Chichester Museums, Landmarks and Local History: Novium, Cathedral, Pallant House and Fishbourne

Chichester has Roman, medieval and modern art attractions within a short walk or bus ride. Visiting details change by season, so check each venue before you go. Prices are as published by each venue.

The Novium Museum

The council's Novium page says the museum is built over the exposed archaeological remains of Chichester's Roman bath house, on Tower Street in the city centre, and holds more than 500,000 artefacts. The Roman Chichester Gallery features the Chilgrove mosaic; the first floor is a timeline of the district featuring the North Bersted Man, which it says archaeologists believe was a Gallic fighter who fled Caesar's army around 50BC; and the top floor has temporary exhibitions and a view of the Cathedral and Bell Tower. General admission is free. The museum also runs the Guildhall in Priory Park, a Grade 1 listed building the council says began as a Franciscan friary and is licensed for weddings. The council's tourism page lists Novium opening times: from mid-September to mid-June, Tuesday to Friday 10am to 4.30pm and Saturday 10am to 5pm, closed Sunday and Monday; mid-June to mid-September adds Sundays 10am to 4pm. The tourist information centre is in the same building.

Chichester Cathedral

The Cathedral's short history says the monastery founded by St Wilfrid in 681 at Selsey became the first cathedral in Sussex, that the see moved to Chichester in 1076 and construction began in 1075, and that it was consecrated in 1108. Fires in 1114 and 1187 destroyed the roof and eastern end, and it was re-consecrated in 1199. It says the spire, cloisters and bell tower date from around 1400 and that Chichester is unique in having the only surviving detached medieval bell tower. The spire and tower collapsed in 1861 and were rebuilt by 1866. In the twentieth century the cathedral commissioned work by Graham Sutherland, John Piper and Marc Chagall, which the history page says is on permanent display.

The Cathedral's visiting page says admission is by donation (recommended £7.00 per visitor) and it is open Monday to Saturday 9.00am to 5.00pm. Its homepage and visiting page give different Sunday hours (12.30pm to 3.00pm and 12.30pm to 2.30pm), so check before a Sunday visit; see the homepage. It also lists spire tours and a Piper tapestry exhibition running until 15 November.

Pallant House Gallery

Pallant House is a collection of modern British art from 1900 to now in a Grade I listed 18th century townhouse with a 21st century extension, at 8-9 North Pallant, PO19 1TJ. The gallery says the house was built around 1712 for the wine merchant Henry Peckham and his wife Elizabeth, and that locals call it the Dodo House because of the two stone birds above the original entrance, intended as ostriches. Its visit page lists Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm and Sunday and bank holidays 10am to 4pm, closed Mondays, adult admission at £17.00 including a £2 donation, and under 18s free.

Fishbourne Roman Palace

Sussex Past describes Fishbourne, at Roman Way, PO19 3QR, as the largest Roman home in Britain, with recreated Roman gardens and the largest collection of mosaics in situ in the UK. It lists 2 September to 6 December 2026 as open daily 10am to 4.30pm, adult admission £15.00 and child £7.50, free car and coach parking including four Blue Badge spaces, and a train station at Fishbourne a five to 10 minute walk away. Its page gives different last admission times in two places, so we give none.

Theatre and more

The council's tourism page describes the Chichester Festival Theatre as internationally renowned and relaunched in 2014 after a £22 million refurbishment. Current shows are in the markets, events and what's on guide. For other places to visit, see the parks and kids guide and, for car parks, the parking guide.