Area Guide

North Laine

The Lanes

Not to be confused with North Laine, the area south of North Street is a warren of ‘twittens’ (that’s Sussex speak for alleyway!) lined with antique shops, jewelers, high-end fashion stores and many a fine pub and restaurant!

City Centre / Churchill Square

All of the main high street stores are conveniently located in and around Brighton’s Churchill Square shopping centre, and along North Street and Western Road. You’ll find everything you could possibly need here… without too much effort or stress!

Hove

Continue along Western Road and onto Church Road to discover the delights of the other half of the city. Hove is great if you’re hunting for interiors or womens fashions, plus it’s got some of the best eateries in the city. Explore some of the stunning architecture around the Regency squares.

Kemp Town

Kemp Town stretches from the Old Steine to the marina, and is home to the city’s gay and artistic communities. Make sure you don’t miss the Kemp Town Village area, tucked away at the very far end of St James Street where Bristol Road turns into St Georges Road. It’s a true hidden gem!

Lewes

Whilst not a part of Brighton, the neighbouring town of Lewes is a short drive or 10 minute train ride away and is a very different experience to anything you’ll find in the city. Explore the picture perfect lanes where you’ll find traditional pubs and shops, plus attractions including Lewes Castle and Harvey’s Brewery.

Brighton & Hove’s Parks

Queens Park

Queens Park occupies a lofty aspect overlooking Kemptown and the sea. This delightful open space has a fascinating, but chequered history. It was formally laid out as a park in 1824 as a ‘subscription pleasure garden’, yet failed to become an attraction. It was subsequently purchased by a wealthy solicitor named Thomas Attree, who, originally, sought to turn it into a private estate. It was Attree who gave the park its current name after Queen Adelaide, wife of William IV. The park then preserved exclusive rights, prohibiting access to the general public. In its time it has been home to an aviary, archery ground and roller skating rink, until finally being sold to Brighton Corporation in 1890. The roller skating rink was subsequently demolished and a pond built in its place. It opened as a public park on 10th August 1892 and, to this day, remains a popular place of recreation for the local community with a children’s play area, cafe, bowling green and tennis courts. At its heart, the tranquil pond attracts many varieties of birdlife, including ducks, geese and herring gulls. It has many mature trees and shrubs, a scented garden and an unattended area to encourage wildlife.

Old Steine

The Old Steine was once a soggy area of common land close to the old town. It was used by the fishing community. Here they could mend boats, dry nets and even keep animals. An intermittent stream, the Wellesbourne, once ran down the western side until it was channelled through vast Victorian sewers.  In the 18th century, as Brighton became a popular resort, gravel paths were laid down for the gentry to promenade and several grand houses and hotels sprung up around the area. Many people are curious to the origins of its name. The word Steine actually derives from the Old English word ‘stoene’; meaning a stony place. Interestingly, the magnificent Victoria Fountain sits perched upon a huge mound of stones. Today, Steine remains a pleasant and welcoming area for locals and visitors alike. Amidst the buzz of encircling traffic it appears more European in essence, almost Parisian, with it shady trees, dazzling flora and friendly cafe. It remains an area of respite away from the bustling town and crowded promenade. Furthermore, the allure of the fountain’s sparkling waters seem to invite one to take a breather, dream a little and simply watch the world go by.

Victoria Gardens

The Victoria Gardens were once a bland area of open ground between the Level and Old Steine. This area was used for cricket matches, fairs and various celebrations. The area became neglected and was considered to be a ‘place of shame and reproach to the town’. Eventually an improvement fund was put in place and the whole area restored. The Prince Regent even made a generous donation to this restoration scheme. The area was enclosed and gravel paths were laid down and shrubs and trees planted. Sadly, many of the magnificent mature trees, that once graced the gardens, were uprooted in the storm of October 1987. The southern part of the gardens were formally opened in July 1818 and the northern end the following year. However, only local residents and subscribers had use of them.  Both gardens were finally made open to public by the mayor, Sir John Blaker, on the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria on 22nd June 1897. At the southern end is a listed marble statue of Queen Victoria who, ironically, was not a great lover of Brighton. At the northern end can be found the Mazda electric fountain , given to the town in 1930 by Thomson-Houston Ltd following an exhibition. Today, alongside being an area of general recreation, the gardens are used for a various events, particularly the Brighton Festival in May.

