Joe Minihane

  Ponies, horses and deer mellowly wandering around, bike rides through tranquil, lush forests, mystical scenery and knockout spa hotels? The New Forest stretches across three English counties (Hampshire, east Dorset and Wiltshire) and certainly has a whole lot going for it – but where are you supposed to start? That’s what we’re here for. The best parts of the New Forest include anything from fishing to paddle-boarding, quaint tea rooms to local museums, family activities, couple getaways, the lot. Whatever you’re after, whether that’s how to spend a day, a weekend, or a new life among the trees, our list of the best things to do will surely come in handy. Take a look. RECOMMENDED:⛰️The best hikes in the UK🍃The best road trips in the UK🌤️The best national parks in the UK

With Margate and Whitstable stealing so much of the limelight, it’d be pretty easy to sleep on the lovely city of Canterbury – but you’d be missing out. The mature, older sibling of Kent’s go-to towns, this place is a cracking spot for a day-trip, and not just because it’s only an hour away from London! From Canterbury’s oldest pub and lovely walks along the River Stour to wonky houses, tiny tearooms, and (obvs) the Cathedral, there are plenty of famous spots to see if you’re heading here as a tourist for the weekend. Here are the best things to do in Canterbury. RECOMMENDED:🎡The best things to do in Margate🐟The best things to do in Whitstable🍃The best things to do in Kent⛰️The best national parks in the UK🏖️The best seaside towns in the UK

Where do Brightonians get all their energy from? Is it that healing salty sea air? Is it the adrenaline from keeping a watchful eye on where the next seagull will swoop from? Perhaps, but the most likely answer is that it’s just from a good old-fashioned cuppa Joe.  The wired residents of this seaside city spend more per head on coffee than anywhere else in the UK, so it’s no wonder they’re all so wired. But take a stroll through the Lanes, the Fiveways or pretty much anywhere in Hove and you’ll realise why. The coffee scene here is the best in the country, and there’s a thriving scene of independent businesses grinding, churning and pouring coffee from all over the planet, and from local roasteries. So, with so many to choose from here is our guide to the best coffee shops in Brighton. RECOMMENDED:🥐The best brunch spots in Brighton🦐The best restaurants in Brighton🌤️The best things to do in Brighton🐟The best fish and chips in Brighton This article was recently updated by Liv Kelly, a writer from Brighton. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

People are obsessed with Kent for a reason, and to be honest, the biggest reason is probably Margate. This humble seaside town blew up a few years ago (mostly with day-trippers), and since then its seen a string of fantastic restaurants open on its seafront.  Put simply, Margate is the perfect day out, from its quaint vintage shops to its old-school arcades, as well as its thriving contemporary art scene (shout out to the Turner Contemporary, one of the best in the business). We’ve curated the perfect day in this delightful seaside town: here are the best things to do in Margate right now.  RECOMMENDED:🐠 The best restaurants in Margate🏡 The best Airbnbs in Margate🌤️The best things to do in Kent🌊The best seaside towns in the UK At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

Brighton is as synonymous with good old-fashioned fish ‘n’ chips as the next seaside town, but as someone who grew up in the city, I can assure you the restaurant scene here is also well worthy of your attention. It’s got everything from Indian and Italian to Mexican and Korean cuisine on offer, plus all that locally-caught seafood which hasn’t just been whacked in a deep-fat fryer (although if that is what you’re craving, there are boatloads of good places for fish ‘n’ chips).  On the swishier side, Brighton has a handful of Michelin guide restaurants and a venture by a former MasterChef champion, but the city boasts plenty of hearty, tasty, budget places to eat as well. So whether you’re a fully-fledged carnivore or a die-hard vegan, there’s guaranteed to be somewhere that’ll really hit the spot. It’s a lot to digest, right? Thankfully, you’ve got a local on hand to guide you through it all – here are my absolute favourite places to eat in Brighton. RECOMMENDED:☕The best coffee shops in Brighton🥓The best brunch spots in Brighton🐟The best places for fish and chips in Brighton🍺The best pubs in Brighton This article was recently updated by Liv Kelly, a writer from Brighton. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

