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Things to do in Brighton

A day at the races

Even if you have absolutely no idea about accumulators or speculators you can still get carried away with a flutter at Brighton Racecourse (tel: +44 1273 603 580; www.brighton-racecourse.co.uk). Horse race meets run most weeks from April to October.

Catch a show at The Old Market

The Old Market (tel: (+44) +1273 201 801; www.theoldmarket.com) is an independent theatre and venue funded entirely by artists. With a focus on innovative, fringe productions across all theatrical disciplines, they have solidified their place as the premier venue for new shows in the city.

Go vintage shopping in Kemp Town

If the North Laine doesn't have the vintage clobber you're after, head to Kemp Town's 'Antique Village'. With everything from kitsch paintings and tweed turn-ups to porcelain pots and once-loved lamps, you'll lose hours among the pre-owned paraphernalia. Start at the Trading Post and Coffee Shop (tel: (+44) 1273 698 873), which marries a good brew with a good browse.

Kick up a stink with a sewer tour

From May to September, Southern Water (www.southernwater.co.uk/brighton-sewer-tours) gives brave nose-holders the chance to see inside Brighton's Victorian sewage system. Although there are around 48km (30 miles) of sewers beneath Brighton, this tour takes you on a mercifully brief 400m (0.25 miles), teaching participants about their history and the route of today's waste and storm water. Book well in advance.

Ride the waves in Brighton Marina

With so much attention given to Brighton's dining, drinking and dancing, it's easy to forget about the sea. If you fancy doing something a little more expansive than sitting on the pebbles, head to Brighton Marina (tel: (+44) 1273 424 842; www.lagoon.co.uk) for some water-based fun from wakeboarding to stand-up paddleboarding.

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Hotel Una

A boutique hotel stationed in the centre of the Regency Square, Hotel Una names its rooms after the rivers of the world. Each has been individually designed with a focus on style, so when you’re not sitting at your pine bureau scribbling in your journal, you’ll be lounging on slick leather sofas. The Fifty Five Cocktail bar downstairs is ideal for sophisticated pre-dinner oiling.

Hotel du Vin

Boasting a convenient location between the Lanes conservation area and the beachfront, Hotel du Vin is an elegant Brighton hotel with 49 stylish bedrooms housed in a collection of gothic revival and mock Tudor buildings that dates back to 1695. Next door is the Pub du Vin, where sports heads can catch the latest matches on the big screen and get involved in the local plonk.

Hotel Pelirocco

Self-styled as ‘England’s Most Rock n’ Roll Hotel’, the Pelirocco wears its (tattooed) heart on its sleeve. With unique designs in each room, visitors can count sheep in sleeping quarters such as the Modrephenia (complete with scooter bedside table) and the Pretty Vacant (think: angry teenager’s bedroom with punk posters and guitars). For a naughty weekend away, the Nookii room is your best bet with its peep show shower and adult board games.

Seadragon

Suitable for the budget-conscious, this low-key hostel is set away from the hustle and bustle on a quiet residential side street in Hove. Rooms come with one, two or four beds, with shared facilities on each floor. It has stylish wooden floorboards, warm basement kitchens and a converted coal cellar for a chinwag.

The Grand Hotel

Brighton's most famous hotel and one of the only 5-star establishments in the city the The Grand’s elegant Victorian building enjoys a central seafront position. This extensive hotel has more than 200 lavishly appointed rooms and offers a stylish and luxurious base from which to explore the city. Its afternoon teas are world famous too.

Drakes Hotel

This Georgian townhouse is where the media set stay when they’re in town, with the likes of Sadie Frost and Woody Allen amongst its former guests. The interior combines orientalism and Indochine French design, and it pitches for laidback glamour. The onsite restaurant is fabulous, while the accompanying cocktail bar has an abundance of classics on offer - though mercifully no Sex On The Beach in sight.