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!

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.

St John's park used to have the town leisure centre at the end of it before it moved to another…read morepart of town. For the park, this was actually a good thing as the space was reused to put in three tennis courts, a skate park and a basket ball net plus practise area. Alongside this, there is a children's playground and the local cricket team class this as their home turf. There is a cricket pavilion here and you can also watch a cheeky free game of local cricket on the weekend. The park is well placed for amenities and is fairly pleasant. Sadly, it is not much more than a big rectangle and it would have been nice to have a wooded area to go on a walk. You will find yourself doing laps or running out of space fast if you want to use it for jogging or an afternoon stroll. Still, as a place to bring your kids for a knock about with a ball or other activities (I actually learnt to ride my first bike at this park) you could do worse.

This park is one of the biggest in the Hove area which gives lots of space for lots of activities…read more The land right next to the park that is now not in use is perfect for allowing the dog to go mental and burn off all their energy so I have added pictures of that but it isn't actually part of the park. The playground, a useful way to zap the energy out of your kids, will be getting re-done in January so I am sure there will be some new types of climbing frame for them to drool over! With public toilets in the park and a Sainsbury 5 minute walk for your ice creams you can make a right day of it in the summer. During the football season there are 2 pitches available for hire which are pretty good as far as Sunday amateur football pitches go, I should know I have played atleast 10 matches on both pitches as it used to be my home ground.

Queen's Park is exquisite in all seasons. It has a bit of everything to suit everyone…read more The play park has loads to offer the kids as far as swings and slides go and lots of patches for parents to set up camp and have a natter. The cafe is in the centre of the play park and sells yummy cakes + sarnies, well earned cups of tea and ice lollies. It boasts a huge duckpond, with an island in the middle - home to some rather large geese. Be wary if you're feeding the ducks! I've been chased by the geese several times and I'm still as frightened as I was when I was 3! I'm a bit of a big girls blouse though... There's a huge bit by the clock tower - perfect for football and picnics. There are tennis courts, a wild herb garden and a dog walking section. Getting onto the dog walking section, there is a huge row going on with the dog walkers of queens park (check out their facebook page!) and the council at the moment about the amount of space there is for the dogs. They want the old bowling green to be handed over to the dog section to make it a larger space. It's getting heated! I enjoy coming here with my pooch every morning, whatever the weather it feels magical. It's an extremely beautiful and peaceful place to be. My sons favourite part of the park is the rockery. He spends hours in there exploring and making houses in the caves, playing hide and seek. I feel very lucky to have this place just on my doorstep.

I had a really weird experience last time I was in Queen's Park. It was New Year's Day 2009 and I…read morehad hopes of walking off my wretched hang over so took myself off to the park for a stroll. What confronted me when I arrived was bizarre. Someone had, in their New Years revelry, filled the pond with shopping carts and rubbish bins! Ok so that alone just sounds like a big old destructive mess, but the pond had frozen over night, creating quite an amazing spectacle! I was torn between self-righteous indignation and 'ugh, the youth of today' thoughts and thinking it actually looked like a pretty cool art installation. Anyway, enough with the storytelling. Queen's Park is a beautiful park bordered by Hanover on one side and Kemp town on the other. It's not massive, but it's perfect for a leisurely Sunday stroll before heading to 'Home' for brunch or the pub for a roast. As well as the aforementioned pond (which is usually quite normal and lovely looking) where you can feed the ducks, there is a wildlife garden, where a local herbologist holds workshops for anyone interested.

Preston Park is Brighton's largest and oldest planned city park. Funded by a bequest from a local…read morebookmaker, William Edmund Davies, the park opened on 8 November 1884. The park is located on the main A23 road from London to Brighton, a mile and half north of the city centre, and next to Preston Manor. The main park is over 60 acres in area and includes wide open spaces of parkland with trees, formal beds along the side of the A23 road, and at the south end is a formal rose garden. Next to this is the Rotunda Cafe, which is open Monday-Friday 9.15-16h and weekends 9.30-17h. Moving northwards are 4 bowling greens and 8 tennis courts, mutli-sports areas with basket ball courts, a 500m velodrome, a children's playground, 4 soccer pitches and 2 cricket pitches. In the centre of the park is the Chalet Cafe, open daily 10-17h. Despite the all organised sport provided for, many come here just to walk or for picnics, or for nothing in particular at all. Other items of interest include a clock tower and the Hansel and Gretel-like tiled house (sadly now with its windows protected with wire mesh). As well as general recreation, the park is the location for many events during the year. The largest is the event after the Brighton Pride parade, which finishes at the Park, regarded by many as the premier free Gay Pride event in the UK. It regularly attracts over 120,000. (It takes place on 2nd August in 2008). Other events are held during the year, including concerts and family days.

Very pretty park…read more I didn't see or step in any piles of dog shit. I believe I got talked into taking a BMF class here or I might have been laying around the lawns waiting for a friend to get done with a class. Either way, it's pretty and clean.

Wild Park is a pretty park just off the Lewes Road in Moulsecoomb, and connected to Stanmer Park…read moreand the South Downs. This is well worth a visit if you're into walking, as the high hills offer great views down into Brighton from the Hollinbury Hill Fort. You'll also find a nature walk, sheep, a duck pond and a golf course.

As parks go this one is one of the biggest in Brighton and especially in summer is a great place to…read morego to participate in almost anything as there's always space. There is also a cafe in the summer but if your watching the pennies there is a shop and chip shop across the road for your lunch. I didn't know they were now letting sheep loose now so beware!! I think it's cool to have some sort of wildlife plotting around as Brighton is becoming precariously close to having none at all much like London so enjoy it while you can.

This is a small but attractive park north of Seven Dials, with formal terraces, a children's play…read morearea, soccer pitch, bowling green and 6 tennis courts, as well as public toilets. On the upper terrace, with views towards the sea, is a small but well-known (and recommended) cafe, serving hot and cold drinks, sandwiches, baguettes, light meals, snacks, cakes and ice-creams. This is open Monday-Friday 9-18h and on Saturday and Sunday 10-18h. (Contact details: (01273) 554441). The park was established in 1924, having formerly been an area of market gardens and allotments. The central area has formal gardens with a geometrical layout, defined by clipped Yew hedges, as well as ornamental shrubberies and herbaceous borders, and is popular place for pensioners especially to sit and enjoy the summer sun in a quiet, sheltered spot. The cafe is also a great place to stop when it's cold, as it has great views and serves great hot chocolate! The park is on the 27 bus route into Brighton.

This park isn't huge put it's a great resource if you live near this end of town, which although…read morecentral is 30 mins away from the beach. There's space enough for games and bbqs in the summer, as well as a cafe, a pretty small rose garden, a football pitch, bowling green and tennis courts. You'll also get a great view of the sea from here. It doesn't seem to be too well known as when I lived nearby I'd often head to the park to read in the hot summer and it'd be really peaceful save the odd jogger and dog walker.