Day out in Brighton

[Barry Rhode]

Hello everybody

We were thinking of getting out of town on Saturday and driving down to Brighton for a family day out

My wife is six months pregnant and my daughter is 20 months

Any ideas?

Appreciated

Thanks

g

[BARA]

Brighton is very bad for car parking throughout the year. Last time we went there, we drove around for 1.5 hours trying to get in a parking space anywhere. In the end we had to drive down to Goring (past Worthing) before we could park anywhere.

[TonyQuinn]

Go to Rye, way better than Brighton......

[giggirl]

There's a huge multi-storey car park behind the Brighton Metropole. Costs about ?8 for the day. You can't beat fish and chips by the seaside and a walk on the pier.

[benjaminty]

Park in Hove and go to the Real Eating company for lunch/breakfast and then walk or jump on a bus to Brighton.

http://www.real-eating.co.uk/

[spookstudio]

I live in Brighton now but still have a flat in ED.

Lots to do for families in Brighton and surrounding area. Weather forecast isn't great though. Rye is nice but much quieter (and a longer journey).

Things to do:

- Aquarium @ Sea Life Centre

- Pier (amusements, fairground rides)

- Royal Pavillion

- Wander round North Laine and The Lanes

- Druscillas (http://www.drusillas.co.uk ? a bit further out)

- Devil's Dyke/South Downs

Places to eat:

- Bills (a must see)

- Giraffe

- Sussex Yeoman Pub (nr station)

- Carluccios/Strada/etc

Hope this helps,

Laurence

[SeanMacGabhann]

Places to eat:

- Giraffe

- Carluccios/Strada/etc

why would you go to Brighton to eat in these places? They aren't without merit but they are becoming fairly ubiquitous - one of the reasons to go to Brighton is surely to eat somewhere you wouldn't normally be able to?

[KalamityKel]

Keep in mind, if you are watching the pennies, the pier is not particularly cheap (especially for food)... would go with spookstudio's suggestions for places to visit. :)

[SeanMacGabhann]

sorry - was a bit negative myself

I would approach Brighton much as I appoach anywhere else - be guided by curiosity and your nose

Avoid the central shopping areas. The Lanes might be cute for some people but a young child and a heavily pregnant wife might find it a bit crowded

A good stroll along the seafront and some chips by the sea might be a cliche, but I don't get to do it often and it's ace

[david_carnell]

Bank holiday Sat?

You're driving(?!) to Brighton(?!?!?!?!).

With a toddler and a heavily pregnant woman in tow.

World. Of. Pain.

I mean, seriously? You're actually considering this? Braver man than me.

[Narnia]

That would be Brighton then, right?

[RosieH]

Sean, I assumed those venues were suggested as being child-friendly... (Giraffe certainly is)

[spookstudio]

Now I remember why I never post on forums!

[SimonM]

There's a nice cafe on the seafront where Brighton meets Hove-Actually.

The only time I parked in that multi-storey behind the Metropole I had a quarter-light smashed and an attempt to steal petrol.

The Lanes is always worth a tour!

[absentminded]

Why are people always so negative? I come from and grew up in Brighton, and have never had a problem parking there. I tend to use the Church Street NCP, or the Trafalgar Street car park in the North Laines, they're cheaper and generally quieter than than the city centre ones.

You could always get the train from Victoria.

Druscilla's is brilliant fun! I spent many a happy day there in the school holidays! Particularly liked the meercat dome.

[Barry Rhode]

I'm guessing the real driving/congested days will be Friday and Monday...

I could be wrong...

[woofmarkthedog]

Well.....

From my "Family outings" scrapbook (& I lived down that way....)

1. The Beach area

Parking in the underground car park along the sea front towards Hove is good

Opposite (ish ) the Angel statue on the front

The Regency fish bar on the corner by the car park is an institution & they like children, the food is good too

Plus down on the lower part of front you have a good playground & if you walk East (left ) it goes toward the pier. It's nice & safe for children & there's interesting shops, places to eat ect

Turn right is toward the Swimming pool (if you have your swimming gear & it's raining )

Check out the smoke house on the beach , their home smoked fish all done on site

2. The Market Lanes area..

There are other places good places in & around the Market lanes, if you like really healthy family eating then try this http://www.billsproducestore.co.uk/mainmenu.asp it's in North Street, ( there are 2 "lanes" in Brighton. Market lanes is the more relaxed, slightly hippy one)

