By William Coleman
The CaravanTimes team embrace the extended season this year and take a visit to one of England’s most beloved seaside towns.
The streets of Brighton have always been a hot spot for tourism, whether it’s day trips, a weekend away or something longer, so it is no surprise that the Caravan and Motorhome Club has a site just minutes away from the world-famous Brighton pier.
One major selling point about this East Sussex site is just how close it is to the heart and soul of Brighton, yet you’d never know because of how quiet and tranquil it is. The site is perfectly hidden within the lovely South Downs and you can actually see the sea from the hills that flank the park.
Like most Club sites, Brighton welcomes children and pets, so it is perfect for school holidays or those last-minute seaside getaways. There is even a playground for when mum and dad need a five minute sit down.
Site features and facilities
On-site you have everything you need for both short and extended stays and there is no shortage of pitch choices. All in all, there are 155 touring pitches, 25 camping spaces, two glamping pods, two Airstream caravans and several Swift S Pods.
You are also allowed to have barbecues while visiting, provided they are gas, electric or charcoal fuelled.
There are two wash blocks with disabled shower rooms and facilities, a dishwashing area and baby changing spaces.
During our stay, it seemed like the site staff never stopped. The effort they put into keeping the site postcard-perfect is really impressive. They are also extremely friendly and chatty. We felt very welcome by every staff member we came across.
It is also worth noting that the Covid-related efforts are fully in place and had little to no impact on our stay. It felt very much like business as usual. All you need to do is be mindful of others and follow the Club’s Covid Secure measures.
What’s nearby?
There is no shortage of things to do when visiting Brighton. If anything, you may struggle with fitting everything in.
Having spent several days with the Club in Brighton we can recommend quite a few spots to visit and places to eat, but the best advice is to head into Brighton town and just take it all in.
There are so many small independent coffee shops, sandwich bars, pubs and restaurants that you will be spoilt for choice. Just try not to eat too many sticks of rock or potions of fresh fish and chips.
If you like a cocktail and a quieter ambience, we recommend paying a visit to the Lemon Tree cocktail bar just off of the seafront. It’s a small venue and there are Covid rules in place, but that will not take away from the great cocktail menu and atmosphere of this intimate hidden gem.
Of course, there is Brighton pier with its funfairs, arcades and doughnut stands, but Brighton is so much more than just the flagship amusements.
If you go further inland you will find unique bespoke shops that are a world away from your generic high street stores. The music shops are amazing too. Yes, you can stream things via apps nowadays, but nothing beats scrolling through a music collection and finding a new singer or band.
Depending on the nature of your stay we would advise getting a cab into town, which will set you back around £5-7, and spending an evening strolling the streets of Brighton. There are so many funky bars and restaurants that you may want to have a glass or two of wine.
If you are going to drive in, we would recommend staying away from the multi-story car parks, which cost £15 for just over four hours. On-street parking is a lot cheaper.
The site is also well placed for visiting the beautiful Arundel Castle and Gardens in nearby West Sussex, or the historic town of Lewes. With plenty to see and do locally and extensive recreational grounds adjacent to the caravan park, you’re sure to have a holiday here that will be hard to forget.
Experience Freedom
Over the past few years, the Club has expanded its offering to ensure members and non-members can experience the great outdoors and staycation holidays. The Experience Freedom trips are a great way to introduce new people to the touring world or try something different if you want to rest the van up for a while.
The Brighton site has several different accommodation options other than camping and touring pitches. We would highly recommend trying the American Airstreams for a weekend. They are large, comfortable and look very cool.
If you want more of a hotel stay, try the Swift Pods. They are comfortable, self-contained and very luxurious.
Overall this is a great site to stay at. Within minutes you can be in the middle of all the action Brighton can provide, or you can relax on-site and have everything you need at your fingertips.
