Hove Lagoon skate park has one of the coolest locations you could hope for in so far as it's…read moreliterally a stone's throw away from the beach. The layout is good too. Unlike many of the more public skate parks to be found in the UK the space between its features is not to vast as to have used up all your momentum before you reach whatever you were hooning towards. There is the usual jump box in the centre with a large flat bank at the lagoon end and both a quarter pipe and a flat bank flanking each end of the moderately sized half pipe at the east side of the park. The park is more family orientated than other public parks, so expect Groms. On the plus side this means that as a skater you are less likely to have to contend with agro BMXers and the usual pusher types. What's more if you hit it on a week day or later in the evening it should be relatively quiet. The surface is great too the whole park is marble smooth from the ground to the top of the ramps, but this does make it impossible to use if it's at all wet. On the whole due to it's great locating, relaxed vibe and great combination of features this is a sweet park to session regardless of what your chosen board, bike or style is.

If you're after a grittier take on urban sports without being arrested, then it's well worth a trip…read moreto the Level skate park. There are a selection of ramps and boxes for pretty much all abilities and styles here. In recent years this spot has been made a little more family friendly too though this is dependent on when you're there as with any public park. With the Brighton BMX centre close at hand this is the kind of spot that retains a good sense of community. The park does have certain drawbacks though, it's definitely a BMX heavy park, and while this is great for the super trendy multi coloured BMX bandits out there it can be a bit tricky for those of us on planks. What I will say for this place though is that for the skater with a tinge of insomnia it's a rad place for a three a.m. rampage, particularly if you skate old Skool and want to get a flow on whilst mastering your bertslides.

Like many kids of my generation, I watched Back to the Future when it was first released and…read moredecided that for my birthday I was going to ask for a skateboard. For the next number of years I chocked about with my friends bombing down steep hills and suchlike. back then there were no skate parks in Burgess Hill, so I never ended up getting any ramp experience or major trick skills (I did manage feeble ollies). Anyhow, that was kind of the end of my skating career, but I still retain a special spot in my heart for decks. Whilst I wouldn't embarrass myself with an epic crash at this skate park, I do regularly check out the talent when i am on the level. There are a number of drop in ramps, grinding rails and box jumps to allow riders to show their skills. usually though you don't see that many Tony hawk protege's. Also, like Josh mentions, there area lot of bikers down there. The park is decorated with the near cliche graffiti that seems to accompany urban sports and some of the work is not bad. As there is the children's play area right next door, you will likely get a spill over of young bikers and boarders onto the park in the summer or at weekends. Whilst I've only experienced the park as a spectator, there usually seems to be an amicable atmosphere for those using the ramps, but parents would want to be close by if you had younger children using the park. A nice area that adds a bit extra to the level without seeming out of place.

This is a really pleasant area situated right in the centre of Haywards Heath. Pretty much every…read morebox is ticked that you would expect of a park. For children there is a sectioned off adventure playground with a decent rubber based safety surface. Teenagers get a skate park with a few ramps to flex some tricks on boards , bikes and blades. Sporty type can play tennis in the fenced courts. Finally, those that prefer to take things at a slower pace can relax on the maintained lawns or under some of the big trees dotted around the area. A number of benches are also situated on the outside if sitting on the grass isn't your thing. The park has male and female toilets, which is handy for longer stays and some of the paths winding around the park make for a good route if you want to have a jog or a stroll. The park also hosts a number of events over the year including a fun fair twice a year and also an open aired music concert. The location makes this a nice spot to have a break from your shopping, or to enjoy your lunch whilst having your break from work. Also, a good thumbs up to the council for the excellent job they do with maintaining the area.

