Why move to Chichester?

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Making the decision to relocate to a new area is never an easy one.

Having been estate agents in Chichester for over 40 years, we’ve written this blog to help paint a picture of what it’s really like to live in the area and help you decide if Chichester is where you want to call ‘home’.

Your home is your sanctuary and one of the largest investments you make in life, so make it a good one and somewhere you’re truly proud of and enjoy spending your free time. 

Chichester has been named as the ‘Best Place to Live in the South East of England’ in the annual Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide, and with good reason. Chichester combines charm, compassion, education, and nature with a rich cultural scene that seamlessly blends the past with the present, not to mention some simply stunning property! Did you know that Chichester welcomed the highest number of Ukrainian refugees per head in the country? The Times weren’t wrong when they said “Chichester has both class and a heart”.

As Helen Davies, the editor of Best Places to Live 2023, said:

“When times are tough, where we live matters more than ever. Attractive surroundings, good neighbours and a comfortable home are the best defences when the stresses of modern life seem overwhelming”.

Chichester offers all of the above, and so much more!

Why make the move?

As estate agents in Chichester, our team have lived and worked in the City for most of their lives and claim that work-life balance here is a distinct benefit. 

For work, Chichester is a perfect commuter city. You can get into London from as little as 90 minutes by train, Brighton is just under an hour away and you can reach Portsmouth in just 30 minutes. There is also easy access to the A27 as well as an abundance of other excellent public transport services, including from the bus station you can travel to various destinations, including Heathrow and Gatwick airports, which are approximately 90-minutes and slightly over an hour’s journey, respectively.

What more could you want after a long day at work other than to come home for a leisurely stroll around the picturesque Chichester Harbour followed by a delicious meal at the Crown & Anchor pub? Our team rave about their freshly caught seafood dishes! 

When you’re not commuting or working, there’s a multitude of opportunities to relax, unwind and enjoy your home surroundings for a range of budgets. From a city that is steeped in history and cultural exploits, you also have the Witterings beaches to dive into, as well as a variety of villages on the perimeter of the city that can provide a quieter and slower pace of life, such as West Wittering, Bosham and Funtington. There’s an abundance of activities, clubs, and small businesses that can offer something for everyone no matter what age. 

If you’re considering relocating as a family, or are planning on starting your family after putting down new roots, rest assured that the educational facilities in and around Chichester are excellent. Chichester earned its title as the ‘Best place to live in the South East’ due to its top-notch schools, from primary to secondary. Chichester College is also highly regarded with an ‘outstanding’ rating from Ofsted. Additionally, the University of Chichester excels in teaching quality, ranking 7th in the nation (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide) and 10th in student satisfaction across the UK (Complete University Guide).

Property Prospects

Living in Chichester is undoubtedly attractive, offering diverse amenities and property options. Chichester’s city centre provides a great mix of different property types and remains the most desirable area to invest in. While it’s not inexpensive, you can still find good-value homes in various styles, from flats selling for an average price of £423,500 in the city centre, to larger detached houses around £895,000.

If you’re considering a move to Chichester get in touch with the team from our Chichester branch today. Our local experts have been estate agents in Chichester for over 40 years and it would be our pleasure to discuss what moving to the area could look like for you. 

 

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What our clients say

Efficient and friendly service

We came into contact with Sim Williams as we were looking for a rental property in Chichester and we have been delighted with the service from this company. From arranging the viewing, advice and opinions over the phone, sorting out references and liaising with the landlord, the service we had from Sim Williams was efficient, very friendly and very professional. Would highly recommend!
Samantha - Tenant - Jan 27th, 2022

Thanks for everything!

Team Sims Williams, Thank you so much for a thoroughly professional, efficient and effective service. I don't think we'd have got over the line without you. It was the second time we've purchased through SW and I'd be happy to use you again.
Matt - Buyer - Oct 6th, 2021

Local Knowledge - Proactive Marketing - Regular Updates

We instructed Sims Williams to market our Church View development of 6 Village Homes. Their local knowledge and proactive marketing together with regular updates on each of the transactions kept us fully informed throughout the entire process. I’d be happy to discuss any aspect of their involvement personally with anyone concerned.
Tony Harrison - Managing Director Globe Estates (Southern) Ltd. -

Excellent Service

Brilliant Estate Agents, I sold my property and brought another through Sims Williams, John was fantastic and so helpful throughout the whole process. I would 100% recommend this Estate Agents.
Amy - Vendor - Apr 7th, 2021

Exceptional Service

What exceptional service. Thank you Calum. We must give praise where it is due and you went above and beyond our expectations by updating and guiding us every step of the way. We would highly recommend your services to anyone and everyone! A real professional.
John & Zoe - Vendor - Feb 24th, 2021

One Word - Fantastic.

We don’t normally write reviews, but on this occasion we had too. In life you get what you pay for, whilst I’m sure that there are cheaper agents out there; if you want a stress free move with knowledgeable, friendly and dedicated agents, that give excellent communication, then look no further than Sims Williams. We dealt with John, Annie and Vanessa, we sold and purchased through them. The Team in the Bognor Branch is fantastic, we couldn’t of hoped for better agents to support us through the journey which wasn’t always the easiest but they communicated to either side of the chain fantastically, keeping stress to a minimum and helped us through the bumps to complete in 11 weeks. A big thank you to you all, and in the future we wouldn’t look anywhere else. Sam and Lisa.
Mr & Mrs Poston - Dec 7th, 2021

Mill Gate New Home

We purchased a new build property on the Mill Gate site. Jane and Marilyn have been very helpful and supportive throughout our move. Many thanks
Martin - Buyer - May 27th, 2022

Wonderful & very helpful Agency

Wonderful service which has led me step by step to completing house agreement. Special thanks to Jo for all the professional help provided.
Ilona - Tenant - Jan 21st, 2023

Property Purchase

I would like to thank Sims Williams for their first class service when we bought a property from the Millgate development in Barnham. Both Jane and Marilyn went above and beyond to support our house purchase. They were always kind, helpful and friendly. Thank you very much.
Emma- New Home Buyer - Apr 12th, 2022

Great service

Sims Williams were great with me right from the start of the process through to completion. They were patient in explaining things to me and demystifying some of the jargon as a first time buyer. They were always happy to go the extra mile and add nice touches, such as offering to visit the property to check the kitchen appliances on my behalf when away and giving me a thoughtful complimentary gift on completion. But most importantly they were efficient and got things done. I'd have no hesitation in recommending them and Megan who was in charge of my move was terrific.
Mr Frogley - Buyer -