Bognor Regis is a seaside town in West Sussex. It’s in between Chichester and Brighton and about 55 miles south of London.
It’s also near the smaller towns and villages of Felpham, Littlehampton, Arundel, Pagham and Selsey. Records of Bognor as a place date back to 680 AD. It was originally a centre for fishing and smuggling.
Bognor was developed as a seaside town in the late 18th century by Sir Richard Hotham and you’ll see references to him in the town. Queen Victoria spent a number of summer holidays here in the 1820s and King George V spent three months in the area recuperating in 1929. As a result, the town changed name from Bognor to Bognor Regis (by royal consent). Currently the town is well known for its distinctive Butlin’s Resort.
Things to do in Bognor Regis
Bognor is a popular town to explore or to use as a base for exploring the wider area. As you walk around, look out for the interesting Victorian architecture and the occasional Art Deco building.
Visit Bognor Regis’ beaches
Bognor has a long promenade along the beach that stretches from Aldwick in the west to Middleton-On-Sea in the east. It’s about 4.5 km and you can cycle it if you don’t want to walk.
There is also a seasonal miniature train that runs along the promenade, a bandstand and various exercise points.
East Beach in Bognor is the main beach and is on the east side of the pier. West Beach (AKA Aldwick Beach) is opposite Marine Park Gardens. Look out for the beach huts and the remains of a floating pontoon, which was part of the Mulberry floating harbours used by the Allies on the French coast on D-Day in 1944. Felpham Beach is to the eastern edge of Bognor.
Bognor Regis Museum
Every visit to Bognor Regis should start with a visit to the free museum (it closes for winter but opens from the end of March until the end of November). It’s just off the seafront, to the right hand side of The Royal Norfolk Hotel and to the west of the Pier. It’s got some really diverse collections from vintage cameras, fossils, and a bathing machine, along with lots about the history of the town.
The William Blake Trail
William Blake (1757 – 1827) was an English poet, painter, and printmaker. In 1880, he moved to a cottage in Felpham where he wrote a poem beginning, “And did those feet in ancient time” which became the words for the well known anthem “Jerusalem”. In 1803, he was charged with assault and uttering seditious and treasonable expressions against the king but was later acquitted. There is a William Blake Trail which takes you via his cottage and around Bognor and Felpham with information boards along the way. Sadly, the cottage is in a sorry state of repair.
Bognor Regis Heritage Trails
There are six Heritage Trails in Bognor Regis which include:
- The Seafront Fun & Facts Trail
- The Blue Plaque Trail
- The Town Trail
- The Hotham Park Heritage Trust Tree Trail
- The Richard Hotham Trail
- The Bognor Regis Pier & Western Bognor Regis Trail
There are information leaflets at various places in the town (try the museum or the Heritage Trail website). Some interesting people have lived or visited the town.
Bognor Regis Pier
The pier opened in 1865 and is now home to an amusement arcade. It won’t take long to visit but as a centre point of the town, it’s worth a walk to the end to look back at the town. There is a crazy golf area opposite.
Hotham Park
A short walk back from the seafront, you’ll find Hotham Park. It’s about 22 acres of park and is where Sir Richard Hotham built a mansion (now known as Hotham Park House). In 1793, the Duke of St Albans embarked on adding a chapel so visitors had their own private place to pray and a clock tower which you can still see today (it was added in 1794). It is supposed to chime 156 times every day and the climb to the top is approx. 63 steps. The house is now private accommodation.
A William Fletcher acquired the park estate in 1900 and planted a woodland garden which included many unusual species … some of which are still there. The Council acquired the park in 1946. If you visit today, you may spot a series of sculptures of Alice in Wonderland characters and scenes, commissioned by the Park Heritage Trust.
The theme of Alice in Wonderland was chosen by local school children. Perhaps they were inspired by the fact that Sir Richard Hotham was also sometimes called Hotham the Hatter, in reference to his original trade.
Regular events take place in the park which has a bandstand, a boating lake, a miniature railway, tropical gardens and an adventure golf course.
Marine Park Gardens
Marine Park Gardens are to the west of the pier and include a sensory garden, an 18 hole putting green and croquet green, and a water fountain. They date back to the 1930s.
Arts and entertainment
The Picturedrome cinema was originally built in 1885 and The Regis Centre and Alexandra Theatre are great hubs for performing arts. In addition to films, there is a Bognor Coastal Art Trail held in the last two weeks in July each year. There is also a town beer festival held in March, Proms in the Park held in June, a kite flying festival in August and a music festival in September.
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