things to do in BRIGHTON

If you’re feeling sporty, try windsurfing, hire a jet ski or ride the wild water slides at King Alfred’s Leisure Centre. And the sweeping Sussex Downs are a fabulous setting for sporting activities. Enjoy hang-gliding over the dramatic Devil’s Dyke, golf overlooking the sea, mountain biking and walking.

Brighton beachfront is a buzzing playground of swimming, surfing, sailing, basketball, volleyball, skateboarding and lots more. Away from the water there are plenty of spectator sports - enjoy a day at Brighton Races, (as well as famous Goodwood near Chichester, Fontwell near Arundel, and Plumpton, near Lewes), a night at Brighton Greyhound stadium – or county cricket, football, and world-class windsurfing championships.   Or take a Brighton Walks tour - a Ghost Walk or Legends of the Lanes. The rolling South Downs are great for walking and cycling, and all year round there are hundreds of events from the famous London to Brighton RAC Veteran Car Run and National Speed Trials, to power boat racing and kite festivals.

Everyone knows the great British weather isn’t always so great, so take a look below at our list of attractions and look for our handy symbols which tell you if the attraction is the place to visit come rain, shine or whatever is thrown at us that day!

Golf

Give yourself a break! Unwind, relax and enjoy great golf breaks in the south of England in some idyllic settings, for players of all abilities.

Our recommendations:-

Hollingbury Park Golf Club
This is an ex-championship course played over the beautiful South Downs with spectacular views over Brighton and the sea.

The course is set on chalk and drains extremely well throughout the year, making it ideal for winter society days.

Brighton and Hove Golf Club
The oldest golf club in Sussex. From the Victorian clubhouse you have glorious views over the downs to the sea. Visitors are welcome at this private club where it is normally easy to walk on to the first tee without booking. Excellent bar, catering and changing rooms. Ample parking , ten minutes from Brighton Centre. Nine holes 2876 in; 2834 out 18 tees. Downland course with super views. The 18 tees are positioned so that the 9 holes are varied.

West Hove Golf Club
West Hove Golf Club is set amid the magnificent South Downs, close to local amenities and the new A27 link road, making travel to any area within the South East extremely easy. The challenging 18 hole, par 71, golf course designed by Hawtree & Son, is set to test and reward skilled golfers.  Not least of which, is the 610-yard 18 th hold, the longest par 5 in Sussex.  However, the fairness of the course enables players of a more modest ability to enjoy their game. 

East Sussex National Golf Club
The two courses designed by Robert E Cupp one of Jack Nicklaus course architects are both of true championship status with greens constructed to the USGA specification. At the time of construction both courses were the first of their kind in the Country to be galleried or stadium courses to provide a good spectator appeal.

The principal course The East measures 7,138 yards of the back tees whilst the society golfer can enjoy an easier test off the forward tees of just over 6,000 yards. The West Course being of similar standard is slightly longer at 7,154 yards.

The Indoor Golf Experience
You can try many golf courses from St Andrews to The Belfry all in the comfort of an indoor golf environment!  Its fun for non-golfers or new golfers, there is no pressure that some one is behind you on the course waiting to "T" Off!  There is professional tuition available from PGA / EGTF qualified instructors with video to help improve your technique.  A whole shop full of everything a golfer needs from clubs to  shoes all local in Hastings.  They also cater for groups at the Indoor Golf Experience who want to hold that special event.  The Indoor Golf Experience in Hastings for a fun friendly round of golf. 

www.thebestof.co.uk

Horseracing

Brighton Racecourse
Where the turf meets the surf!! Set overlooking the South Downs and the English Channel, you are never far from the action at this intimate racecourse, the south coast's premier horse racing location.

Brighton Racecourse is one of the most exciting, vibrant tracks in the South of England. There are 23 meetings which run from April to October. Highlights in 2005's racing calendar include the Tote Challenge Trophy and the John Smiths Brighton Mile during the return of our Historic three-day festival in August, three evening meetings with live entertainment, Ladies Evening and three Family Fun Sundays - something for everyone to enjoy!

