 1 per cent lived 1,600 years ago. No trip to West Sussex would be complete without visiting the coast – if cycling is your bag the Salterns Way runs from the centre of Chichester to the sand dunes at West Wittering – much of the route and follows car-free paths. For something a little more dramatic head to the historic village of Bosham, on the edge of Chichester Harbour. The village is often described as one of the most photogenic places on the south coast and legend has it that King Canute tried to control the sea from here. The king's daughter is rumoured to be buried in Bosham church having drowned in a river. Be warned, though, that Bosham Quay regularly floods as the tide comes in so quickly so be careful where you park. Parking is less 'exciting' at nearby Littlehampton, home to two award-winning beaches and the pretty river Arun, the beachfront Harbour Park amusement park (which opened in 1932) and fun shops like Pier Road Coffee and Art, which champions local talent. Enjoy sundowners at The Beach Littlehampton where water sport lovers can order a side order of windsurfing, kitesurfing or paddle boarding to go with their excellent stone-baked pizzas. Right on the water, the restaurant is open all year round. When to go West Sussex is 'open' year round and is, of course, Great British weather dependent. The majority of visitors tend to arrive during the warmer summer months – the 'sunniest county in the UK' notches up 253 hours of sun in July according to the Met Office. Antique lovers flock to Ardingly for its July antiques fair while petrol heads make for the Goodwood Festival of Speed, also in July. Arundel Museum runs an Artisan Christmas Fayre (in November) and Horsham celebrates the festive period with its own Piries Place Christmas Vegan Market (also in November). Where to stay Luxury living: Bailiffscourt Hotel & Spa Lord it up in this pleasing cluster of antique-filled medieval mansions that belie a 20th-century origin. Join Kevin the peacock and friends for a stroll in the grounds then relax in the smart modern spa and pools set beside the sea near Littlehampton. Boutique beauty: The Pig This outpost of The Pig is located in the green folds of the sylvan South Downs. It's English countryside incarnate, and a classic, classy spot for a rural weekend getaway. Budget bolthole: The Welldiggers Arms This 300-year-old roadside inn and top-notch gastropub overlooks the rolling hills of West Sussex's South Downs National Park. With its traditional country bar featuring tankards dangling from the ceiling, locals drinking real ale and muddy dogs sprawled by the roaring fire, bring your wellies and your pooch here for a wholesome weekend in the country. Read our full review here. Know before you go Experience West Sussex is a mine of visitor information, hosted by West Sussex County Council. You can learn more about Arundel at Visit Arundel. The Tourist Information Centre in Chichester is within the Novium Museum. It can also be reached on 01243 775888. You can also find tourism information about Chichester online at The Great Sussex Way. How to get there and how to get around There are regular trains from London to Arundel, Amberley, Chichester, Fishbourne and Littlehampton, though West Sussex is best explored by car, particularly if you plan to take in the South Downs. There are, however, approximately nine trains a day between Arundel and Chichester. International visitors can enjoy access to West Sussex from nearby Gatwick Airport. Enterprise Car Hire has offices at the airport as well as in Bognor Regis. Steven Short split his time between London and Sussex for a decade before moving to Hastings full time in 2021. He loves coastal walks with his dog and exploring Sussex's ever-evolving food scene.
The Guardian
15-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
On my radar: Malachi Kirby's cultural highlights
The actor and writer Malachi Kirby was born in London in 1989. He enrolled in a drama group at the Battersea Arts Centre aged 14 and later attended London's Identity School of Acting. He was shortlisted for outstanding newcomer at the 2011 Evening Standard theatre awards, for Mogadishu. On TV he has appeared in the 2016 remake of Roots, Black Mirror, and as Darcus Howe in Steve McQueen's Mangrove; his film work includes Boiling Point and Wicked Little Letters. Kirby, who lives on the outskirts of London, stars as Hezekiah Moscow in the Disney+ series A Thousand Blows, set in the world of illegal boxing in the Victorian East End. It starts on 21 February. Horse riding I started horse riding in 2015 when I was filming Roots and it was a crash course for sure. They had me riding bareback by the second lesson. It was exciting and terrifying, but I fell in love with horses very quickly and it brought me a lot of peace. I've wanted to go back to it ever since, so I've just started riding again and taking it much slower this time – even though I've cantered and ridden bareback in the past, I haven't actually gotten past trotting yet, but I'm really enjoying it. The Black Kitchen, London SW16 A friend was telling me about this place in Balham that has incredible Jamaican patties, which are one of my favourite things to eat. These ones are called secret patties, which made my guard go up: like, what's the secret? Why can't you tell me? Apparently it's got oxtail and mac'n'cheese in it, which is something I'd never considered, but it's an incredible idea. I don't know if I can eat a patty the same way again now. The restaurant is moving to a bigger place in Streatham and I'm excited to see what other secrets they've got on their menu. Hard Truths (dir Mike Leigh) I went to see this with my mum the other day. Mike Leigh is one of her favourite directors, and watching this one made me realise what she loves about him. He has a very distinctive style and a way of letting moments breathe, and I love that. Marianne Jean-Baptiste is incredible as a woman who's angry at the world. Her performance confused me at first, I wasn't sure if I was supposed to be laughing or feeling heartbroken, but then there's a moment where it all starts to make sense. Leigh manages to capture everyday life in a way that makes the ordinary extraordinary. Lessons in Chemistry (Apple TV+) I'm on the last episode of this show and honestly it's one of my favourite things right now. Brie Larson plays a brilliant scientist in 1950s America who isn't respected in her lab, so she brings her chemistry skills to cooking instead and ends up hosting a cookery show on TV. Essentially it's about a woman who, through remaining integral to who she is, changes the environment she lives in and the way that things are done in that time. I've been cooking a lot this year, so the show has inspired me in that regard as well. South Bank, London SE1 One of my favourite places in the world, especially in the summer. In my late teens I started going there to write, and I remember being taken aback because there would be dancers with boomboxes and people in suits having business meetings, and no one was looking down their nose at anyone. Everyone could fill the space without apologising for their existence. Also, it was the one public place that I was able to go and take a nap without getting [moved on]. I wish more of the world was like that. Retrograde (Apollo theatre, London W1, from 8 March) I saw this play at the Kiln last year and I'm really looking forward to seeing it on a bigger stage when it transfers to the West End next month. It's about the actor Sidney Poitier and it focuses on a single conversation that changed his career – he comes out of it completely transformed. I think Ryan Calais Cameron is one of the most exciting writers of this generation and Ivanno Jeremiah is brilliant as Poitier. It's one of those plays that speaks to right now. I wouldn't be surprised if it gets turned into a film or a TV series.
