I love the bandstand. It's a real jewel on the seafront and looking good for 130 years old…read more Lovingly restored just a few years ago it's considered one of the finest examples of Victorian bandstand in the country. This attraction does nothing much but look pretty for most of the year, but it is a hive of activity during peak season. You can see all sort of bands and dancing in the summer and for six months of the year you're allowed to get married on it. It's a unique venue for weddings, including same-sex marriage as of today in England and Wales. Hooray! It's still next to the busy coast road though so keep your eyes fixed on the direction of the sea. Many couples opt to marry elsewhere and take a few choice photos at the landmark for free. It's also lit up at night and good for a reflective moment when the city is quieter. I sometimes pop down there after dark and find others have decided to do the same. But that's ok, I don't mind sharing.

The first time we visited Brighton (and then moved here) we lived just opposite the bandstand. At…read morenight there would be dance classes or live music and the light detail they have put into it is simply beautiful. Granted, unless something else has taken the initiative (such as salsa classes etc) there is not much happening, but it is a landmark, and it makes what is a beautifull town even better.

Oscar Wilde would probably not recognise the town he made famous in his best-known play, 'The…read moreImportance of Being Earnest'. The genteel seaside town in which he spent the summers of 1883 and 1884 has, of course, grown enormously since then, but oddly for a town with nearly four miles of seafront it seems to almost have turned its back on the sea, making its living instead from service industries and as a dormitory and retirement town. For most of its life a small fishing village, like Brighton, it came to prominence in the late 18th century with the growing trend for seaside holidays (although no-one actually bathed publicly until rather later). The first purpose-built lodgings opened in 1759 and, while the Prince Regent was busy making Brighton daringly fashionable, his sisters, Princesses Amelia and Augusta and his daughter, Princess Charlotte, had begun to make Worthing popular in a rather lower-key and more respectable way among the nobility and gentry despite some notable indeed, notorious - instances of smuggling by the locals. The early architecture emulated that of Brighton and Hove, but Worthing was never developed on anything like the same scale: a few set pieces like the handsome, bow-fronted Liverpool Terrace of c. 1830 hint at what might have been: subsequent development and redevelopment have left little of this period, and instead most of Victorian Worthing consists of large elegant villas set in tree-lined streets, stucco giving way to red brick as you go inland. A major setback came in 1893 when a typhoid epidemic killed over 200 people. It was a financial disaster, as visitor numbers slumped, although at least it prompted the town to improve its water and sanitation. Despite this setback, Worthing's genteel image lasted until well into the 20th century when, like many seaside towns, its popularity as a destination waned as the fashion for foreign holidays took over. However, unlike Brighton, and even Hastings and Eastbourne, apart from a small area around the pier, the seafront is now devoid of hotels, restaurants and shops, and the predominant image of Worthing is largely one of leafy suburban respectability, with its post-War urban sprawl absorbing mediaeval villages such as West Tarring and Broadwater, both of which have kept their mediaeval churches and a few streets of ancient houses and cottages. Today, Worthing's attractions include its Pier, the recently-restored and historic Dome Cinema, a couple of shopping streets consisting of the typical High Street chain stores, and a modest Municipal Museum of local history. In the summer, a small fairground camps on the beach around the pier, its caravans seemingly oblivious of the waves just a short distance away. The promenade that Oscar Wilde famously walked along is still impressive, but oddly devoid of life, even in summer its main purpose these days seems as a traffic artery, which is a pity, as the sea views are as good as any along this stretch of coast. (The one thing Worthing shares with Brighton is a pebbly rather than sandy beach). Inland, both Broadwater and West Tarring are worth a look, the latter possessing a few decent pubs.

Lyn had to do some Shopping in Worthing so I decided to sit on the Prom and beach for a whileturned…read moreto be a long while!!! I wasn't unhappy for it was a glorious day and there was loads of 'People Watching' to do.. The Prom is so long, (couple of miles I think), that it affords plenty of choice of where to sit. There are cycle riders but there is a lane and much care is taken by them. Palm trees adorn the pleasant walkway and there are plenty of parlours, cafes, (though we like the term Cafeterias)!!. Across the road there are bars galore. Moving down towards the waves it becomes quieter.just nice to hear the lapping of water and read the poems of Thomas Hardy and Thomas Hood Then up to Bar 42 for shandy and salad The Prom, if you explore all of it can offer you much but you need to go and find out.!!

