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.

Three Cornered Copse is a 'linear park', a 1-mile long strip of green space between Woodland Avenue…read moreand Woodland Drive, and running from Dyke Road Avenue down to Goldstone Crescent. It provides a `green link' between Hove Park and Green Ridge, and there is a public bridleway along the length of the park. The first section, from Goldstone Crescent, at the top of Hove Park, is simply a gently rising path, thickly planted with trees hiding the garden fences of the houses backing onto the path either side. After about half a mile this opens up into a wide green space, with a small copse on the west side, and with stunning views south over Hove and Hove Park to the sea. The site has a range of habitats, including scrub, hedgerows and woodland, and the verges of the path were almost overwhelmed by hogweed on my walk. It's used by dog walkers and the odd hiker walking up towards Devil's Dyke, as well as people just reading or sunbathing on the grassy area. But it's usually pretty quiet - something of a well kept secret. Bus 27A runs along Goldstone Crescent at the south end of the path, and buses 77 and 27 stop about 75m along Dyke Road Avenue at the north end.

I never knew this existed until I ended up here to find some geocaches! Beautiful walk (a tad muddy…read moreas it had been raining heavy for a few days) but a great walk easy for everyone, even your grandma and grandad could do it ;)

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!

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.

Pastel pinks Cloudy pinks…read moreBright pinks Blood reds Bright reds Deep yellows & Custardy creams A must for flower and garden fanatics, the Rose Garden in Preston Park is beautiful in the spring and summer months. Situated at the front end of the park that runs along London Road and the A23, it's a long space with clusters of different colours and scents. Whilst it pales in comparison to the flower gardens I've seen in San Francisco, the garden is undoubtedly pretty and the smell as you walk through is pretty intoxicating.

On the opposite side of Preston Road from Preston Park proper is Britain's largest municipal rock…read moregarden, built on a steep slope that runs up to the railway line. It's an impressive creation, but is often overlooked by those using the park and I suspect is unknown to most of those driving past, to and from Brighton. Laid out in 1935, it incorporates over 1,350 of imported Cheddar stone, and has lots of winding paths, steps, a cascade, and a large fish pond with stepping stones. The garden overall has a vaguely oriental theme, although the types of plant include more ordinary bedding plants as well as alpines. It's a great place for playing hide and seek, as the paths really do form a warren, but the paths and steps can be both slippery (especially when wet) and are very uneven, so have to be treated with great care. There are lots of benches to sit on, and there are good views from the upper levels - its over 100ft (30m) to the top of the garden from the road. Only very limited areas adjacent to the road are accessible for push-chairs and wheelchair users. The pond has deep water, and some parts are very steep with lots of sheer drops, so small children must be supervised. Unfortunately, some of the public don't treat the park with the respect it deserves, so some parts suffer badly from litter - beer cans especially - which end up in the cascade. Some of the plants are also looking a little forlorn, so it drops a star for this.

This always fascinated me as a kid when I drove into Brighton on the A23. It was only a little…read morewhile ago I actually got to explore it. Imagine 30 odd years of curiosity spilling out in one moment. Needless to say, my mates thought I was getting a little excited over some rocks, benches, flowers and windy paths. It is a really nice walk and kids will get totally immersed in their imaginations. I would agree with Sarah though on the downside of the location. It does ruin what would be a really enchanting spot, but if you catch it on the right time of day you may escape the worst of the traffic.

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.

A large open space near Hove Park, with several rugby pitches, surrounded by lovely mature trees…read morealong the perimeter of the grounds. It is home to Hove Rugby Football Club, and there is also a soccer pitch here (Brighton and Hove Albion FC used to train here at one time, but no longer do so). As well as rugby and soccer, the park is used by joggers and cyclists going around the tarmac path on the perimeter, and by people just enjoying the sun in summer.

Lovley park, mainly used by Hove RFC i think, local dog walkers and joggers too. I enjoy walking…read morethrough on my journey too and from work. Sometimes its nice just to get off the main road and have a little greenery!

For me Ditchling Beacon is little more than Sussex's most beautiful car park. Maintained by the…read morenational trust it serves as the final and most brutal challenge of the London to Brighton Bike ride. For the main part it's a great place to start a long walk across the downs on a route that (heading west) has a few interesting points to offer including some historic dewponds and an area of land known to the mountain biking community of Sussex as Tank Tracks. The reason for this being that it was used a training ground for tank drivers during the Second World War. As with most places on the downs the whole walk offers incredible views all year round and unlike Devil's Dyke for example you are free of the reminder that the pub offers of how close you are to civilisation you are.

Ditching beacon is the site of a Paleolithic hill fort, though sadly nothng remains of the original…read morestructure. What is left is one of the most breathtaking views you will get of the Sussex county. The site is a nature reserve maintained by the National Trust and if you want to get out of the city and have a walk along the downs, then this should be your first port of call. If you follow the route West along the chalk downs you will pass a couple of old dew ponds (used by herders in times past for watering their flocks) and end up coming to a quaint little windmill. The actual car park will usually have an ice cream van stationed for any refreshments, but aside from that don't expect a pub or venue to quench your thirst. Hence, bringing along some snack and drinks is a good idea. The car park is fairly adequate, but on summer weekends you may have to resort to parking on the side of the road. I came here a lot as a kid and would really recommend this as a nice Sunday afternoon walk to burn off the effects of the Sunday lunch.

I walk my dog in Hove Park every day and always try and pop in to the cafe for a cup of tea to warm…read moreup. Its a fantastic place to take the kids too (doggies have to stay on leads) for a slice of cake - which is quite possibly the nicest home made cake in the Hove area! Try the Victoria sponge. They also serve a fantastic selection of sandwhiches and salads which is ideal after a long stroll. There's always relaxing music playing and the staff are really friendly. Its also right in front of the Park's tennis courts where you can also book yourself in on one of the courts.

Hove Park Cafe is your perfect neighbourhood spot to have good coffee and cake. The food/drink…read moreselection is great and the service is friendly and prompt. They offer lovely sandwiches and snacks for all ages. They have chairs and tables inside as well as out in the front where you can watch the tennis players play. Hove Park Cafe also has a loyalty card scheme so if you come 9 times, you get a coffee free!