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Our favourites
The old wooden toll bridge across the River Adur at Old Shoreham, with Lancing College Chapel on the hill beyond

Beyond Brighton · about 15 minutes west by train

Shoreham-by-Sea: Our Favourites

Shoreham-by-Sea, about 15 minutes west of Brighton by train: the River Adur and its houseboats, the Norman church of St Mary de Haura and Marlipins, Shoreham Fort and the harbour, Brighton City Airport’s 1936 terminal, and Lancing College Chapel on the hill.

The back story

  1. Town guide

    Shoreham-by-Sea: the back story

    Shoreham-by-Sea·In depth

    A Norman port on the Adur, a Victorian fort, the first film studio on the south coast and a town of houseboats and aeroplanes.

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  2. Town guide

    The River Adur and Shoreham Harbour: the back story

    Shoreham-by-Sea·In depth

    A tidal river through the Downs, a shingle spit, a line of houseboats and a working port that lands more fish than almost any other in England.

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  3. Town guide

    St Mary de Haura and St Nicolas: Shoreham’s Norman churches

    Shoreham-by-Sea·In depth

    Two Grade I churches a mile apart: the great Norman church of the haven, built on port dues, and the riverside church with an Anglo-Saxon nave.

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  4. Town guide

    Lancing College Chapel: the back story

    Lancing, above the Adur·In depth

    The great Gothic Revival chapel on the Downs above Shoreham, begun in 1868 and finally completed with its west porch in 2022.

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  5. Since 1910

    Brighton City Airport: the Art Deco terminal and Poirot

    Shoreham-by-Sea·In depth

    The oldest licensed airport in the UK, its 1936 Art Deco terminal, and why the cameras keep coming back.

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  6. Christmas

    Christmas in Shoreham-by-Sea

    Shoreham-by-Sea·In depth

    Light Up Shoreham in December, the Norman church of St Mary de Haura, the Ropetackle’s winter programme and a cold, bright walk along the Adur.

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Where to eat

  1. Seafood and steak

    Into the Blue

    Ferry Road, Shoreham Beach·Restaurant

    A family-run neighbourhood restaurant on Shoreham Beach, cooking seafood, meat and vegetables with flavours from around the world.

    29–31 Ferry Road, Shoreham-by-Sea BN43 5RAExplore View on map

  2. Over 20 years

    La Galleria

    East Street, Shoreham·Italian restaurant

    A long-standing Italian restaurant on East Street, recently refurbished, with plenty for vegetarians.

    22–22B East Street, Shoreham-by-Sea BN43 5ZEExplore View on map

  3. By the river

    Ropetackle Fish & Chips

    Ropetackle, Shoreham·Fish and chips

    Fresh fish and chips, pies and burgers in the Ropetackle quarter by the Adur.

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  4. Opposite the river

    River Café & Bistro

    High Street, Shoreham·Café and bistro

    A relaxed café and bistro on the High Street, opposite the River Adur, with a terrace outside.

    6 High Street, Shoreham-by-Sea BN43 5DAExplore View on map

  5. Eat in or take away

    Calcutta 16

    High Street, Shoreham·Indian restaurant

    An Indian restaurant and takeaway at the Old Shoreham end of the High Street.

    112 High Street, Shoreham-by-Sea BN43 5DBExplore View on map

  6. Shoreham and Hove

    Pit and Pal

    High Street, Shoreham·Burgers

    A burger restaurant on the High Street, for eating in, taking out or delivery.

    69 High Street, Shoreham-by-Sea BN43 5DEExplore View on map

  7. Views over the runway

    The Hummingbird Restaurant

    Brighton City Airport·Airport restaurant

    The licensed restaurant in the 1936 terminal of Brighton City Airport, with a viewing deck over the airfield.

    Terminal Building, Brighton City Airport, Shoreham-by-Sea BN43 5FFExplore View on map

Cafés and tea rooms

  1. Quirky coffee shop

    Hector’s Shed

    East Street, Shoreham·Café

    A quirky little coffee shop on East Street for breakfast, lunch, cakes and vegetarian plates.

    36 East Street, Shoreham-by-Sea BN43 5ZDExplore View on map

  2. On the beach

    Carats Café Bar

    Basin Road South, Shoreham Port·Beach café

    A café bar right on the shingle at the eastern end of Shoreham Port, on the way to Brighton.

    Basin Road South, BN41 1WDExplore View on map

Pubs

  1. Shoreham’s oldest pub

    The Red Lion

    Old Shoreham·Pub

    A beamed 18th-century pub in Old Shoreham, near the toll bridge, with food and a garden.

