Adur

Adur is a local government district in West Sussex, named after the River Adur, encompassing the coastal towns of Shoreham-by-Sea and Southwick, the inland town of Lancing, and the historic village of Steyning within a compact area between Brighton and Worthing. This small but diverse district features a working port, traditional seaside character, and the dramatic chalk landscapes of the South Downs National Park rising behind the coast. The climate is typical of the Sussex coast with mild temperatures, moderate rainfall, and above-average sunshine hours, favorable for outdoor activities. Culturally, Adur maintains strong maritime identity with Shoreham-by-Sea's working port (the largest on the Sussex coast), its historic Norfolk Bridge, and the Shoreham Fort (Napoleonic era defense). The area preserves important heritage including the Marlipins Museum (medieval building housing local history collections), St Mary de Haura Church (Norman foundation), and Lancing College (magnificent Gothic Revival chapel visible for miles). Steyning retains exceptional historic character with its Norman church and ancient buildings while Shoreham's Shoreham Airport (the world's oldest licensed airport) adds aviation heritage. The district's coastline offers pebble beaches and the Shoreham Beach Local Nature Reserve with its vegetated shingle habitat. The South Downs provide spectacular walking including access to the Devils Dyke (iconic viewpoint) and the South Downs Way. Boundary GIS data for Adur District Council is available for download in GeoJSON and KML formats, supporting port operations, coastal management, and preservation of historic buildings within the South Downs National Park fringe.