Goodwood from Fishbourne

The racecourse, motor circuit, and estate north of the village

Goodwood is one of the most significant estates in southern England and lies about five miles north of Fishbourne, on the South Downs above Chichester. The estate is the seat of the Duke of Richmond and Gordon and encompasses a racecourse, a motor circuit, a golf course, a hotel, and thousands of acres of farmland and downland.

Glorious Goodwood, the annual horse racing festival held in late July and early August, is one of the social highlights of the English summer. The racecourse occupies an elevated position on the downs with views to the sea, and the atmosphere during the festival combines serious racing with a relaxed country-house feel.

The Goodwood Festival of Speed, held each July in the grounds of Goodwood House, is one of the world's largest celebrations of motorsport and automotive culture. The Goodwood Revival, held in September at the motor circuit, recreates the golden era of motor racing with vintage cars and period dress. Both events draw tens of thousands of visitors and have a significant impact on traffic in the Fishbourne and Chichester area.

Beyond the headline events, Goodwood offers racing throughout the flat season, golf, shooting, the Goodwood Hotel, and walks on the estate's open downland. The Trundle hillfort is on Goodwood land and is freely accessible to walkers.

For Fishbourne residents, Goodwood is a major local amenity and a source of both pride and traffic congestion. The events bring economic activity to the area but also create peak traffic on the roads around Chichester that affects daily life in the village.