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  2. Burgers and mussels

    The Tap House, East Street

    East Street, Shoreham·Bar and kitchen

    A bar and kitchen on East Street for craft beer, gin and plates of mussels and burgers.

    16–18 East Street, Shoreham-by-Sea BN43 5ZEExplore View on map

  3. Real ale and cider

    The Old Star Ale & Cider House

    Church Street, Shoreham·Ale and cider house

    A small ale and cider house on Church Street, close to St Mary de Haura.

    Church Street, Shoreham-by-Sea BN43 5DQExplore View on map

  4. Garden by the Adur

    The Bridge

    High Street, Shoreham·Riverside pub

    A riverside pub with a garden and panoramic views over the Adur.

    87 High Street, Shoreham-by-Sea BN43 5DEExplore View on map

  5. Riverside terrace

    The Crown & Anchor

    High Street, Shoreham·Pub and kitchen

    The pub with the pirate on the High Street, its broad terrace looking over the mouth of the Adur.

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  6. Next to the museum

    The Marlipins

    High Street, Shoreham·Pub

    The pub beside the Marlipins Museum on the High Street.

    38 High Street, Shoreham-by-Sea BN43 5DAExplore View on map

  7. Live ale and real music

    The Duke of Wellington

    Brighton Road, Shoreham·Pub and music venue

    An independently owned pub on Brighton Road, known for its ever-changing beers and live music since the early 1980s.

    368 Brighton Road, Shoreham-by-Sea BN43 6REExplore View on map

  8. Family-run free house

    The Buckingham Arms

    Brunswick Road, Shoreham·Pub

    A family-run free house on Brunswick Road, with a garden, live sport and live music.

    35 Brunswick Road, Shoreham-by-Sea BN43 5ZHExplore View on map

What to see and do

  1. Friends of Shoreham Fort

    Shoreham Fort

    Shoreham Beach·Victorian fort

    The Victorian fort at the harbour mouth, cared for and restored by the Friends of Shoreham Fort.

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  2. Fixed-wing and helicopter

    Learn to fly at Shoreham

    Brighton City Airport·Flight training

    Trial lessons and pilot training at Brighton City Airport, with the schools based on the airfield.

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  3. Over the coast

    Sightseeing flights from Shoreham

    Brighton City Airport·Pleasure flights

    Sightseeing and experience flights over the Sussex coast from Brighton City Airport.

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  4. Grade I listed

    St Mary de Haura

    Church Street, Shoreham·Norman church

    The great Norman church of New Shoreham, founded around the end of the 11th century and still the landmark of the town.

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  5. Over the Adur

    Old Shoreham and the toll bridge

    Old Shoreham·Village and river crossing

    The old village up the river, with its Saxon-rooted church of St Nicolas and the wooden toll bridge across the Adur.

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  6. Open to the public

    Lancing College Chapel

    Lancing, above the Adur·Gothic Revival chapel

    The soaring Gothic Revival chapel on the hill above the River Adur, a landmark for miles along the coast.

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  7. A trust port since 1760

    Shoreham Port

    Shoreham Harbour·Working port

    The working harbour at the mouth of the Adur: a trust port since 1760, with a family walking trail.

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Arts & Culture

  1. Run by volunteers

    Ropetackle Arts Centre

    Little High Street, Shoreham·Arts centre

    Shoreham’s riverside arts centre, with concerts, comedy, talks, films and family shows.

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  2. A Norman building

    Marlipins Museum

    High Street, Shoreham·Museum

    A small museum of Shoreham’s maritime history in a 12th-century building with a flint-and-stone chequerboard front.

    36 High Street, Shoreham-by-Sea BN43 5DAExplore View on map

Cinema

  1. Ten films a season

    Ropetackle Film Club

    Little High Street, Shoreham·Film club

    The Ropetackle Arts Centre’s film club: ten films a season on the big screen by the river.

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Parks and gardens

  1. Rare vegetated shingle

    Shoreham Beach Local Nature Reserve

    Shoreham Beach·Nature reserve

    A stretch of Shoreham Beach protected for its rare vegetated shingle and its coastal wild flowers.

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  2. By the footbridge

    Coronation Green

    High Street, Shoreham·Riverside green

    The small riverside green in the middle of town, beside the Adur Ferry Bridge, with views over the boats.

    High Street, Shoreham-by-Sea BN43 5DDExplore View on map

  3. Between river and sea

    Shoreham Beach Green

    Shoreham Beach·Green and playground

    An open green on Shoreham Beach, with the sea to the south and the houseboats on the river to the north.

