Located between Eastbourne and Brighton, Seaford is a small, but bustling small town with a population of just 27,000,

Seaford provides easy access to larger towns and cities but also as a more relaxing base – to walk and run along the promenade, frollick in the waves or head along the cliffs of Seaford Head for invigorating hikes and lung-fulls of fresh air.

There is a traditional flavour to the town, with the ice cream parlour, Driftwood Garden to explore and the Nepolionic-era Martello tower and museum.

It’s a joy to wander through the town and to take in the wonderful selection of independent shops – there is hardly a ‘chain’ store in sight – no need for a Greggs when you have Burt’s Bakery, no over-priced Costas or Starbucks when you can enjoy The Grumpy Chef, with locally-roasted coffee and home-made cakes plus locally sourced seafood (my favourite is the braised squid with chilli) and local sausages. The Front Room makes for an unmissable spot for dinner, with their tapas and larger portions of homemade, delicious fishcakes, fresh pasta and killer chocolate cake.

Walk over Seaford head at the eastern end of town and down into Cuckmere Haven which provides a family-friendly mile-long meander to the estuary, surrounded by wildlife. From the Cuckmere river the walk heads up to the start of the Seven Sisters and the awesome cliff-top walks leading to Eastbourne and the end of the South Downs Way.

St Leonards church offers an imposing attraction in the centre of town and has sat in the heart of the community for over 900 years. Whilst on Church Street pop into The Plough for a pint and a sandwich.

For the chance of a dip in the colder months Seaford Head swimming pool is good value, whilst Seaford’s parks are perfect for families or those wanting to stop and enjoy a moment of peace.

There is free parking along the length of the unspoilt seafront and there is a train station in Seaford with easy links to Lewes, Brighton, London and Gatwick airport. Newhaven port is literally at the end of the long beach making it very accessible for European ferries.

Eastbourne, just a 20 minute drive away, provides more entertainment, with its iconic pier, several theatres, the re-developed and extended Beacon entertainment complex whilst for a truly metropolitan air head for Brighton, with a cosmopolitan collection of restaurants, museums and some serious retail therapy.