Despite being at the very centre of Brighton, next to the conference centre and between the railway…read morestation and the sea, St Paul's is often overlooked by locals. In spite of its size, and its distinctive tower, it almost hides itself among the adjacent office blocks and the Churchill Square shopping centre. At night, and especially at week-ends, the area is packed with people visiting the numerous bars in the area, who probably don't give a second thought to the church in their midst. But they are missing a gem - a beautiful church with a colourful history, and a haven of peace and tranquility in the heart of the City Centre. St Paul's was essentially the vision of one man, Rev. Henry Michell Wagner, vicar of Brighton for forty-six years from 1824 - 1870. He was a wealthy man, and saw the need to build a church to minister to the poor living in the fishing quarter to the west of the church (where the Churchill Centre now stands). He was also a proponent of the Tractarian movement, which advocated a return to more traditional liturgy and ceremonial in the Catholic style. The church has remained a beacon of Anglo-Catholicism ever since. Completed in 1848, the church was one of the first designed in the Gothic Revival style, by the architect Richard Cromwell Carpenter. Saint Paul's was built with newly researched gothic proportions, structures and symbolism, and won immediate acclaim, with its inspiring furnishings and fine stained glass. The glass in particular, is a notable feature, designed by Augustus Pugin (1812-1852), who designed much of the interior of the Houses of Parliament. The windows represent the most complete cycle of Pugin glass in any Anglican church, and are quite exceptional in their colour and detail. It was Wagner's son, Arthur Douglas Wagner, who became the Vicar when he was ordained in 1850, and he remained here until his death in 1902. The traditional style of service, with its pre-reformation elements, attracted both a large congregation and considerable controversy. The ceremonial was mocked as 'the Sunday Opera at St. Paul's', and Wagner's uncompromising teaching on the sacraments evoked anti-papist politics, which eventually broke out into open violence. In 1865, Wagner had refused to give evidence from the confessional at the trial of a woman who had murdered her half-brother. This led to outrage and questions in Parliament about the nature of the confessional at St Paul's. The scandal deepened when it emerged she had offered him £1,000, even though he had not accepted it. Wagner himself was assaulted, and worshippers pelted with stones. Things are, thankfully, much quieter to-day. The church itself is accessed either via the long (and slightly dingy) cloister from West Street, or the old main entrance in Russell Place. It is a grade II* listed building. The exterior has walls of Sussex flint with Caen stone dressings. The tower, originally rather shorter, was extended upwards with a large wooden octagon in 1873. This amazing structure, restored by english heritage, gives the church a slightly foreign appearance, more akin perhaps to the imaginary towers of some Transylvanian castle than a Sussex church. Once inside, the church has a generous Narthex, or entrance space, adjacent to which is the Fishermen's Vestry. This fine Baronial-style Hall, now used for meetings, was once used by the fishermen as a place to mend their nets - hence the name. Turning right from the Narthex, you are hit by the full theatre of the main worship space: a large and beautifully proportioned nave in the decorated gothic style, with generous aisles, leads to an elaborately decorated chancel. The rood screen in front was designed by Carpenter himself, though the cross and figures above were designed by G F Bodley, another great neo-gothicist. As well as the glass and chancel, the church has rich furnishings, in particular its font, pulpit and elborate four-pillared lecturn, designed specifically for the church. All this comes alive during special services, when the church is lit largely by candle-light: whatever your feelings about this style worship, it's a magical experience. To-day, the church has a busy life, with regular week-day services, as well as being a home for music recitals (including during the Brighton Festival) and art exhibitions in the Narthex.

Parish church for the centre of Brighton. Small but ornately decorated. Has life-like Stations Of…read moreThe Cross - one of the best that I've seen. It is a High Church of England & has Mass @ 12.30 on Tues & a sung Mass @11AM on Suns. Strong choir in the parish. It has retained the original altar rails that I knew as a child. The altar screen was erected in 1911 & has a richly decorated pulpit. It has a vibrant parish community, with weddings & baptisms being celebrated there which is good for the future of the church. The only problem for visitors is that it is not easily seen from the road. You could walk by it in the blink of an eye, which is a shame.

Nestled in the grounds of the local school, this mediaeval building is an oddity and a surprise to…read morefind in the suburbs of Worthing. West Tarring was once a village in its own right; as well as being older than Worthing, in mediaeval times it was more important, as the church was a peculiar of the Archbishop's of Canterbury. The building is the former Archbishop's palace. The northern part of the building, running north-south, was built as a grand two-storied house on the site of St Thomas a Becket's palace in the 13th century, and a hall (running east-west) added in the 14th and early 15th century. Built of flint and rubble, with a Horsham slate roof, the walls betray the presence of earlier windows, and a single 13th century lancet survives: in the 15th century, a series of attractive Perpendicular twin-light windows with stone transoms were inserted. The composition is serene one, but would be better still if a horrible metal chain-link fence wasn't erected on its west side: this is not worthy of a Grade-I listed building, and hopefully is not permanent. The building is now used as the Parish Hall, and can be visited after Sunday services at nearby St Andrew's. It also contains some office space, which is let commercially: how wonderful it must be to work in such an historic building!

Will always hold special memories for me. performed here as part of St. Andrew's Players. Had so…read moremuch fun rehearsing. Also did my clown act here. Lovely old building that is well maintained. It has so many functions held in here throughout the year.