Glorious Goodwood
The new millennium sees Goodwood Racecourse celebrate its second centenary, the Duke of Richmond, having brought horse racing to his estate in 1802. Today Goodwood is internationally acclaimed as being one of the most beautiful racecourses in the world and the new century sees Goodwood setting ever higher standards of style and quality for racegoers.

Set on top of the Sussex Downs, Goodwood is not only a breathtaking backdrop for some of the very finest flat racing, but it is also one of the world’s greatest venues for entertaining in international sport. There are few moments in sport to equal the thrill of a top class field making that final sprint to the winning post. Goodwood is world-class horse racing at its most relaxed and chic.

Lingfield Park Racecourse
At Lingfield Park you can enjoy a thrilling day at the races, with your friends, family or work colleagues while enjoying their hospitality.

www.lingfield-racecourse.co.uk

walking and cycling

The Sussex countryside has much to offer walkers from the steep ascent of the South Downs to vast swathes of protected marshes. Nine long distance footpaths pass through East Sussex including the South Downs Way, the Sussex Border Path and the 1066 Country Walk.

The bridleways of the South Downs offer some of the best off-road cycling routes in the country with an array of routes to test all ages and abilites.

The walking and cycling around Beachyhead are regarded as probably the best in England. Cyclists can enjoy a variety of cycle routes over a weekend from challenging mountain cycle routes through Friston Forest or leisurely jaunts down to Birling Gap.

Or take a Brighton Walks tour - a Ghost Walk or Legends of the Lanes.

horse riding

The bridleways of the South Downs in particular offer superb horseriding and trekking opportunities. For horseriding in Brighton, local and nearby equestrian centres and riding schools include

adventure / team building

Brighton – simply crammed with adventure activity and sporting opportunities. Perfect for that adventure break or holiday, for corporate away days and teambuilding, and for stag and hen weekends in Brighton and the surrounding area.

Fourth Dimension
4th Dimension has a special reputation for offering outdoor training courses which are informal, challenging, high quality and fun.   (01273)506955

Purple Haze Paragliding
We are a well established BHPA licensed Paragliding school with the best facilities available for hill launch Paragliding, specialising in Beginner to Club Pilot courses.

Our private site at Steyning is the only paragliding site flyable in every wind direction. Where many well known paragliding pilots took their first steps. (01273)464242

ShootingLessons.co.uk
Based around the sport of Clay Pigeon shooting we are able to provide suitable venues and mixtures of other outdoor activities including Quad Bikes, Archery, Crossbows, Mud Carts, Hovercraft etc. 01403 266850

Adventure Connections, Brighton
Can arrange almost any adventure activity for in dividuals, groups, corproate development, stag and hen weekends – from sky diving to paintballing to 4 x 4, kat and yacht racing, and clay pigeon shooting 08708007 007

water sports

Brighton Watersports Company
The Brighton Watersports Company (formerly the Brighton Kayak Company) is the leading provider of watersports activities and equipment in the beach resort town of Brighton, southern England.
Enjoy parasailing, wakeboarding, waterskiing, kayaking and ringo's. All the equipment you need is provided, plus showers, changing rooms, lockers and toilets. And the activity centre provides courses run by fully qualified instructors who teach kayaking, surfing and other outdoor activities.

Hove Lagoon Watersports
One of the country’s top multi activity watersports centres. It offers a range of watersports including windsurfing, yachting, power boat driving, sailing, water skiing, Zap Cat rides and kids activity weeks all of which can be bought as gift vouchers.

Brighton Marina
Brighton Marina is the largest in the UK, with over 1500 berths owned by Premier Marinas. It also provides a host of activities to enjoy the water – from owning your own yacht to chartering a day trip, and everything in between! It is also a vibrant and diverse destination - with homes, a cinema, bowling complex, shops, bars/pubs and restaurants, many with harbour views.