Beachfront Penthouse

SEA LIFE Brighton opened in 1872 as Brighton Aquarium and is the world's oldest continually operating aquarium. It was designed by Eugenius Birch, who also designed the West Pier, and it sits on the seafront. Inside, the High Victorian Gothic interior survives, and you can wander through the restored Victorian Arcade.

Tip: Book a timed entry slot online in advance; you can reschedule if your plans change.

The Royal Pavilion is a Grade I listed former royal residence in the middle of Brighton, built as a seaside retreat for George, Prince of Wales, who later became George IV. Its Indo-Saracenic exterior, with bulbous domes, chhatri-topped minarets and cusped arches, is the look from Nash's 1815-1822 remodelling, and it has often been compared to the Taj Mahal.

Tip: Next door is the Brighton Dome, the former royal stables, converted to a concert hall, so look at both buildings.

Brighton Pier, also known as the Palace Pier, is a Grade II* listed pleasure pier in the centre of Brighton. Its entrance is opposite the Old Steine, where it meets the seafront roads of Marine Parade and Grand Junction Road. It stretches 525 metres out to sea and contains 137 km of planking.

Brighton Museum & Art Gallery stands in the Royal Pavilion gardens, at the heart of the city's Culture Quarter. Inside, bright, high-ceilinged galleries with tall windows hold fine art, decorative art and design, natural science, and a style gallery that follows fashion from 1500 to the present day.

Tip: There's no on-site parking, so plan ahead. The coach station is a five-minute walk and the train station about 15 minutes.

Brighton Toy and Model Museum is an independent museum set in four Victorian brick arches under Brighton railway station. Founded in 1991, it holds over ten thousand toys and models, with displays drawn from its own collection and from guest collections.

Tip: Tickets can be bought on the door, and the foyer, shop and Brighton Visitor Information Point are free to enter.

Harbour Park is a children's amusement park on the beach at Littlehampton, next to the working harbour and marina. It has been a family fixture since 1932 and is aimed mainly at primary school children. Outdoor rides run seasonally, and there are also arcades and an indoor soft play area, so it works whatever the weather.

Tip: Rides only open on certain dates and times, so check the opening times calendar on the Harbour Park website before you go.

Anne of Cleves House is a timber-framed house in the centre of Lewes, given to Anne of Cleves at the end of her short marriage to Henry VIII, although she never lived there. Inside, you can look around well-preserved rooms including a Tudor kitchen, a light parlour and a bedroom with a four-poster bed.

Tip: There's no on-site parking, so use one of Lewes's public car parks, or take the train: the station is a five-minute walk away.

Charleston, in the village of Firle, was the country home of the artists Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant, and for decades a meeting place for the Bloomsbury Group. The rooms on show are covered in their work, with murals, painted furniture, ceramics, textiles and paintings. The collection also includes pieces by artists such as Renoir and Picasso.

Tip: Check the Charleston website before you set off, as the site closes at times between exhibition seasons.