IT’S no secret that Princess Diana spent a lot of her time in West Sussex.
But the little-known village of West Itchenor is where Princess Diana spent summer breaks with her family when she was a child.
West Itchenor is a popular sailing destination for locals and tourists[/caption]
Princess Diana was pictured in a boat on West Itchenor in 1970[/caption]
The church is the oldest building in the village, followed by the old rectory[/caption]
The seaside village was named one of the poshest in the UK by the Telegraph last year, what with the number of houses selling for over £1million.
And Princess Diana was often photographed on her holidays there in the seventies when she was a child.
The royal loved being out on the water, and West Itchenor is famous for its sailing community.
For those who can’t, or don’t want to sail, there’s a ferry service at West Itchenor that you can catch from the public jetty to the foot of Smugglers Lane in Bosham.
On the ferry, you can also go to Cobnor Point where there are lots of water sports from sailing to paddle-boarding and powerboating.
It’s even a great place to see seals that rest on the sandy banks.
Your best chance of spotting a seal is if you go during the summer and early autumn.
And while the village of West Itchenor is small, it is known for it’s dog-friendly pub, the Ship Inn, which overlooks the ferry terminal and jetty.
The pub’s seafront location means you an expect a great range of seafood caught nearby, with dishes including mussels, scampi and cod.
Otherwise make sure to grab a coffee at The Quarterdeck Cafe, also by the shipyard.
Princess Diana also enjoyed playing lawn games while on her holiday in West Sussex[/caption]
Don’t expect any hotels in the village, but there are a number of B&Bs you can rent instead.
The neighbouring village of Bosham is also worth a visit.
But be warned, if you drive over to Bosham, be careful where you park your car as when the tide comes in.
The water floods the road immediately next to the harbour and can leave cars stranded.
To locals, this is known as the ‘Bosham Carwash’.
The city of Chichester is also a 20-minute drive away from West Itchenor, or can be reached by ferry.
Chichester Harbour is famous for being the home of the common seal that have been known to take a nap on the swimming platforms of moored boats.
Sightseeing around the city will lead you to the Chichester Cathedral, which has the third biggest spire in England.
Here’s an ancient village in the UK that was owned by a king.
And a retro seaside town is even loved by other royals.
The sailing village is a short drive away from Chichester city centre[/caption]
