It’s no secret that the small village of Itchenor is one of the most sought-after locations in the whole of the southeast. The coastline stretching between Emsworth on the Hampshire border to the elegant city of Arundel is dotted with incredible harbours and some of the most beautiful villages in the country.

From our base in Chichester, within a stone’s throw of the Solent and the rolling hills of the South Downs, Tod Anstee specialises in sourcing outstanding properties in these most tranquil of spots.

Over the last five years, our exceptional property team has managed more successful transactions in Itchenor than any other agent. We are delighted to maintain our reputation as unrivalled experts in this hugely popular location!

Sailing villages are ideal for families and sportspeople, offering a vast range of activities, whether you’re passionate about racing, riding, rambling or rowing! Let’s explain a little more about the allure of Itchenor and why local expertise is invaluable in finding a dream property in this most prestigious of postcodes.

Itchenor as a West Sussex Hotspot

Itchenor, like so many of our local market towns and quintessentially British villages, has a long and fascinating history. Dating back to the Roman Conquest, you’ll even find mention of Itchenor in the 1086 Doomsday Book.

These days living in the picturesque village on the east shoreline of Chichester Harbour revolves around the ocean, with a small ferry connecting residents to Bosham Village across the water.

As a sailing destination, Itchenor is unrivalled, with access to explore the coast around Hayling and Thorney Islands or set your bearings east towards Selsey. A further benefit is the ability to launch a boat from the hard at all states of the tide (one of the few locations on Chichester Harbour where this is possible). Sailors travel from across the UK and further afield to visit the Itchenor Sailing Club, but there are plenty of other things to do if you don’t have sea legs:

• Walkers can enjoy access to pleasant hikes, with a circular route around the village to drink in coastal views and the drama of the South Downs National Park.
• The Ship Inn is an excellent village pub, serving food and drink just 150 yards away from the seafront.
• Locals can be in Chichester in less than 20 minutes, with all the cathedral city offers in terms of shopping, entertainment, dining and recreation.
• Nearby beaches along the Wittering’s Peninsular, including the Blue Flag accredited West Wittering beach, offer glimpses over to the Isle of Wight.

There are also countless days out, from Goodwood Racecourse (seven miles away), Fishbourne Roman Palace (three miles) and Chichester Cathedral (one mile), all easily accessible.

Chichester Train Station is approximately 15 minutes by car along the A286, or you can cycle via the Salterns Way Cycle Path and the Chichester Canal Towpath in about 35 minutes. Itchenor residents can reach central London in around an hour and a half by train or be in Gatwick in about one hour. The village is 45 minutes from Southampton, half an hour from Portsmouth, and less than an hour from Brighton.

Schools and Education in Itchenor

Family life in Itchenor doesn’t disappoint, and when your little ones head in from the dunes to the classroom, there are several local schools to choose from.

With a range of village pre-schools, small primaries, and public and independent senior schools, this region of West Sussex offers a tremendous breadth of educational opportunities.

Early Years and Primary Schools

• Birdham Pre-School: A six-minute drive away, this pre-school is a registered charity that provides care for children from one to four years old.
• The Wittering’s Village Pre-School: Also six minutes by car, this nursery opened in 2018 and has an open plan hall, including breakfast clubs.
• West Wittering Parochial CE School: The closest primary is a seven-minute drive, rated Ofsted Good and teaching children from age four to eleven with a total school capacity of 105 pupils.
• The Prebendal School: Located in Chichester, under 20 minutes via car, this 900-year-old independent pre-school offers boarding and day school. Prebendal has Pelicans Nursery for early years provision, teaching up to year eight and was rated Excellent by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI).
• Westbourne House School: This independent prep school caters to ages three to thirteen, with both day school and boarding options. Westbourne House is around 17 minutes drive from Itchenor and was the first school in Sussex to be awarded World-Class Status by High Performance Learning assessors.
• Oakwood Prep School: Another renowned private prep school, Oakwood teaches ages two to eleven and features a dedicated performing arts centre. The school is rated ISI Excellent and less than 20 minutes drive from the village.

Secondary Education

• Chichester High School: 18 minutes drive away, Chichester High is Ofsted rated Good and caters to ages 11 to 18, including Sixth Form. The school is an academy merged from Chichester High School for Boys and Chichester High School for Girls.
• Chichester Free School: You can reach this secondary in under 15 minutes, also Ofsted Good, with mixed tuition from ages four to 19 and just over 1,000 students.
• Great Ballard School: This independent school was established in 1924, and you can be there within half an hour. Classes stretch from nursery up to age 16, with an ISI rating of Excellent.
• Slindon College: Slindon boys college is around a 28-minute drive from Itchenor, with independent day and boarding tuition from ages eight to 18, set in Slindon House within the South Downs.

Further Education

Chichester University is less than 20 minutes drive, with further campuses in Chichester, Bognor Regis and the Isle of Wight.

The Property Market in Itchenor

Itchenor homes are in extremely high demand, given the quality of local residences and aspirational lifestyle on offer.

In the last year, the average sale price was just over £1.5 million, with approximate housing market statistics of:

• 28% price increases on average over the previous 12 months.
• Terraced village homes sell for an average of £889,900.

Due to the village’s popularity, buying a home in Itchenor carries a premium, associated with direct sea access and incredible harbour panoramas. Homebuyers can purchase renovation projects as well as larger family homes, including a wide variety of period homes offering fantastic living standards with the water just a stone throws away.

Many listings sell via sealed bids, particularly waterside addresses with a jetty. Investors are also very interested in Itchenor, often looking to convert outbuildings into rental properties, with soaring prices during key events such as Goodwood.

Itchenor is the ideal spot to live, with a blend of coastal and rural life, yet within proximity of thriving Chichester, so it’s little surprise this small village continues to be one of the highest demand places to live. For families, the safety and calm of the outdoor lifestyle are reminiscent of Swallows and Amazons, with endless opportunities to adventure and thrive in the wild sea air.

If you’d like to review some of the exclusive Itchenor properties currently on the market, or to register your interest for exclusive access to new listings as they arise, don’t hesitate to get in touch with the Tod Anstee team.