Londoners hunting for an easy escape are being pointed towards Chichester, the small cathedral city in West Sussex that's quietly having a moment as a weekend-break pick. It's barely 90 minutes from the capital by train, and it packs in roughly 2,000 years of history into a city centre you can walk across in twenty minutes.

The bones of the place are Roman. Chichester started life as a Roman settlement, and parts of the original city walls still ring the centre — you can walk the full circuit on a raised path that doubles as a free, leafy tour of the city. The market cross at the heart of town dates from the 15th century, and the streets around it are filled with independent shops, galleries and old pub buildings.

The cathedral is the obvious centrepiece. Built starting in the 11th century, it holds medieval carvings, two Chagall windows, and a John Piper tapestry, and entry is free. Beyond the city itself, Chichester works as a base for the coast and countryside around it: the dunes and wide sands of West Wittering beach sit at the end of the peninsula, the South Downs roll nearby, and the Goodwood estate — home of the famous Festival of Speed and Goodwood Revival motorsport events — is just outside town. The city's festival theatre is another draw, notable as the UK's only modern theatre-in-the-round when it opened in the 1960s.

Practically speaking, this is a trip you can do without a car. Direct trains run from London Victoria to Chichester in about an hour and 40 minutes, and the city centre, cathedral and walls are all walkable from the station. Food-wise, the surrounding area is known for its seafood — the harbour at nearby Bosham and Dell Quay is popular with sailors and photographers alike, especially at high tide.

Why it matters: if you've done Brighton and Canterbury and want something similar in scale but quieter, Chichester hits a sweet spot — genuine history, a proper cathedral, a decent food scene and a beach within a short bus or taxi ride, all reachable on a single train ticket. It suits couples after a low-effort weekend, history fans, and anyone pairing a city stay with South Downs walking. Go midweek if you can; weekends fill up with Goodwood event traffic in summer.