Between Portsmouth And Worthing Is A Walkable Coastal Town With Beaches, Shops, And Nostalgic Charm

Halfway between Portsmouth and Worthing is an 18th-century beachside resort that's mix of historic charm and picturesque beaches is almost as powerful as the sunshine that brightens its shores. Bognor Regis has seen many changes in its long history. Dating back to the 7th century, its original Saxon name was Bucgan Ora (meaning Bucge's Shore) and eventually, it became a fishing village and smuggling site called Bognor. In the late 1700s, Sir Richard Hotham turned Bognor into a coastal resort for the elite. Those elite included King George V, who recovered from a lung illness there, which is why the town added "Regis" or "of the king" to its name in 1929.

It's not exactly a mystery why King George V recovered well in Bognor Regis. After all, it has sweeping views of the English Channel, 19th-century brick and stucco buildings, and lots of sunshine. In fact, in 2026, Sunsave named it the third sunniest location in the U.K. That sunshine plus a handful of heritage trails and a miles-long coastal promenade make Bognor Regis a great place to walk. These trails wind through the historic old town and follow in the footsteps of James Joyce and William Blake, whose work was influenced by their time in Bognor Regis.

In recent years, Bognor Regis' reputation has taken a turn, with some complaining that it feels run-down and offers limited options of restaurants and shops. But many maintain that its charm is overlooked and underappreciated. And the town is making efforts to revitalize its storefronts, such as by repairing the stained glass and 102-year-old clock in the entryway of the historic arcade. Walking through Bognor Regis feels like you're stepping through a portal thanks to places like an old-timey candy shop with handmade boiled sweets that will kick the childhood nostalgia into high gear.

You can't have a beach resort town without a beach, and Bognor Regis has some lovely ones. All of its beaches are shingle with small pebble or gravel-filled shores, although they have flat sandy banks that get exposed at low tide. The area's most popular is Bognor Regis Beach, also known as East Beach. Located just off the 19th-century pier, it's an easy place to visit if you want to combine old town shopping with some seaside fun. This beach is family-friendly as it has a lifeguard from May through September and offers easy access to the concession stands and restaurants on the promenade along the coastline.

For a quieter atmosphere, head to Aldwick, also called West Beach. A nearby parking lot and seasonal café make it a family-friendly destination. Plus, although it's not part of the Jurassic Coast that should be on every history and fossil lovers' bucket list, Aldwick does have enough to appeal to both fossil and history enthusiasts. Fossil hunters can comb the London clay-filled sand when the tide is low, while history buffs can explore the abandoned pontoon, which was used during D-Day in 1944.  

Besides the arcade, you'll find shopping in other areas around town. London Road is the main shopping stretch, which has a mix of chain brands and local thrift stores. Grandad's Front Room in East End is a quirky antique shop that feels like it's from another time and place. This is a CIC, or Community Interest Company, that has been a pillar of Bognor Regis for years.

One of the best ways to explore Bognor Regis is on foot, which is easy to do thanks to six heritage trails focusing on different areas of the town. Families can check out the 1-mile Hotham Park Tree Trail that identifies trees in Hotham Park like coastal redwoods. There's also the flat Seafront "Fun and Facts" Trail on the promenade, where low-level placards about Bognor Regis' history and geology make this trail both educational and accessible to those in wheelchairs.

Those interested in a mix of history and culture can check out the 3-mile Blue Plaque Trail, which takes you to sites linked to important figures who stayed in or shaped Bognor Regis. See the house where James Joyce wrote part of "Finnegan's Wake" in 1923. Stroll to neighboring Felpham, where you'll find a quiet beach lined with colorful huts and the cottage where William Blake wrote "And Did Those Feet in Ancient Time" that was later turned into the hymn "Jerusalem," one of the most beloved in the U.K.

It's convenient to reach Bognor Regis from London, the world's "best city of 2026," as there's a direct train from the London Victoria Station that takes less than two hours. If you'd rather take a car to explore England's south coast, it's about a 2.5-hour drive from London and only 40 minutes from either Portsmouth or Worthing. Its location in West Sussex also means it is relatively close to the windswept cliffs and ancient forests of South Downs National Park, less than an hour away.