Thinking of moving to Hove in East Sussex? The area offers seafront walks, watersports, parks, museums, historic buildings, public art and family-friendly activities.
Some of the best things to do in Hove include walking along the promenade, seeing the colourful beach huts, relaxing on Hove Lawns, exploring Hove Beach Park, visiting Hove Museum of Creativity and spending time in Hove Park. Many of these attractions are free to visit and can be combined in a day by the coast.
Looking for a new home?
Explore Shared Ownership at Lyon Quarter in Brighton and Hove. Shared Ownership allows eligible buyers to purchase a share of a home and pay rent on the remaining share. Eligibility criteria, affordability checks, service charges and other costs apply. Check the development page for current availability and pricing.
What can you do on Hove seafront?
Hove seafront brings several of the area’s main attractions together. The promenade connects the pebble beach, Hove Lawns, the beach huts, Hove Lagoon and Hove Beach Park, making it possible to visit several places during one coastal walk.
Walk from the Peace Statue to Hove Lagoon
For a straightforward seafront route, start near the Peace Statue and follow the promenade west. You will pass Hove Lawns and the rows of beach huts before reaching Hove Lagoon and Hove Beach Park.
The promenade provides a long coastal route for walking, running and cycling. There are places to stop for refreshments along the way, with open views across the beach and sea.
Brighton & Hove City Council provides current information about access, beach rules, seafront sports and swimming safety on its seafront information pages.
Check the tide, weather and local safety information before swimming. Follow safety signs and do not assume lifeguard cover is available, as services and conditions vary by season and location.
See Hove’s colourful beach huts
The beach huts on Hove Promenade are among the area’s most recognisable sights. Their coloured doors create a distinctive section of the coastline between central Hove and the lagoon.
You can see and photograph the huts from the public promenade. They are privately occupied, so leave enough space for people using them and avoid blocking the doors.
Relax on Hove Lawns
Hove Lawns provide open green space beside the promenade. They are suitable for picnics, informal games or a break during a longer walk along the coast.
The lawns sit between the seafront and Hove’s historic residential streets. Their open setting is one of the features that distinguishes this part of the coastline from the busier central Brighton seafront.
Events may take place on or near the lawns during the year. Check current information from the council or event organiser if you are planning to attend a particular event.
Try watersports at Hove Lagoon
Hove Lagoon is a base for organised watersports towards the western end of the seafront. Available activities may include paddleboarding, kayaking, windsurfing and wakeboarding, depending on the operator, weather and time of year.
The lagoon is close to cafés, family spaces and Hove Beach Park. This makes the area useful for groups whose members may want to take part in different activities during the same visit.
Lessons and equipment hire may need to be booked in advance. Check current prices, age restrictions, supervision requirements and operating conditions directly with the activity provider.
Spend time at Hove Beach Park
Hove Beach Park stretches between Hove Lagoon and King Alfred Leisure Centre. It combines gardens, sports facilities and open recreational spaces along the seafront.
The wheeled sports area includes:
- A skate plaza
- A pump track
- A roller area
The wider park also contains tennis and padel courts, bowling and croquet lawns, gardens, cafés and an outdoor sports hub.
Brighton & Hove City Council states that the park includes paths, ramps and accessible toilet facilities. Visitors with specific access requirements should check the latest council information before travelling.
The gardens and open wheeled sports areas can currently be used without an admission charge. Courts and organised activities may require payment or advance booking.
Follow the on-site rules and check whether age, supervision or protective equipment requirements apply before using the sports facilities.
Parks and gardens in Hove
Hove’s green spaces offer playgrounds, sports facilities, gardens and wildlife areas away from the beach. Hove Park is the largest option covered here, while Wish Park and St Ann’s Well Gardens provide different facilities for local days out.
Explore Hove Park
Hove Park covers almost 40 acres. It includes open grass, mature trees, flower beds, sports areas and a children’s playground.
Facilities include tennis courts, football pitches, table tennis, a basketball court and a trim trail. Individual sports facilities may have separate opening or booking arrangements.
Look out for the Fingermaze, a large fingerprint-shaped artwork that incorporates a labyrinth design. The park is also home to the Goldstone, a large natural rock in its south-western corner.
Paths and seating are available around the park. Visitors with specific access requirements should check the latest council information before travelling.
Exercise and play at Wish Park
Wish Park, also known as Aldrington Recreation Ground, is a neighbourhood green space in west Hove. It provides open areas for play and recreation, along with facilities for children and adults.
The park has an outdoor gym with exercise equipment and a calisthenics unit. The gym currently provides an option for outdoor exercise without an admission charge.
Wish Park is smaller than Hove Park, making it a practical local choice for play, exercise or time outside away from the main seafront.
Discover St Ann’s Well Gardens
St Ann’s Well Gardens offers a more sheltered setting than Hove’s coastal spaces.
The gardens contain a range of trees, a sensory garden and a wildlife pond. Facilities include a children’s playground, tennis courts, an orienteering course, a café, public toilets and a Changing Places toilet.
Parts of the gardens have steep paths. Brighton & Hove City Council identifies the Somerhill Road entrance and the western end of Nizells Road as more accessible approaches for people with limited mobility. Ramps are available where some routes include steps.
