On Friday I had a lovely Hove day trip from London. I was meeting a friend who lives in Shoreham by Sea. We wanted to meet for lunch and a walk but thought Brighton might be too busy. Hove seemed a great alternative because it’s more laid back and manageable. There is enough to keep you occupied, including browsing shops, eating brunch and lunch, strolling along the promenade, paddling in the sea and admiring the regency architecture. So why don’t you grab the sunscreen and join me on my Hove day trip from London? East Sussex awaits! If you fancy leaving London for a few days, perhaps you’ll be interested in Lodgeworld (Sponsored Link). They have over 1500 lodges and log cabins throughout the UK, find your perfect lodge getaway today.
Best Things To Do In Hove
There are plenty of fun things to do in Hove for adults and kids. When you get off the train, it is a downhill walk towards the seafront. You can browse a few shops and stop off for a coffee or brunch on the way. We popped into a few shops, which I can recommend, and I’ll mention a few others to seek out. Walk down George Street, which is pedestrianised, and you will find high-street shops (Robert Dyas, Boots, Body Shop, etc.) and cafes with seating outside. Gail’s Bakery is at the end, where you can enjoy freshly baked treats. Bert’s Home Store (33 George Street) is the cutest shop, selling home accessories, cookware, gifts and retro toys.
Enjoy car-free George Street
At the end of George Street is Church Road. A few shops to mention are Covet Hove (146 Church Road), a boutique with clothing for men and women. I enjoyed the Velvet Store (66-68 Church Road), which sells women’s fashion alongside home accessories, a bit like Anthropologie. I bought a stunning figurine from Treacle and Ginger (164 Church Road), an arts café selling home accessories and gifts. They have a couple of tables out the back for coffee and cake.
Buy yourself something adorable from the Velvet Store
If you adore antiques and vintage gems, you might like to visit The Conservatory (The Drive), Hove Antiques Gallery (34 Holland Road), Antiques and Architectural (1 Victoria Terrace) or Eclectic Antiques (66 Western Road). If you are short on time, I’d recommend the Department Flea Market (24-26 Blatchingdon Road) and Three Angels (5 Hove Street), a shabby chic emporium.
Browse around Three Angles, the shabby chic emporium
After shopping, you’ll want to sit down and enjoy coffee, brunch, or lunch. A few places to check out for coffee and a light bite include Small Batch Coffee (70 Goldstone Villas and 67 Church Road), Down to Earth Coffee (75 Western Road), Baked AM:PM (69 Church Road), Sunshine, Books, Art and Coffee (4 Hove Street) and Honeypot Café (109 Blatchingdon Road).
My Third Avenue vegetarian breakfast
We had brunch at Third Avenue (70-73 Church Road), which was enjoyable. Rockwater Hove (Western Esplanade) overlooks the sea and has a roof terrace if you fancy fish. An alternative is to get your fish and chips from Wolfies of Hove (90 Goldstone Villas) on your way back to the train station. You will l find most cuisines catered for in Hove, and if you have something specific in mind, it’s a good idea to do some research before your visit.
Step back in time at Palmeira Square, Adelaide Crescent and Grounds
After you’ve explored the shops and had something to eat, I’d recommend you head to Palmeira Square, which leads onto Adelaide Crescent. It’s a fine example of mid-19th-century residential homes that surround public grounds. Close by is Brunswick Square with Regency architecture.
Sit on the pebble beach and paddle in the sea
The sea will shimmer in front of you, where you will find a stretch of lawns, the promenade and a pebble beach. Decide if you want to walk towards Brighton or in the other direction. We wanted to stay in Hove and walked towards the Lagoon water sports area. As you walk along, you can admire the super cute beach huts in bright colours, which sell for around £25K!
Admire the colourful beach huts
I enjoyed looking at the Constellation Sculpture on the Hove Plinth by Jonathan Wright. Works of art will stay on the plinth for about two years.
See which sculpture is in the Hove Plinth
If you fancy ice cream, look out for Marrocco’s Italian restaurant (8 King’s Esplanade); they have an ice cream hatch at the front serving an excellent selection of gelato.
Treat yourself to an ice cream from Marrocco’s
You’ll want to stop off for a drink or snack when you reach the Lagoon. At the Lagoon, you can try water sports such as wakeboarding and windsurfing. You will find a play area and skateboard park in the same place. We had refreshments at the Big Beach Café owned by Fatboy Slim/Norman Cook, who was there.
Lagoon and Big Beach Café
Other things to do in Hove include visiting the Hove Museum and Art Gallery, Hove Park and taking the kids to King’s Road Playground. I’m sure you’ll find a few things you love to do that will fill a whole day.
Hove Day Trip From London Information
I live near London Bridge, so I took the train from there and changed to East Croydon, which took 1 hour and 16 minutes. Victoria station is another option. Another idea is to travel to Brighton and walk from there. Hove Station is about fifteen minutes walk from the sea. If you want to learn more about the area, visit the Visit Brighton Website.
Author: Homegirl London. Photographs: Homegirl London. Thanks: Alan, for being the tour guide! Disclosure: This post contains a sponsored link/advertising.
