Underrated town has 2 Michelin restaurants and 500 independent shops | UK | Travel

There are some towns in the UK that can fly unassumingly under the radar, whether that’s partly due to famous neighbours stealing the spotlight or because they have smaller populations and don’t fit the stereotypical picture-perfect scenes that many deem ‘Insta-worthy’. Nevertheless, these destinations shouldn’t be overlooked, and you never know what you might be missing.

One Sussex town has frequently been hailed as an underrated UK destination, with a thriving independent scene and impressive culinary culture that deserve wider recognition. While it’s also been referred to as a quieter alternative to Brighton, which sits just 20 minutes away, the town is within easy reach of London via direct trains that take just over an hour. Yet there’s a lot more to the seaside town than first meets the eye.

Nestled along the West Sussex coast is the charming town of Worthing, with its shingle-and-sand beach, five-mile promenade lined with palm trees, and its Grade II-listed Art Deco pier. It’s also home to a Lido amusement park, one of the UK’s oldest cinemas, and all the classic seaside attractions.

But beyond the shore, Worthing is brimming with independent shops, cafés, restaurants and galleries, earning itself a reputation as a thriving shopping destination. That’s no surprise given it has a whopping 560 independent businesses, according to the Worthing Town Centre Business Improvement District (BID).

There’s a dedicated hat shop, The Little Shop of Jules, the beautiful antique store of Eclectic Home, while the Laughing Dog, is a store and café combined. Meanwhile, the East Beach Studios, near the seafront, is an area bursting with artists’ creativity, with prints, jewellery, and crafts available for purchase.

Warwick Street is one of the town’s oldest thoroughfares, dating back to the late 18th century, brimming with cafés and restaurants that overflow onto the largely pedestrianised area, ideal for those warmer autumnal days. It’s also where you’ll find the Heavy Gretel, home to locally made artwork and crafts, while the Dowse just down the street is an inviting gift shop packed with delightful gems.

Alongside its flourishing shopping scene and cosy coffee houses, two Michelin-listed restaurants can be found in the Sussex seaside town. One of which is the Indian restaurant BAUJI, which opened in March 2026 and was founded by chef Dayashankar Sharma, who brings his Rajasthani culture and cuisine to Worthing.

Within six months, BAUJI received a Michelin Guide mention and was also featured in the Good Food Guide’s Top 100 Local Restaurants. Adding to the town’s culinary offerings is the second latest Michelin-listed establishment, the relaxed fine-dining restaurant Tern, serving up a “celebration of British produce and the people who grow, fish, and forage it”.

Elsewhere in the town, there are food vans lining the promenade along with the CrabShack, a seafood restaurant and beach bar that is a favourite among locals. Perch on Worthing Pier is a notable highlight, situated in a restored Art Deco Southern Pavilion at the end of the award-winning pleasure pier, serving up hearty dishes against panoramic sea views.

Worthing Pier has been open for more than 150 years, having opened in 1862, and at the far end of the 105ft pier is the Pavilion Theatre and Pavilion Atrium Bar, while classic seaside entertainment can also be found among the town’s most treasured landmarks. It’s scooped up the title of Pier of the Year in 2006 and 2019, and continues to be among the town’s most treasured attractions.

Another recognisable landmark in the town is the Lido amusement park situated along the seafront, which has been part of Worthing for over a century. It operated as an outdoor swimming pool from 1957 until the 1980s, and was subsequently used as temporary accommodation for dolphins while the Brighton Sea Life Centre underwent renovation.

In 1989, the pool was covered and transformed into an amusement park with a range of children’s rides, including teacups, trampolines and a train ride. Elsewhere, Connaught Theatre is one of the UK’s oldest cinemas, which opened in 1914, while Worthing also offers the perfect chance to explore the South Downs National Park, as it sits conveniently at its base with easy access to the dramatic white chalk cliffs and the 100-mile South Downs Way.

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