About our towns and villages
Horsham District is made up of a collection of market towns and villages, each with their own history and personality.
Horsham town centre
Horsham is a medieval market town in the heart of West Sussex. It offers shops, cafes and restaurants in a compact and easily accessible town centre. Much of the town is pedestrianised and the train station is a short walk from the town centre.
We run lots of events in the town centre including our popular Friday Lates (pictured). For more information, visit our Events page.
Billingshurst
Situated in the heart of the Sussex Weald in beautiful countryside, Billingshurst’s history dates back to Roman times. Excellent local produce can be sampled in the town's cafés, restaurants, and pubs which attract many visitors from across the area and beyond.
Henfield
An important, thriving village with many buildings dating back to the 14th Century. There is a vibrant village centre with a wide selection of shops, restaurants, pubs and many active clubs and societies.
Pulborough
Standing on the River Arun in the heart of the beautiful Sussex landscape, Pulborough is home to the RSPB Pulborough Brooks Nature Reserve - a magnet for nature lovers. Traditional pubs, tea shops and a range of places to eat make Pulborough a natural destination for visitors.
Southwater
Three miles from Horsham, Southwater saw a major re-development in late 2006 when Lintot Square became the new centre of the now thriving village community. Look out for Iggy, the sculpture of a Prehistoric Iguanodon whose fossilised remains were unearthed on the site in the 1920s.
Steyning
A charming town, popular for its timber-framed Tudor and Stuart architecture, rich history and wonderful location at the foot of the South Downs and half an hour from Brighton. There is ample free parking with a wide choice of interesting shops, including the award-winning Cobblestone Walk, tea rooms, pubs and restaurants and a monthly Farmers Market.
Storrington
First mentioned in the Domesday Book in 1086, Storrington is now a busy and lively village nestling under the South Downs, with an attractive High Street and a Square which was once the cattle market. The village boasts a good range of specialist shops, three public houses, many good restaurants, several cosy tea rooms and a good range of accommodation for visitors.
Arun Valley Line: Beyond the Rails
Travelling between Gatwick, Horsham, Littlehampton or Bognor Regis? Turn your journey into an adventure with our free podcast series, short film and activity pack.
Tune in to the Arun Valley Line podcast, discover new places to visit, stories from locals to enjoy, and landscapes to fall in love with.
FREE activity pack - help Sonnet the Skylark solve a mystery on the Arun Valley Line. Fun for all ages, it’s packed with clues, puzzles and creative challenges to enjoy between stops.
Drink Producers of Horsham District
Discover Sussex Winelands, local breweries and much more in Horsham District thanks to our leaflet celebrating our brilliant local drinks producers.
Collect a printed version of the leaflet, which includes a map, in selected local businesses or download your digital copy at the link below.
Sussex Six food and drink producers
Discover flourishing farm shops, cafés, restaurants, taprooms and more in our new leaflet celebrating members of our Sussex Six campaign. This PDF download is 7MB and does not meet accessibility requirements. You can also pick up a paper copy in local retailers.
Explore more of Horsham District
You can find out more and discover things to do in and around Horsham District by:
- Visiting the Experience Sussex website
- Engaging with the ‘Visit…Horsham District’ series of videos, audio tours and activity sheets exploring the market towns of Horsham District, commissioned by Horsham District Council and created by Whistlestop Arts and Silvertip Film
- Supporting the Sussex Six campaign where local shops, pubs, restaurants and cafés who serve and sell local Sussex produce have pledged to take on at least six more locally-sourced products on their shelves and menus in the coming year.
A Community Partnership is a group of local people that work within their community to deliver a range of activities and support, aimed at creating a thriving and vibrant town or village.
Horsham District is lucky enough to have Community Partnerships operating in Horsham, Southwater, Billingshurst, Pulborough, Steyning, Storrington and Henfield.