For a smaller city, Brighton is one of the top holiday destinations in the UK, attracting both British tourists and foreigners alike. The culinary appeal, seaside recreation, great beaches, and multitude of water activities are some of the many reasons why people visit Brighton. There are many family attractions in the city, including an underwater swim with sharks, and a ride on the SuperBooster on Brighton pier.
Lagoon Watersports – Brighton Marina
If you’re new to watersports in Brighton, Lagoon Watersports is the ideal place to find fun water-based activities for the entire family. Lagoon Watersports – Brighton Marina is one of the leading watersports centres in the UK.
Brighton Marina is a getaway to the water. The marina is located east of the city centre, and is easily accessible by public transport, foot, road, and bike. The marina itself is an artificial marina in Brighton, and includes a working harbour, with leisure and commercial activities. Lagoon Watersports offer activities suitable for large and small families alike.
Lagoon Watersports has an excellent 5.0 rating on TripAdvisor, a 4.5-star rating on Google, and it’s an RYA certified training centre. Water activities include powerboating, yachting, jet skis, and sailing.
Hatt Adventures
Established in 2006, Hatt Adventures is a Brighton-based company that offers courses in mountaineering and navigation, rock climbing, kayaking, bushcraft and survival, abseiling, and wilderness first aid.
Leave the computers, phones, and TV behind this weekend, and give your kids a trip to remember. They cater to groups, stag and hen parties, children’s parties, corporate events, and birthday parties. If you want a customised package, they can organise a weekend package or day adventure loaded with amazing activities.
They also organise charity events such as endurance runs, UK 3 peaks challenge, sponsored charity abseils, and climbing Ben Nevis, Snowdon, and Scafell Pike in under an hour. On TripAdvisor, they are rated #1 amongst water sports and boat tours in Brighton. They currently have a 5-star rating from 89 reviews. Most of the reviewers commended the staff for being friendly and encouraging.
BK Kayaking
If you’re looking to get away from the bustle of the city, de-stress from a busy work schedule, and enjoy the serenity of the sea, kayaking is a fun water activity for all the family. BK Kayaking is located on Brighton beach, and offers kayaking courses for both beginners and advanced learners. They organise fishing trips, family sessions, stag and hen parties, and coastal trips. You can learn to do an eskimo roll, ride a wave, catch fish and then cook it on the shoreline.
Courses offered include:
Introduction and short trip: A three-hour introductory course that covers all the basics of sea kayaking. Individuals who haven’t gone kayaking for a while can also take a refresher course. Basic skills taught during classes include turning, draw stroke, forward and reverse paddling, and how to capsize and exit your boat. When you complete the course, you’ll be able to join the advanced classes.
Immediate sea kayaking: For paddlers who want to improve their technique and seamanship. The course includes rolling technique, leadership skills, towing, safety at sea, and rescue.
Sea kayaking trips: Trips include the circumnavigation of the Isle of Wight, the splendour of the Seven Sisters, and trips to “The Bitches and Whelps” on Pembrokeshire coast.
Stag and hen parties: London is a short trip from Brighton, making it a top destination for wedding groups looking to get out of town. There are fantastic clubs, hotels, and bars where you’re guaranteed to have a great time.
Lagoon Watersports – Hove
Hove Lagoon is a unique location to enjoy watersports activities. It is a great destination for beginners and experts alike. Activities include:
SuPing (Stand Up Paddle Boarding): This is a watersport that allows you enjoy the serenity of the waters and take in the views while doing it. Most paddlers prefer to paddle leisurely through the shallow waters, and adrenaline junkies are enticed by the waves. You can hire an instructor to learn basic skills or improve your technique. Alternatively, you could try out the new SUP Yoga that is gaining popularity in Brighton.
Wakeboarding: In this sport, you ride a board over the water surface. It is similar to snowboarding but with a cable to gain speed. The inner wild child in you will enjoy learning new tricks, hitting speeds of up to 20 mph, and feeling a sense of youthful exuberance.
Windsurfing: A watersport that combines the best of surfing and sailing, windsurfing is an unpredictable activity that relies on nature and other elements out of your control. You adapt to the changing tides and learn to manipulate manoeuvres.
