Time
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OUr History
The South Coast has historically been held in high esteem by members of the Royal Family and George III is said to have chosen Worthing for his daughter, Amelia’s retreats. This raised the profile of the town by encouraging the fashionable people of the time to come and sample the health benefits of life by the sea and made Worthing a popular seaside resort in its own right.
Oscar Wilde is reputed to have stayed here at the hotel while writing the ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ and legend has it that its character ‘Mr Worthing’ was inspired by the town.
Like Brighton, the introduction of the railway connection led to Worthing becoming a popular coastal resort and favourite destination for generations of people to come.
by royal appointment
Royal visits from Princess Amelia in 1798, Princess Charlotte in 1807 and Princess Augusta in 1829 did much to make the town popular. In 1798, Princess Amelia, youngest daughter of King George III, developed a pain in the joint of her knee and was sent to Worthing for recovery. The Prince of Wales visited his youngest sister Amelia in Worthing from nearby Brighton. In 1814, Queen Caroline visited Worthing on her way back to live in Brunswick in northern Germany. In addition, Queen Adelaide stayed in the town in 1849 and in 1861 Queen Marie Amelie of France stayed in the town when exiled from her country.
OSCAR WILDE & more
Notable visitors to the fashionable town of Worthing in the 19th century included novelist Ann Radcliffe, the Duke of Northumberland in 1802, Henry Dundas in 1804, Jane Austen in 1805, Lord Byron in 1806, the Duke of Cumberland in 1817, George Eliot in 1855, Oscar Wilde in 1893 and 1894, who wrote his masterpiece The Importance of Being Earnest while staying in the town.
THE BURLINGTON HOTEL
In 1864, building began on The Burlington Hotel. Opened in 1865 and originally named ‘The Heene Hotel’ The Burlington assumed its position as Worthing’s only prestigious purpose built hotel. As the oldest hotel in Worthing, and a now a listed building, The Burlington Hotel provides historic setting but with a contemporary twist, making the hotel one of the most popular and well-known landmarks in Worthing.
“The best day of our lives! The Burlington was the venue for our wedding reception and evening party and they could not have done a better job. A perfect day, thank you guys so much!”
RUSS on The Burlington Hotel
Special offers
Make your getaway even more special. A picnic or sundowner on the beach? A sauna and cold plunge in the sea? Or a bottle of English Sparkling Wine in your room, there's always something special for everyone to enjoy.
At only £29.50 per person, this one's for sharing (or not!)
Order as a sharing platter for two or simply for yourself and enjoy a 16oz sirloin steak (8oz for single serving), skin-on fries, peppercorn sauce, a grilled tomato and a large glass (250ml glass per person) of Malbec.
Stay, dine or drop in. The choice is theirs with a gift voucher
Give the gift of a voucher that can be used to stay, dine or even to enjoy afternoon tea on our sun terrace. The choice will be theirs. Choose the amount, pay online and we'll take care of the rest.
Give the gift of a wonderful afternoon tea
The perfect gift for everyone. Gift vouchers for traditional afternoon tea at The Burlington that includes sandwiches, cakes, an assortment of specialist teas and served with wonderful sea views. From £27.
What’s on
There's so much to discover and explore in and around our location. Visit an award winning English Sparkling Wine producer, enjoy the thrill of motorsport and horse racing at Goodwood or get involved with the many art festivals that are in the region. Too many to list and too good to miss.
The Brighton Festival Sat 3–Mon 26 May 2025
The celebrated annual Brighton Festival under the direction of Anoushka Shankar returns in May for a month of art, theatre and comedy. A perfect time to visit Brighton and enjoy some of the best entertainment there is to be had.
Brighton Pride Sat 2–Sun 3 Aug 2025
The Brighton & Hove Pride Festival is a vibrant celebration of all that is wonderful about Brighton’s diverse community, with visitors from across the globe enjoying its spectacular celebrations.
Christmas at The Burlington
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Gather your family and friends and join us for Christmas Day lunch this year and let us look after you this Christmas.
