This lagoon watersports offers lots of watersports most of the year round. In the summer there is…read morean event that is sponsored by K'nex which enables all kids the chance to do wind surfing for free so look out for it! I did this programme and loved it and would recommend it. There is tonnes of events going on so there will be something to do. The cafe also supplies good grub which is important for a day spent on the water before and after. Even if the weather isn't great do not let it put you off as often you get more speed when windsurfing in bad conditions. Plus once you have finished you can have a nice hot bath which always feels a million times better when you've been out in the windy weather of the Brighton seafront. It isn't the cheapest day but in terms of the facilties, coaching and equipment you get at your disposal it is relatively.

Pete L. has it down. Training wheels for water sports. I came out here on a LivingSocial Adventures…read moreand had a blast! You can rent a kayak and go out on the ocean, or do a variety of sports in the lagoon (windsurfing, wake boarding on zipline, stand up paddleboard, sailing, kayaking, etc.) Reasonable pricing scheme, really friendly (and attractive) staff. My ONE warning, don't expect a crystal blue lagoon. It is a sorta funky brown pond of seawater. But hey, it is a good, safe place to learn with much more predictable conditions than the big bad ocean, so you do what you gotta do. I'd definitely come back on my own and play some more!

On the opposite side of Preston Road from Preston Park proper is Britain's largest municipal rock…read moregarden, built on a steep slope that runs up to the railway line. It's an impressive creation, but is often overlooked by those using the park and I suspect is unknown to most of those driving past, to and from Brighton. Laid out in 1935, it incorporates over 1,350 of imported Cheddar stone, and has lots of winding paths, steps, a cascade, and a large fish pond with stepping stones. The garden overall has a vaguely oriental theme, although the types of plant include more ordinary bedding plants as well as alpines. It's a great place for playing hide and seek, as the paths really do form a warren, but the paths and steps can be both slippery (especially when wet) and are very uneven, so have to be treated with great care. There are lots of benches to sit on, and there are good views from the upper levels - its over 100ft (30m) to the top of the garden from the road. Only very limited areas adjacent to the road are accessible for push-chairs and wheelchair users. The pond has deep water, and some parts are very steep with lots of sheer drops, so small children must be supervised. Unfortunately, some of the public don't treat the park with the respect it deserves, so some parts suffer badly from litter - beer cans especially - which end up in the cascade. Some of the plants are also looking a little forlorn, so it drops a star for this.

This always fascinated me as a kid when I drove into Brighton on the A23. It was only a little…read morewhile ago I actually got to explore it. Imagine 30 odd years of curiosity spilling out in one moment. Needless to say, my mates thought I was getting a little excited over some rocks, benches, flowers and windy paths. It is a really nice walk and kids will get totally immersed in their imaginations. I would agree with Sarah though on the downside of the location. It does ruin what would be a really enchanting spot, but if you catch it on the right time of day you may escape the worst of the traffic.

Hove Park is the largest public green area in the local vicinity, featuring a basketball court,…read morekids playground, football pitch, climbing boulder, tennis courts bowling green and a popular miniature steam railway that opens again in March 2010. For joggin, dog walking or impromptu rounders games Hove Park is the best place to go as it's rarely at full capacity. Another point of interest is the large rock situated in the southwest corner. Weighing more than 20 tones, Goldstone rock is said to have been worshiped by the Druids around 2000 years ago. In the summer months various travelling fairs and local events take place on its premises, all of which will be advertised well in advance so you don't get caught out. Also, as its perimeter is lined with horse-chestnut trees it's a prime place for finding conkers.

Although I mainly experience Hove Park through the eyes of a slightly overweight, slightly…read moreunder-fit runner its still a beautiful place. Its a large park making it suitable for running and cycling and provides a number of other facilities such as tennis courts, five-a-side and full size football pitches, a basketball court, a climbing area and a cafe. It has a children's play area and a miniature railway that runs during the summer season, and it also plays host to a number of organised fitness events such as the saturday morning 5k parkrun and British Military Fitness. It tends to be full of of dogs and small children at the weekend which lend themselves as interesting obstacles to dodge (mostly successfully) while out on my runs. However, I would have to agree with India T in that I wouldn't feel particularly safe running here at night as its not very well lit and the middle area can be quite secluded.

