Worthing in West Sussex is home to two Michelin-listed restaurants and 560 independent businesses, according to the Worthing Town Centre Business Improvement District (BID). The seaside town, often described as a quieter alternative to Brighton, sits just 20 minutes away and is within easy reach of London via direct trains taking just over an hour.
A thriving independent scene
Beyond the shore, Worthing is filled with independent shops, cafés, restaurants and galleries. Notable spots include The Little Shop of Jules, a dedicated hat shop; Eclectic Home, an antique store; and the Laughing Dog, a combined store and café. Near the seafront, East Beach Studios showcases local artists' prints, jewellery and crafts.
Warwick Street, one of the town's oldest thoroughfares dating back to the late 18th century, is lined with cafés and restaurants that spill onto a largely pedestrianised area. It is also home to Heavy Gretel, featuring locally made artwork and crafts, and the Dowse, a gift shop.
Culinary highlights
Among the town's eateries, two Michelin-listed restaurants stand out. BAUJI, an Indian restaurant founded by chef Dayashankar Sharma, opened in March 2026 and received a Michelin Guide mention within six months, along with a spot in the Good Food Guide's Top 100 Local Restaurants. Tern, a relaxed fine-dining restaurant, is described as a "celebration of British produce and the people who grow, fish, and forage it".
Food vans line the promenade, and the CrabShack, a seafood restaurant and beach bar, is a local favourite. Perch on Worthing Pier, located in a restored Art Deco Southern Pavilion, serves hearty dishes with panoramic sea views.
Landmarks and attractions
Worthing Pier, opened in 1862, has been a landmark for over 150 years. At its far end, the Pavilion Theatre and Pavilion Atrium Bar offer classic seaside entertainment. The pier was named Pier of the Year in 2006 and 2019.
The Lido amusement park, along the seafront, has been part of Worthing for over a century. It operated as an outdoor swimming pool from 1957 until the 1980s, later serving as temporary accommodation for dolphins during Brighton Sea Life Centre's renovation. In 1989, the pool was covered and transformed into an amusement park with children's rides. Connaught Theatre, opened in 1914, is one of the UK's oldest cinemas. Worthing also sits at the base of the South Downs National Park, offering access to white chalk cliffs and the 100-mile South Downs Way.
