Visited August 2024

Location	Chichester West Sussex
Entrance Fee	No
Railway Station Nearby	Yes- Chichester -approx 1 mile
Parking	Yes
Facilities	None
Map

Review

The Bishop's Palace at Chichester is situated next to the Cathedral in beautiful gardens which are open to the pubic. The palace dates back to at least the 1180's, although constant repair and remodelling means that not all of the building is from that era. 

The palace isn't fortified these days, but the gatehouses remain as a sign that it may once have been. As to be expected from a building which was and still is the official residence of the Bishop of Chichester, the building contains a chapel. This was built in the 14th century and is still in use today. It is open on occasional open days but not when we were visiting.  In fact the building is now used for events and is not routinely open to view inside. However it is the gardens which are the real draw for tourists in Chichester.

The gardens are leased by the council for public use. They have large grassed areas, some beautiful specimen trees and vegetable beds managed by a charity. Parts of the restored city walls surround the gardens. They also have some crenellated walls dividing up areas in the garden, and matching crenellated towers, which add to the picturesque  effect.

On the day we were there it was heaving with people enjoying the green space, including many pram users: it seemed to be the place to take baby for a stroll on a beautiful summer's day. 

The Bishop's Palace Gardens are also a good place for views of the neighbouring cathedral, which is well worth a visit in itself. There are many amenities in the city, including toilets and cafe in the cathedral. You could also combine your visit with a trip to the park to use the play equipment whilst also checking out the motte in Priory Park, which is the only remaining part of Chichester Castle 

More info:  Chichester Bishop's Palace