So many things to do… so little time!

To help you get about the Chichester area why not look at this link to my Insiders Guide to Chichester… Enjoy!

I have nieces and nephews, and a vivid imagination so I love to create projects for them / think of things to do but there are other options too… here are some of our favourites:

Things they should do by the time they are 11 years old (maybe)..Can you think of others? Let me know!

• Build a sand castle on the beach – buckets and spades – we have them to borrow
• Swim in the sea, with supervision. Ask where and when is best – tides make a difference!
• Go pond dipping
• Go crabbing – bucket and lines and some lifejackets available.
• Climb some trees
• Make a den/camp – pallets and tarpaulins ready to help you!
• Play pooh sticks in a stream
• make up games
• play tag
• play hide and seek
• make a cake
• make a clay tile out of air-drying clay
• go to the cinema – Chichester Sat am esp for kids!
• go to the theatre – Chichester, Portsmouth, Southampton, Worthing, Brighton
• go on a wildlife walk – lots locally, incl Pagham Harbour Reserve
• feed and watch wild birds, quietly! in the garden.
• play tic-tac-toe – homemade sticks and stones set in the garden ready for you.
• plait a rope
• learn some knots – ask Gayle how!
• make a daisy chain
• make a collage of things you have collected eg shells, pine cones, leaves
• do a jigsaw puzzle
• read many books, for fun!
• have a sleep over with friends (or camp out?!)
• dig up some worms and collect some snails and other bugs
• watch the bees on the flowers

Other child / baby friendly attractions all nearby. Some paid, some FREE!…

The Beach! West Wittering (carpark £8 per day), East Wittering or Bracklesham beaches. Keep children under visual supervision AT ALL TIMES. Do not litter / leave disposable BBQ’s on the beaches.

Also flinty beaches at Selsey (but much quieter) and near lifeboat station. Have you seen the RNLI lifeboat the “City of London” and the RNLI Museum?

Pallant House Gallery, North Pallant, Chichester PO19 Modern art and special exhibitions, workshops for kids during holidays and bookshop + cafe

Sidlesham playground – turn left at end of Keynor Lane and almost next left into dirt track to football club. Its a superb facility – by far the best in the whole of the District! and free… 

Bosham village – very pretty, good for walks (can be muddy) and pub / icrecream/ tea shops. Craft centre. Beware of parking on the shingle hard though – it floods! Even Kind Canute couldn’t stop the tide coming in! Ha ha.

Fishbourne Roman Palace – excellent kids facilities esp during holidays.

Arundel Castle – interesting, places to run too.

Arundel Wildfowl and Wetlands – Arundel. Wild and kept water foul birds. GREAT for younger kids especially as they can feed them. Educational.

Play in the hot tub at Living Elements! (with visual supervision!)

Runcton Garden Centre – good for food, specially Sunday lunch!

Earnley Butterfly Gardens – local. In effect a small tropical zoo and some other animals.

Visit The Novium in Chichester City opposite the Cathedral. Its a free museum and has some lovely interactive things for big and small kids!

Walks on the South Downs Way – better for older children as its hilly (and little legs get tired!) Free. Good shoes needed.

Blackberry picking from the hedgerows from August, then make apple and blackberry pie!

Pagham Harbour Nature and Bird Reserve – kids wildlife garden. Lots of space to run around. Good for bird spotting too.

Chichester Library has a big kids section, and videos / CD’s. (Tower Street opposite the Cathedral)

On a Wednesday and Saturday morning there is a big market in Chichester – fruit and veg, clothes, meat, etc Teach them about weight and measures, cash and currency, counting out change!

Go on the boat trip around Chichester Harbour – solar boat via The Harbour Conservancy or Wingate Water Tours. There are also educational activities via The Conservancy during holidays. www.conservancy.co.uk

Visit Petworth House – National Trust. See our other article here

Do you use Pinterest? Here is our kids activities page https://www.pinterest.com/Chiselfcatering/things-to-do-with-kids-on-a-wet-day-in-sussex/ please follow this and our other boards.

Helping to make your holiday in the Chichester area a big success!

© Gayle Palmer Chichester Self Catering 2014-6

For all your families needs!