Palmeira Square is the main square in Hove, and forms what many feel is the centre of the town,…read morewhere the shopping and restaurant streets of Western Road and Church Road meet. Laid out in 1855 on the site of the disastrous Anthaeum glass-house (see review of Adelaide Crescent), Palmeira Square was originally part of an estate bought in 1830 by Baron Goldsmid, founder of University College, London. (He was also a Portuguese noble, with the title Baron de Palmeira - hence the name of the square). Adjacent to the square was a Bronze Age burial mound, which was excavated and removed in 1856 to allow the construction of Palmeira Avenue; a polished stone axe found in the excavations is now in Brighton Museum & Art Gallery. The square has some impressive Victorian buildings, but is best known for the gardens in the centre, which include a floral clock. The western end is dominated by the church of St John the Baptist, completed in 1854. Its neo-gothic architecture looks strangely out of place against the cream stucco around it, but its spire (added in 1870) is a notable landmark. The square contains a number of shops and restaurants, as well as being a local bus interchange, and is an attractive urban space.

One of the loveliest areas in Hove, Palmeira Square remains a sought after address with most of the…read morehouses converted into gorgeous apartments with high ceilings and ornate period features. In keeping with the area, every building is painted in the same distinctive shade and the majority of them have been beautifully maintained with regular rendering and fresh paint. The park in the middle of the square is just as well kept with sweeping trees, shrubs and flowers dotted around the middle and outside. There's also half a dozen benches though most people seem to prefer lying or sitting on the grass. Whilst it's a 10-15 minute walk from Brighton, Palmeira Square is an ideal place to come for a picnic or quiet drink with friends if you're after some peace and quiet. There's bins to put your rubbish and I've never seen more than a dozen people at once. Unlike Chris H, I've also walked past Brunswick Square lots of times late at night and never encountered or witnessed any trouble. In fact, the most nightlife I've seen is sea-gulls and pigeons tapping the grass looking for slugs!

Looking for a place to escape the city without leaving, in the Royal Pavilion Gardens is the place…read moreto do it. This idillic setting offers a peaceful retreat from the hustle and bustle of city life. Pack yourself a picnic and enjoy it on the lawns. Whenever I'm in the gardens I've been lucky enough to catch some amazing live music. A recent favourite was the Sitar player accompanied by the dancing scarf lady. What's not to love!

It speaks volumes about how mellow Brightonians are that I've seen people practicising yoga and…read moretai-chi in Royal Pavillion Gardens. If you go at weekends, there's often bands or solo artists playing very mellow jazz, pop or acoustic music too. In the winter, it's too cold to really sit on the grass and take in the wonder of the Royal Pavillion but in the spring and summer, the gardens are usually flowing with locals and tourists sunbathing, chatting or reading the papers. There's deckchairs dotted around for comfort and several different areas where you can just lounge on the grass. The cafe here also does a good trade selling hot and cold drinks, cakes and snacks. To paraphrase Donovan: It's all mellow yellow...

Three Cornered Copse is a 'linear park', a 1-mile long strip of green space between Woodland Avenue…read moreand Woodland Drive, and running from Dyke Road Avenue down to Goldstone Crescent. It provides a `green link' between Hove Park and Green Ridge, and there is a public bridleway along the length of the park. The first section, from Goldstone Crescent, at the top of Hove Park, is simply a gently rising path, thickly planted with trees hiding the garden fences of the houses backing onto the path either side. After about half a mile this opens up into a wide green space, with a small copse on the west side, and with stunning views south over Hove and Hove Park to the sea. The site has a range of habitats, including scrub, hedgerows and woodland, and the verges of the path were almost overwhelmed by hogweed on my walk. It's used by dog walkers and the odd hiker walking up towards Devil's Dyke, as well as people just reading or sunbathing on the grassy area. But it's usually pretty quiet - something of a well kept secret. Bus 27A runs along Goldstone Crescent at the south end of the path, and buses 77 and 27 stop about 75m along Dyke Road Avenue at the north end.