Groups: Companies looking for a fun day out can enjoy water-based events from Lagoon Watersports. Schools are also welcome to book outdoor adventures, such as team and raft building, sailing, and kayaking.
Kids: It’s important to teach kids from a young age that the ocean is a part of the environment. Getting them to bond with the sea at a young age is a fun way to teach them about climate change and nature. During activities such as wakeboarding, stand up paddle boarding, sailing, swimming, and windsurfing, they gain a new appreciation for nature whilst learning about the tides and current.
Brighton Wind Farm, Diving and Fishing Tours
If you’re looking for a diving charter, sea fishing, or to take a boat trip off the Brighton Marina, Brighton Diver is your go to. Services include:
Diving: Brighton Marina is one of the largest marinas in Europe, and primely placed between Beachy Head and Selsey Bill for easy access to hundreds of wrecks along the Sussex coastline. There are wrecks for novices, intermediate, and experienced divers. From shallow inshore wrecks like City of Brisbane, 30-40 metre wrecks such as City of Waterford, and other deep fishing routes.
Wind Farm Tours: Pack a picnic for the family as you embark on this wonderful opportunity to witness the popular Rampion Wind Farm. The trip takes 30 minutes aboard the Brighton Diver 2, and you’ll enjoy a gorgeous view of the Riviera.
Fishing Trips: Brighton Diver offers several fishing trips including Ground Fishing Trips, Bait & Tackle, and Wreck Fishing Trips. It’s a nice way to bond with the family, test your fishing skills, and enjoy the view.
King Alfred Swimming Pool
King Alfred Leisure Centre has excellent swimming facilities suitable for the entire family to enjoy. If you don’t want to get wet, there is a viewing area overlooking the pool, so parents can keep an eye on their kids in the water.
King Alfred Swimming Pool offers a 5-day crash course for children and adults who can’t swim. The courses run during summer and May half term. Children under the age of sixteen swim free during public sessions. It’s available Monday-Friday from 3:30 pm, and all day during the weekend.
If you’re looking to tone muscles and get fit, swimming in the 25m main pool is a great way to accomplish this. The water provides resistance that works all of your muscle groups, and supports your weight to reduce pressure on your joints.
Prince Regent Swimming Pool
Prince Regent Swimming Complex is a family-friendly recreational centre in Brighton known mostly for its swimming facilities (although the gym is incredible too). Situated in the heart of Brighton, it has a 25m lane pool, and a shallow pool for children and learners who are just starting out.
The services are similar to King Alfred, and are suitable for expert swimmers and novices who need swimming lessons. Prince Regent Swimming Complex follows the Swim England learn to Swim Pathway.
Classes for children include rookie lifesaving and diving classes for children aged 8 and above, who can swim 20m. The first lesson when you book is free. Swimming helps children by improving attention span, building life skills, meeting people, developing confidence, and learning to live a healthy lifestyle.
There is an adult swim programme for women only groups and adult groups. Your instructor helps you learn to swim, improve fitness, clean your stroke, and get ready for a challenge. Combine your workout with a swim in the in-house state of the art gym. You can take part in aqua group class, workout, and access members’ changing rooms.
Brighton & Hove Seafront
The largest entertainment centre in Brighton & Hove, the seafront stretches across 11 km, with activities and entertainment that your family can enjoy, most of which are free. Take a lazy walk with your partner along the promenade, and soak up the atmosphere provided by busy restaurants, and cafes and bars on the seafront. Try your hand at an offshore activity such as boules, beach volleyball, cycling, tennis, and kitesurfing. Kids can explore the play area, carousel rides, and paddling pool.
Stroll along the pier towards Hove to find the Artist’s waters, where you can patronise upcoming painters and find an antique gift for a loved one. Further along, you’ll find the Fishing Museum to explore Brighton’s history. The seafront comes alive at night, when some of Brighton’s best bars and clubs play host to talented DJs and vibrant crowds who want to dance and have fun.
If you’re feeling invigorated, there are many water sports you can try such as kayaking, wakeboarding, surfing, fishing, sailing, jet ski, and paddle boarding. If you’re a first-time visitor, read the Brighton & Hove seafront bylaws to ensure you don’t break any laws while having a good time at the beach.