Hove

Hove is known for its calm after Brighton's noise: the same seafront, but wide lawns and pastel Regency squares instead of crowds and arcades. It sits right alongside its more famous neighbour, close enough to share a coastline but with a character of its own, quieter streets, handsome terraces, and a slower pace that suits people who want the sea without the stag-party energy.

Places to stay range from the grand to the intimate. The Best Western Princes Marine Hotel looks straight out over the water, while smaller B&Bs like Clifton House Brighton, Lichfield House, Seafield House and SoBo Guest House offer a more personal base in the Regency squares just back from the front. Brunswick Square Hotel and Langfords Hotel put you among some of the area's best architecture, and Bow Street Runner adds another characterful option for those who want to be central.

Hove Park gives the town its green heart, a proper stretch of open space for a walk or a run, while Hove Museum and Art Gallery is the place to dig into local history and art. Active visitors have plenty to do too: Brighton Footgolf Course and the King Alfred Leisure Centre cover land-based fun, and The Outdoors Project and Lagoon Watersports Bar and Cafe make the most of the coastline itself for anyone keen to get on the water.

Altogether, Hove works well as either a base for exploring the wider Brighton and Hove area or a destination in its own right, particularly if you want sea air, green space and a good meal without the busiest parts of the city on your doorstep.