    Beach Green, Shoreham-by-Sea BN43 5YAExplore View on map

  4. Sport and play

    Buckingham Park

    Upper Shoreham Road·Park

    Shoreham’s main park, with playgrounds, tennis courts, a ball park, cricket and football.

    Upper Shoreham Road, Shoreham-by-Sea BN43 6BAExplore View on map

  5. Beside the river

    Adur Recreation Ground

    Brighton Road, Shoreham·Recreation ground

    The riverside recreation ground south of the airport, known for its summer car boot sales.

    Brighton Road, Shoreham-by-Sea BN43 5LTExplore View on map

  6. Chalk grassland

    Mill Hill Local Nature Reserve

    Old Shoreham·Nature reserve

    A chalk hillside above the Adur valley, famous for its views, wild flowers and Adonis blue butterflies.

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  7. Herons and swans

    Widewater Lagoon

    Between Shoreham and Lancing·Lagoon

    A brackish lagoon behind the shingle between Shoreham Beach and Lancing, home to herons, swans and kingfishers.

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  8. In the National Park

    Lancing Ring Local Nature Reserve

    North Lancing·Nature reserve

    A small nature reserve on the Downs above the Adur, with chalk grassland, a wood and a dewpond.

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Walks

  1. River and harbour

    The footbridge, the houseboats and the fort

    Shoreham Beach·Town walk

    A short circuit from the High Street over the Adur Ferry Bridge, along the houseboats to Shoreham Fort, and back on the beach.

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  2. Churches and chalk

    Up the Adur to Old Shoreham and Mill Hill

    Old Shoreham·Riverside walk

    From the town up the riverside path to St Nicolas and the toll bridge, then up onto Mill Hill for the view.

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  3. Download the map

    Anchor Points: the Shoreham Port trail

    Shoreham Port·Family trail

    Shoreham Port’s own family walking tour, with a map to download and colour in.

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Shopping

  1. Second Saturday of the month

    Shoreham Farmers’ Market

    East Street, Shoreham·Farmers’ market

    Local growers and producers in the town centre on the second Saturday of every month.

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  2. Fourth Saturday of the month

    Shoreham Artisans’ Market

    East Street, Shoreham·Artisans’ market

    Arts, crafts, food and drink from regional traders on East Street, on the fourth Saturday of the month.

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  3. Independent

    The Pad Clothing

    East Street, Shoreham·Menswear shop

    An independent menswear shop on East Street, with grooming and accessories.

    11a East Street, Shoreham-by-Sea BN43 5ZEExplore View on map

  4. With a children’s corner

    Chapter 34

    Brunswick Road, Shoreham·Independent bookshop

    An independent bookshop in the centre of town, with a children’s area, book clubs and author events.

    32–34 Brunswick Road, Shoreham-by-Sea BN43 5WBExplore View on map

  5. M&S and Tesco Extra

    Holmbush Shopping Centre

    Upper Shoreham Road·Shopping centre

    The out-of-town centre at the Holmbush roundabout above Shoreham, with a large Marks & Spencer and a Tesco Extra.

    Upper Shoreham Road, Shoreham-by-Sea BN43 6TDExplore View on map

Health and wellness

  1. Pool, sauna and treatments

    The Hideaway

    Upper Shoreham Road·Private spa

    A private spa inspired by the Moroccan baths of Seville, with a pool, a Finnish-style sauna and a therapy room.

    186 Upper Shoreham Road, Shoreham-by-Sea BN43 6BGExplore View on map

  2. University Hospitals Sussex

    Southlands Hospital

    Upper Shoreham Road·NHS hospital

    The NHS hospital in Shoreham-by-Sea, run by University Hospitals Sussex.

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Animal welfare

  1. Up to 104 dogs

    Dogs Trust Shoreham

    Brighton Road, Shoreham·Dog rehoming centre

    The Dogs Trust rehoming centre on Brighton Road, caring for up to 104 dogs.

    Brighton Road, Shoreham-by-Sea BN43 5LTExplore View on map

Getting there and around

  1. About 15 minutes from Brighton

    Shoreham-by-Sea station

    Shoreham-by-Sea·Railway station

    The town’s station on the West Coastway, a few minutes’ walk from the High Street and the river.

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  2. Stagecoach

    Coastliner 700 to Shoreham

    Brighton to Shoreham and beyond·Bus

    Stagecoach’s coast bus from Brighton and Hove through Shoreham to Worthing and on along the coast.

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  3. Over the Adur

    Adur Ferry Bridge

    High Street to Shoreham Beach·Footbridge

    The footbridge from the High Street by Coronation Green over the river to Shoreham Beach.

    Explore View on map

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