Within an hour of London, Brighton invites you to breathe in the sea air, survey the rolling downs, and take a break from the stresses of the metropolis. Not that Brighton’s quiet – there’s plenty of attractions and things to do.

Brighton’s historic Lanes reputedly provided the backdrop to Charles II’s escape from Cromwell’s New Model Army. These days, it’s a hub of shopping – antique shops sit side by side contemporary fashion boutiques. North Laine hosts a variety of unique stores selling retro fashions and furnishings.

The more daring can take windsurfing and wakeboarding lessons at Hove Lagoon, where the sheltered, shallow waters make an ideal venue for beginners. If you don’t quite have the sea legs, simply watching the boats at Brighton Marina makes an entertaining afternoon.

Take in the sounds of penny arcades and the smell of vinegar on fresh fish and chips in the living history that is Brighton Pier. Relive the grandeur of a bygone age at Royal Pavilion. One of the south of England’s most exotic buildings, the conversion of a simple farmhouse into the neo-oriental masterpiece you see today was completed for George IV in 1823.