Visiting Arundel, United Kingdom: Top Sights on Foot

The best things to do in Arundel centre on its castle, historic churches and reminders of its medieval life beside the River Arun. The town combines a Norman fortress, Gothic architecture, local museum collections and quieter heritage sites in a compact setting. Neywo offers a free audio guide for Arundel covering seven narrated places, available in 11 languages.

What to See in Arundel

Arundel Cathedral

Arundel Cathedral is a Victorian landmark designed by Joseph Hansom and built between 1868 and 1873. Its French Gothic style draws on the architecture of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, with pointed arches, tracery and a soaring nave.

The cathedral’s spire reaches 280 feet, making it visible across the South Downs. It was originally dedicated as Arundel’s Catholic parish church in 1873. In 1965, when Pope Paul VI established the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton, the building became its cathedral and the seat of its bishop. The Bishop’s House and clergy residence stand beside it in a contrasting Tudor style.

Church of St Nicholas and the Fitzalan Chapel

The Church of St Nicholas stands within the western grounds of Arundel Castle. It is unusual because two distinct worship spaces share one building: the nave and transepts form the Anglican parish church, while the chancel contains the Fitzalan Chapel, a Catholic sanctuary.

The site’s religious history began in 1102, when Roger de Montgomery founded a priory here. The Fitzalan Chapel was built in 1380 by Richard FitzAlan, the eleventh Earl of Arundel, in the English Perpendicular Gothic style. Inside, sculpted effigies mark the tombs of members of the FitzAlan and Howard families, including the Dukes of Norfolk.

Arundel Castle

Arundel Castle has stood above the River Arun for nearly a thousand years. Roger de Montgomery, a companion of William the Conqueror, founded it in the eleventh century. It became the seat of the Earls of Arundel from 1141 and has belonged to the Howard family, the Dukes of Norfolk, since 1660.

The castle combines a medieval fortress with a later Gothic Revival palace. Its Norman motte and keep survive, although the castle suffered major damage during the English Civil War in the seventeenth century. Restoration began in the late eighteenth century under the eleventh Duke of Norfolk, and a further transformation took place from the 1890s, when the fifteenth Duke commissioned architect Charles Alban Buckler.

The keep still rises from its artificial mound. From the top, the views extend across the South Downs and the river valley, showing why the site was chosen for defence and authority.

Trinity Congregational Church, now Nineveh House

Nineveh House began as Trinity Congregational Church, built in the 1830s for a Protestant Nonconformist congregation that had first formed in the 1780s. Its architect, Robert Abraham, gave the building a neo-Norman, Romanesque Revival appearance, with round arches and solid proportions.

The former church is a Grade II listed building. In the 1980s, it was converted into a market and given the name Nineveh House. Its present use reflects another chapter in the history of a building that served as a place of worship for well over a century.

Maison Dieu

Maison Dieu is the surviving remains of a medieval hospital and almshouse. Its name means “House of God”, referring to its original charitable purpose: caring for poor and sick people in Arundel.

The ruins are built of flint and limestone. Among the remaining features, it is possible to trace parts of the chapel and living quarters that once surrounded a central courtyard. The site offers a quieter way to encounter the town’s medieval history beyond the castle.

Arundel Museum

Close to Arundel Castle, Arundel Museum presents the history of the town and its surroundings. Its collections cover Arundel’s medieval origins, the castle, and its development as a market town and river port on the Arun.

The museum is run by volunteers through the Arundel Museum Society, a registered charity supported by subscriptions, donations and fundraising events. That community connection gives the museum a local perspective on the places and stories found around town.

St Mary Magdalene’s Church, Tortington

A short distance beyond the town, St Mary Magdalene’s Church in Tortington occupies a peaceful riverside setting behind a farm. It was founded in the twelfth century as the parish church for the hamlet, serving both the local community and a priory.

The church retains much of its ancient character. Its chancel arch and doorway contain Norman stonework, including grotesque, wide-eyed figures, beakhead carvings and chevron ornamentation. The building combines flint with Caen stone. It remained an active place of worship until 1978, when it was declared redundant.

An Arundel Self-Guided Walking Tour

For an easy way to explore the centre, Neywo’s Castle on the Hill: Arundel’s Dukes, Martyrs and Ruins is a 1.23-kilometre walking tour lasting 69 minutes. It includes six narrated stops: Arundel Cathedral, Church of St Nicholas, Arundel Castle, Trinity Congregational Church, Maison Dieu and Arundel Museum.

The route brings together the town’s principal religious, aristocratic and civic landmarks in one walk. It is a practical choice for visitors looking for a free walking tour in Arundel without joining a group.

Arundel is one stop on a wider journey through England, within the United Kingdom. Its historic character also makes it a useful complement to visits elsewhere in the region, including Bath.

Explore Arundel with Neywo

Download Neywo and explore Arundel with one walking tour, covering 1.23 km in 69 minutes and featuring six narrated stops. The app tells the story of each place as you reach it, at your own pace, with no group and no schedule.

Neywo’s free Arundel audio guide includes seven narrated places, with narration available in 11 languages. Put on your headphones, follow the route through the town and discover its castle, churches, ruins and museum as you walk.