East Preston, West Sussex, England

Welcome to village life by the sea.

A practical starting point for anyone moving to East Preston: who does what, where to go, how to get around, and the local places that quickly make a new address feel like home.

Start with the essentials Explore local life

A small coastal village with a lot close at hand

East Preston sits on the West Sussex coast between Worthing and Littlehampton, with the South Downs to the north and the English Channel to the south. The parish is compact, so much of everyday village life is within walking or cycling distance, while the larger shopping areas of Rustington, Worthing and Littlehampton are close by.

The village has two main clusters of local shops along Sea Road, a beach at the southern end, community facilities and sports clubs, and straightforward access to Angmering railway station on Station Road.

This page is intended as an independent newcomer-friendly directory. Opening hours, routes, school arrangements and business details can change, so the official sites linked below should always be checked before a special journey.

Your first-week checklist

The links most new residents tend to need first.

Council Tax, bins and recycling

Arun District Council deals with Council Tax, household waste and recycling collections, planning, housing and a number of local environmental services.

Arun District Council

Roads, schools and social care

West Sussex County Council covers highways, education, libraries, adult and children's social care, public health, fire and rescue and other county-wide services.

West Sussex County Council

Village matters

East Preston Parish Council is the closest tier of local government and publishes local news, meetings, planning information, events and village updates.

East Preston Parish Council

Register with a GP

Willow Green Surgery is on Station Road and provides online information for new patient registration, appointments, prescriptions and test results.

Willow Green SurgeryNHS listing

Rail travel

Angmering station is the local station. It is managed by Southern and has trains along the south coast, with London services available on the route.

National RailSouthern

Local businesses

The East Preston Business Community directory is a useful way to discover independent services, trades and shops based in and around the village.

Business directory

Councils and public services

It helps to know which council to contact. East Preston is in Arun District and West Sussex, while several neighbouring councils are useful for local information just beyond the village.

East Preston Parish CouncilVillage news, meetings, events, parish matters and local planning information. Arun District CouncilCouncil Tax, bins, recycling, planning, housing, parking, licensing and environmental services. West Sussex County CouncilRoads, education, libraries, social care, public health and fire and rescue. Rustington Parish CouncilUseful for news and facilities immediately west of East Preston. Angmering Parish CouncilUseful for the village and services to the north, including local planning information. Ferring Parish CouncilNeighbouring coastal parish to the east, with community, beach and local travel information. Worthing Borough CouncilUseful when looking east towards Worthing for services, leisure and events. GOV.UKDriving licences, passports, benefits, tax, voting guidance and central government services.

Health, pharmacy and urgent help

For routine care, start locally. For urgent or emergency care, use NHS services appropriate to the situation.

Willow Green Surgery

Station Road, East Preston, BN16 3AH. The practice site provides new patient registration, prescription requests, appointments and self-help information.

Practice website

Pharmacies

There are pharmacies close to the station and in nearby Rustington. For current opening hours and NHS pharmacy services, use the NHS service finder.

Find a pharmacy

NHS 111 and emergencies

Use NHS 111 online or by phone when you need urgent medical help but it is not a life-threatening emergency. Call 999 for a serious or life-threatening emergency.

NHS 111 onlineUrgent care guidance

Schools and families

Always check the West Sussex admissions information for current catchments, applications and available places.

East Preston Infant School

Lashmar Road. A community primary school for Reception to Year 2.

School website

East Preston Junior School

Also on Lashmar Road, serving Years 3 to 6. Admissions information is available from the school and West Sussex.

School website

The Angmering School

A nearby mixed secondary school and sixth form on Station Road, Angmering.

School website

School admissions

Use West Sussex County Council for school places, admissions, transport and the local school finder.

West Sussex schools

Libraries

West Sussex Libraries provide books, digital resources, Wi-Fi, events and community services. Check the county directory for the nearest branch and current hours.

West Sussex Libraries

Childcare and family services

The county council's family information pages are a useful starting point for childcare, SEND support and family services.

Children and families

Getting around

East Preston works well as a walkable village, while rail and bus links connect it with the wider coast.

By train

Angmering station is on Station Road, East Preston, postcode BN16 3RE. National Rail lists parking, cycle storage, taxis and step-free access to both platforms via side gates. The station is managed by Southern.

Station informationSouthern Railway

By bus

Local bus services change from time to time. Compass Travel currently publishes its West Sussex routes online, including a Littlehampton - East Preston service via Rustington. Check live timetables before travelling.

Compass Travel timetablesWest Sussex bus information
Driving: the A259 is the main east-west road serving the area, with Worthing to the east and Littlehampton, Bognor Regis and Chichester to the west. For roadworks and highways problems, use West Sussex County Council's roads and travel pages.

Shops, cafes, pubs and village life

East Preston has a surprisingly good spread of everyday businesses for its size, concentrated mainly around Sea Road and the village centre.

Everyday shopping

You'll find convenience shopping, hair and beauty businesses, a florist and other independents in the village, with a much larger shopping centre in Rustington only a short distance away.

Local business directory

Pubs

Long-standing village choices include The Tudor Tavern and The Seaview. East Preston also has smaller bar and alehouse options. Check each venue directly for food service and current opening times.

Restaurants and cafes

Local options include Italian/Sardinian, Indian, Malaysian and modern cafe-style food, with additional restaurants in Rustington and along the coast.

The beach

The shingle beach is part of everyday life in East Preston. At lower tides, areas of sand can appear. It is a fine place for a walk, an evening sunset or simply watching the Channel.

Sport and recreation

The area includes recreation grounds, football, cricket, bowls and tennis facilities. The Parish Council and local clubs are good sources for current contacts and activities.

What's on

For events, clubs and community notices, check the Parish Council and village business/community pages regularly. Nearby Rustington, Littlehampton, Worthing and the South Downs add a much wider programme.

Village news

Moving house and local property

East Preston and Rustington both have established local agents, which can be useful not only for buying and selling but for getting a feel for individual roads, local demand and rental availability.

Cooper Adams - East Preston

Local branch on Sea Road, East Preston.

Website

Brennan & Chatterton Estates

Independent estate agency on Sea Road, East Preston.

Website

Graham Butt Estate Agents

Long-established local agency with offices serving Rustington, East Preston, Angmering and Littlehampton.

Website

Glyn-Jones & Co

Independent local estate agency in The Street, Rustington.

Website

Property portals

Rightmove and OnTheMarket are useful for seeing current asking prices, rentals and the range of homes in the BN16 area.

RightmoveOnTheMarket

What's nearby?

One of East Preston's strengths is that it feels like a village without being isolated.

Rustington

Immediately to the west, with a larger high street and a broad mix of independent shops, national retailers, supermarkets, cafes and services.

Rustington Parish Council

Ferring

A neighbouring coastal village to the east, with its own beach, village centre and direct connection to the countryside around Highdown.

Ferring Parish Council

Angmering

North of the railway, with a historic village centre, schools, community facilities and access towards the South Downs.

Angmering Parish Council

Littlehampton

Harbour, seafront, larger supermarkets and town-centre services a short journey to the west.

Arun information

Worthing

A larger seaside town to the east for shopping, entertainment, restaurants, healthcare and rail connections.

Adur & Worthing Councils

South Downs

Highdown and the wider South Downs National Park are close enough for walks, viewpoints, countryside pubs and days out.

South Downs National Park