We might be biased, but Brighton is a day-trip destination like no other. It has the perfect mix of an old-school, nostalgia pier (yep, there’s an arcade), and vibrant, winding shopping streets, full of seriously trendy veggie and vegan cafés and long-standing markets for thrifting, so there’s plenty to explore, whether the sun is out or not.  Oh, and there’s the beach. And don’t mind the pebbles – the seafront is lined with ice-cream shops, bustling beach bars, and now the long-awaited Sea Lanes (opened in June 2023), you can spend whole days here sipping tinnies and tucking into fish and chips. Just beware of the seagulls. From feminist bookshops to indie galleries, cultural attractions to stunning walks, here are the best things to do in Brighton right now.  RECOMMENDED:🍝The best restaurants in Brighton☕The best coffee shops in Brighton🐟The best places for fish and chips in Brighton🍺The best pubs in Brighton This guide was recently updated by Liv Kelly, a writer from Brighton. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

As one of the oldest seaside cities in Britain, Portsmouth (AKA Pompey) blends its historic past with its prospering food, drink and nightlife scenes. This place still serves as Britain’s foremost Royal Navy base, and no trip is complete without a roam around the Les Misérables-esque dockyard.  However, there’s much more to Portsmouth than its famous maritime heritage – the seaside city has everything from ancient pubs on cobbled streets to unique contemporary art galleries, and football supporters so passionate they must be seen to be believed (particularly Pompey John, who has 60 tattoos and ‘P.F.C’ engraved into his teeth). With all that and more it’s well worth visiting, so here’s our pick of the best things to do and see in Portsmouth for the day. RECOMMENDED:🏰The best things to do in Winchester🛍️The best things to do in Southampton 🏖️The best seaside towns in the UK🐚The best hidden beaches in the UK At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

Kent is home to a hell of a lot of great towns for a weekend break, but if you’ve done enough city stuff and you want to venture a little further than the likes of busy Whitstable and Margate, Dungeness could be the perfect place for your next adventure. This tiny fishing town is found at the southernmost point of Kent, and it feels a bit like reaching the end of the world (in the best way possible).  You’ll find vast stretches of shingle, lined with weathered wood cabins and abandoned fishing boats that look over the wide open sea. It really is a great place to unwind and disconnect, and there are plenty of coastal walks, beach-side beers and fresh-off-the-boat seafood to be enjoyed. So, here are the best things to do in Dungeness. RECOMMENDED:🦪The best things to do in Whitstable🏖️The best things to do in Broadstairs🌻The best things to do in Kent🌤️The best seaside towns in the UK At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

Believe it or not, the tiny and picturesque East Sussex village of Rye was once one of south-east England’s most important ports. These days it’s difficult to see much of the bustling trading hub that Rye was in the Middle Ages, but the place retains much of the historic charm – as well as many of the tales of smuggling and maritime conflict – of those bygone days. Over the years Rye has transformed into a hip and happening sort of seaside getaway destination. Its rich history, gorgeous buildings and traditional-style pubs are now boosted by quirky shops, swanky cafés, trendy restaurants and more. So, want to know what’s really worth your time? Whether you’re looking for a weekend getaway, week-long vaycay or just a day trip, here are the best things to do in Rye right now. RECOMMENDED:📍 The best Airbnbs in Rye📍 The essential guide to Hastings📍 The essential guide to Kent This guide was recently updated by Hannah Summers. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

Tunbridge Wells is a very, very nice place – so nice that it was even given ‘Royal’ status in 1909 by King Edward VII, because Queen Victoria liked it there so much. Oh, and there was the thing about King James drinking from the chalybeate spring in the seventeenth century, where he said it cured him of illness.  Now, of course, the Kent town is a booming spa resort, nestled away in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, surrounded by miles and miles of beautiful countryside. Just an hour out of London, it’s become a hot spot for day trips and for chilled-out, slow-paced weekends. So, from fabulous cafés to countryside hikes, here are the very best things to do in Royal Tunbridge Wells. RECOMMENDED:🦪The best things to do in Whitstable🏖️The best things to do in Broadstairs🌻The best things to do in Kent🌤️The best places to visit in the UK At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

