Chichester Marina is the UK's second largest marina, located at the end of the old Chichester…read moreCanal, and opening out onto Chichester Harbour. It provides berths for over 900 boats and is the largest marina on the South Coast. History The huge natural Chichester Harbour provides some 17 miles of pretty and sheltered channels to explore, and so has always been a popular location for sailing. Boats had begun to moor at the end of the Chichester Canal since the 1920s, when it became disused, and also at nearby Birdham Pool. As sailing grew further in popularity, a large, purpose-built marina was built adjacent to the end of the canal, with its own lock entry gates. This was excavated in the 1960s from the marshy remains of the Apuldram Salterns, a salt works which had been in operation from around 1730 until the 1820s. Facilities As you would expect from so large a marina, the facilities are plentiful: there are modern shower and toilet blocks, a launderette, state-of-the-art lock control headquarters and marina reception, alongside hi-tech security, 24-hour staffing, two bar/restaurants, wi-fi access across the marina and a range of associated boat yards and chandlery suppliers for boat owners. There is also a small provisions shop open during the summer, although the main supermarkets are avialable in Chichester, 10 minutes' drive away. It has been awarded Five Gold Anchors - the highest award - by the Yacht Harbour Association. Practicalities The Marina is accessed from the A286 Birdham Road, between Birdham and Chichester and clearly signposted. There is plenty of free parking at the marina. Details of berthings available and rates can be found on the website: day berths are available as well as longer-term and seasonal berths, and dry berths. Some berths (mainly for houseboats) are also available on the lower reaches of the Chichester Canal.

Large marina with plenty of berths for visitors. There is a bit green converted lightship at the…read moreentrance with showers and a restaurant/bar/café that opens early for breakfast. The staff are helpful and very friendly. The location is good as you can nip across to Portsmouth on a ferry (very frequent) and you're bang in the middle of the historic dockyard Three stars however for a really big problem: the visitors berths are right in front of the Marina entrance and all the cross channel ferries/ships etc. that go past most of the way through the night produce a spectacular amount of wash which is pretty uncomfortable. Hence I would recommend Gosport Marina which from memory doesn't have that issue.

Good marina on the Thames. Stocks diesel and petrol and has a very good chandlery.read more

It's just not very lovely !! The approach gives me anxiety with its building works & severe sky…read morehigh concrete passes & barriers & parking impossibilities. Brighton of all places should have a funky marina a real destination - this one is clumsy uncomfortable and soulless

This is a cute area, but everything was either closed or appeared lackluster in comparison to what…read moreyou can find in London. Two of us came here in February on a Monday morning, granted this is off season, but nothing seemed open and the town itself seemed completely asleep all morning. The marina is beautiful and has a variety of food options, but not much opens until 11am or 12pm. The boats are shining and the water looks clean as the sun beams down across it all. The bathrooms are upstairs and the disability bathrooms are locked on the first floor which seems quite disappointing in case of emergency. The bathrooms upstairs surprisingly had a good electric dyson hand dryer and was clean, although inconvenient to get to. Tip/Takeaway: Would not recommend planning on spending much time here other than passing through to get to the Undercliff Walk and making a bathroom break upstairs.