Railway reaches Littlehampton

1863

The opening of the railway branch line to Littlehampton in 1863 transformed the town from a small port and fishing community into an accessible seaside resort. The railway connected Littlehampton to Brighton, London and the Sussex towns, bringing day-trippers and holidaymakers who created the demand for the hotels, boarding houses, promenades and entertainments that defined the Victorian seaside. The station was built at Terminus Road, and the railway's arrival marked the beginning of Littlehampton's era as a resort.