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Bognor Regis |
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Bognor Regis |
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A seaside holiday resort made famous by Billy Butlin and his Butlins holiday camp |
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A few centuries ago, when it was a only a small fishing village, this Sussex town was known only as "Bognor". In the 1800s, it was converted into a health and tourism destination, which proved popular with England's aristocrats. A few years later, the town was well-known enough to attract King George V , who came to breath the seaside air as he recovered from an illness. After this, the "Regis" suffix was added to Bognor's name, which translates as "of the king". Despite this association, rumour has it that the King wasn't especially enamoured with the place. When one of his advisors suggested that he revisit the town, he apparently exclaimed: "Bugger Bognor!" |
Nevertheless, the growth of Bognor Regis wasn't dented too much by King George's opinions. The town's popularity multiplied even further in the 60s, when a man called Billy Butlin built one of his famous holiday camps here. Back in those days, there were nearly a dozen such resorts, but only three still remain. One of these is in Bognor Regis, and it still acts as a focal point for tourism in the town. The site is particularly notable for its two brand new, luxury hotels. One of these, the Shoreline Hotel, is built to resemble the shape of a ship, with porthole style windows, and a curved "prow". |
Butlins has helped Bognor Regis grow into the place it is today. It's technically only a town, but it now has even more residents than the nearby city of Chichester. |
Within minutes of arriving, most visitors to Bognor find themselves heading straight for the beach. This is part of a 23-kilometre long stretch of golden sand, lining the Sussex coast. The main beach is popular throughout the summer, but it still maintains the highest standards of cleanliness and water safety. |
As with most British seaside resorts, there is a pier, looming out from the shoreline. Unfortunately, it has fallen into disrepair in recent years, and its future is uncertain. It would be a shame to have it removed completely, as it's actually a Grade II listed building. It was built in 1865, making it the 10th oldest pier in Britain. |
The beach is linked to the town centre by an Edwardian arcade, which is covered in glass, and decorated with wrought ironwork. The centre itself is mostly pedestrianised, and features regular French markets. Plans are in place for a new development in the heart of Bognor, which will include a cinema and a bowling alley, as well as various shops and restaurants. |
The town bursts with energy each August, during the Bognor Rox music festival. Several stages host a range of local bands and DJs, and there are various craft and food stalls, workshops, and other performances. The event takes place on the seafront, and is completely free. A second festival, titled "Sands of Time", also takes place every year, which features everything from art displays to pottery painting. The weekend hosts dozens of other events too, which stay true to Bognor Regis' reputation as one of Britain's best seaside resorts. These include Punch and Judy shows, donkey rides, and even a sandcastle competition. |
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