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Draft data. Times, fares and step counts are desk estimates awaiting field checks. Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify

Major city · United Kingdom

Bracklesham Bay

Go for one day of beach and fossil-hunting, or 2 nights if you want West Wittering and Chichester Harbour; skip as a base without a car.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
GBP
Best months
May–Sep
avoid Nov–Feb (cold, wet, many places closed)
Airports
LGW · SOU · LHR
Nights
1–2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
  • Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
  • Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗Neither the UK nor Ireland is part of Schengen: days spent here do not count towards the 90/180-day Schengen limit, and a Schengen visa does not admit you to either country.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗The island of Ireland runs on two currencies: euro in the Republic, pound sterling in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Carry a card that pays in both without fees.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗Both islands drive on the left. Speed limits are in miles per hour in the UK (including Northern Ireland) and in kilometres per hour in the Republic of Ireland.
  • United Kingdom ↗Most visitors who do not need a UK visa now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling; this includes EU nationals. Irish citizens are exempt. Check the UK government site for your passport.
  • United Kingdom ↗The UK is outside the EU and the Schengen area; a Schengen visa is not valid for the UK.
  • United Kingdom ↗Driving is on the left; London has congestion and emissions charges for most vehicles, so do not drive in the city.

Bracklesham Bay is a shingle-and-sand bay on the Manhood Peninsula in West Sussex, 15–20 min by bus from Chichester. It is a windsurfing, kitesurfing and fossil-hunting coast rather than a resort town: beds are mostly caravans and campsites, so most visitors come for a day or a short self-catering stay.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Bracklesham Bay, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeCoffee or tea in a beach café£3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6)
  • BeerPint of draught beer£4.50–6 (≈ US$6–8)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week£6–12 (≈ US$8–16)
  • Budget bedCampsite pitch, tent, a night, per room£18 (≈ US$25)
  • Mid-range bedB&B or pub double room, a night, per room£120 (≈ US$160)
  • High-end bedB&B or pub double room, a night, per room£190 (≈ US$300)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget £45 (≈ US$60) · Mid £75 (≈ US$100) · High £130 (≈ US$180)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Fossil hunting (sharks' teeth) at low tideWindsurfing and kitesurfingWest Wittering sandy beach and East Head dunesMedmerry RSPB reserve
Airports
LGW London Gatwick (Rail to Chichester, then bus 52/53; times check) · SOU Southampton (Rail to Chichester, then bus 52/53; times check) · LHR London Heathrow (Rail via London or Reading; times check)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Bracklesham Bay: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

8°C

3°C

12 rd

Feb

8°C

3°C

10 rd

Mar

10°C

4°C

10 rd

Apr

13°C

6°C

9 rd

May

16°C

9°C

8 rd

Jun

19°C

12°C

8 rd

Jul

21°C

14°C

8 rd

Aug

21°C

14°C

8 rd

Sep

19°C

12°C

9 rd

Oct

15°C

9°C

11 rd

Nov

11°C

6°C

12 rd

Dec

9°C

4°C

12 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

Stagecoach South 52 and 53 loop Chichester–Birdham–Bracklesham–East Wittering–West Wittering in daytime; schedules vary by season and day, so check current Stagecoach times before you rely on a specific departure. The 53 runs the reverse way. Salterns Way is a signed cycle route from Chichester to West Wittering and East Head, partly on busy roads. Taxis exist but wheelchair-accessible cars usually come from Chichester or Selsey.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
Chichestergo

Door to door: About 30–40 min

Bus 52/53 from Bracklesham or East Wittering

Cathedral, Roman palace at Fishbourne and the rail station for onward trains.

Selsey

caution

Door to door: About 25 min by car

Compass 150, or 20 min by car

Bus 150 is very infrequent; drive or taxi.

West Itchenor

go

Door to door: About 20 min

Car or bike via the B2179 (≈ US$3,000), then solar boat trips in Chichester Harbour

Harbour trips and the foot ferry towards Bosham.

Arundelgo

Door to door: About 50 min by car

Car via the A27, or bus to Chichester then train

Castle and wetland centre; a full day.

Worthingcaution

Door to door: About 1 h 10 min

Car via the A27, or bus to Chichester then train

Better as a rail day trip from Chichester than from the bay.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

East Wittering

Shops, pharmacy, cafés and the bus loop; the practical base without a car.

Bracklesham

Closest to the fossil beach and Billy's on the Beach; quiet at night.

West Wittering

Best for the sandy beach and East Head; fewer beds, higher summer prices.

Stubcroft Farm area

Campsite and caravan pitches on a working farm, 15 min walk to East Wittering.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
£45–70 (≈ US$60–95) excl. bed
Mid
£70–110 (≈ US$95–150) excl. bed
High
£110 (≈ US$150)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
B&B or pub double room1 × 2 nights × £120£240
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × £75£300
Bus Chichester ↔ East Wittering, both ways2 × £8£16
West Wittering beach car park, one day1 × £12 · check£12
eSIM, about a week of data2 × £8£16
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge£58
Trip total≈ £161 per person per day, bed included£642≈ US$900

2026 estimate in pounds; travel to the area excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee or tea in a beach café£3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6)
Fish and chips or a pub main£12–20 (≈ US$16–30)
Pint of draught beer£4.50–6 (≈ US$6–8)
Bus fare Chichester → East Wittering£2–4 (≈ US$3–6)
Campsite pitch per nightfrom £18 (≈ US$25) (check)
eSIM or data SIM, about a week£6–12 (≈ US$8–16)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Low-crime, family-oriented coast; the real risks are tides and cold water, wind and kite lines on the beach, and unlit lanes with no pavement after dark.
  • The beach is shingle with sand only at low tide; check tide times before walking out.
  • The shore and Medmerry are a protected SSSI: check current site notices for what you may collect or disturb before you take anything.
  • West Wittering beach car park hours vary by season and it can fill on summer weekends; check the estate's site before driving.
  • Bus 150 from Selsey is very infrequent; do not rely on it.
  • Many cafés and pubs close early outside summer; last food orders are often before 21:00.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
999 or 112
NHS non-urgent
111
Police non-urgent
101

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Bracklesham BayBracklesham Bay

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance999 or 112
  • NHS non-urgent111
  • Police non-urgent101

Embassy

No embassies here; the US Embassy is in London. Consular help for most countries is in London, with some consulates in Southampton or Portsmouth (check).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Bus Chichester → East Wittering: £2–4 (≈ US$3–6), about 30–40 min
  • Taxi Chichester → Bracklesham: £20–30 (≈ US$30–40)
  • West Wittering beach car park: about £12 (≈ US$16) per day in summer (check)

Say or show

  • Two returns to East Wittering, please — Two tickets to East Wittering, please
  • Is this the 52 or the 53? — Is this the 52 or the 53?
  • What time is low tide? — What time is low tide?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • Where is the nearest pharmacy? — Where is the nearest pharmacy?

Tipping: 10–12.5% in restaurants if no service charge is added; not expected in pubs.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Bracklesham Bay. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Sep · avoid Nov–Feb (cold, wet, many places closed) · month by month →
  2. 3 airports and 4 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 5 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for LGW and SOU: last bus 52/53 times field-checked, taxi fallback from Chichester, overnight rung.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Bracklesham Lane, East Wittering village, West Wittering beach and East Head, Medmerry.
  3. Place pages with verified tide windows for fossil hunting and beach cutoffs, plus eat pages with last orders.
  4. Tide and weather fixtures so beach days can go green or be swapped for Chichester.

Meanwhile

Back to United Kingdom

Sources