Things to do in Brighton?

[Frieda]

Can anyone recommend 5-year-old-friendly activites/places to go in Brighton? We're going down for a daytime grown-ups party and I don't think there are going to be any other children there. Would like to find somewhere dh can sneak off to with DS for a few hours while grown ups drink and drone on (seriously, hope it won't be that boring a party, but probably not v childfriendly IYSWIM!)
Thanks in advanced all you Bright-uns!

? Anyone?
we're going tomorrow.

My ds loved candy castle at that age telephone 01273 276060 Where exactly are you going I may be able to recommend somewhere closer Candy castle is off the Lewes Rd about 5 mins from Brighton town centre

errr - beach?
Seafront funfairs?

Thanks, noddy. Not quite sure where we're going to be - somewhere central near the seafront I think. But dh will have wheels - what exactly is candy castle? soft-play-type thing? Ds would love something like that.

candy castle is soft play.There are bouncy castles ball pools climbing framed and a little cafe.If the day is v sunny it is usually quite empty and pleasant mayhem in winter but you won't experience that !It is a straight drive from the sea very easy to find and about 2.50 for a few hoursI spent many days reading the paper in there

The Sea Life Centre and the Palace Pier are always good bets for entertaining 5 year olds and the added advantage is that they are both by the beach.

Brilliant! Thanks v much both of you

there is also an opened top bus near the pier dont know how your child would like that or indeed your husband!

if he has a car he could drive up to devils dyke theres a pub grub place there and you can watch the paragliders and gliders and minature aeroplane enthusiasts. when that gets boring he can roll down the big hill and walk back up again - so can your child!! and theres a little wooded area for a game of hide and seek and counrtyside as far as you can see - take a kite its a must

lived there for 3 years a long time ago. Always thought the sealife center quite depressing. The pier is tacky but a 5 yo would love it. The beech is pebbles, great for throwing in. Parking used to bad, may be able to park on Marina drive, turn left at the Palace pier. There used to be an electric railway that goes from the pier to the Marina, Volkes?, the marina will have some posh boats I presume.
Would second kites on Devils dyke!

Hi Frieda

Just saw your message - hope you pick this up before your trip!

There are a couple of seafront playgrounds - one is near to the West Pier (the Pier that is falling down), and the other is much further down about half way between the Palace Pier (the one with the rides etc on) and the marina.

The latter of those is called the Peter Pan playground and is the one we usually go to (but probably not that many people will know about it as it only opened last year after refurbishment). There is also a little train that runs from the Palace Pier to the playground which is also quite nice for the little ones (I think you get off at half-way station). We love that playground as it is all build on that springy surface and there are lots of things for children to explore - not your usual swings etc. Last summer they had water squirting up from the ground in various places, but I'm not sure if they've started doing that again yet. The only problem is that there are no toilets at the playground itself - you have to use the not very nice public ones attached to a bar across the road. There is a cafe there which serves nice food and coffee, which is always a bonus!! Parking is a nightmare, so we either go early or use the little train from the Pier.

If you are towards the Hove end and want soft play, there is an indoor place called Westows on School Road, off Portland Road Westows

Hope you have a great day!

It is a while since we've stopped there and even longer since I lived there, however if you are looking for a quieter area you could try Hove Lagoon which has a kids playground, cafe and boating lake (which has ben used for various things over the years!)drive along the seafornt towards Portslade and it is just before the turn off on left to Shoreham harbour (and the posh beachside houses!!). Also along there is a pitch and putt, and a promenade extending between Hove and Brighton which could be good if you take a bike or scooter.

hth

if it rains Hove museum has a specialist toy section which is fab (includes a snoring wizard in a hammock, crawl tunnels, lots of buttons to press etc). It's on New Church Road, which runs parallel to the sea one block in, just west of the A2038 (Sackville Rd). Brighton museum is also v good (is in the Pavilion gardens, very central).

Does that ancient trio still play in the pavilion gardens???