George MacDonald

The Victorian writer George MacDonald left his mark on Arundel, though you'll need to do a bit of detective work to find the exact details of what's on offer here. MacDonald was a Scottish author and theologian whose fairy tales and novels influenced C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien - so if you're into that literary heritage, it's worth investigating what the site offers.

Arundel itself is the real draw: a proper medieval town dominated by its castle, with narrow streets, antique shops, and the River Arun running through it. A MacDonald connection adds another layer if you're the type who likes tracing literary footsteps through the English countryside. The town's compact enough to cover on foot in an afternoon, which makes it ideal if you're staying at one of the nearby caravan parks - Brookside and Littlehampton's facilities are both within a couple of miles.

I'd recommend ringing ahead before making the trip, since opening hours aren't clearly advertised online. The site may require advance booking or have limited access. That said, if you're already in Arundel for the castle, market, or riverside walks, tracking down the MacDonald connection gives you an extra reason to linger in the town. The South Downs stretch beyond, so you could easily combine this with longer walks through proper countryside. Best visited as part of a broader Arundel exploration rather than a standalone destination - but for literature enthusiasts camping nearby, it's a worthwhile addition to a South East break.