Connections to Arundel, Worthing and Bognor
How Littlehampton links to its neighbouring towns
Littlehampton sits in a network of West Sussex towns that share services, employment, shopping and cultural activities. The connections to Arundel to the north, Worthing to the east and Bognor Regis to the west are fundamental to the town's daily life, and understanding these links helps explain how Littlehampton functions within the wider coastal region.
Arundel is the nearest town inland, lying approximately four miles north of Littlehampton along the valley of the River Arun. The two towns are connected by the A284 road and by a riverside path that provides one of the most attractive walks in the area. Arundel is a historic market town dominated by its castle and cathedral, and it serves as a complement to Littlehampton rather than a competitor. Where Littlehampton offers the beach, the harbour and seaside entertainment, Arundel provides history, architecture, independent shops and the cultural attractions of a small county town. Many Littlehampton residents visit Arundel regularly for shopping, dining and events, and the two towns function as a pair in the minds of local people.
Worthing lies approximately six miles to the east, connected by the A259 coastal road and by the railway via Ford junction. Worthing is significantly larger than Littlehampton, with a population of around 110,000, and it provides services and facilities that a town of Littlehampton's size cannot sustain. The hospital, the larger shops, the theatre, the museum and the government offices are all based in Worthing, and many Littlehampton residents travel there for healthcare, employment and entertainment. The relationship is one of partial dependence, with Littlehampton looking to Worthing for higher-order services while maintaining its own identity as a distinct community.
Bognor Regis lies approximately seven miles to the west along the A259. Like Littlehampton, Bognor is a seaside resort town with a beach, a pier (partially demolished), holiday parks and a tourism-based economy that peaks in the summer months. The two towns compete to some extent for the same visitor market, but they also have complementary strengths. Bognor's Butlin's resort, its connection to George V's famous quotation and its University of Chichester campus give it a different character from Littlehampton, and visitors who know the coast often spend time in both towns.
Chichester, the county town of West Sussex, lies further to the west and provides the administrative, cultural and commercial centre for the district. Arun District Council, which is the local authority for Littlehampton, has its offices in Littlehampton itself, but many county-level services are based in Chichester. The cathedral city's Festival Theatre, the Pallant House Gallery, the shops and restaurants of the historic centre and the proximity to Goodwood all draw Littlehampton residents westward.
The connections between these towns are served by bus and rail as well as road, and the pattern of travel between them is complex, with different people travelling in different directions for different purposes. The coastal plain functions as a single economic and social area, despite the administrative boundaries that divide it between districts and counties.
The interdependence of the coastal towns is a defining feature of life on the West Sussex plain.