St Anne’s Well Gardens

St. Anne’s Well Gardens sit perched above Furze Hill in Hove, about half a mile from the sea, offering a haven of tranquillity in the heart of the city. Interestingly, the name does not derive from a saint at all, but from Annafrieda, a Saxon lady whose tears of grief, for her murdered lover, were said to have created the Chalybeate Spring now known as St. Anne’s Well. The area became a health spa as early as 1700, due to its fast flowing spring, which was thought to have healing properties. The formal gardens, as we know them, were first developed by financier and philanthropist Sir Isaac Goldsmid, who bought the land in1830. In 1874, George Albert Smith, an early pioneer of the film industry, leased the gardens and began commercializing them until they were finally purchased by the local authorities in 1908.  Many different varieties of native and exotic trees can be found in these shady, undulating grounds. The visitor can also experience the sensory delight of the scented garden, with its heady cocktail of different fragrances. The gardens have become a popular place for all the family with its playground for children, tennis courts, bowling green and well-stocked fish pond. There is also a pleasant and popular cafe offering tasty wholesome food at reasonable prices.

Kipling Gardens

The Kipling Gardens can be found just beyond the village pond in Rottingdean and adjacent to the home of its most famous former resident Rudyard Kipling. The gardens had been abandoned and were once in such a sorry state that reclamation seemed virtually impossible. Then, in the 1980s, they were purchased by the Rottingdean Preservation Society and this tangled wilderness was painstakingly restored to its former glory. 1986 the gardens were formerly handed over to council, who continue to maintain and improve them. These traditional gardens are typical of the period in which they were first cultivated being divided into several separate distinctive areas. Each area is separated by wonderful old flintstone walls and includes a delightful woodland garden and herb garden with its subtle infusion of aromas. There is also the fragrant rose garden with numerous varieties of different blooms. Within this varied horticultural labyrinth are a number of quiet nooks and crannies where one can picnic, read or simply snooze away a warm summer’s afternoon. Alternatively, there is the opportunity to unwind whilst watching a gentle game of croquet on the only formal lawn of its kind in the city.

Hove Lawns & Lagoon

Hove Lawns are a sprawling grassy area adjacent to the beach. They run from the Peace Statue to beyond Grand Avenue. They were first laid out in around 1883 and have since become a popular area for picnics, kickabouts, dog walking and generally chilling out. They also have become home to the Brighton and Hove Food and Drink Festival, French Market and the annual Paddle Round the Pier event. Many Hove residents and Brightonians, having taken their morning constitutional, will meet and mingle at the popular Meeting Place cafe, situated at the western end. Beyond the eastern edge of the lawns can be found Hove Lagoon. This salt water lake was built in 1930 specifically for the sailing of model yachts and radio controlled boats. Up until the 1970s small motor boats and canoes could be hired there. Interestingly, it has changed very little down the years, including its friendly cafe. There are actually two lagoons; the smaller is now home to the Brighton and Hove Model Powerboat Club, while the larger one is used by Hove Lagoon Watersports.

Brighton City Walks

Take a City tour with Julian Clapp who has extensive knowledge of Brighton, it’s history and its characters.

He is recognised as an authority on film related history and provides much detailed information of the making of the original “Brighton Rock”.

The three most popular tours are “The Brighton Story“, “Brighton Rock walk” and the ever popular “Lost Cinemas Of Brighton“.

www.brightoncitywalks.com

• Contact 07941 256148

Brighton Marina

Brighton Marina is short hop on the bus or a stroll along the seafront and offers a wealth of entertainment, shopping and restaurants and bars for all the family. There’s a weekend market, fair trade stalls, discount designer shops, the UK’s first dedicated Chilli Shop, opportunities to try sailing, take a pleasure boat trip, a fitness centre, a multiplex cinema, a casino and a multitude of fantastic restaurants and bars to choose from, many on the waterfront.

www.brightonmarinashopping.co.uk