How Locals Do It: The Right Way to Experience Worthing

When I first arrived in Worthing years ago, I did what most travellers do—I stuck close to the pier, dipped into a few well-rated cafés, and called it a day. But after spending real time in this quietly charming coastal town—and, more importantly, befriending locals—I learned there’s a “right way” to do Worthing. It’s not about rushing through attractions. It’s about soaking in the pace, tasting the town’s history and hidden flavours, and letting the South Coast ease you into its rhythm.

Here’s my guide to experiencing Worthing as the locals do—10 suggestions that go beyond the surface.

1. Start Your Morning with a Real Worthing Breakfast

You might think all seaside towns do breakfast the same way—greasy spoon, strong tea, and baked beans on toast. Not here.

Locals love The Fat Greek Taverna (Rowlands Road) for a surprise Mediterranean-style brunch. Yes, there are olives. Yes, there’s grilled halloumi. And yes, it feels like a holiday within a holiday.

But my personal favourite? Munch Coffee Bar & Kitchen on High Street. Their smashed avocado stack with sriracha hollandaise is the kind of dish you plan your morning around.

🧠 Tip: Skip late breakfasts on weekends. Go early (8:30 AM) or go home hungry.

2. Don’t Just Walk the Pier—Linger on It

Worthing Pier isn’t flashy like Brighton’s. It doesn’t scream for attention with arcades or roller coasters. Instead, it whispers stories of time, tide, and the kind of quiet joy you only find when you’re not in a rush.

I remember the first time I walked its length. It was early—just after sunrise—and the sea mist curled around the railings like something from a Turner painting. The planks beneath my feet creaked softly with every step, and gulls hovered like sentinels above the flat-calm sea. There was a man painting at the far end, earbuds in, easel steady, brush in hand. Not painting for anyone—just painting because that’s what the pier makes people want to do.

At the very tip of the pier, nestled like a gentle surprise, is the Southern Pavilion café. I’d never have guessed such elegance existed in what looks like an old dance hall. Inside, soft jazz hums in the background and sunlight streams through the Art Deco windows. Their cappuccino is smooth, and if you’re lucky, you’ll catch a pianist warming up for an evening swing night.

What sets this place apart isn’t just the view (though on a clear day, you can see as far as France). It’s the atmosphere—the way time seems to slow down as you watch dog walkers pause to chat, teenagers fish with buckets at their feet, and couples link arms, murmuring softly as if not to disturb the sea.

💬 A local woman named Maureen, whom I shared a table with one blustery morning, told me:
“We don’t rush down the pier. We breathe on it.”
And I’ve never forgotten that.

3. Browse the Worthing Lanes—Not Just for Shopping

A lot of tourists skim over Worthing’s side streets, thinking there’s little more than high-street chains and cafés. But locals know the charm is in the lanes—specifically Warwick Street, Montague Place, and those tucked-away corners you stumble upon between them.

These aren’t manicured, overly-designed shopping streets. They’re lived-in. They’re layered. You’ll find secondhand bookstores with handwritten staff recommendations wedged between the pages. There are vintage vinyl shops playing Bowie through dusty speakers. There are boutiques selling nothing but hand-woven linen towels dyed with Sussex seaweed and charcoal.

One of my absolute favourites is Fika Worthing—a Scandinavian-inspired lifestyle store tucked just off Warwick Street. It’s the kind of place you walk into and instantly feel calm. The shelves are lined with soy candles, delicate ceramics, small-batch jams, and dried flower arrangements in muted tones. You’re offered herbal tea when you walk in. No pushy sales—just kindness.

The owners—Lucy and Tom—moved to Worthing after a few years in Copenhagen and brought back with them that slow-living philosophy. It shows in every detail.

🎁 If you want a souvenir that won’t collect dust, pick up one of their sea salt soaps, made locally and scented with herbs grown in nearby Steyning. Or buy a postcard drawn by Worthing artists—you won’t find the same anywhere else.

Wandering the lanes feels like listening to a good album: there are quiet notes, bold surprises, and a rhythm that’s entirely Worthing.

4. Spend Sunset at Goring Gap, Not the Promenade

Ask any local worth their salt where to catch the sunset, and they’ll quietly steer you away from the bustle of Worthing’s central promenade. Instead, they’ll point westward—to the serene, windswept stretch known as Goring Gap.

