Places to Visit

Places to Visit in & around Brighton

Beacon Bikes Albourne BN6 9BQ, electric & conventional mountain bike hire, family/dog-friendly cafe, allweather football pitch, safe for kids to cycle & play.

Booth Museum of Natural History, Dyke Rd BN1 5AA, quirky celebration of natural history, children’s activities, FREE.

Brighton Fishing Museum, Kings Road Arches BN1 1NB, Sussex fishing boat, plus prints, photos & fishing memorabilia, FREE.

Brighton Footgolf, Hove BN3 8EB, game involving kicking a football into a hole in as few kicks as possible, 9/18-hole available, 3yrs+.

Brighton Museum & Art Gallery, Royal Pavilion BN1 1EE, history of Brighton, pottery, fashion & more, children activities, mostly FREE.

Brighton Sea Life Centre Marine Parade, the world’s oldest operating aquarium with over 5,000 creatures.

Brighton Toy & Model Museum, Trafalgar St, BN1 4EB, 10,000+ toys & models, incl. working model railways.

Brighton Karting at Q Leisure, Albourne, outdoor karting for 8yrs+.

Brighton Marina, bowling, cinema, children’s rides, mini-golf, boat trips, events and more.

Brighton Palace Pier, amusement arcades, rides, indoor play area for children over 0.9m & U0.9m.

Brighton Zip, Madeira Drive, longest zip wire on the South Coast, Sat/Sun 12-6pm, 6yrs+.

Brighton i360, 162m tower with viewing pod climbing to 138m, 360° views of the Sussex coastline up to 26 miles.

Butterfly Gardens at Middleton Common Farm, Ditchling, free flying butterflies from all over the world.

Coombes Farm Lambing Tours nr Lancing BN15 0RS. Open for lambing 11 March-16 April, 01273 452028 (see advert p.22)

Devil’s Dyke, Poynings BN1 8YJ, longest, deepest & widest ‘dry valley’ in the UK & Ditchling Beacon, 2nd highest point in the South Downs NP Globalls, Brighton Marina, 12-hole indoor themed-ultraviolet crazy golf course.

Hollywood Bowl Brighton, Brighton Marina, 26 bowling lanes, amusement area, Hollywood Diner & bar.

Hove Lagoon Fun Play, mini golf, trampolines, bouncy castle, children's rides, open weekends.

Jungle Rumble Adventure Golf, Madeira Drive, two 18-hole mini-golf courses, beach view, roof terrace café.

Jurassic Beach adventure golf, Kingsway, Hove, fun & challenging Jurassic-themed 18-hole mini-golf & coffee shop.

Hove Museum of Creativity, toys, cinema, local history & fine art, children’s activities, FREE. Hove Park almost 40 acres of open grass, mature trees & recreational facilities, playground, café.

Peacehaven Big Park, skate park, playgrounds, natural play spaces, café, footpaths to the South Downs.

Pier Pressure Escape Rooms, Brighton’s biggest escape rooms venue with 5 top rated games, 12yrs+.

Preston Park BN1 6HN, largest urban park in the city, playground, large rockery, walled garden,cafés.

Puzzle Parade Brighton, interactive outdoor treasure hunt in the heart of Brighton, 6yrs+.

Queens Park, wildlife garden, grade II listed clock tower built in 1915, playground, tennis courts, café.

Rampion Offshore Wind Visitor Centre, nr i360, hands-on exhibitions, interactive displays, games, videos & 360˚ wind farm VR experience, toddler sessions & holiday activities, 10am-4pm (6pm from 1st April), Free (see advert)

Royal Pavilion Brighton, built between 1787 & 1823, exotic oriental appearance both inside & out. Saunders Park Lewes Road, Brighton, BN2 4AE (by Sainsbury’s). Play area, summer paddling pool. Stanmer Park, Falmer, park, walks, football pitches, village, home to Earthship Brighton & One Garden, Stanmer Park’s walled garden transformed, plant nurseries, café, market, workshop & events

St Ann’s Well Gardens, scented garden for the visually impaired, pond, playground, the Garden Cafe Undercliff Walk just over 5km from Brighton Marina to Saltdean, for both cyclists & pedestrians.

Upside Down House, Kings Rd Arches Brighton, museum of illusions incl. a variety of designed rooms. Yellowave Beach Sports, Brighton beach, beach volleyball, beach soccer, tag rugby, clubhouse for hire & private parties (6yrs+), sand pit, cafe, seasonal events (see advert)

Places to Visit Further Afield

Amberley Museum & Heritage Centre, Arundel, collection of listed buildings, vintage vehicles, rural crafts, events throughout the year.

Ardingly Reservoir nr Haywards Heath, walks & limited cycling.

Ashdown Forest Centre Wych Cross RH18 5JP, once a Norman deer hunting forest, free public access space & the ‘home’ of Winnie the Pooh, parking fee apply.

Beachy Head, walks, shop, free exhibition (Beachy Head Story) & breath-taking views.

Blackberry Farm near Lewes BN8 6JD. Home to over 200 friendly animals, outdoor play area.

Borde Hill Garden Haywards Heath RH16 1XP, 17-acre garden, woodland walks, playground, zip wire & holiday themed trails, seasonal events (see competition p.12)

British Wildlife Centre Surrey RH7 6LF, over 40 British animals incl. red squirrel, otters, foxes & deers. Cuckmere Valley & Seven Sisters Country Park, Exceat BN25 4AD, 2 chalk cliffs, stunning views on the Seven Sisters, Cuckmere river valley, rock pooling, cycling to the beach & canoeing on the meanders. From there walk to or visit Burling Gap Drusillas Park off the A27, BN26 5QS, zoo, interactive displays, adventure playgrounds, ride, restaurants, cafes, seasonal events (see competition)

Fishbourne Roman Palace nr Chichester PO19 3QR, Roman palace with the largest mosaics in the UK. Friston Forest Exceat BN25 4AD, walks, cycling, mountain biking, play area, parking fee apply.

Knockhatch Adventure Park Hailsham BN27 3GD, animals, falconry, indoor soft play, outdoor playgrounds & more, seasonal events.

Lewes Castle & Barbican House Museum, 1,000 year old Norman Castle, views across Sussex from the top, museum of Archaeology.

Michelham Priory, nr Hailsham BN27 3QS, foundations of the 13th century priory, moated gardens, water mill & play area (seasonal events).

Nymans House & Gardens NT, Handcross, RH17 6EB, natural play trail, lovely woods, Easter family trails (see advert p.5)

Observatory Science Centre, Herstmonceux BN27 1RN, hands-on science with 100+ interactive exhibits, telescope tours, events.

Out of Bounds, Angmering BN16 4NB, Clip n’ Climb, bowling, softplay, footgolf, laser tag, adventure golf.