The wedding location sits inside the South Downs National Park, an area of outstanding natural beauty. There are many activities to enjoy whilst you are in the local area, from towns, villages, castles and ruins to visit, beautiful views to soak in and pubs and restaurants to go to.

Local Towns & Villages

Midhurst & Easebourne

Midhurst is a market town that is full of local shops, old hotels and a duck pond. It is home to the Cowdray Ruins (picture above) which are wonderful to walk around and alongside the river. Midhurst is a 5 minute drive from Easebourne, where Charlotte grew up and St Mary’s Church is located where the service will happen. Easebourne is home to Cowdray House, the Cowdray Estate, Cowdray Polo and Cowdray Farm Shop and Cafe. 

You can easily walk from Midhurst, via the ruins, past the polo grounds to Cowdray Farm Shop and Cafe. - Charlotte has created a map here. Cowdray Farm Shop and Cafe are also right next to the church so a perfect place to have a coffee or a light lunch before the wedding service. Note, it can get busy at weekends.  There is also a pub called the Royal Oak, a short drive from Midhurst (Google Map Link).

The polo season lasts from late April to September, so there maybe the opportunity to watch a match after the wedding on the Sunday if you fancied. 

Fact: you will notice lots of saffron yellow painted windows in the area, these properties were previously owned by Cowdray Estate.  

If travelling with kids: there is also a fabulous playground in Easebourne at Easebourne Park for children of all ages with swings, zip wires, slides, swings, a scooter / cycle track and more. People travel from afar to play here. Park at Easebourne Primary School.

Petworth

A charming town, filled with antique and other boutique shops and heritage buildings. It is also the home of the 17th-century National Trust run stately home Petworth House which contains one of the finest art collections in the care of the National Trust and it is nestled in a 700-acre deer park (Petworth Park) which is wonderful to take a walk around. Here is a link to a Petworth Estate Map if you want to explore the Park. We often access the Park from the New Lodges Entrance (on the Midhurst-Petworth Road - Google Map Link)  for a walk around the Upper Pond or Upperton Gate in Tillington  (Google Map Link).

The Angel Inn in Petworth has good accommodation options (see Accommodations Page) and is good for a meal too.

Tillington

A small village between Easebourne and Petworth which is very near to the wedding reception location. It is home to one of the Hill family's (and now Jan’s) favourite restaurants / pubs, The Horseguards. This is a delightful pub with a beer garden to go to for lunch or dinner. Bookings essential.

Chichester

A cathedral city about 20 minutes drive from Easebourne which was a Roman and Anglo-Saxon settlement and a major market town from those times through Norman and medieval times to the present day. Places to visit include: Pallant House Art Gallery and Café, Chichester Cathedral, Chichester Festival Theatre and there is a walk around the old walls of the city. Nearby are West Dean Gardens which are gardens with an Edwardian pergola, Victorian glasshouses and a walled kitchen garden (open every day),


South Downs National Park

The chalk ridgeline of the South Downs extends 100 miles from Winchester to Eastbourne (not Easebourne). Midhurst is a stone’s throw away from this ridgeline which is a spectacular place to visit with the panoramic views across the surrounding countryside. In 2010, the South Downs National Park was created to help preserve this area of outstanding natural beauty. 

Walking / spectactular views: A favorite place of Charlotte’s family to visit for a quick walk or to admire the view is Harting Down (Google Map link) which is a 15 minute drive from Midhurst. You can go on an out and back walk from the carpark. If you want more information please ask Charlotte. 

Eating: The Three Horseshoes Pub in Elsted (Google Map Link) is a typical British Pub with a simple but delicious menu that is wonderful to visit on a sunny day as it has a garden that overlooks the South Downs. Another favourite of Charlotte’s family which Jan also loves. 

Dark Sky Reserve: The South Downs National Park is also a designated Dark Sky reserve. Some good locations for astrophotography if conditions permit - Upwaltham Church and the Seven Sisters (90 minute drive from Midhurst).

Other Activities for Kids

- Weald and Downland Open Air Museum. Highly recommended. Open every day. See what rural living was like – there is over 1,000 years of history to explore and over 50 relocated historic houses. This is an outing that both children and adults will enjo Address: Weald & Downland Living Museum, Town Lane, Singleton, Chichester, West Sussex PO18 0EU. Entry price £15.50 per adult/£7.50 for children. There is also a family ticket.

- Sky Park Farm, Petersfield GU31 5PT: A deer farm located near to Petersfield. They have deer to feed, a farm trail an adventure playground, picnic area and farm shop and café. Adult Day Ticket £6.50/ Child Day Ticket £3.50. Under 3s free.

- Holycombe Steam Fair – Holycome. Open certain weekends. Fairground rides – mainly steam powered. Near Liphook GU30 7LP

- Herons Leisure Centre – Haslemere. Swimming pool, Kings Road, Haslemere, Surrey GU27 2QT

- Taro Leisure Centre – Petersfield – swimming pool, Penns Place, Petersfield, GU31 4EX Tel: 01730 263996

Food Shopping

Midhurst

  • COOK in Midhurst is highly recommended for good quality and fairly priced frozen ready cooked meals. (COOK, 144 Easebourne Lane (opposite BP garage), Midhurst GU 29 9AZ Tel: 01730 817090), Opening times from 9.00 – 5.00 generally but do check.

  • BP Garage in Easebourne Lane is useful for emergency supplies and a cashpoint as well as fuel.

  • Sainsburys Local, Bepton Road, Midhurst, GU29 9NA, Opening hours 7 am – 10 pm except Sundays 10 am – 4 pm

  • Tesco Express – very basic in Midhurst High Street

  • Cowdray Farm Shop – Lovey farm shop. Top End. They do sell prepared freezer meals. Cowdray Farm Shop, Midhurst GU 29 0AJ

Petworth

  • Co-Op Food Store. Market Square, Petworth GU28 0AH. Small Supermarket. opening hours 7.00 am – 10.00 pm generally

  • The Hungry Guest Deli, Middle Street, Petworth GU28 0BE

Our contact information for further information:

Jan: +61 (0) 425 654 464 | jan.breckwoldt@gmail.com

Charlotte: + 61 (0) 429 922 548 | charlotteidhill@gmail.com