Goring Gap isn’t polished. There are no cafés or fancy benches—just open space where the Downs meet the sea. On a clear evening, you’ll see silhouettes of paddleboarders drifting in the golden light, or couples nestled on picnic blankets, pouring glasses of wine from reusable flasks.

One evening in late summer, I brought a flask of peppermint tea and a fold-up chair, fully intending to write. But then an elderly man named Bill sat beside me with his dog and offered a tin of homemade shortbread. We ended up swapping stories about coastal life, RNLI rescues, and the Worthing storms of ‘87. I barely wrote a word—but left with more than I could’ve ever jotted down.

💬 Bill’s tip: “If the clouds are broken, wait five minutes after sunset. That’s when the sky lights up proper.”

📸 Photographer tip: The beach grasses in the foreground make for a dreamy composition, especially when paired with a low horizon shot of the sun slipping behind the Isle of Wight.

5. Use the Tide Timetable for Sea Swims

Worthing has quietly built a reputation among wild-swimming enthusiasts. It’s not as showy as Brighton, but that’s part of the draw. Locals swim year-round here—yes, even in January. And they’ll happily welcome you in, thermos in hand.

The key to a good Worthing swim? Knowing the tide. At low tide, you’ll find yourself dodging pebbles and seaweed. At high tide, though, the water comes in clean, fresh, and wonderfully swimmable.

🧭 Best spots:

• Splashpoint, near the colourful beach huts
• Marine Gardens, quieter, with a softer descent into the water

🚿 Showers: Free public ones at the Lido—essential if you’re salty and barefoot.

Pack a towel, wear sea shoes, and bring a flask of hot chocolate or ginger tea for after. You’ll feel reborn.

6. Plan for a Midweek Matinee at the Dome Cinema

Locals love their traditions, and the Dome Cinema is sacred. Opened in 1911, it still has original Edwardian features, plush red seats, and ticket prices that feel like a time warp.

Try a weekday afternoon show. It’s mostly retirees, students, and solo wanderers—no popcorn crunching, just peaceful film watching.

🍿 Insider tip: Bring your own sweets. The staff won’t mind, and you’ll save a few pounds.

🎟️ Book at: domecinema.co.uk

7. Picnic at Highdown Gardens

Locals flock here in the spring. Hidden on the northern edge of town, Highdown Gardens is a beautifully kept botanical gem—and it’s free.

Pack a picnic (cheese rolls from The Pantry Bakery, please), take a sketchbook or journal, and claim a bench under a blooming magnolia.

🌸 What to look for: Rare snowdrops, a silent koi pond, and panoramic views over the South Downs.

8. Book a Table at The CrabShack—But Way in Advance

You can’t say you’ve done Worthing without a meal at The CrabShack. It’s not fancy—think rustic seaside hut—but the seafood is sublime. Grilled mackerel, garlic prawns, crab linguine… it’s everything you want by the sea.

🗓️ Reserve at least a week ahead on OpenTable or call directly.

Locals usually know the best time to go: midweek lunch. Fewer crowds, better service, and the chef’s in a good mood.

💷 Expect to spend £20–£35 per person.

9. Take the Bike Route from Worthing to Shoreham

The stretch of cycle path that hugs the coast between Worthing and Shoreham-by-Sea is well-kept, scenic, and quiet. Locals use it for everything from commuting to dog-walking to first dates.

Rent a bike from SouthCoastCycles or even pick up a second-hand one if you’re staying long. Shoreham has a lovely weekend market worth pedalling for.

🎧 Playlist tip: Listen to soft indie or folk as you ride—something about the salty wind and endless skies suits it.

10. Book Local, Always

Locals support locals. That means skipping the chains and booking stays, meals, and even transport through independent or regional services.

Here are a few trusted platforms locals and seasoned travellers use in the UK:

• 🏨 Accommodation: Wotif UK, CoolStays, Booking.com
• 🍽️ Dining: OpenTable UK, SquareMeal
• 🎟️ Tickets and tours: GetYourGuide UK, Tiqets
• ✈️ Flights and rail: Trainline, Skyscanner UK, National Express

Exploring Worthing like a local doesn’t mean skipping the attractions—it means tuning into the heartbeat of the town, walking slowly, chatting with strangers, ordering the second thing on the menu instead of the first. It means belonging, if only for a few days.

If you’re planning your first visit, let Worthing unfold slowly. Like the tide, it reveals its treasures to those who wait.