Hove Beach Huts

Row upon row of pastel-coloured wooden huts line Hove Beach, and they're far more than just a quirky seaside photo opportunity. These little structures - many privately owned and fiercely protected by their custodians - are a proper slice of British coastal tradition that's somehow survived into the modern age. You'll find families spilling out onto the shingle, kids in buckets and spades, owners settling in for the afternoon with a flask and a paperback. It's wonderfully low-key, the sort of place where time moves differently.

The beach huts themselves date back decades, each one painted in different shades - seafoam green, sage, cream, robin's egg blue. Some have names painted on the doors. Walking along the seafront you can grab a coffee from a nearby café, paddle in the sea if you're brave, or just sit on the shingle and watch people potter about. The whole scene feels authentically British without being twee about it.

It works brilliantly if you're camping at one of the nearby sites - Pegs and Pitches Camping is just 1.4 miles away, or the Brighton Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite at 3.1 miles. Families with young kids will spend a solid hour here; beach lovers might linger longer. There's no admission charge for wandering along and soaking it in. The huts themselves aren't rentable to visitors, but you don't really need to go inside one to get what makes this place special. It's about atmosphere more than activity. Summer weekends get busy, so aim for a weekday morning if you want it quieter.