700 Coastliner, Portsmouth – Chichester – Brighton

Journey Overview

This is an invigorating journey that meanders its way through fascinating sights and places along the Hampshire and Sussex Coast between Portsmouth and Chichester, with a change for an mesmerising seafront journey through delightful Bognor Regis and Littlehampton to vibrant, pulsating Brighton.

There can be few more contrasting cities than Portsmouth with its incredible maritime culture and past, dynamic, landmark Spinnaker Tower and fashionable Gunwharf Quays retail and entertainment hotspot. From such incredible beginnings, the interest deepens as the bus makes its way through Fratton and Hilsea, past the gateway to Hayling Island and Emsworth, a pretty old fishing village nestling on the end of Chichester Harbour, with its narrow streets, Georgina houses, walled gardens, mill pond and sumptuous waterside views.

The bus continues to the mesmeric Chichester City Centre, with the Cathedral coming into view. You can feel the vibe as the bus approaches Chichester with its Roman baths, city wall, amphitheatre (which is now a park) and the old State Street, linking the City and London. Here’s there’s roman heritage aplenty, along with fabulous shops, culture and entertainment. Then, it’s a change for a connecting 700 Coastliner bus onto the bright lights of Butlins in Bognor Regis and Littlehampton, a picturesque coastal town dating back to Roman times but with modern day seaside fun and games, culture and charm, including some lovely architecture, no better illustrated than with the fabulous Pier and also the yellow-domed Cinema on the blissful promenade. The journey makes its way from Littlehampton, alongside pastel coloured regency buildings with wrought iron balconies overlooking the sea, coming ever so close to waves crashing towards the bus as industrialised Portslade with its fascinating docks and Nicholson’s Wharf giving way to the eloquent charm of pretty pastel blue beach huts, independent shops, regency buildings and perfectly manicured gardens in Hove, with its fab statue of Queen Victoria overlooking the seafront and Grand Avenue as Brighton beckons – the bus nestling close to the famous Lanes and a stones-throw from the iconic Pavilion and world-famous Palace Pier! This truly is a whirlwind of a journey – one of the longest in the UK, but potentially the most fascinating!

A Fab Day Out!

There’s no shortage of things to do to kickstart the day in Portsmouth, including the ultimate retailing and dining experience at Gunwharf Quays, thrills and spills in the amusement arcades along the beach at Southsea or exploring the Historic Dockyard, including one of the several fascinating museums and visits to the Mary Rose and HMS Victory.

Our first recommended place to stop off is in Emsworth and a visit to the Emsworth Museum narrated by the famous author P.G. Wodehouse who incorporated many local names into his books, to the films and oral history recordings produced by other locals. Then, a bit of pleasure boating is worth partaking of and maybe a peruse round one of the art galleries or a coastal walk, with a view over the incredible Chichester Cathedral which will be a taster for a visit which could follow once you’ve got on-board the bus again to Chichester.

Lunch in one of the many fabulous restaurants in Chichester and then the next leg on the 700 Coastliner, this time to Bognor Regis to check out the famous Pier, maybe a round of crazy gold, ride on the promenade train or walk to Hotham Park. If its some bathing on the beach, then Bognor’s brilliant – the East beach is popular, but the West is quieter and also with plenty of sand to devour!

Then the 700 Coastliner bus beckons again and it’s onto Littlehampton with its pair of award-winning beaches, the delightful River Arun and spacious seafront green. The Littlehampton architecture has also won awards too, including the Stage by the Sea, East Beach Café and Britain’s Longest Bench. From Spring to Autumn, the Littlehampton Ferry also provides invigorating tours of the harbour, whilst a visit to Norfolk Gardens offers great fun – crazy golf, a 9-hole links course, tennis, bowls and a miniature railway offer more enjoyment on a day-out that’s been the ultimate experience of seaside’s finest heritage, scenery and pleasure, with every passing bus stop on this incredible route.

Then, it’s onto Bognor – check out our blog about this amazing fun-filled place Coastliner 700 is the gateway to the “Sunniest Place in the UK” – Great Scenic Journeys with its fabulous Pier, football team and of course the world-renowned Butlins!

Gateway to the 700 Coastliner: By train to Portsmouth Harbour – the bus starts and finishes at The Hard Interchange outside the station. www.nationalrail.co.uk