Hove Seafront and Beach Huts

Hove is Brighton's quieter neighbour, joined to it so closely that most visitors cross the boundary without noticing. The seafront here is wider and more relaxed, with broad grass lawns running beside the promenade, a bandstand-style feel in places and a long line of brightly painted beach huts facing the water. The huts are privately rented or owned and are not open to the public, but they make a cheerful backdrop for a stroll and a favourite subject for photographers. Behind the lawns stand grand Regency and Victorian terraces such as Brunswick Square and Adelaide Crescent, which show the same period style as Brighton's older streets in a more formal and orderly form. The beach is still pebbly, but it is generally less crowded than the stretch near the Palace Pier, so it suits families who want space for a picnic and walkers who want a gentler pace. Cycle lanes and wide pavements make it a good place for a bike ride, and cafes and kiosks serve coffee and ice cream along the way.

The easiest way to reach Hove is on foot from the i360, walking west along the promenade for about twenty minutes. You will pass from the busy Brighton front into a quieter stretch with the Hove Lawns on your right, and you can carry on as far as you like. Buses run along the road behind the front and Hove station is a short walk inland, so it is simple to loop back by train or bus. Cyclists will enjoy the long, flat seafront route, and bikes can be hired in the city.

Look out for the beach huts, which come in many colours and styles, some decorated with flags, flowers and bunting. The seafront lawns host picnics, games, sunbathing and occasional events, and the area around the lagoon further west is popular with families and with people trying water sports. Children can play on the open grass, and the wider promenade makes it easier for strollers and wheelchairs than the pebble-heavy stretch near the pier.

Cafes near the lawns serve breakfast and lunch, and on warm days the benches facing the sea are some of the nicest places to sit in the whole city.

Turn inland for a few minutes to see the Regency squares, where tall white terraces face private gardens and give a sense of how the wealthy visitors of the nineteenth century lived. Church Road, Hove's main shopping street, has independent shops, cafes and pubs, and Hove Museum is nearby for a look at local history and toys, subject to its own opening days.

The area feels residential and polished rather than raucous, so it suits couples and families who want a break from the energy of the central seafront. Evening walks here are especially pleasant, with sunset light falling across the lawns and the sea.

Dress for wind, as the front is exposed, and carry a card for cafes and kiosks, since many prefer card payments. In winter the lawns can be muddy and the sea dramatic, which is a good reason for a brisk walk and a hot chocolate. Dogs are welcome in many areas but check signs for seasonal restrictions on the beach. Combined with the main Brighton beach and the i360, a Hove stroll rounds out a full day on the seafront.