A great Arts centre that was purpose built and is staffed by volunteers, cheerful volunteers,…read morereally. It attracts some of the best performers in the country. It is a registered charity, at last, and caters for all tastes, at a very fair price. It has a superbly equipped auditorium that can seat a 220, or 350 standing audience. There are other areas for hire and other entertainment. Two fully stocked bars..and the Thunkshop cafe in the spacious foyer. Well worth a night out..especially when The Hot Club of Cowtown are in town.brilliant. As well as Richard Digance, Georgie Fame and The Brighton Beach Boys.!! Rockin'

small, but perfectly formed, this little community arts centre is chock full of events. Music,…read morecomedy, exhibitions of art, special film showings and even quizzes.

The Brighton Youth Centre doesn't look like much from the outside - indeed, I had trouble finding…read moreit even with google-mapped directions, and nobody I asked had heard of it. However, inside is a safe and friendly space for kids and youth to participate in a variety of programs. A gymnasium hosts various sporting events and the classroom-type rooms upstairs lean toward less physical activities. Graffiti along the inside walls ensures the space is adolescent friendly and not at all like a school. I was in one of the upstairs rooms, assisting with back to back workshops sessions put on by the Little Green Pig Writing Project. It was great, creative fun for youth 7 - 16. I recommend a) getting involved as a volunteer with the Centre or b) getting the kids you know into some of the great programs!

Its an amasing place with so much going on and so much more to come. I am a youth worker there. We…read morework to help people develop socially and informally in a fun environment. Get involved in dance, football, basketball, try the full size skate park on the roof (yes thats right) or do some quieter more reflective creative work, learn to cook or just chill and watch tv. With some more promotion we can encourage more diverse communities of young people and get the investment we need to develop the center even more.

This Public area is very well managed and was once a private garden to the Southover Grange estate…read more Its so nice to stroll about knowing its free! I could imagine frequenting these gardens a lot if I was a resident. There is a cafe and arts and craft shop. I was not permitted to photo inside the shop because some of the artist were not happy with their lifes work not in their control. It looks like there is an occasional stream that runs through the centre of the estate. This is an oasis that is not very far from a bustling train station. Its level so wheelchair users can access it with little difficulty. Also there are plenty of wooden benches to contemplate lifes woes. This place seems popular with mothers and their toddlers. I think full marks to the gardeners.

The Southover Grange house and garden were built in 1572 by William Newton. In the 18th century…read moreKing George IV used to stay there occasionally, and during WWII the house was requisitioned by the War Department. It is now owned by Lewes Council. The building is largely empty, except for the Sussex Guild shop, and the Registry Office. However, the gardens are open to the public on a daily basis and are absolutely gorgeous. They are very well maintained, with neat lawns, blooming flowerbeds, a wildflower area, a stream, and even a tame squirrel. The gardens are very slightly sunk from the road, which has the effect of making it a bit of a sun trap, so it is a lovely place to go and sit. There is also a small refreshment kiosk just by the house, which does a few sandwiches, cakes, teas and coffees. The food is a bit of a rip off (my goats cheese and salad sandwich cost me £4, pretty steep considering you go up and get it yourself) but it is nice to be able to have a cup of tea whilst enjoying the sunshine.

Visitors driving along Holmes Avenue through modern suburban West Blatchington could be forgiven…read morefor doing a double-take as they approach the crest of the hill: somewhat ignominiously stranded between its two carriageways is a fine early 19th Century windmill, a reminder of the proud tradition of Sussex windmills that once dotted the landscape around the South Downs. West Blatchington mill was built around 1820 to provide flour and animal feed to the tiny village that has existed here since mediaeval times. The mill is unusual in that it was attached to a barn, and the 'A' frame which supports the sail mechanism inside was built from rescued ships' timbers. Milling stopped in 1897 and, although no longer operational, much of the interior mechanism survives in good condition. The building is listed at Grade II+. The mill is a 'smock mill', so named because the octagonal, wooden structure with its sloping weather boarded sides resembles a linen smock. The cap at the top of the mill could rotate to face the wind, driven around by a small fantail rotor (rather like a modern helicopter's rear rotor) on the opposite side of the cap from the main sails. Inside, the ground and first floors comprise an exhibition of the local area and country life in general, with several examples of early agricultural machinery, many of which are still in working order, together with some fine models of windmills. Higher galleries allow access to the milling floor and the bagging floor, and offer fine views over the surrounding countryside. The adjacent barn is now used as a seminar and meeting room, and light teas are available when the mill is open. There is also a small souvenir shop by the entrance. Entry (2008) Adults £1.00 Children 50p Wheelchair Access There is level access to the ground floor (although it is slightly uneven in places). There is also a disabled access toilet. The upper floors are reached by a series of very steep, open-tread steps.

Built around 1820, West Blatchington Windmill is a sight to behold. You can see it when you…read moreapproach Hove from Devils Dyke by car and I always think that its amazing its still there surrounded by modern houses. This 'Smock' windmill was famously painted in water colours by John Constable in 1825 and is an ideal venue for all age groups to come and visit. Its only open to the public on Sundays and bank holiday Mondays but for schools and large groups they can make an exception. This mill has been quoted as being one of the finest windmills in the country so definitely worth a trip!