15 Things to do in Felpham & Bognor Regis West Sussex for Families

Things to do in Felpham & Bognor Regis. We spent the weekend staying right on the beach in Felpham, while guests of the Beachcroft Beach Hut Suites. While there we packed a lot into our two days trying to explore more of the area. Finding out just how many fun things and tourist attractions there are to do with kids in Felpham and Bognor Regis. Turns out that there is quite a lot and there is so much more than Bognor Regis beach. If I am honest I am surprised by this! We live in West Sussex and had always written Bognor Regis off as a Butlins Resort. Wrong. There are loads of things to do for families and many free children’s activities. If you are looking for a quintessential British weekend by the Sussex coast then Felpham and Bognor Regis seaside resorts should be one for your list. 

READ MORE – Our Stay at The Beachcroft Beach Huts with Kids Felpham West Sussex

 

Things to do in Felpham & Bognor Regis West Sussex

This is how we spent our weekend, at the time of our visit Charlie was nine and Harry was five. There is plenty to do to keep the kids entertained in the seaside town. But like many of our weekends away we try to make sure that the kid’s needs are balanced with the adults. So you may see some pub recommendations for Felpham below as well. 

Beach & Rock Pooling 

Well obviously. Part of the draw of the area is the beach, especially for young children. My advice is to check the tide times when you intend to visit. As when the tide is in the beach is predominately pebbles. However, at low tide, there is quite an expanse of sand. And with the tide going out there are rocks to climb and pools to explore. Now I have it on good authority from friends that live in the village. To head to felpham sailing club on Felpham beach sea front and the stretch of beach just in front is where you will find the best rock pools. And usually crabs. Now when we visited the weather was not perfect so we missed this little gem. But intend to return to do just this in the warmer weather.

Saying that with tall dunes of stones created by the waves the boys enjoyed expelling excess energy in running up and down them even with the tide in. Other activities included looking for interesting stones and shells on the beach and studying driftwood and seaweed. We even found a Mermaid’s purse that had been washed up. And you are never too old to throw stones in the water! It is also a good beach for kites as it tends to be quite windy. 

You can easily take the short walk along the beachfront from Felpham to Bognor Regis spotting the fitness trail as you go. As there is a large prom. We saw numerous kids on scooters and bikes. Plus it is wide enough that there is plenty of space so you do not need to worry about getting in anyone’s way. The beach runs all the way from Felpham to Bognor Regis beach.

 

Land Train

There is a small blue land train which runs from the beachside of Butlins in the car park up the prom and past the bandstand. Taking in Bognor Regis beach as it goes. It was happily going up and down when we visited despite it being the first weekend in March. It cost £1 each way. Anything to help tired little legs. 

Ice Cream & Rock

If the kids are starting to moan then I often find bribery in the form of something sweet works. At the pier end of Bognor Regis, we found several different ice cream shops. We stopped at Pinks Parlour which had piles of brightly coloured gelato in tempting flavours. Plus a decent coffee for mum and dad. If the weather is not behaving you can sit inside as well. Just keep the menus away from the kids as they also have a range of sundaes and waffles. 

On our wanderings and just around th corner from Pink parlour facing the main road. We found a shop selling all sorts of flavours of rock. Rock is an English seaside classic and I have fond memories of the pink sticks of sugar from my own childhood. Only now you can get so many other flavours other than the traditional minty chewy version I remember. 

Bognor Pier

Bognor Regis beach has its own Victorian pier. Although to be honest I do not rate the wooden structure. It is not very long and when we visited very run down. We did have a go a crabbing off the end of it when the tide was in. However, I think the currents are too strong really as we didn’t have any luck. Even with our trusted smoky bacon. There are some love locks at the end which the boys found interesting. 

Fishing Boats

Next to the pier, there are some fishing boats that go out daily. Even at the weekend when we were there. Arrive early and you will see them come in. They sell their wares next to the pier, on the day we visited they had Place and Lobster. The boys are always fascinated by fresh fish and you do not get fresher than that. There is also a little kiosk selling winkles, cockles and eels if you fancy giving them a go.