Essentially come out of Brighton station & turn first left down the hill or if you drive , turn up at the level near St Peters church on the green area. You'll find a car park at the back of the staion nr Trafalgar Place

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?client=safari&rls=en&q=Norfolk+Place+brighton&oe=UTF-8&redir_esc=&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=Norfolk+Pl,+Brighton,+East+Sussex+BN1+2PF&gl=uk&ei=5O0S7HJHdmK4gaV9NHGDg&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=image&resnum=1&ved=0CAgQ8gEwAA here's a map

Both areas are good, though different

Anyway what ever you do....

Enjoy !

W**F

[daizie]

Is the nudist beach still there ?

[woofmarkthedog]

daizie Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Is the nudist beach still there ?

____________________________________________

Well...

In March it shrinks a bit

Though volumes swell in the Summer season

Full to bursting point in the evenings

(Plenty of cleaning up in the morning:-$)

W**F

[woofmarkthedog]

Swagger Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Your timing is perfect, Barry. Brighton is a

> student town, but they've broken up for Easter

> which means you should - don't hold me to it - get

> some peace and quiet, especially what with having

> a little 'un in tow.

>

> Have fun.

________________________________________________________

Sorry Baz....

( can I call you that Barry ? )...

It's a student "city" actually

But have fun there anyway..

W**F

[absentminded]

woofmarkthedog Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Well.....

>

> From my "Family outings" scrapbook (& I lived down

> that way....)

>

> 1. The Beach area

>

> Parking in the underground car park along the sea

> front towards Hove is good

>

> Opposite (ish ) the Angel statue on the front

>

> The Regency fish bar on the corner by the car park

> is an institution & they like children, the food

> is good too

>

> Plus down on the lower part of front you have a

> good playground & if you walk East (left ) it goes

> toward the pier. It's nice & safe for children &

> there's interesting shops, places to eat ect

>

> Turn right is toward the Swimming pool (if you

> have your swimming gear & it's raining )

>

> Check out the smoke house on the beach , their

> home smoked fish all done on site

>

> 2. The Market Lanes area..

>

> There are other places good places in & around the

> Market lanes, if you like really healthy family

> eating then try this

> http://www.billsproducestore.co.uk/mainmenu.asp

> it's in North Street, ( there are 2 "lanes" in

> Brighton. Market lanes is the more relaxed,

> slightly hippy one)

>

> Essentially come out of Brighton station & turn

> first left down the hill or if you drive , turn up

> at the level near St Peters church on the green

> area. You'll find a car park at the back of the

> staion nr Trafalgar Place.

>

> Both areas are good, though different

>

> Anyway what ever you do....

>

>

> Enjoy !

>

>

> W**F

If we're going to be pedantic, the two areas in Brighton are 'The Lanes' (the older area nearer the seafront, with about a million jewellery shops) and the 'North Laines'(the more eclectic, 'hippy' area).

My favorite restaurant is Food For Friends on Prince Albert Street. It's a vegetarian/vegan restaurant, but don't let that put you off. They do fantastic food, and very nice alcoholic and non-alcohic cocktails!

For children, I'd go to the Sealife centre, or under the Arches on the seafront. You could also try Volks Railway, although I'm not sure if it's open at the moment.

If you do go, I hope you have a lovely time. I really miss Brighton now I'm in London. :-(

[woofmarkthedog]

Yes..

I stand corrected..."North Laines" it is, silly me

Still what do you expect from a chicken & fish eating "Veggie"

Real people from Brighton are much more forgiving, it's the bitter & twisted ones that leave

W**F

*hmmmm reads london address, scratches head *

[KestonKid]

Oi Barry - No!

Great place for a day out but not on a bank holiday with a pregnant wife and 20-month old, and especially not in early April. It'll be freezing down there!

[woofmarkthedog]

She's...

6 months pregnant

So what, take it easy yes

It's Brighton FCOL not Bombay they're traveling to

W**F

[Cassius]

The Sevendials restaurant is very nice - 5 mintues walk behind the railway station. Does an excellent set price lunch menu. Bit of a way from the centre of Brighton but could probably park around there (don't know as always take the train so we can enjoy the wine at the restaurant)