Brighton has been fashionable since the days of the Prince Regent. In the 1820’s Prinny commissioned John Nash to build him a frivolous and fantastical pleasure palace for his seaside holidays, since which time Brighton has become a town where anything goes.

Getting around

Brighton is a mere 49 minutes from Victoria by train, so leave the car behind (the parking's awful) and explore its quirky streets by foot.

Places to visit

There are few more exotic monuments for children than the Brighton Pavilion Tel 01273 290900 (try counting the dragons) with its great gift shop. Nearby is the Brighton Art Gallery & Museum Tel 01273 290900, an interactive paradise for kids with a small café.

Brighton's seaside gives the town a perennial holiday atmosphere. The best fun is on the pebbly beach, in all weathers, looking for shells or washed-up starfish, chasing waves and throwing stones (or sucking them – depending on your age).

The centre is bordered by Brighton Pier in the east – all candyfloss and dodgems – and the skeletal remains of the West Pier to the west. Along the front is a broad promenade – the perfect family walk – with stalls and under-the-arches artisan shops.

Brighton has a child-friendly race track – Tel 01273 603580, a greyhound track Tel 01273 204601 and Brighton & Hove Albion FC Tel 01273 695400.

The South Downs offer easy walking with exceptional views (and the car park at Ditchling Beacon always has an ice cream van).

Rain-proof activities

Brighton boasts the oldest Aquarium (Tel 01273 604234) in the world, by Brighton Pier, and many fun museums such as the Booth Museum of Natural History Tel 01273 29277, The Hove Museum Tel 01273 290200, and the charming Toy and Model Museum Tel 01273 794494 under Brighton Station. Look for the pottery-painting shops in the North Laine, the Sunday kids' theatre at the Komedia (see below) and the Saturday morning kids' cinema at the Duke of Yorks Tel 01273 0870 850 5465, the world's oldest continuously-running cinema. The awardwinning Jubilee Street Library Tel 01273 290800 is a must for story-telling.

Festivals

Each May, Brighton is home to the largest arts festival in England, with the rest of the year filled with such events as the Vintage Car Run, Pride, the Children's Parade, artists' Open House, the power boat speed trials and kite festivals. The winter solstice on December 21st is marked with 'the Burning of the Clocks', a wonderful spectacle that takes place at dusk, parading through the town to the seafront.

Theatres

The Theatre Royal is Brighton's West End quality theatre in the heart of town. www.theambassadors.com/theatreroyalbrighton. The Komedia Tel 01273 647100 www.komedia.co.uk in the North Laine has an excellent reputation for comedy, children's theatre and cabaret. The Brighton Dome, originally the Prince Regent's stables, hosts everything from pop and rock to dance, theatre, comedy and musicals. www.brightondome.org.uk

Eating Out

Brighton has the highest ratio of restaurants per head of any city outside London. Current favourites are the dark and moody Pinxho People on Western Road Tel 01273 732323, Due South on the beach Tel 01273 821218, Riddle and Finn Oyster Bar Tel 01273 323008 in The Lanes and Murasaki Tel 01273 326231 on Seven Dials (delicious Japanese café food). For the old-fashioned dining experience, English's in East Street Tel 01273 327980 is best for seafood and Hotel Du Vin Tel 01273 718588 for hearty portions and wine by the glass.

The Meeting Place café on the promenade is a Brighton institution, and further east is a seaside playground with cafés under the arches. At street level, there are two typical Brighton fish restaurants: The Melrose Tel 01273 326520, and The Regency Tel 01273 325014. There are many, many organic cafés and juice bars in the North Laine, and a huge, family-friendly Italian, Donatello's, Tel 01273 775477 in The Lanes.

Shopping

If you need M&S and Debenhams, visit Churchill Square and Western Road. Alternatively, visit The Lanes, the small area of tiny alleys crammed with jewellery shops and the surrounding streets of hot-shopping territory. Across the roadworks on North Street is the North Laine (Laine meaning field), similar to Portobello 30 years ago – although it does have its first Starbucks. But you can still find absolutely anything here: specialty light bulbs, a batik kaftan, vegetarian shoes, drum kits, socks with toes, smelly candles, novelty underwear, dressing up clothes, fabric remnants and braid, bean bag balls, bric-a-brac stalls and bonsai trees. Infinity Foods is Brighton's best known organic food shop.

Where to stay

All these hotels are child friendly, have baby listening services and restaurants.

Drakes Hotel (and the Gingerman restaurant)
Tel 01273 696934
www.drakesofbrighton.com
Very good restaurant and right on the seafront.

Brighton Metropole
Tel 01273 775 432
www.hilton.co.uk/brightonmet
One of the big 3 on the seafront, with swimming pool and spa. Corporate, but efficient.

Alias Hotel in the Marina
Tel 01273 679 799
www.aliashotels.com/seattle
Not in the town centre, but great if you like boats.

Hotel du Vin
Tel 01273 718 588
www.hotelduvin.com
Exceedingly stylish and near the sea in the centre of town.

Paskins Town House
Tel 01273 601203
www.paskins.co.uk
Specialising in vegetarian and organic food, a stylish, small hotel.

www.visitbrighton.com for all the latest information and downloadable maps.