The Beach Pad

The salt tang hits you before you've even unpacked — you're that close to the shoreline, with Brighton's energy humming just beyond your door.

This is one for couples after a seafront escape without the full tent commitment, or solo travellers wanting a proper bed after a day exploring the South Downs or the Lanes. The camping pods and guest house rooms give you options depending on whether you fancy something more adventurous or a straightforward seaside stopover. Brighton means pebble beaches, the Pier's lights after dark, and that particular buzz of a city that never quite switches off, even in winter. Dogs might be welcome — worth asking when you book.

Open all year, so it works for winter storm-watching as much as summer dips. Campfires need checking on arrival, so don't assume. It's more urban basecamp than countryside retreat, but if you want the sea on your doorstep and the city's coffee shops, vintage shops, and music venues within reach, this puts you right where the action is.