Did you know Sussex has its very own special day?
The annual County Day of Sussex is the 16th June, the feast day of St Richard, one of two Bishop Saints of the county. Why not consider a mindful pilgrimage to Chichester cathedral by foot, bike and even online!
Sussex is a large, and beautiful county and the Arun District in the west of the county has so much to celebrate:
- a wealth of history
- iconic architecture
- cultural and sporting events
- miles of beautiful coastline and a meandering, tidal river
- coastal and rural towns and villages, all as diverse as the people that call them ‘home’.
- and all overlooked by the glorious South Downs National Park
Fly the Sussex Flag, sing the song and discover the origins of "Sussex by the Sea"
The Sussex flag is blue (to echo the sea) and yellow 'martlets' (mythical birds of ancient heraldry) to reflect the colour of sunshine. Search online for ‘Sussex Flag’ to purchase your flag and bunting from various sources and see how many you can spot proudly flying at locations across the county this June.
Written by William Ward-Higgs in South Bersted, Bognor Regis, the county's historic anthem "Good Old Sussex by the Sea" is played at many events and official occasions throughout both East and West Sussex and even adopted by Brighton and Hove Football Club.
The county motto is "We wun't be druv" “There ant no place like Sussex, Until ye goos above, For Sussex will be Sussex, And Sussex wun’t be druv.”
There are wonderful museums telling the local history of Sussex at Arundel, Bognor Regis, Littlehampton and Rustington as well as nearby Chichester's Novium Museum and the marvellous Weald & Downland Museum. All are well worth a visit, whether in person or online.
With previous creative residents from William Blake, Hubert Parry, Dante Gabriel Rosetti and more - we’re proud to be part of Hilaire Belloc’s ‘ South Country’
“If I ever become a rich man, Or if ever I grow to be old,
I will build a house with deep thatch, To shelter me from the cold,
And there shall the Sussex songs be sung
And the story of Sussex told.”
The local tourism and hospitality businesses and contemporary creatives in and around the Arun District in ‘Sussex by the Sea’ offer some great ways to celebrate Sussex Day and all the seasons in West Sussex and right now, there's no better time for you to experience the many attractions of Arundel, Bognor Regis and Littlehampton and make your choice from Things To Do, What's On and Where To Stay featured on our partners’ websites. Head over to our Home Page and click the links to Visit Arundel, Love Bognor Regis and Visit Littlehampton and keep checking the regularly updated information at our range of Things To Do Blogs.
There’s no need to limit yourself to Sussex Day, we’re happy to welcome you to Sussex by the Sea all year round!
Explore wider West Sussex
Discover more ideas and inspiration across the beautiful county of West Sussex at: Experience West Sussex and the South Downs National Park.
‘Sussex by the Sea’ and Arun District Council provide this information in good faith, as provided by partners and event organisers, or researched and published on various local websites and social media channels. Please click the links provided and contact the event organiser/attraction/business or venue directly to confirm current details.
