Arundel Cathedral

Southeast England


Arundel’s ostentatious 19th-century Catholic cathedral is one of the dominating features on the town’s impressive skyline. Commissioned by the 15th Duke of Norfolk in 1868, the impressive structure was designed by Joseph Aloysius Hansom (inventor of the Hansom cab) in the French Gothic style, but shows much Victorian economy and restraint. Although small for a cathedral – it holds just 500 worshippers – Hansom’s clever layout makes the building seem a lot bigger.

A 1970s shrine in the north transept holds the remains of St Philip Howard, a canonised Catholic martyr who was banged up in the Tower of London by Elizabeth I until his death in 1595 for reverting to Catholicism. The building attracts only a trickle of tourists, rare indeed for a cathedral in southern England.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Southeast England attractions

1. Arundel Castle

0.26 MILES

Arundel Castle was first built in the 11th century but all that's left of the early structure are the modest remains of the keep. It was ransacked during…

2. Arundel Museum

0.32 MILES

Located opposite the Arundel Castle gates, this small museum has sections on the castle, the South Downs National Park and the River Arun’s role in 19th…

3. Chichester City Walls

9.49 MILES

Chichester’s almost complete ring of Roman defensive walls are around 1.5 miles in length, and provide a pleasant escape from the retail bustle they now…

4. Pallant House Gallery

9.67 MILES

A Queen Anne mansion built by a local wine merchant, handsome Pallant House and a 21st-century wing host this superb gallery. The focus is on mostly…

5. Chichester Cathedral

9.78 MILES

This understated cathedral was begun in 1075 and largely rebuilt in the 13th century. The free-standing church tower went up in the 15th century; the…

6. Novium Museum

9.8 MILES

Chichester’s purpose-built museum provides a home for the eclectic collections of the erstwhile District Museum, as well as some artefacts from Fishbourne…

7. Fishbourne Roman Palace

11.01 MILES

Fishbourne Palace is the largest-known Roman residence in Britain. The palace lies 1.5 miles west of Chichester, just off the A259 (take bus 700 from…

8. Hove Museum & Art Gallery

16.65 MILES

Hove can justifiably claim to be the birthplace of British cinema, with the first short film shot here in 1898. You can see it alongside other fascinating…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "england/southeast-england/arundel/attractions/arundel-cathedral/a/poi-sig/1214197/358974",
      "destination": "Southeast-England",
      "continent": "Europe",
      "country": "England",
      "region": "Southeast-England",
      "position": "superzone"
    }