Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Puglia Italy - Matera
Italy • 8 days, 7 nights
Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia
from
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Washington Capitol State Reception Room
The fried green tomato sandwich comes on jalapeño cornbread toast.
Café Reconcile
Everything at Li’l Dizzy’s Cafe is served in takeout containers.
Li’l Dizzy’s Cafe
Can’t forget the firetruck.
Cliff’s Museum of Car Memorabilia
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United Kingdom England West Sussex Hiorns Tower
AO Edited

Hiorns Tower

This 18th-century "castle" is not what it seems.

West Sussex, England

Added By
Nick
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
  Marathon / CC BY-SA 2.0
Add Photos
  Marathon / CC BY-SA 2.0
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

The old gentry of Sussex sure were keen on a folly. Nothing says "I'm wealthier than you!" better than an ultimately purposeless structure perched up in the hills for everyone to marvel at.

Well done to the 11th Duke of Norfolk then, for creating something that looks so regal from afar but turns out to be quite an embarrassingly small and purely ornamental "castle" from up close.

You'd be forgiven for thinking that this castle-like building, perched atop South Downs hill, had something to do with the nearby Arundel Castle, with it's classic turrets and imposing form. But get up close and you'll see it's a noble, but incomparable attempt to fit in with the real royals.

Still, it does command some cracking views of the rolling green hills of the South Downs, and the building is worth a look.

Related Tags

Royalty Castles Architectural Oddities

Know Before You Go

The tower is easiest to get to from the south through Arundel Park, but a much better view can be seen from climbing up the hill from the north side.

Community Contributors

Added By

nicholasabateman

Published

April 2, 2025

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://www.westsussex.info/arundel-tower.shtml
Hiorns Tower
21 London Road
West Sussex, England, BN18 9LJ
United Kingdom
50.863508, -0.561691
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Slayer's Slab

Lyminster, England

miles away

The Long Bench

West Sussex, England

miles away

Blake's Cottage

Bognor Regis, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of West Sussex

West Sussex

England

Places 3
Stories 1

Nearby Places

Slayer's Slab

Lyminster, England

miles away

The Long Bench

West Sussex, England

miles away

Blake's Cottage

Bognor Regis, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of West Sussex

West Sussex

England

Places 3
Stories 1

Related Places

  • German eagles at the entrance.

    Alt Duwisib, Namibia

    Duwisib Castle

    A German “baron” built this castle for his wife, but their romance was short-lived.

  • The castle on Hawkins Hill

    Wellington, New Zealand

    The Castle on Hawkin's Hill

    A mysterious castle "in the clouds" has had many lives including a radar bunker, dog hotel, and conference center.

  • Deer outside Eremitageslottet

    Dyrehaven, Denmark

    Eremitageslottet (Hermitage Hunting Lodge)

    The castle used by the Danish Royal Family as a hunting retreat.

  • Playa del Carmen, Mexico

    La Ciudadela (The Citadel)

    This now-abandoned shopping center in Playa del Carmen was built to resemble a medieval European castle.

  • A stone tower with brown pointed roof surveys a mountainous valley

    Vaduz, Liechtenstein

    Schloss Vaduz

    Liechtenstein's royal family calls this medieval alpine castle home.

  • View from above, on the entrance and driveway

    Houyet, Belgium

    Halte Royal d'Ardenne

    The private train station King Leopold II built for the Belgian royal family now lies abandoned.

  • Manresa Castle

    Port Townsend, Washington

    Manresa Castle

    A historic hotel with many stories of haunted activity.

  • Vanadislunden Water Reservoir

    Stockholm, Sweden

    Vanadislunden Water Reservoir

    A water reservoir disguised as a castle stands atop a hill in a park in Stockholm city.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.