An idyllic destination a short drive from London, Painshill Park is a great place to spend a day…read moreenjoying the beauty of the English countryside. Created by the eccentric Charles Hamilton, the park was created as a "romantic landscape". Both organized and naturalistic, the park offers many vistas, perspectives and experiences. Created with a variety of follies dotting the landscape, the park offers panoramic views and interesting scenes. Views from the Gothic Temple and the Turkish Tent are breathtaking. While exploring the man-made grotto (which is currently undergoing renovation) you can't help but be in awe of Hamilton's vision while at the same time thinking "This guy must have been totally out there to build stalactites with lathe and plaster and then cover them in pieces of crystal!". Whether walking the grounds, bringing a blanket and a book and enjoying the solitude, Painshill Park is a wonderful place to visit. Be prepared to walk, as the park is large and very hilly. It's a good climb to the top of the Tower as well. Would definitely recommend this if you need a relaxing afternoon away from the hustle and bustle of London.

A grade 1 listed park, much renovated over the last 25 years, by the trust that owns it…read more Created by Charles Hamilton ,in the mid 18th century, after his 2 (obligatory) Grand Tours, he wanted to create an idyllic natural setting, around a lake, with water diverted from the river Mole. He was very succesful in this, and created a number of follies, a Grotto, and the unusual Turkish Tent. Many of the plants are of American origin, and were just becoming fashionable at the time. It's worth remembering it's a park like setting rather than a garden like Wisley. Reasonable cafe near the entrance, and the ever present gift shop. Worth chcking their website for offers, currently free entry on Wednesdays in November, children free at weekends, and A special Santa event. The Grotto is only open at the weekends. A great place for a walk on a sunny day, great views across the lake and Surrey.

This park is home for hundreds of kids in the Mile Oak area and is always full of life. In the park…read morethere is all your expected treasures so that the kids are kept busy with football pitches along side for playing and walking dogs. I used to knock about here for as long as I can remember and was never let down. With the Sports Centre across the street this area although out in the suburbs of Brighton there is plenty going on.

Magical, mystical, fun, exciting! At least it is when you're a kid or you go with kids! Groombridge…read moreplace or the Enchanted Forest as it's better known is home to a pathway of exciting gardens, activities and hidden secrets! There are areas such as the dragon and dinosaur valley, the dark walk, the serpents lair and many other mythical areas to explore! Watch out because sometimes you might find a giant walking about! When I went here we were taken around some parts with a tour guide and he really brought the magic to life! There are also formal gardens at Groombridge place as well as some petting animals. It's a really great day out for the family and it won't cost you and arm and a leg either! I think it's about £9 for an adult now and of course less for children and senior citizens, you can also save by buying a family ticket! It's close to Tunbridge Wells and East Grinstead so can be easily found. Enjoy!

Visitors more familiar with the densely built up City Centre of Brighton and its Georgian…read morearchitecture will be surprised to learn just how many large parks the city has. One of the nicest, and most historic, is Stanmer Park, on the eastern outskirts of the city and adjacent to the lovely campus of the University of Sussex at Falmer. The park is set around Stanmer House, built in 1720 by the first Earl of Chichester, Thomas Pelham. Set in its own little valley, the estate includes Stanmer Village and church: the former a picturesque private village built for the estate's workers, and the latter rebuilt in 1838 when the earlier mediaeval church burned down. As with many such estates, it was planned on the principles of classic English landscape gardening, and consists of sweeping areas of lawn planted with specimen trees, all edged with woodland. Bought by Brighton Council in 1947, the grounds are now open to the public as parkland. The 'village' includes a cafe ('see separate entry under 'Stanmer Tea Rooms') and public toilets. Part of the old stable block now houses a mildly diverting small museum of rural life (free entry but rather limited opening hours) and a nursery which is open to the public, selling a wide range of plants, in what was the house's walled garden (which closes at 16h). The whole ensemble is maybe not quite as well kept as it could be, but it's nice enough. The House itself has been beautifully restored and is let as a conference and private function venue, and some of the main function rooms can be visited (again, for free) when not hired out. It contains a collection of old photographs, but most of the original contents have long since gone - however, the modern furnishings fit in well enough in a 'Country House Hotel' sort of way. However, the main reason for a visit to the Park is just to get some fresh air, in nice surroundings: it's a great place for a game of cricket or rounders, or picnic, or just a woodland walk, and is very popular with students from the nearby University and families in the summer. The park is a 15 minute walk from Falmer station, and 10 minutes from the University, but on summer Sundays and Bank Holidays there is an hourly bus service (route 78) from the centre of Brighton, via the railway station, during the day, right up to the Village and House. Car-parking is in the process of being reorganised, but is normally not a problem unless there is an event taking place.