Relaxing, big field for running or football.... They now even have exercise things. Oh a park,…read moretrees, Great for picnicking,

The Level is a funny old place. On the one hand, it's a great green space for lounging around with…read morefriends and a few beers in the summer. On the other hand, it is a roosting spot for some pretty dubious characters- I've seen a lot of quite open drug use happening just yards away from me, which can be a bit uncomfortable if you're just trying to have an innocent picnic! I'm generally a 'live and let live' kind of girl, but if you're a bit more sensitive... Although I guess it is technically a park, it feels a bit more like a green or a common, as it is essentially just a stretch of grass and a skate park. I just realized I'm still defining a park as somewhere that includes a children's play area. I'm 25! Oh dear. Despite my encounters with some dodgy goings on, I still enjoy a spot of sunbathing on the level, as it's really close to my house and lots of nice local pubs. And if you steer clear of the little wall lined with benches at the north perimeter, you'll be a-okay. There's plenty of space for Frisbee, football and all sorts of other summer games. In the Autumn the Level is visited by a funfair complete with waltzers, candy floss and groups of local youths.

the level puts everyone from all walks of life on a level playing field so to speak. You never know…read morewhat sorts of people you will get down here which can be good and bad. Think of it as an experience either way. People are always happy for you to get involved in their games and it is always good to spend sometime with people you have never met as you always learn something. At night however it can be a little bit strange so really use it during the day. Everything else has been covered by the guys before so read up on their review.

To the average citizen Russell Road NCP is little more than an average multi-story car park but to…read morethe seasoned speed freak it is much more. All it takes to understand what I'm talking about is a decent short-board and an aptitude for dealing with dizziness. If you and your board are capable of maintaining a sharp turning circle then you can spiral your way all the way from top to bottom in one go. The entire ride takes about 3mins but bear in mind you'll pick up a fair bit of speed so make sure you only try this when it's empty. Also, be aware the security guards won't take kindly to you using the place as a skate park, so don't try unless you're willing to risk a fine. It's worth it though. If you use a street deck with compulsory tiny wheels, chances are you'll find this boring but if your set-up contains 76mm Kryptonics and Abec 9s prepare to lean like you've never leaned before.

Russell Square is my breathing space when I come to central Brighton. For whatever reason, it is…read moresometimes necessary to enter the fetid maw of Churchill Square, and when that necessity arises one needs to counterbalance the ill effects of air conditioning and chain stores with a pleasant, quiet, green space to have lunch. This is where Russell Square comes in. Unlike its' London counterpart, it is a small, well maintained pocket handkerchief of green a short walk from the centre, bordered on three sides by elegant houses with the original wrought-iron balconies and zinc gazebos from the early 1800s. Set out in a meandering oval with a central shrubbery, its carefully placed foliage affords a degree of privacy, and one can spend a happy lunch hour here sunbathing and reading, a very short walk from the centre. It's the kind of place you have to know already to find it, and this makes it surprisingly empty even on a sunny day. You may have to parry the odd seagull's advances on your sandwiches, but it's nothing like the flocks one has to fight through closer to the seafront. It's a lovely little morsel of urban green, and it's well worth taking a lunch break to discover it.

Strolling down the South Bank, we came across a really cool part of the South Bank Centre, the…read moreskate park. Just when you think you've seen the most of South Bank, this impressed me. On the lower level they had a skateboard park that had quite a few young kids/adults skating around. I really appreciated the use of space and thought this was a cool way to integrate activities for locals into this area which is known for being touristy. We stopped and watched for a bit, when I got home and looked into it - I read up that this skate park has been around since the early 70's! I knew I had to write a review about it and share my photos. "The space is unique as it grew organically into what is now widely recognized as the home of British skateboarding. As an import from California, skateboarding in Britain was difficult due to the weather. The Undercroft space provided the perfect environment for skating as it was covered from the rain, smooth, flat with unusual architectural features resembling the ramps Californians skated, but most importantly disused." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Live_Southbank

I'm not a skater, but wow - what an interesting place to people watch!…read more Skateboarders and occasionally a few rollerbladers, this skate park is a nice place to get some shade along the South Bank. What make this place for me? The unique graffiti expressions on the wall. Artistic!

Wonderful sheltered skatepark for beginners through to experienced skaters. This is a membership…read morepark with a low fee for enjoying this clean ad well looked after site which has the luxury of toilets and a skate shop. There are also classes for those that want to learn new skills, as well as timed sessions for beginners only, and special days for girls only or older people. Highly recommend it.

Great for kids everyone is friendly!! Visited while in…read moreLondon Fun place to visit Good for scooters and skateboard S

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.