Petworth is a civil parish town in the Chichester District of West Sussex and is home to cobbled streets, independent shops and its own stately home.
Surrounded by miles of greenery, the town is reachable in just 45 minutes via the train from Waterloo.
Or you can drive to Petworth, which will take around 1 hour and 50 minutes from London.
@myukstaycation Love a day trip out to the South Downs and Petworth is one of my favourites because it’s close to London and has a bit of everything you need to get away from the city. So save this for your next day trip out of London. 🅿️ Main town parking Petworth GU28 0AP 🚾 Public toilets at car park or at National trust 🏠 @nationaltrust Petworth House Entry fee £19 🦌 Deer park is free open 8am-6pm ☕️ @thehungryguest 🍺 @theangelinnpetworth 📸 Don’t miss pretty Lombard street for a beautiful photo spot 🛍️ Plenty of Shops & Art Galleries to browse 🍵 Lunch @cherrysdeliandbakery 🍽️ Or we had an amazing dinner in the close by Chiddingfold @theswaninn which I highly recommend on your way back to London #daytripfromlondon #southdownsnationalpark #petworthhouse #sussexcountryside #exploresussex #ukdaytrips #hikingnearlondon #escapethecity #hiddengemsuk #natureloversuk ♬ Sundays – Ryan Harris
Why you should visit the West Sussex market town of Petworth
On the Discover Sussex website, Petworth is described as a “beautiful market town”, adding that it has charming “cobbled streets, plenty of independent shops and an impressive number of antique stores, giving it a truly historic feel.”
Petworth has many interesting features, including the Petworth Deer Park, which is owned by the National Trust and spans 700 acres and Petworth House.
The house dates back to the 17th century and displays one of the National Trust’s finest art collections, with state rooms featuring paintings and sculptures.
The house highlights key parts of history, including the Gunpowder Plot and the Napoleonic Wars, with collection highlights including the earliest English globe in existence, dating to 1592.
The deer’s at Petworth Park. (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Ticket prices for Petworth House vary depending on the time of year, with adult tickets costing between £20.90 during peak season and £13.20 during the off-peak.
You can find out more information and buy tickets via the National Trust website.
Away from Petworth House, the market town is renowned for its large number of antique shops, earning the name of “The Antiques Centre of the South” with stores including Petworth Antiques Market, Dickson Rendall and Bone Interiors.
You also won’t go hungry on your visit to the town, with plenty of well-rated cafes, pubs and restaurants around.
The Star Pub on Market Square is a “historic, brick-clad pub” offering traditional meals like burgers, fish and chips, pies and more.
Tiffins Tea Room is the perfect spot to visit if you fancy homemade cakes, sandwiches, treats and plenty of tea to drink.
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For places to stay, Petworth has lots of options, like The Angel Inn, a “historic spot” with “seven beautifully renovated rooms”.
Rooms are also avaialbe in The Stonemasons Inn, The Foresters Arms, The Devil’s Punchbowl Hotel and The Halfway Bridge Inn, to name just a few.
Discover Sussex adds that “Petworth is a lovely day out for anyone wanting a real mix of nature & parkland, culture, local independent shops and good food.”
