Between Portsmouth And Worthing Lies England's Coastal Town With Laid-Back Beaches

Fancy a swim in the English Channel? Beautiful, laid-back beaches line the edges of this small town in West Sussex, but it's rarely listed among England's top destinations. If you're tired of getting caught in Europe's many tourist traps, this is definitely a gem to add to your list. Selsey has been known as a fishing town since the Bronze Age, and you can expect to dine on freshly caught delicacies during your stay. The town is also a popular place for snorkeling and diving, and is home to a great deal of marine biodiversity. Not to mention, Selsey has consistently been rated as having "excellent" water quality in official assessments, and it also gets some of the best sunshine in the U.K.

Selsey is within an hour's drive of the cities of Portsmouth (to the west) and Worthing (to the east) and sits on the southernmost tip of a small jut of land called the Manhood Peninsula. It's also about a 2.5-hour drive or train ride southeast of London. Its location away from major cities and extended out into the sea makes it an excellent place for stargazing. In fact, Selsey is where astronomer Sir Patrick Moore made his home until his death. The Milky Way and Andromeda Galaxy are visible on clear nights.

As you meander through the town's quaint, quiet streets, you might catch a glimpse of traces of the area's history. For example, the historic Medmerry Mill sits on the west side overlooking Windmill Beach. In town, the Selsey Pavilion is a striking stucco theater from the 1910s — a rare example of the time's ciné-performance buildings. In addition, Selsey connects to several trail systems with miles of gorgeous, mostly flat hiking paths, including the Selsey Tram Way, the Seal Art Trail, and other heritage trails that wind around fields, parks, old train stations, sculptures, and churches.

Selsey's East Beach is a beautiful, mostly pebble oasis where visitors might even see some of the seals after which the town is named. It's the perfect place to go for a swim and walk around. Within walking distance to the east, you'll find the fishermen's huts and pots of freshly caught crustaceans.

If you prefer sand, you'll want to go to Oval Field Beach on the tip of the peninsula. It's a bit less traveled than the other sandy beach in the area, West Wittering, so you can expect calm here. That said, there's a bit of a trade-off: Swimming is not allowed at this beach because of the intense currents, and it's nearly entirely covered during high tide. It has benches and tables nearby, so it's a perfect spot to take a picnic, do some yoga, or make sandcastles with the kids. Oval Field is also right next to the Bill House, a historic building on the National Heritage List for England that has been transformed into an elder care home. Although it's not open to the public, it's a site to behold for its beautiful historic architecture.

Part of Selsey's charm is its connection to the sea by way of its rich fishing and seafood culture. If you're looking for a casual bite, head over to Paddy's Plaice for fish and chips. It embodies the laid-back mood in Selsey, with a takeaway menu served out of a wooden shack overlooking East Beach. If you prefer a casual sit-down meal, you won't want to miss The Old Piggery Farm Shop and Tea Room. Although it's located a bit farther inland, it offers a cozy, dog-friendly tearoom for afternoon tea and crab sandwiches at lunchtime.

Remember while packing that while you do want to prepare for the beach, this isn't a gorgeous Mediterranean destination, where the beaches stay warm virtually year-round. In Selsey, between June and August is when there's the most comfortably warm weather, averaging in the 60s Fahrenheit. That said, if you want to beat the crowds, fall is another great option. Although cooler and perhaps not ideal for swimming, coastal walks in this region in fall are extremely beautiful with the changing foliage. In addition, it's harvest season, which means the farms in and around Selsey will be offering the freshest seasonal delights such as blackberries, elderberries, apples, and pumpkins.

There's a surprisingly wide range of accommodations for such a small town, which speaks to its popularity as a coastal destination. There are campsites and vacation parks with short-term rentals that are highly popular among families from the region. There is also an assortment of cozy bed-and-breakfasts, as well as beachfront villas to choose from if you're looking for something with more amenities. The nearby Crab & Lobster, which also serves as a restaurant, boasts a romantic cottage with rooms for rent, housed in a 350-year-old building.

Selsey is a great home base for exploring the many amazing destinations across the greater West Sussex region. For example, you can reach the only city in West Sussex, Chichester, by a 40-minute bus ride. It's a fun destination with a surprising abundance of arts and cultural events, as well as well-preserved Roman sites. Pagham Harbour, a large wildlife preserve offering trails of pristine and serene wetlands, is also close by.