Anybody visiting Chichester Cathedral shouldn’t miss this beautiful green haven hidden away in the corner! This is a very traditional English cottage style garden which is difficult to find these days. Its simply beautiful! There are plenty of seats among the flower beds and the green patches to sit and enjoy the singing of birds, reading a book or just having some quiet time away from all the buzzing of life! At the time we visited, the flowers were only started to bloom, so I can imagine it will look really colourful in Summer!
Address to the Cathedral: West street, PO19 1RP, Chichester, West Sussex.
I parked in West street which was quite close to the cathedral. We visited the cathedral on a Sunday evening, it was fairly quiet hence no trouble finding a parking space. I suppose the city can get really busy during peak times and you might have to park in various short stay car parks few streets down the cathedral. This post is mainly about the ‘City Walls Walk’ and the ‘Bishops Palace Garden’ just around the corner of the cathedral.
Entry: Entry to the garden is free
Opening times:
Bishops Palace Gardens –Everyday 8am-dusk
City Walls Walk – Open all day (Note that Cathedral close at 7 pm in Summer and 6 pm in Winter so if you are here in the evening, visit the cathedral first before you head to the gardens). I picked a city map from next to a parking machine and it was very useful (pictured below). I highly recommend to grab one of these if you see any.
How to access the Garden and City Wall: I found two ways to enter the garden. If you are already inside the cathedral, it can be accessed through the Cannon Gate from Canon Lane off South Street.
As you come out of the cathedral, turn to the left (see the white arrow)
When you come to this gate follow left (sign posted)
How to access the Garden and City Wall:If you are in the city and walked through the old market, you might come around to Deanery Close and that’s where the beginning of Walls Walk. You will be able to see the City Wall through the bushes (see pic below) on the other side of a tiny creek. This Walk will eventually end up in Avenue de Chartres road and you will be able to see the City Wall much closer. Bishops Palace Gardens situates on the other side of the wall. So walk through the Avenue de Chartres road towards the direction of West street and you will see a small alley which is the entrance to the Garden. Follow my photo map below!
Beginning of Walls Walk
Walls Walk
Part of City Wall through the trees as you walk down ‘Walls Walk’
City Wall- follow the road on the left (see the white arrow) to get to a small alley which is the Garden entrance
Yes, this is it! secret entrance all hidden away!
Entrance to the garden
And some pics of the Walk and the Garden below…
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- These walls were originally built by Romans around 1800 years before as Chichester was a Roman city. The city was known as Noviomagus Reginorum at that times!
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- Bishops Palace Gardens
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- so peaceful…
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- you can see the cathedral from here!
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- there it is!
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- Bell Tower in the background
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- gigantic tree!
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- In case you want to rest under the gigantic shade, there is a seat 🙂
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- another lovely spot
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- inside garden
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- flower beds
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- Walls Walk
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- These city walls were surrounded by bastions which are the firing platforms for a ballistae or huge crossbows! (one of the bastions can be seen in this pic)
