What it's like to live in Arundel

St Philip's Catholic Primary School is the closest primary, just under half a mile away. Beyond that you are looking outward: Lyminster Primary at 2.4 miles, then White Meadows Primary Academy, St Catherine's Catholic Primary and River Beach Primary all within three miles, in the Littlehampton direction.

For secondary, The Littlehampton Academy at 2.8 miles is the only school within three miles, so most teenagers will travel. Check bus times and school transport rules with West Sussex County Council before you decide.

Family support is close at hand. Arundel Library is a short walk, the Norfolk Centre is in town, and Arundel Scout Hall is nearby. The Arun East Family Hub in Littlehampton and the K2 Youth and Community Centre are both under three miles, and there is a toy library in Littlehampton too.

Arundel station is about half a mile from the centre, which makes this a genuinely useful place to live without a car. Ford station is two miles away and Amberley three miles, so you have options if a line is disrupted.

Buses stop right in town at Riverbank and Queen Street, both effectively on the doorstep, with Selwyn Avenue about two and a half miles out towards Littlehampton.

The town itself is walkable but hilly, and the High Street is steep. If you have mobility needs or push a buggy, walk the route before you commit. Parking in a small historic town is tight, so a car is not a complete answer either.

Green space is Arundel's strong suit. Jubilee Gardens, the Public Garden, Arundel gardens and Castle Park are all within a third of a mile, and WWT Arundel wetland centre sits about half a mile out — a good, calm day out with children.

The town has plenty of pubs for its size, including The Red Lion, the Norfolk Tap, The Swan Hotel and The Norfolk Arms Hotel, all in the centre. That does mean evening noise in some streets.

For exercise indoors, the gyms are mostly a couple of miles away, towards Littlehampton: Imogym, RyanFitHub, The Dedicated Gym, AJ's Gym and Sussex Tornados Gym. Nothing in Arundel itself, so factor in the bus or a walk.

Arundel is a small town with a strong visitor trade, so a lot of local work is in hospitality, retail and care. The hotels and pubs in the centre, the independent shops, the wetland centre and the nearby hospital are the kinds of employers you will find on your doorstep.

Across West Sussex, 57.8% of adults are in work, just above the England figure of 57.4%, and unemployment is lower at 2.9% against 3.5% nationally. In August 2026, 3.1% of 16 to 64 year olds in the county claimed unemployment-related benefits, compared with 4% for England.

With the station so close, commuting is realistic, and many people here work elsewhere along the coast or up the line.

West Sussex is not a big social housing county. Just 12.7% of homes are socially rented, split between 4.5% council and 8.2% housing association, against 17.1% for England. Most homes here, 68.5%, are owned outright or with a mortgage, and 17.5% are privately rented.

That shapes Arundel. Social homes exist, but they are a small part of a small town, and turnover is low. Expect to wait for the right match.

The county also skews older: 22.8% of residents are 65 or over compared with 18.4% nationally, and under-16s are slightly below the England share. Arundel feels settled and quiet rather than young and busy, which suits some households and not others.