Air
Gatwick
The closest and most convenient airport by far is London Gatwick (LGW). It is around an hour’s drive by car, or 50 minutes by train. Notably, there are direct flights between Gatwick and Toronto Pearson (YYZ) although currently Air Transat is the only operator offering these flights. There are rumours that WestJet, (which we would strongly recommend as an alternative to Air Transat), may resume service on this route in the summer of 2024. Various other airlines also offer direct flights to Gatwick from New England, California, various cities in Europe, as well as domestic flights within the UK.
Getting from Gatwick to Boxgrove is straightforward by rail. Arun valley line trains traveling south from London Victoria stop at London Gatwick and go to Barnham and Chichester, the closest stations to Boxgrove (see rail section). Some of the rail carriages in use on this service have very few luggage racks, but smaller suitcases and carry on luggage will fit in the space between and below seats which are back to back.
Heathrow
London Heathrow (LHR), the biggest airport in London, is another suitable option, with flights from worldwide. However, transport connections to the south coast are less convenient, and the best way to travel is by car. The drive from Heathrow to Boxgrove is between 1 hour and 15 minutes and 2 hours, depending on traffic. We usually use Helen’s Airport Taxis for this journey. The easiest way to get to Boxgrove by rail is by going into London from Heathrow and getting the train south from there (see rail section).
Southampton
Southampton (SOU) airport is a good alternate option for domestic flights within the UK, or select European cities. It is 40-60 minutes away from Boxgrove by car. It is approximately an hour and 15 minutes’ journey by train, first taking the airport link to Southampton Central, then transferring onward to Chichester/Barnham on an eastbound train.
Stansted
London Stansted (STN) is not recommended, as getting from there to the south coast will involve either going across or around London, at minimum a two and a half hour journey.
Rail
Boxgrove is located roughly halfway between Barnham and Chichester stations. Both stations are on the Arun Valley (London to Portsmouth/Southampton/Bognor Regis) and Coastway West (Brighton/Littlehampton to Southampton/Portsmouth/Bognor Regis) lines, with two trains per hour throughout the day in each direction. If you are staying in the area, consider which station would be more convenient for onward travel. Notably, there is a bus every 30 minutes from Chichester to Boxgrove, but no transit connections between Barnham and Boxgrove.
Trains from London
Southern trains on the Arun Valley line south from London Victoria are typically two different services joined together, with the front four train carriages destined for Portsmouth or Southampton, and the remaining four or eight train carriages destined for Bognor Regis. The services to Portsmouth or Southampton will reach Barnham and Chichester around 30 minutes faster with a total journey time of around 1 hour and 20 minutes, so aim to be in the front four train coaches. Getting from Barnham or Chichester to Boxgrove is roughly a 20 minute drive. Uber is now in Chichester, but most taxi companies in the area are having difficulty meeting demand during peak periods or unusual hours. Pre-booking is worthwhile to avoid long waits. We typically do so with Barnham Station Taxis from Barnham.
National and International Trains
If you are getting a train from farther afield, you should probably aim to transfer in London. This will typically be at Kings Cross/St. Pancras (for East Coast Main Line or Eurostar trains) or Euston (for West Coast Main Line trains). The Victoria line provides a fast (15-20 minute) connection between both stations and Victoria station (where Southern trains depart), but the rolling stock in use on the Victoria line is relatively cramped, particularly if one has bulky luggage. The Circle line is significantly slower, but offers much more spacious trains.
Road
Boxgrove is located just off the A27, at the Tangmere/Boxgrove roundabout, between Chichester and Fontwell. Exiting the A27 toward Boxgrove will take you onto the street, which is the main North/South road through Boxgrove. The Priory can be accessed towards the other end of the village (past the small village roundabout) by an unnamed road on the east side of the street, just across from the alms houses (after the school).
Parking
If you need to park in Boxgrove, please park at Boxgrove Village Hall. It is located on the west side of the street, around 20 meters beyond the turning for the priory. For those with reduced mobility, a very limited number of parking spaces will be available in the priory car park. Please get in touch with us if you would like to park here, as we will need to coordinate with the musicians, clergy, and caterers to ensure that an appropriate space is kept available for you.
Sea
If you are coming from Europe, it is possible to take a routine ferry service from several ports in France to places on the south coast. Portsmouth is the closest, followed by Newhaven and then Bournemouth.
Routine transatlantic sailings occur between New York and Southhampton, which is about an hour’s drive west of Boxgrove. The most convenient sailing would arrive in Southampton on August 30th.
