Goodwood: so much more than fast cars.

Goodwood is rightly famous for its motor-racing events – the Festival of Speed and the Goodwood Revival – as well as horse-racing on arguably the most beautiful course in the world culminating in the Qatar Festival usually known as “Glorious Goodwood” at the end of July. Just over a ten minute drive away, The Bosham Boathouse B&B is a perfect base for these events, but there is so much more to discover: an expansive English estate where landscape, history, food, art, and sustainability come together in remarkable harmony.

Set in the rolling countryside of South Downs National Park, Goodwood Estate offers a deeply rooted sense of place—one that feels both historic and very contemporary.

The Heart of the Estate: Goodwood House

At the centre of the estate stands Goodwood House, a grand country house dating back to 1617 and home of the Dukes of Richmond for over 300 years. The house combines the glamour of a great English country house with the warmth of a family home. It also provides a dramatic setting for one of the most significant private art collections in the country, which includes important works by Stubbs, Canaletto and Van Dyck. Afternoon tea in the beautiful ballroom, followed by a tour of the superbly restored State Apartments is a real treat.

Goodwood House from behind an Ancient Oak

Art in the Landscape: Goodwood Art Foundation

One of the estate’s most striking contemporary additions is Goodwood Art Foundation. Set within 70 acres of park and woodland surrounding the house is home to large-scale sculptural works by internationally acclaimed artists such as include Rachel Whiteread, Rose Wylie, Veronica Ryan, Susan Philipsz and Isamu Noguchi. The pieces are positioned across lawns, beside ancient trees, and along carefully curated walking routes. The experience is immersive rather than gallery-like—visitors encounter sculptures gradually, framed by sweeping views or partially hidden among foliage. The changing light and seasons transform each piece throughout the year. The result is an ever-evolving exhibition where landscape becomes both backdrop and collaborator.

Set in the trees with panoramic views towards the Sussex coastline, Café 24 offers a small plates menu inspired by the surrounding landscape showcasing seasonal and foraged ingredients alongside organic produce from Goodwood’s own farm.

Café 24 at the Goodwood Art Foundation

Goodwood Dining: Sustainably delicious

Goodwood is the largest organic lowland farm in the UK and it provides organic milk, cheese and meat to a number of dining spots around the estate.

Farmer, Butcher, Chef is, as the name suggests, a restaurant that celebrates the meat produced on the estate. As well as 24 in the sculpture park, there are two further cafés: the Aerodrome Café where you can have a cup of tea and a sandwich whilst enjoying the view of the grass runway where you might be lucky enough to see one of the Spitfires taking off; and during the summer months you can have breakfast or lunch accompanied by the sounds and sights of cars racing around the circuit at the Motor Circuit Café.

Finally, a visit to the farm shop is always worthwhile – here you can buy the organic pork, lamb and beef produced on the estate as well as Goodwood milk, beer, gin and award-winning cheese.

Walks around the Estate

Walking trails wind through the estate and exploring the gardens and taking in the panoramic views of the South Downs is a wonderful way to pass an afternoon. For more adventurous hikers, Goodwood is on the Monarch’s Way, a 625 mile footpath from Worcester to Shoreham-by-Sea.

But if you only have time for one walk, make it the one up to the Trundle, an Iron Age hill fort that looks down directly over Goodwood Racecourse. From the car park (PO18 0SP), a well-maintained path takes you up to the top of the hill from where, on a good day, you can see the whole coast from Brighton to the Isle of Wight as well as great views over Chichester and the Downs. On race days, you can watch the racing and even place a bet with the bookies who set up their pitches on the hill.

The gate to the Trundle - part of the Monarch's Way long-distance footpath

Cricket, Clays, Cycling and more.

If you fancy doing more than watching the planes take off from the aerodrome, you can book a flight in a number of different light aircraft or take an exhilarating helicopter ride around Chichester Harbour.

There are three golf courses and a golf school; or you could try clay pigeon-shooting.

If you want to enjoy cycling on closed roads, the motor circuit has regular bicycle track days.

Chichester Priory Park Cricket Club play some of their matches on the pitch in front of the house – there are very few more lovely and quintessentially English ways to spend a lazy afternoon than watching a game of cricket in such a magnificent setting.

Clay-pigeon shooting on the Goodwood Estate

All images ©Jane Young