Glorious, wonderful Kent – the ‘garden of England’, so they say. It’s the home of some of the nation’s best seaside towns and there’s no better destination to fill your boots with oysters, fish and chips and all that seafront good stuff (after all, that’s what it’s known for). But the best part is that there’s always more of Kent to see.   This county is home to some fantastic art galleries, huge beaches and the world’s oldest rollercoaster, so there’s plenty to keep you going in between meals. Kent is a big place, and it’s tricky to know where to begin so to offer a helping hand, we’ve scoured the county far and wide, to bring you the ultimate hit list. Festivals. Castles. Family-friendly attractions. The White Cliffs of Dover – we’ve got it all. Here are the best things to do in Kent all year, every year.  RECOMMENDED: 🍦 The best things to do in Broadstairs🌤️The best things to do in Deal🏡The best things to do in Ramsgate 🌊The best things to do in Whitstable 🏖️The best seaside towns in the UK At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

Broadstairs is probably most famous for being one of Charles Dickens’ favourite places to escape to, but this charming little seaside town is often overlooked in favour of neighbouring Margate or Whitstable.  But you’d be a fool to ignore its offerings – with a backdrop of chalk cliffs and seven golden bays to be explored, Broadstairs has sea views for days – many of which can be enjoyed with a pint in hand or while gorging on some of its excellent food offerings. You can build up a hefty appetite by navigating the area’s gorgeous coastal trails or perusing its superb independent shops – there’s just so much to explore. So, without further ado, these are the best things to do in Broadstairs right now. RECOMMENDED: 🌤️The best things to do in Deal🏡The best things to do in Ramsgate 🌊The best things to do in Whitstable 🏖️The best seaside towns in the UK At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

Brighton’s incredible new beachfront lido is go. Work on the 50-metre pool – the UK’s first National Open-Water Swimming Centre of Excellence – has been confirmed to start this winter, with plans for the first swimmers to take the plunge in summer 2022. The pool is being built by developers Sea Lanes Brighton, close to a dilapidated stretch of seafront. Over the past three summers, Sea Lanes has run a pop-up site close to where the pool will eventually sit on the beach, with local faves Bison Beer running a bar and swim tour operator Swimtrek offering training in a clever ‘endless water’ swimming machine. Beach Box Spa completed the package, offering hardy sea swimmers a chance to warm up in its saunas between cooling dips in the English Channel. Photograph: Sea Lanes The pool, which is set to be fully accessible, is set to be a complete game-changer for this part of town. ‘The pool will provide much needed swimming facilities in Brighton,’ says Sea Lanes director Joe McNulty. ‘It act as a gateway for those looking to gain the confidence to swim in the sea, as well as a training hub for open-water swimming events, triathlon, sea safety and lifeguard courses.’The pool got planning permission back in March 2021 and will be run by South Downs Leisure. As these amazing pictures show, it will sit on the beach itself, with Sea Lanes still operating on the road side. Time to pack your swimming kit and get set for a seaside adventure in 2022. Can’t wait until then? Here are 14 more

For years, the train line between London and Brighton has been a byword for misery. Chronic delays and endless strike action have often meant it would have been quicker to cycle from the capital to the coast. And while many have been spared the pain of dealing with last-minute cancellations and train breakdowns over the past 12 months, there’s one way to experience this famous tourist route in real style: Belmond’s Golden Age of Travel Brighton Belle service. This is train travel as it’s meant to be. The route kicks off at Victoria, with its art deco carriages (including three painstakingly restored cars from the original Brighton Belle) trundling through the South London suburbs and on to a circular route through the Surrey, Hampshire and Sussex countryside. Champagne is served as you settle into your plush armchair, before a leisurely five-course lunch. The train then follows the route of the famous Brighton Belle north to London from the seaside. The Belle ran for 41 years, from 1933 until 1972, and was the world’s only all-electric Pullman train. The services were renowned for their opulence, beyond even the best first-class experience on British Rail, with fancy fittings and at-seat service. Brighton resident Laurence Olivier famously campaigned to have kippers and eggs reinstated to the service’s menu in 1970 after his favourite breakfast option was suddenly removed. Recreating Olivier’s regular trip doesn’t come cheap, with Belmond’s service costing £365 per person for