24 HOURS IN Hove

Mere minutes from the hectic whirl of Brighton, Hove offers quieter and more civilised beaches, green spaces, fine dining and buzzy boutiques

- Jenny Mark-Bell

The expression “Hove, actually” is now so well-known as to be a local cliché, reproduced on mugs and tea-towels. The phrase is commonly attributed to former resident Laurence Olivier in response to being asked whether he lived in Brighton. It works because Hove, which combined with Brighton to form a unitary authority in 1997, is often perceived to be the stuffy maiden aunt to lairy, fun-loving Brighton. And it’s true that Hove has sedate, sweeping crescents, verdant spaces and traditional social clubs. It also has exciting new restaurants, buzzy bars and an array of well-curated boutiques, all of which can be taken at a much more leisurely pace than the crowds of Brighton’s Lanes allow.

The honey-coloured Regency frontages of the houses in Brunswick Square are perhaps the best-known architectural treasures of Hove, but its buildings are thrillingly diverse – from Wells Coates’ modernist Embassy Court to the brutalist Hove Town Hall.

IN THE MORNING

Start the day with a leisurely stroll along the seafront, perhaps starting at the British Airways i360 and ending at Hove Lagoon. The grass at Hove Lawns is the perfect place for a picnic or to meet with friends and family away from the bustle and occasional debauchery of Brighton seafront.

The Peace Statue, a memorial to Edward VII, marks the boundary between Brighton and Hove. It depicts an angel holding an orb and olive branch and has become a symbol of the area, with local jeweller Jeremy Hoye paying tribute to it in his Brighton-inspired collection.