The ‘Venice of England’ is a charming coastal village just two hours from London

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For years, Venice has been the victim of its own success. The unwilling posterchild for overtourism, the iconic Italian city has struggled to cope with 30 million or so tourists that swarm its elegant streets each year.

And even after introducing tourist taxes to deter day trippers, it still sees upwards of 100,000 people each day during the summer.

It’s not a sentence we imagined writing, but could an alternative lie in a small coastal village in West Sussex?

Perched on Chichester Harbour, the charming parish of Bosham (pronounced Bozzum) is often described as the ‘Venice of England’ for its picturesque waterfront, elegant architecture and rich history.

Ok, it’s not quite an Aperol Spritz in St Mark’s Square, but Bosham’s local, The Anchor Bleu, is said to serve a mean ale.

Hidden, peaceful, and completely magical 

Home to just 4,300 residents, Bosham is a little-known village ‘steeped in rich history and quintessential British character’.

Due to its harbour location, the parish is surrounded by beautiful waterways and quayside properties, set against lush farmland and verdant fields.

Just a two hour drive from London, the village has become something of a cult favourite thanks to a few viral TikTok videos.

You can also reach Bosham via train, changing at Chichester or Havant before rolling into the closest station to the village. Advance fares will typically set you back between £10 and £20, but if you’re after a flexible ticket it may cost upwards of £40.

A day in Bosham can be spent going for scenic walks near the water or through the countryside. The Quay, the Holy Trinity church, and Art & Craft Centre all make for nice pitstops.

Part of Bosham’s charm is due to the fact that it’s home to several important Roman artefacts — it’s only a short distance from the iconic Fishbourne Palace.

And, if you get peckish, check out the Bosham Inn for good pub food or the Shoreside Cafe for pastries and big wide windows overlooking the water.

After Covid, UK seaside towns saw a welcome boom in tourism.

According to public records, the District of Thanet, for example, home to popular Margate, recorded 4.6 million visitors in 2023, a growth of 18% on 2021.

Spending on day trips also shot up, with data showing a 65% increase compared to 2021.

And while Bosham residents will be grateful that their little paradise hasn’t reached this level of interest, it may only be a matter of time.

One visitor, social media user @eli_radu30, encapsulated her day trip to Bosham with the following words: ‘Stunning harbor views, historic charm, and a peaceful coastal walk.

She added: ‘The perfect day trip for relaxation and adventure!’

Visit the village that floods every day

One of the most interesting things about life in Bosham is that every day at high tide, parts of the village are submerged.

Along the harbour, toads and paths disappear under water and visitors and locals alike are forced to find alternative routes. Although, with scenes this beautiful, surely no-one minds too much…?

Flooding at high tide in Bosham occurs for several reasons.

Natural flooding from the sea, during storms and with exceptional high tides all play a role.

Plus, rainwater from surrounding fields and streams, as well as from the Downs, can also result in flooding.

While there are dedicated committees within Bosham that work with local authorities to try and mitigate these issues, most of the drains in the village are extremely dated and regular maintenance is required.

@ourhampshireandbeyond took a day trip to the village and gave a first-hand account of what it was like.

The creator shared: ‘The harbour has photogenic cottages all around it as well as some modern builds and the architecture to show. The tides actually flood the high street regularly as would find out later.’

He added: ‘At low tide we could cut across a path right through the quay and we took the Chichester harbour coastal path right around Bosham foreshore. On returning to the harbour, the high tide was coming in and it was amazing to see the difference of what pathways and even roads had disappeared under the water.’

It might not be Italy, but this little inlet takes charming to a whole new level.

That being said, if you ever do visit Bosham, just one word of warning: don’t park too close to the water.

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