From Cambridge: Day trip to Brighton & The Seven Sisters

We depart from Cambridge at 8am for the 2.5 hour drive to the south coast. Our journey takes us to the east of London, across the majestic Elizabeth II road bridge across the River Thames, and through the hilly, wooded, and picturesque rural scenes of The Weald, south of London. There will be a rest break in the journey.

We arrive at the coast near to the resort city of Eastbourne from where we climb up on to the high ground of the South Downs National Park, and to Beachy Head, the highest cliff on England's south coast. Walking the coastal path towards the Seven Sisters Country Park affords stunning views of the sea far below, and along the pretty coastline to Brighton.

After a short stop on the pebble beach at Birling Gap and time for refreshments at the Visitor Centre, we make our way along the coast road through small resort villages to arrive in Brighton 45 minutes later.

Brighton was the most fashionable resort in Regency times when the Prince Regent, later to become King George IV, abandoned the hot springs of Bath in favour of bathing in the sea. No visit to Brighton would be complete without visiting the amusement arcades on the pier, exploring the narrow labyrinth of passageways of The Lanes, marvelling at the extraordinary architecture and sumptuous interiors of the Royal Pavilion, relaxing with an ice cream on Brighton beach, or experiencing the bohemian cafes and independent shops of North Laine. Expect buskers and street performers to provide the soundtrack to your visit.

Late afternoon, we weave our way out of Brighton through the upmarket town of Hove and back to the highway. The journey back is a fast one and should return us to central Cambridge by 8pm.