Felpham combines a distinctive village character with notable buildings, a literary connection and a clear coastal theme. The Church of St Mary and Blake’s “Jerusalem” provide tangible points of connection to its cultural history, while Felpham SSSI and the beach huts reveal other sides of the area. There is also a training centre offering dinghy sailing and powerboating courses. When planning your stay, you can weigh up whether village history, coastal scenery or water sports should shape your visit.

Village Character and Architectural History

Felpham retains its rural character in the heart of the village: old buildings, tall flint walls and a picturesque street layout define its appearance. These features shape the village as a whole. The Church of St Mary adds a specific architectural detail: the church is a Grade II* listed building, and its 13th-century clerestory is rare in Sussex. This brings together a broad impression of the village’s appearance and a clearly identified feature of a single building. If you are interested in architectural history, you can shift your focus from the streetscape to a specific architectural feature.

Blake and Local Remembrance

Felpham is where Blake’s “Jerusalem” was born. Blake’s Cottage is a Grade II* listed building. Another memorial can be found in Fisherman’s Gardens, where a blue stone plaque commemorates Ernest Joyce’s courage and pioneering spirit. Fisherman’s Gardens is part of the historic Old Coastguards area in Felpham village. Together, these names and places offer several points of connection to the area’s cultural history: the literary link, a listed building and a specifically identified memorial. The cultural theme thus extends beyond the buildings to include a person commemorated locally.

Coast, Foreshore and Water Sports

At Felpham Beach, bright blue and yellow beach huts shape the view; their colours may change over time. East of the mouth of the Aldingbourne Rife lies Felpham SSSI, a small foreshore area protected for its geological significance. The beach huts and foreshore offer different points of interest: one is a visible feature of the beach, the other a geological aspect of the landscape. These are two distinct coastal themes to weigh according to your interests when planning your trip.

Felpham Sailing Club is an RYA-recognised training centre and mainly offers dinghy sailing and powerboating courses. This gives the water sports theme a specific focus. When choosing a destination, you can therefore consider whether you would like to include a course, or whether the beach scenery and historic local connections are more in line with your interests.

Beach Parking

Felpham Beach has a small car park on Culver Road, as well as free on-street parking. As parking rules may change, check the current parking situation before you travel.

For the wider travel guide: Bognor Regis.