While city-living can be exciting and vibrant, residents crave a relaxing escape from time to time. The speed of life in cities such as London can become too much with people often choosing to head away every now and then.
According to TravelSupermarket, Arundel, a market town in West Sussex, is the most relaxing place in Europe. It is located on the stunning South Downs, just a 90-minute train journey from London, and is known for its easy-going atmosphere and historical charm. The town also benefits from having a fine high street as well as being located just three miles from the coast.
Arundel Castle is one of the most popular attractions in the area, with the public able to access the gardens and state rooms. Visitors can take a step back in time to experience nearly 1,000 years of history with fine furniture and works of art on view.
Meanwhile, Arundel Cathedral dominates the skyline of the ancient town. The French-Gothic style Catholic cathedral opened in 1873 and is now known for its towering height and grand rose window.
The cobbled high street is full of thriving independent shops, cafes, art galleries and pubs. The town centre is particularly magical at Christmas time as decorations illuminate the streets.
From the town, there are a number of peaceful walks, including from the River Arun to the Black Rabbit pub nestled on the riverbanks. There are also more demanding routes such as the six-mile hike across the South Downs to the quaint village of Amberley.
Arundel has a host of positive reviews on TripAdvisor, with visitors noting the range of shops and calming atmosphere. One said the town has an “old-world feel” and insists visitors will “not be disappointed”.
They wrote: “The town centre has so much more to offer and has an old world charm that you would find hard to resist. We spent our afternoon strolling around town, looking into vintage shops and quaint boutiques.
“If you are the type of person who likes the ‘Old World-feel’ Arundel is a must to visit. You will not be disappointed!”
A second said: “Lovely place to visit. The castle dominates the sky as you enter Arundel. Immaculately kept with a great atmosphere it is an exciting place to visit. The gardens are immaculate.”