Brighton Marina may be barely 10 mins from the city centre but it feels a world away. Head over and you’ll be trading heaving pavements for a roomy boardwalk, a hectic urban pace for mellow maritime moments. And yes, you can even park here – better yet, the first four hours are free. Not that it’s lacking in bustle. Don’t let the laidback vibe fool you – this in fact one of Europe’s largest marinas, with picturesque sailing boats and yachts aplenty bobbing in its scenic harbour.

Join us for a stroll? Once you’re done admiring the boats you’ll find plenty of restaurants and cafés, including Café Rouge, Pizza Express and Sora, Malmaison’s Asian-inspired pop-up. There’s even a branch of the pug café Cuppa Pug. Waterfront terraces mean allow you to make the most of the location, complete with epic skies, unbroken seascapes and the iconic Seven Sisters cliffs off to the east. It’s easy to imagine a lazy lunch turning into sunset cocktails – easy, too, to see how appealing this would all be in the winter, wrapped up warm with a cosy mug of cocoa.

Entertainment-wise, there are boat excursions on offer on the water, while dry-land options include Hollywood Bowl, indoor golf and Cineworld – family-friendly hits come rain or shine. There’s shopping to be had, too. Ethical gifts, books and crafting materials, luggage, pet accessories and more are all here for the browsing. Fancy making a stay of it? Check in to Malmaison and you’re perfectly placed for exploring the wider region or indeed the continent.