Who needs the Cotswolds? Sussex district has been named one of the world's best travel destinations - where Kate Winslet shops in Waitrose and Keith Richards pops into local council meetings

Tucked away in the heart of West Sussex – just at the foot of the chalky hills of the South Downs – lies a city brimming with Roman history, Georgian architecture and bucolic backdrops. But if you assumed Chichester was just another quiet English market town, think again: it has now been named one of the world’s top travel destinations.According to online travel agency Expedia’s Unpacked’27 Report, searches for Chichester have increased by 30 per cent compared to last year, making it one of the top ten fastest-growing tourism spots alongside the likes of Hyogo in Japan, Holbox in Mexico, and Perugia in Italy.'Chichester's rising popularity reflects a wider trend we're seeing among travellers who are looking beyond the UK's best-known cities in favour of destinations that offer character, culture and a slower pace of travel,' says Melanie Fish, travel expert and spokeswoman for Expedia.And it’s not just the tourists taking over: the city’s district is home to many A-list celebrities seeking out a secluded life by the sea, including Kate Winslet who reportedly owns a £4million mansion in West Wittering on Chichester’s sandy coast and is sometimes spotted shopping at the local Waitrose. Keith Richards frequently attends council meetings opposing beachfront developments in Chichester's West Wittering Kate Winslet is sometimes spotted shopping at the local Waitrose in ChichesterMeanwhile Keith Richards has a Grade II-listed cottage also in West Wittering, where he frequently attends council meetings opposing beachfront developments. Notably in 2015, the Rolling Stones guitarist lodged an objection to a planned £1.5million beachfront café and restaurant, arguing it would spoil the 'natural beauty and seclusion' of the area. In his autobiography, Richards describes how he came across Redlands Cottage after making a wrong turn, purchasing it in 1966 for £20,000. Months later, it would become infamous as the place where Richards and Mick Jagger were arrested following a high-profile drug raid.Only Fools and Horses and Frasier star Nicholas Lyndhurst is also a well-known local, having married his childhood sweetheart Lucy in Chichester in 1999 – the couple are often spotted walking along the beach or having lunch, and were most recently seen leaving the multi-department retailer The Range near the city centre in May this year.And the area is becoming something of a celebrity in its own right, having recently emerged as a popular filming location. Earlier this year, actor Steve McFadden who plays Phil Mitchell in EastEnders was seen filming an episode of the soap along West Wittering’s beach, meanwhile actor and comedian Alan Carr was spotted with television presenter Mel Giedroyc in East Ashling, a small village near the city, at the Horse and Groom pub. According to Sussex World, it’s understood the pair were filming the second series of Last One Laughing UK.So what is it about this quaint English city that attracts tourists and celebs alike?'With its historic streets, thriving arts scene and proximity to both the South Downs and the coast, Chichester offers the perfect balance of relaxation and discovery,' Fish says. Home to the 16th-century Market Cross where the four original Roman roads intersect, Chichester's streets are lined with red-bricked Georgian homes and boutique shops and cafés. History enthusiasts flock to the 950-year-old cathedral whose Romanesque walls also house works by the 20th-century artists Sir John Piper, Marc Chagall and Graham Sutherland. Nip to the street opposite and you’ll find The Novium, a three-storey museum built over a Roman bath house that traces the city’s history from 500,000 years ago. The 16th-century Market Cross marks where the four original Roman roads intersect Mick Jagger and Keith Richards stand outside Redlands Cottage, pictured 1967 Chichester is home to a 950-year-old cathedral, here viewed from the Bishops Palace GardensMeanwhile on South Street, a Grade I-listed Queen Anne townhouse is home to the contemporary art museum Pallant House Gallery which boasts works by Sir Peter Blake, Lucian Freud and Gino Severini among others.A-listers and aristos, however, are more likely to be found at the Duke of Richmond’s 17th-century stately Goodwood House, home to the annual motorsport event Festival of Speed, as well as the revered horse racing festival-cum-garden party Glorious Goodwood.But it isn’t just the sportscars and stallions that attract the Hollywood stars and English socialites, who travel far and wide to attend the most coveted of the estate’s events: the annual Goodwoof – also known as ‘Glastonbury for dogs’ – a two-day extravaganza celebrating our four-legged friends. During the 2024 Goodwoof, Harry Potter actor Tom Felton and the Princess of Wales’s brother James Middleton were spotted by Tatler convening at the ground’s private members club ‘The Kennels’ for a reading of Middleton's book Meet Ella: The Dog Who Saved My Life . Meanwhile this year’s famous faces included actor Hugh Bonneville, model Jodie Kidd and astronaut Tim Peake. The average house price in Chichester is £432,000Residents of Chichester may be pleased to see the area’s popularity reflected in the creeping house prices. The Office for National Statistics claims the average house price in Chichester is £432,000, with detached houses commanding an average price of £687,000 as of July 2026. This is well above the national average house price of £293,000 and the average house price in South East England which sits at £381,000.'Chichester has long been a desirable area for home buyers given its proximity to the coast, South Downs National Park and regular trains to London,' a Zoopla spokesman says. Chichester station is only a 90-minute train ride from London Victoria, making it an attractive retirement spot for worn-down Londoners who desire a move to the coast. Though given its broad appeal, retirees may find their beloved Chichester a lot busier with curious tourists over the coming months.