Beautiful seaside town that looks more like the South of France which is so isolated there is just one road in and out of it

My London

By Hannah Cottrell

Published 23rd February 2023

Nestled on a corner of the south coast lies a beautiful seaside town that looks more like the South of France. Located about seven miles south of the city of Chichester, the coastal town of Selsey is so remote, there's just one road in and out of it.

Locals and tourists alike flock to the beaches - of which Selsey has two - on scorching summer days to get a taste of the gorgeous coastlines. And while Selsey Beach and East Beach are pebbled, beautiful sandy stretches of the coast are revealed with the low tide.

The coastal towns lies at the southernmost point of the Manhood Peninsula, which is a small island cut off from mainland Sussex by the sea. There's just one road in and out of the town, the B2145, which briefly becomes a bridge at a point known as 'the ferry'.

Located over the water inlet at Pagham Harbour, the bridge has been coined as 'the ferry' because at one point, there was a ferryman who took people across to the island and into Selsey.

The town is bounded to the west by Bracklesham Bay, to the north by Broad Rife (rife being the local word for a stream or creek), and to the east by Pagham Harbour.

There are also significant rock formations beneath the sea of both of Selsey's coasts, named as the Owers rocks and Mixon rocks.


And while swimming and sunbathing might be top of the list of things to do for visitors, there are plenty of cracking food and drink spots in the little town. The Seal Bar and Restaurant has received rave five-star reviews online for those looking for a meal out, as well as highly-rated B&B rooms for visiting guests.

Elsewhere, the Waves Cafe and Sandwich Bar, at just a short walk up from the coast, is also popular with locals and tourists. And, true to a traditional English town, there are plenty of hearty pubs to choose from, such as The Neptune, Fisherman's Joy or The Hope Inn.

For something a little more upbeat, visitors can head to The Crown Inn, a highly-reviewed pub with a delicious food which turns into a nightclub after 10pm. Alternatively, those looking for a quieter visit can also take a stroll through the grounds of one of Selsey's four 19th century churches which are dotted around the town centre.

Read the article on My London here.