Built to defend an important port on the River Adur, Bramber Castle was constructed as a motte and…read morebailey castle around 1073 by William De Braose, who fought alongside William the Conqueror at the battle of Hastings in 1066. Apart from a period of confiscation during the reign of King John, it remained in the ownership of the De Braose family until themale line died out in 1324. Thereafter, it passed via the Mowbray and Howard families into the estate of the Dukes of Norfolk, who held it until it until 1926. It was given to the National Trust in 1946. Very little survives of the original castle, thanks to a gradual decline over the years, damage during the Civil War in 1642 and looting of the stones as a quarry for building by the locals. The most prominent feature is the tall and unsteady-looking fragment of the Gatehouse tower, still standing to almost its full original height. In the centre of the grounds is the impressive original motte, its earthen mound rising some 30ft (10m). A short distance away is a section of the curtain wall which survives up to 10ft (3m) in places. Around the perimeter are also the remains of the castle's impressive moat. (NB be careful with small children, as there are some sheer drops in places). Although the ruins are rather fragmentary, the grounds are beautifully kept by the National Trust, and make a wonderful place for a picnic, as well as affording excellent views of the surrounding countryside.

This place is a bit of a let down. There seems to be no effort to make it obvious where/what parts…read moreof the ruins were. They have a lame sign at the entrance but little else. It just seems like an enclosed play field.

Southwick is now firmly part of the suburban sprawl running from Brighton and Shoreham, and is…read moreknown to most people for the power station that dominates the far side of Shoreham Harbour. But there was a community here in Saxon times, and its church is surprisingly ancient. In fact, the walk from the station crosses the Green, an attractive and villagey stretch of tree-lined common which splits Southwick into two halves. There are some handsome cottages surrounded by well appointed semi-detached suburban homes, and a rather less appealing row of post-war shops. St Michael and All Angels was, until the 18th century, dedicated to St Margaret, and sits among a very pretty churchyard, thickly studded with trees. Although there was probably a church here in Saxon times, it first recorded in 1086, and in 1206 the right to appoint the rector was granted to the Templars, and then to the Hospitallers, although much of the early mediaeval period was taken up with disputes over these rights with the monks of Sele Priory. The ownership passed from Sele Priory to Magdelene College at the Dissolution, and patronage thereafter passed to the Crown until the 20th century. Fire in the 19th Century damaged the nave and an unexploded bomb (and the subsequent excavation to remove it) damaged the tower in 1941. The church itself is built of flint, and is essentially in three parts: the tower, nave and chancel. The tower is by far the most impressive part: its foundations and lower walls are said to be Saxon, although it mostly dates from the late 12th and 13th centuries. It is an attractive composition, with paired round-headed arches with narrow openings surmounted by paired gothic lancets and, above that, a shingle broach spire. The west door is also attractive, but a modern addition: the tower was carefully taken down and faithfully rebuilt in 1950 after the bomb damage, with vestries built either side. The chancel is mostly 13th century, with two original lancets, framed by a 14th century chancel arch. There are two round headed arches to the south, although the central column probably dates from the Victorian rebuilding. A 14th wooden screen with narrow lancets also survives in the south aisle. The nave burned down in the 1830s and was rebuilt with narrow lean-to aisles in 1834, with round-headed arcades and lancet windows. Pevsner's Buildings of England described the nave as a 'loveless cover for pew-space', which I think is a bit harsh, although there's no doubt it doesn't match the quality of the tower. The furnishings other than the south aisle screen - are limited in interest to what appears to be a mediaeval aumbry, some 18th and 19th century tombs and memorials, and a sturdy, square font, probably from the 13th century. The church is today the centre of large and busy parish, and has a vibrant church life, with services daily through the week.

I love the bandstand. It's a real jewel on the seafront and looking good for 130 years old…read more Lovingly restored just a few years ago it's considered one of the finest examples of Victorian bandstand in the country. This attraction does nothing much but look pretty for most of the year, but it is a hive of activity during peak season. You can see all sort of bands and dancing in the summer and for six months of the year you're allowed to get married on it. It's a unique venue for weddings, including same-sex marriage as of today in England and Wales. Hooray! It's still next to the busy coast road though so keep your eyes fixed on the direction of the sea. Many couples opt to marry elsewhere and take a few choice photos at the landmark for free. It's also lit up at night and good for a reflective moment when the city is quieter. I sometimes pop down there after dark and find others have decided to do the same. But that's ok, I don't mind sharing.

The first time we visited Brighton (and then moved here) we lived just opposite the bandstand. At…read morenight there would be dance classes or live music and the light detail they have put into it is simply beautiful. Granted, unless something else has taken the initiative (such as salsa classes etc) there is not much happening, but it is a landmark, and it makes what is a beautifull town even better.

Thought provoking sculpture that is yet another asset to the ever increasing show that Brighton…read moreputs on. The sculpture is an aluminium panel portraying photographs of six couples kissing. The photographs were transformed by computer into a dot screen drilled through a thick alumimium sheet. Brilliantly designed by Bruce Williams, it is meant to reflect the diversity of Brighton's residents. The Kiss Wall, unveiled in 1992 is a celebration that calls for equlaity, understanding and acceptance between all individuals. It is lovely to see by day, but I feel that it's more stunning at night. Fanatastic!

