Chichester Castle

The remains of Chichester Castle sit right in the heart of town, a surprisingly substantial chunk of Norman history squeezed between modern streets and shops. What you're actually looking at is the motte - that distinctive earthen mound - along with fragments of the outer bailey, all dating from around 1067. It's not going to blow your mind with dramatic ruins, but if you're into medieval fortifications or Saxon history, the earthwork itself tells a proper story.

You can walk around the site freely, and the mound offers decent views across Chichester once you've climbed it. The whole thing takes maybe thirty minutes to explore properly, less if you're just after photos. It works well as a stop between wandering the cathedral or browsing the town's independent shops rather than a destination in itself.

History buffs will find it worth the detour, particularly if you're staying at one of the nearby parks like Chichester Lakeside just down the road. Families with young kids might find the walk up the mound more interesting than the site itself. There's no visitor centre or facilities that I'm aware of, so it's very much a case of turning up and having a look around at your own pace - which, honestly, is refreshing.

Combine it with the cathedral and town centre for a proper half-day in Chichester itself, then head to Butlins or Haven Church Farm if you need proper holiday park amenities.