I never knew this existed until I ended up here to find some geocaches! Beautiful walk (a tad muddy…read moreas it had been raining heavy for a few days) but a great walk easy for everyone, even your grandma and grandad could do it ;)

I have been using this sports centre since I was 5 years old and have spent most of my childhood…read moreusing it's facilities! It seems that this place is always open and offers absolutely anyone an opportunity to get involved in sport and fitness activities. The packages they offer and the expertise they have is vast. The manager and assisstant manager have been there fore almost as long as I have been alive so they know what they are doing. I would discuss the facilties they have but would go on forever so check the website out and get involved.

Hove Lagoon literally has something for everyone and I challenge you to tell me otherwise. The cafe…read moreis also a sandwich bar, ice cream parlour and restaurant with it also boasting a paddling pool and an adventure playground on it's door step. A skate park, watersports and pitch & putt all come together to make this place literally a honey pot in the few months that we get weather warm enough to take our jumpers off. I have spent more time here in the summer than anywhere else so I would be a good judge. With coastal buses stopping right in front of it and Brighton buses only a 5 minute walk away it is easy to get to. Otherwise, you can walk along the beach and soak up the legendary Brighton coastline.

Hove Lagoon is one of Brighton's more hidden attractions: an inland, man-made lake, perfect for…read morewater-sports that would be impossible on a choppy ocean wave. The whole area is full of other attractions: a skate park (not full of aggressive youths), a pitch and putt, various eateries and a paddling pool/adventure playground. It's obviously made for a family outing: full of things that will appeal to Mummy and Daddy as well as the little-uns. Everything on offer is perfectly adequate, but nothing here is really special. Is it worth the trip? If I had some sprogs, I might make the trip more often, but as it stands Hove Lagoon offers little that really appeals to me. All of the various sporty things on offer are not really my bag, nor is the food really worth travelling out of town for. It stands up perfectly well for what it is, but it isn't worth the trip without any of the other attractions here at the Lagoon. If you fancy a family day out, this is a great place, but don't come specifically for the food: it just isn't that special.

I had a flat and a kickstand issue. They lend me tools for free. The guy was super nice. Totally…read morerecommend going there!

Great service and brand new bikes. They had great recommendations on local trails to ride. Steven…read more(the owner) was a great help on local tips and knowledge.

I was told during my travels that Brighton is where the British go for holiday. The city is vibrant…read moreand lively during the summer and there's quite a bit to do when the city. The beaches are nice but very rocky, so wear water shoes. The neighboring town of Hove is a little more mellow and there are several great restaurants a few blocks from the beach.

"We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea - whether it is to sail or to watch it -…read morewe are going back from whence we came." ― John F. Kennedy As a Londoner, I must admit I envy how Brighton has the most beautiful beach in the area. I often come here to do some photography and there is a certain kind of charm in the way people fascinate the sea. They all gaze at it, some of them looking for answers or perhaps waiting for a lover which heart is at the ocean; and others like me, just contemplate its beauty. Through history, people have shown a deep connection with water, describing it in art, literature, and poetry. I'm in love with the way the lighting changes the whole atmosphere. On colder days, the sky would be grey and the waves would be high, making mad love with the ocean. On warmer days, indeed the sea could be calm and welcoming, opening its arms to embrace it's audience. Like Sophie said earlier, I think people take living by the sea for granted and don't appreciate its beauty. Because there's nothing more beautiful than the way the ocean refuses to stop kissing the shoreline, no matter how many times it's sent away.