This historical building has numerous uses and quirky things to do. As you enter there are…read morewhispering dishes so that people can hear you 20 yards away doing the smallest noise. We once tried farting as kids very comical! Inside it is full of treats with the main attraction being the lens that looks out over the countryside over a vast distance and can magnitise so you can see a person clear as day miles away. I haven't been here for ages so I am sure they have added other bits and bobs that I haven't seen. Get chatting to them and they might give you an individual tour on a quiet day.

Foredown Tower is an old water tower which has been transformed into a local 'Camera Obscura'. For…read morea small fee visitors are allowed to enter the camera and watch a demonstration by the local guides who demonstrate the camera which operates by projecting an image from a lens in the top of the tower onto a concave screen in the centre of the darkened room. It allows full 360 degree viewing of the local landscapes and also views of the sun (on a black card) which allow you to experience solar eclipses. I can recommend a visit, especially with children. Try and find a nice sunny day!

From time to time everyone needs somewhere to go and think about things. A place a little out of…read morethe ordinary perhaps, where you can put life into perspective without your thought being rose tinted or lagged with doubt. For me personally this is the very end of the sea defences that run from the Portslade end of Aldrington Basin. You can even drive the better part of the way there and there is a cafe just by the car park. To get there you just take the little slip road down to the docks by Hove Lagoon and at the mini roundabout take a left. Then follow the road ahead, passing all the large grey emotionless commercial docking facilities with piles of timber and aggregates from other shores to your right. The walk from the Cafe is where the thinking time starts though. No matter what time of year or how many people you might meet down there the place seems to have an emotionless, cold and deserted feel. Sound seems to travel a shorter way, as though it were muted by the gentle hiss of the sea against the remote unforgiving concrete structure. A deafening silence. From the car park it's clear where you need to head - you pass a pebble beach, much lower than the path, to your right and come to the length of concrete harbour wall on your left. Then just walk to the end and sit for a while. No noise, no shops, no traffic and (save the odd angler) no people. Just try it.

We visited Durrington Walls as part of a private day tour that included stops at Stonehenge,…read moreAvebury Stone Circle, Lockeridge Dene, West Kennet Long Barrow, Woodhenge, and Silbury Hill. We felt these stops helped give us context and a better understanding of the time period. Durrington Walls was a large Neolithic settlement. Today you can still see the remains of the henge monument "walls" from across the street at Woodhenge.

This is an old stone farm tucked in a valley just by Devil's Dyke. It is owned by the National…read moreTrust, as is quite a lot of the land in that area. Walking in to Saddlescomb farm you walk past a duckpond. If you head straight on and round to the right you walk past stone outhouses, and old farming machinery. In one of the fields is a donkey wheel, kind of like a giant hamster wheel but for a donkey, used to grind corn. Chickens run out to meet you. In one of the courtyards is a little trailer selling cakes, cream teas and sandwiches. You can get pots of tea, and on the tables there are cutesy sugar bowls and salt and pepper cellars the likes of which you would find in an old ladies house or at a boot fair; our salt and pepper cellars for example were a pair of Mallard ducks: pepper in the drake, salt in the hen. It's really incredibly quaint, there are a few information boards about the farm, and after tea you can go for a lovely refreshing walk around the downs. Top notch.

Clifton Terrace is regarded as one of the most desirable addresses in Brighton, if not the most…read moredesirable. Situated in the Clifton Hill area of Brighton, the Terrace was built in 1847 after the opening of the railway to London, funded by the Barings Bank family and the widow of Thomas Kemp, builder of Kemp Town. The houses are in a single terrace, in the villa style, all in whitewashed stucco. The distinctive ground floor bay windows have deep awnings, some glazed and others covered in lead. The central group of houses has a pair of blind windows with classical pediments, and no awnings. The overall effect is of genteel elegance; homely yet refined. The Terrace is listed at Grade II. The design incorporates Clifton Terrace Gardens opposite - still retained for the sole use of residents - which helps to preserve the stunning sea views from the houses. The gardens were originally the site of Clifton Windmill, removed in 1837. Many of the individual front gardens to the houses are also beautifully kept. This is where I'd love to live - if I could afford to. It's quiet and surprisingly green, yet minutes from the centre of Brighton and around 5 minutes from the sea front. Just perfect. Unfortunately, a house here will set you back about £1 million

A Beautifull place, situated in a tranquil often overlooked part of brighton. back in the 70's I…read moregot well paid to demolish a complete house in clifton hill over a weekend to create a bigger entrance into the yard of an antique dealer so he could get his lorries in, when eventually the house was rebuilt it was twice as big and afforded covered access to the the rear, a win win situation, but back then not to many people worried about preserving or conserving our heritage. luckily the magnificent terrace and its fine gardens remain as a unequalled example of gentile regency brighton.