Opened in 1906, this is Hove's main park, a huge, gently curving expanse of green grass, with lots…read moreof mature trees, park benches and small areas of flower beds.
It's primarily a recreation park, though: there's a children's playground, basketball court, bowling green, two football pitches and 12 tennis courts, all for hire. There's also a climbing boulder, suitable for children.
At the north end, there's a miniature steam railway, which runs on elevated tracks. Trains are operated on summer week-ends by volunteers. For details see separate review and http://www.hoveparkrailway.co.uk .
At the south end, there's a tea pavilion, serving hot and cold drinks and snacks. It's quite reasonably priced, but service is rather haphazard, especially when they are busy.
Also at the southern end is Hove Park's great claim to fame, "the Goldstone". This huge rock, weighing about 20 tons, is commonly believed to have been used by the Druids for worship. Legend has it that the devil threw it there while excavating Devils Dyke, the deep valley through the Downs above Hove. In the 1830s, the landowner was so fed up of tourists coming to gawp at it, that he buried it! It was unearthed and restored to public view in 1900.
The Park is a ten minute walk from Hove railway station and is served by Brighton & Hove bus routes 55, 56, 59, 27A and 5B.
