Alpaca the golf clubs
Bring your golf clubs and swing away at Hindhead and Liphook. Soak up history at Petworth House, Arundel Castle and Portsmouth’s Historic Dockyards. Unwind in Bar 54. Kids can walk with the Dunreyth Alpacas, chuck driftwood for the dog on West Wittering Beach, or meet Peppa Pig at Paultons.
Country kids
Discover Chichester’s rich Roman heritage at The Novium Museum through half a million artefacts. Then take the Chichester Treasure Trail, a self-guided treasure hunt from Priory Park to the cathedral. Or hack the Sussex countryside with one- and two-hour rides around the South Downs from Willowbrook Riding Centre.
Bounce yourself dizzy at Air Arena trampoline park, with 74 trampolines and interactive activities. Crown yourself house bowling champ at Tenpin Chichester. Take a walk with a difference at Dunreyth Alpacas. Or see displays of historic aircraft and memorabilia from WW1 through to the Cold War at Tangmere Military Aviation Museum.
Head down to the south coast to sand and shingle beaches at Pagham, Climping, Littlehampton, West Wittering and Bracklesham Bay. Or wander Marwell Zoo’s 140 acres to meet Rothchild’s giraffes, white rhinos, Amur tigers, Humboldt penguins, red pandas, snow leopards and all three species of zebra.
Explore Peppa Pig World and enjoy over 70 other rides and attractions at Paulton’s Park. Have an underwater adventure at the Blue Reef Aquarium and see everything from clown fish to otters. Captain your own motorised ship at Miniport Gunwharf Quays. Or visit Henry VIII’s boat, The Mary Rose.
For the grown ups
Hire bikes from the Cycle Shop in Midhurst and cruise the twisty lanes. Bring your clubs and swing away on scenic South-Downs golf courses including Hindhead, Liphook and Goodwood. Or cruise the Wey and Arun Canal fuelled by a summer cream tea with the Loxwood Canal Centre.
Soak up some history at Petworth House and Petworth Park, home to the Egremeont family and inspired by the baroque palaces of Europe, or Arundel Castle, seat of the Earl of Arundel, Duke of Norfolk. Or just explore Chichester, a famous Roman town with a lovely cathedral founded in 1075.
Pop down to Portsmouth for a hovercraft flight to the Isle of Wight, to see the Historic Dockyards and take the HMS Victory tour, or enjoy a high tea high up in the Spinnaker Tower, then catch the view from the Sky Deck. Or get down to Goodwood for the horse-racing and Revival motor racing complete with period costume.
Watch polo at Cowdray – make sure you help with the treading-in at half-time – or fly a WWII Spitfire from a full-size replica cockpit at The Spitfire Experience including take-off, aerobatics, low flying and landing. Or just head to pretty shingle beaches such as West Wittering for kitesurfing, windsurfing or unleashing the canine beast.
Happy hens
There’s nothing like a little bit of wow on a hen do and Goodwood Manor offers a whole whoomph of wow. A country manor house with a view across the poppies and the Downs all the way to Portsmouth’s Spinnaker Tower, it’s a huge slice of contemporary luxury for 16 or so dropped into a rural dream.
Outside, there are woodland trails to follow before wending your way back to the terraces that sit beneath big southern skies. Eat out with a barbie, or in the barbecue barn followed by pool, table tennis and table football. Head inside for nights in front of the dining-room TV with Netflix fuelled by superfast broadband.
Relax and revive in the hydrotherapy pool and steam room and renew with TEMPLESPA and HarSPA products and treatments at Chichester Harbour Spa. Mix, shake and stir your own cocktails on a Cocktail Masterclass with the expert bartenders at Mungo’s of Horsham. Or learn to drive a rally car at Forster Racing School.
Get your glad rags on and get into Chichester for cocktails at Bar 54. Enjoy good music, a wood fire and dozens of beers and ciders on tap at The Hole in The Wall, or try Sit and Sip for craft beers and artisan spirits. Or while the night away with cocktails in The Annex, served with a mix of the best of soul, house and disco.