The gardens are ordinarily open throughout the year, although the café, toilets and sports facilities have their own operating arrangements.
Museums, history and culture in Hove
Hove’s museum, windmill, public artworks and historic streets provide alternatives to the area’s parks and coastal activities.
Visit Hove Museum of Creativity
Hove Museum of Creativity, sometimes listed as Hove Museum & Art Gallery, is on New Church Road.
Its collections cover craft, toys, film, design, fine art and local history. This makes the museum suitable for families and adults interested in finding out more about Hove and the wider city.
Exhibitions and activities can change during the year, so check the latest visitor information before travelling. The museum is also one of Hove’s clearest indoor choices when rain makes the seafront less appealing.
See West Blatchington Windmill
West Blatchington Windmill offers an introduction to Hove’s milling and agricultural history.
The Grade II listed building dates from the 1820s and retains original mill workings across five floors. Displays explain how grain was turned into flour and how the machinery operated.
The windmill has limited seasonal opening and an admission charge may apply. Check the council’s current visitor information before making a special journey.
Walk around Brunswick Town
A walk through the Brunswick Town Conservation Area takes you past Brunswick Square, Brunswick Terrace, Adelaide Crescent and Palmeira Square.
The area includes late Regency and early Victorian planned estates connected with Hove’s growth as a coastal destination. It sits between Hove Lawns and Western Road, making it easy to include in a longer seafront walk.
These are residential streets rather than formal visitor attractions. View the architecture from public areas and respect the privacy of people living there.
Follow the Hove public art trail
The council’s Hove public art trail connects artworks across several parts of Hove.
The complete route takes around two hours on foot and can also be followed using local buses. It includes the installation at Hove Station Footbridge, the Fingermaze in Hove Park and artworks around New Church Road and Palmeira Avenue.
Some sections follow main roads. The cycling route is best suited to experienced road cyclists, while walkers can use the published directions and bus connections.
Look out for seasonal arts events
Hove regularly forms part of the Artists Open Houses programme, when artists and makers display and sell work in homes, studios and other venues.
Participating venues, routes and dates change for each festival period. Brighton & Hove City Council’s guide to visual art in Brighton and Hove provides a starting point for finding current cultural information.
Things to do in Hove with children
Hove has a mix of playgrounds, sports facilities, museum collections and coastal activities for families.
For a day beside the sea, start with the beach huts before continuing west towards Hove Lagoon and Hove Beach Park. The skate plaza, pump track, roller area and gardens provide several activities within the same part of the seafront.
For an inland day out, combine Hove Museum of Creativity with Hove Park. Children can use the playground, look for the Fingermaze and spend time in the park’s open spaces.
Other family options include:
- Visiting the playground at Wish Park
- Exploring the wildlife pond and sensory garden at St Ann’s Well Gardens
- Following a suitable section of the Hove public art trail
- Booking an age-appropriate watersports activity at Hove Lagoon
Check age limits, opening arrangements, supervision rules and booking requirements before planning a visit around a particular activity.
What can you do in Hove for free?
Many of Hove’s outdoor attractions can currently be enjoyed without an admission charge, although individual facilities and organised activities may carry a cost.
Free options include:
- Walking along the seafront to see the Peace Statue and beach huts
- Having a picnic on Hove Lawns
- Exploring the open areas of Hove Beach Park
- Using the skate plaza, pump track or roller area
- Visiting Hove Park and finding the Fingermaze
- Using the outdoor gym at Wish Park
- Exploring St Ann’s Well Gardens
- Following the Hove public art trail
- Walking through Brunswick Town and Palmeira Square
- Spending time on Hove’s pebble beach
Some courts, organised activities and individual attractions require payment or advance booking.
Things to do in Hove when it rains
Hove Museum of Creativity is one of the area’s clearest all-weather options, with collections covering toys, film, craft, design and local history.
Artists Open Houses and other scheduled cultural activities may provide further indoor choices at certain times of the year. Programmes change, so check what is running before travelling.
Hove is also closely connected with Brighton, where visitors can find a wider range of museums, cinemas, theatres and indoor venues.
How are Hove’s attractions different from Brighton’s?
Hove’s attractions are centred on its promenade, lawns, beach huts, parks, recreational spaces and historic residential areas. They are particularly well suited to coastal walks, outdoor exercise and relaxed days by the sea.
Brighton has more of the wider city’s major visitor destinations. The two areas are closely connected, allowing residents to combine Hove’s seafront and parks with Brighton’s larger entertainment and cultural offer.
Enjoying Hove’s attractions as a resident
Hove may appeal to buyers who want parks, cultural attractions and the coast within reach of home. Places such as Hove Lawns, Hove Beach Park and Hove Park can be used for everyday walks, exercise and family time, rather than being limited to occasional visits.
If you are considering a move to the area, explore Shared Ownership at Lyon Quarter and check the development page for current home availability, prices and eligibility information.
Attraction details, opening arrangements, charges, facilities and activity availability can change. Check the latest information with Brighton & Hove City Council, the attraction or the activity provider before travelling. Follow local safety signs and any age, supervision or booking requirements.