Amusement Arcades

There are a couple of different arcades along Bognor Regis beach. We tried out the one next to Pinks Parlar that had a good range of 2p machines. The boys even won little toys and enjoyed playing the horse game as well. But be warned they have some pretty impressive wins for high ticket numbers. Thankfully we managed to stick to the 2p machines only. 

Seaside Children’s Play Area

The boys love a park and I was impressed with the very new looking one on Bognor Regis beach seafront. Ideal for Harry’s age there was still some bits to keep Charlie entertained including a big net swing. While the parents could take in the sea views.

William Blake Trail

A great trail if you would like to learn about some local history. Throughout Bognor Regis and Felpham there is a trail dedicated to the famous poet. William Blake lived in Felpham for three years during the 18th century, you can even see his house. Although the thatch looks like it could do with a bit of work. The boys are a little young, but for older kids, especially those studying William Blake it makes an interesting walk. With various signs giving details of his works and life. You can read about the history and download a map of the trail here. 

Old Pubs

If you are looking for quiet old pubs then the village of Felpham is your best bet. In fact, we stopped at The Fox which is just up the road from William Blakes’s old house. Apparently, he use to drink in there on a regular basis. A warm cosy pub that serves delicious-looking food and has a fantastic range of gin and beer. It really should be on your list. Alternatively, just a few minute walk up the road in Felpham village there is The Thatch which comes will equally high recommendations. 

Cafe Scene

Also in Felpham in particular there is a big cafe scene. One of our favourites is the Lobster Pot which is located right on the seafront and good for fans of seafood (if the name didn’t give it away). Alternatively, you can order afternoon tea at Blakes Bar & Beach Terrace which is part of the Beachcroft Hotel. Also overlooking the beach. 

Hotham Park

Hotham Park has got to be on your list of things to do in Felpham & Bognor Regis it is such a great place. We spent almost four hours in this amazing park when we visited. Only leaving because we had a Sunday roast booked. There is so much to do, including a great fun playground, wonderland sculpture trail, mini train, boating lake and adventure golf. Plus a great cafe and plenty of open spaces to explore. If you want a break from the seaside then you will find everything you need here. Where there is something for kids of all ages.

READ MORE – Hotham Park Bognor Regis

 

Miniature Railway

The miniature railway at Hotham Park runs during the school holidays and at weekends from March. It is a voluntary attraction. Costing £10 for the four of us for two loops of the reasonably long track. It is a good way to see everything the park has to offer. Season tickets are available at a considerable discount so if you live locally and will visit again it is worth considering. 

Adventure Golf

You can not visit the seaside without playing adventure golf or crazy golf! There is a more traditional looking crazy golf on the seafront of Bognor close to the pier at Waterloo Square. But we chose to try the one out at Hotham Park which is a popular place. Wildforest Falls Adventure Golf has an animal theme with various different animals located throughout the course. And lots of information about them! Some of the holes are more challenging than others but it is a lot of fun. It took us around an hour and a half to complete the 18 holes and cost £20 for a family of four. In the evening you can now play glow golf on the same course. 

Middleton on Sea

You can walk along the beach from Felpham to Middleton on Sea. More remote with houses and apartments directly on the beach it is a pleasant walk. You can also drive along although parking is a challenge with many of the areas being a private estate. The boys enjoyed throwing stones n the water and flying kites. 

Sunday Roast

When we visited it was very cold so after spending time on the ruggedness of Middleton on Sea beach we opted for a Sunday Roast. On the main road through the village, there are several pubs. The Beresford does a good carvery, but it is popular so you will need to book.  

As you can see there really is a lot to do in Felpham and Bognor Regis with plenty of places to visit. It makes a great weekend break by the seaside for the whole family. Or even a day trip in the South of England.

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If you are visiting then you may also be interested in visiting Littlehampton which is around a twenty-minute drive East of Felpham.

READ MORE – Littlehampton Harbour Park

 

Have you visited Felpham or Bognor Regis or the South coast for family days? What were your highlights?

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