Chicago Tribune
04-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
College of DuPage's annual free Global Flicks film series kicks off with ‘Wicked Little Letters'
College of DuPage's 29th annual Global Flicks film series, featuring a slate of community-chosen and timely films, kicks off Wednesday with a showing of the British film, 'Wicked Little Letters.' Every Wednesday thereafter through March 12, an international film will be screened publicly for free at 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. at the Belushi Performance Hall in the McAninch Arts Center on the college's Glen Ellyn campus. A moderated discussion will follow each showing, said Camila Fernandez Cifuentes, program specialist at the college's Field and Experiential Learning, Study Abroad and Global Education Office. The series is a partnership between the McAninch Arts Center and her office, she said. 'We try to include films that touch different topics and different genres,' she said. 'We try to include (a mix) of countries so we have more of a global perspective. I think this is a great opportunity to not only engage with the community but also offer a different way to do international education — not just for the student but the community as well.' One of the films is particularly topical to the school. 'Miss Hokusai' from Japan will be shown Feb. 26 in the Playhouse Theatre. Directed by Keiichia Hara, 'Miss Hokusai' is based on the life and works of Japanese artist and ukiyo-e painter Katsushika Hokusai, as seen from the perspective of his daughter, Katsushika O-Ei. It ties in with the upcoming exhibit, 'Hokusai and Ukiyo-e: The Floating World, Artworks from the Chiossone Collection,' which will be presented from May 31 to Sept. 21 at COD's Cleve Carney Museum of Art. The show will feature a collection of 53 works of art and 13 artifacts never seen in the U.S. Additionally, the 2015 film is a part of the 33rd annual Asia Symposium presented by McAninch Arts Center. Scheduled for 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Feb. 26, the symposium's theme is 'Pop Wave Japan' and focuses on the country's culture and history. The first film in the series, 'Wicked Little Letters,' is based on a true story of a town whose residents start receiving hilariously profane (and anonymous) letters after World War I. Starring Olivia Coleman, Timothy Spall and Jessie Buckley, the movie was released in 2023. 'Even the Rain' from Bolivia about Bolivians protesting the privatization of their water supply will be shown Feb. 12, followed by 'Broker' from South Korea on Feb. 19, about a young woman who gives her newborn child to a church for adoption and discovers an illegal baby trade operation. 'XTrillion,' from the North Pacific, is scheduled for March 5. It's about an all-women, 14-member, international crew that undertakes a grueling 3,000-mile sailing expedition across the North Pacific Ocean to investigate the crisis of plastic pollution and raise awareness for conservation. The final movie, 'Of Gods & Men,' from France will be screened March 12 and is about an order of Trappist-Catholic monks living among the Muslim population in Algeria when a civil war breaks out. Fernandez Cifuentes said the price tag makes the event accessible to anyone who would like to attend. The film committee takes suggestions from the community on which films to show, seeking a selection of different genres and languages (subtitled, not dubbed) and always offering a documentary or two, she said. 'People also appreciate that after the screening, we bring an expert from COD that have an expertise on the topics that are in the film,' she said. 'We have time for the audiences to ask questions, maybe something didn't click when they watched the movie. It also allows us to have meaningful conversations about the movie. I think that people appreciate the after-screening discussions and conversations.' In addition to getting out of the house on a cold day, she said, seeing an international film is a reminder that we live in a globalized world and the importance of having a global perspective and learning about different cultures. 'The movies that we show aren't mainstream movies so you'll have an opportunity to be exposed to movies that might not be on your radar,' she said. 'Everyone should be a longtime learner. I think you should never stop learning new things and this is a good opportunity to do that.'
