For our wedding anniversary two years ago my wife stayed at home while I learned shorthand, so this year I decided I'd show her the glories of ancient Rome. I did it in Sussex.

In fact, whatever period of history you're interested in, the area around Chichester and Midhurst has got something pretty special to see.

The jewel is probably Fishbourne Roman Palace, a mile or two outside Chichester.

Constructed in AD75, 30 years after the main Roman invasion, the palace grew to be the biggest civilian building north of the Alps, before burning down in 270 AD.

The gardens feature plants thought to be grown there 2,000 years ago and the museum really goes out to give children something to do.

A few miles away is Bosham. Whizzing forward a thousand years, you can see the tiny church which was featured in the Bayeaux tapestry, where King Harold went to pray before setting out for Normandy.

It's worth a morning but be careful where you park. The road at the edge of the village might look like a good place to park for free, and there's so much space. That's because the road floods every tide and you'll find your car full of the English Channel.

An ideal base for both is Englewood B&B, in East Ashling, just a couple of miles outside Chichester.

Run by Sylvia Jones, it's a bungalow in a country village, with just two double rooms which cost £60 a night.

Mrs Jones has gone green in everything she does and is the first in West Sussex to provide the Sussex Breakfast, a delicious full English with the ingredients sourced from nearby farms and shops.

For luxury accommodation you can drive 20 minutes up the road to Midhurst and the Spead Eagle Hotel.

Even this is a trip back in time, it's a 15th century coaching inn which played host to Elizabeth I and, bizarrely, Von Ribbentrop and Goering who ate there after going to Goodwood races in the Thirties.