Stanmer Park is located just off the A270 between Brighton and Lewes, right next to the University…read moreof Sussex Campus, in the village of Stanmer. It is a lovely place to walk the dog or take the kids for a run around if they need to expel some excess energy! There's a small car park, but be warned this can get packed out pretty quickly, as it seems to serve as an overflow car park for visitors to the village, church and pub! Easily accessible from Falmer village and Sussex campus, Stanmer park provides a really nice, scenic walk- it's not particularly challenging or varied, more of a light stroll around the estate's grounds. I often used to pop over to Stanmer to stretch my legs and get a change of scenery, during my first year at university, it's a really great place to have on your doorstep, which I suspect many students aren't even aware of. If you feel like exploring, you can also wander through the village, where there's a really sweet old church and a pub that do nice food. Stanmer House itself is also quite something to look at and Stanmer Nursery is nestled away at the side and is well worth a visit. This is where the council grow many of the flowers they use in displays all over the city! Oh and if you're interested in Eco living and building, be sure to check out the Earth ship, it's incredible and they do tours!

Really lovely place to go for a walk, take children along as there's an activity park (two) along…read morewith a barn which holds a small museum, gift shop and cafe. Beautiful walks and plenty of parking - more expensive at the weekend, but fairly reasonable throughout the week. Lots of people take dogs there for walks, and it's fairly easy to spend a couple of hours there. Fishing nets for children can be hired from the barn to fish in a small pond nearby. There's also a river running through but to do fishing there you need a permit.

Fantastic place for my toddler, love the climbing things shaped like animals in the woods…read more Its nice and big, and the parking is more expensive at weekends but they're are no other costs, so seems pretty good value really.

This park is a bit of a jack of all trades in the fact that so much is there for such a variety of…read morepeople. As, it isn't that well known it is only really busy in the best of summer days which in my opinion lets it down a bit. The playground area is one of the best around with tonnes of things to keep the kids busy for atleast a couple of hours. The park itself is kept well and surrounded by trees which encloses it slightly. This place is perfect if you want to get out of the office and have a bit of lunch and get into the sunshine which I have done on numerous occasions in the past. The tennis courts offer those who can't stay still, a chance to burn off all that energy.

Blaker's Park is a smaller local park wedged between Preston Drove on the south end and Stanford…read moreAvenue at the north end. It is much more compact park than Preston Park down the road and works perfectly for families and young kids. The whole park is on a slope which makes it a little more difficult for portable barbecues but great for rolling down the hill! As you walk down the grassy slope from Stanford Avenue you reach a lovely red brick clock tower and a small cafe stand (great coffee, GREAT cakes!) and two tennis courts in excellent condition (free before 10am). Next to the tennis courts is a small playground for young kids with a sandpit, slide and various climbing frames- as well as some picnic tables for parents. Grab a coffee and watch your kids burn off their energy!

An absolute haven for the distressed, stressed, depressed, opressed and any other essed in the…read morelovely county of Sussex. This is the place to be. So much variation in plants and views. Plenty of seats to sit as one goes around. You can have a different picnic spot every time you visit,(don't forget to clean up afterwards). The Tearooms are close by if, and it's a BIG IF, you can tear yourself away from the flora.

Opposite West Dulwich station, Belair Park is a small gem. It's a popular place for local dog…read morewalkers (dogs are allowed off the leash in most of the park) and there's plenty of parking (although it gets crowded for half an hour in the morning and afternoon with parents doing the school run for DCPS Nursery on Gallery Road). There's a smallish (dog-free) childrens' playground with a large climbing frame in the shape of a ship, and there are communal tennis courts for the summer (first come, first served: no booking). The park surrounds a somewhat disappointing duck pond (avoid the rats) but in its eastern edge lies Belair House, a beautiful Grade II listed building, built in 1785 and designed by architect Robert Adam. Belair House is now home to a snazzy restaurant and bar.

Lancing Manor leisure Center has recently had an upgrade. On entering the leisure center the…read moreentrance gives a good impression, clean and new. The staff are friendly and helpful. I come her regularly to take my toddler daughter to might mites, a soft play session in the sports hall. It costs £3.70 for a session and parents can sit at tables available and order drinks and even a cooked breakfast from the cafe. Great if you want to have a chat and amuse the children. The gym overlooks the sports hall and looks well used. Situated just off the A27 and next to Manor Park its very accessible to anyone living in Lancing, Worthing, Shoreham and surrounding areas.

I've been a member of a lot of gyms over the years but this one takes some beating for its…read moreall-round offering. I use the gym regularly which is clean and has lots of machines (although it could do with a Smith machine and can sometimes get a bit chavvy after work in the evenings) and i regularly attend circuit training with Dan who is more like a boot camp trainer but his class is great fun and because of his motivation to work harder I have lost around 6% of my body fat in just 8 weeks!