The 6 West Sussex villages you must know about

Situated between Arundel and Chichester, the ‘Six Villages’ refers to just that - six beautiful and picturesque villages, all with unique character properties, making any of them the perfect location to set up home.

Here’s our mini guide to the famous Six Villages.

Barnham

If you want easy access to London from the Chichester area, then Barnham has a mainline railway station that will get you to London Victoria in just over 90 minutes. It’s also one of the smaller but more lively of the Six Villages, with the Windmill Shopping Village hosting plenty of local retailers and hospitality venues.

It’s rich in agricultural history and architecture, but also home to many modern and affordable homes and a local secondary school.

Eastergate

Now forming the parish of Barnham and Eastergate, this quaint village is almost exactly midway between Arundel and Chichester. The population has grown from around 100 when it was first recorded in the Domesday Book to 3,500 residents.

The village hall is a hive of activity and used for a variety of functions, from weddings and parties to playgroups and fairs. There’s an impressive network of public footpaths often used by dog walkers. Being quite literally on the doorstep of Barnham, it’s a fantastic option for those wanting the best of both worlds.

Westergate

Set to the west of Chichester, and acting as Eastergate’s equally attractive twin, is the family friendly village of Westergate. There are two nearby primary schools, a local academy and plenty to keep everyone active. In the centre is a large recreation ground and the Six Villages Sports Centre, as well as Aldingbourne Tennis Club. Both the coast and South Downs National Park are just a few minutes’ drive away.

Despite its small population of around 10,000, there have been some recent new build developments of 2, 3 and 4 bedroom luxurious homes. 

Walberton

With many beautiful conservation areas and a medieval church, this relatively quiet village is certainly a location of choice for lovers of history and the outdoors. Along with neighbouring Binstead, the parish has a couple of pubs, a nearby golf course and some small local shops.

While many residents are retirees, its close proximity to the bustling seaside tourist towns of Bognor Regis and Littlehampton make it attractive to families too. Many of the properties are large family homes, some of them with period features. There is also a local primary school in the village.

Fontwell

Although filled with archaeological history, Fontwell is probably best known for its racecourse, which attracts large crowds all year round. Other amenities include some weird and wonderful stores, a children’s park, a petrol station and a hotel (mainly for those passing through).

It is, however, one of the villages that has had the most housing development in recent years and now boasts quite a young demographic of residents. More is planned, which will include a community building and dedicated areas for sports, exercise and play.

Yapton

Furthest from the city of Chichester and an old smugglers haven, Yapton is commonly known as the village that ‘never closes its doors’ and is now home to a popular real ale festival. 

In the last five years, there have been plenty of build-to-rent and shared housing developments, which have attracted younger residents and small business investment. It's sufficiently thriving and self-contained but retains much of its historical charm, including an old canal bridge that is still standing.

Interested in finding out more about what the Six Villages have to offer in terms of properties? Give our friendly team a call.