Nestled between the South Downs National Park and the sea, we in Hove are perfectly situated to enjoy the delights of the English seaside or to explore the beautiful English countryside and historic towns and villages of Sussex and beyond. Or perhaps you'd prefer to hit the big city with day trips into London- only a 50 minute train ride away? Many people in Brighton and Hove work in London (and I'm one of them)as its as quick to get to the capital from here as it is to travel across London itself. And Brighton and Hove has been a mecca for holiday makers and pleasure seekers since the early 1800s - hence its nickname "London-by-the-Sea". We're also temptingly close to mainland Europe - France is just across the water, only a couple of hours away on the ferry or train.

Our home is set in a tree lined avenue which goes directly down to beautiful Hove seafront. It is in a quiet neighbourhood but only a five minute journey into the bustling centre of Brighton.

Our home is 3 minutes walk from the seafront, with it's stunning Regency architechure, lawns, wide promenade and, of course, the beach - the perfect setting for a stroll on a fine summer evening. Our road is quiet and peaceful and yet there is so much to see and do here and it's all on our doorstep. 2 minutes walk to the end of our street there are fantastic amenities - lovely cafes, shops and restaurants. It is handy for buses into the centre of Brighton with its internationally renowned comedy, music and theatre venues and holiday attractions.

The flat occupies the whole of the first floor of a large Victorian house. It has been modernised throughout and tastefully decorated. It retains period features and the feel of a traditional Hove residence with bay windows, high ceilings and large comfortable rooms. The flat has a lovely double bedroom with a view over gardens. There is a smaller room with a single bed and we can provide another single mattress if required. The flat has all mod cons including dishwasher, washing machine/dryer, wireless broadband, LCD television, DVD player etc. The bathroom is fully fitted with bath and shower.

Brighton and Hove is one of the most vibrant places in Britain and has been a seaside holiday destination since the early 1800s.
Brighton and Hove's close proximity to London means that the area benefits from a rich eclectic mix of people which is reflected in the diversity of entertainment, fine dining and shopping experiences here. There is a rich and vibrant artistic community and the North and South Laines in Brighton have a great selecton of alternative, bohemian and independent shops. There is a lively music scene and there are also two universities which add to the cultural mix.

Brighton and Hove has many places of interest and family attractions - there's lots of fun and rides on the Brighton Pier, the Sealife Centre, the bizarre and unique
Pavillion Palace built by George 4th, the museums, the Volks railway(the oldest electric railway in the world), the Marina with its bowling alley, cinema, pubs, shops and restaurants. Hove is where cinema was invented and Brighton is the home of the oldest cinema in Britain.Oh and not forgetting the Sussex County cricket ground for a quintessentially English experience very close to our home. Just outside Hove there is Drusillas zoopark, Legoland Windsor and all the amazing attractions in London.

It's easy to take day trips into London - we're minutes from Hove station and its a 50 minute train ride direct to the centre of the capital. It's so quick to get to London that may people here commute to London to work, and I'm one of them. Its great to nip up to London for more culture, shopping and sightseeing and come back to the lovely fresh sea air and chilled out people!

We're also well positioned to explore the south coast and the beautiful English countryside - the South Downs (now a national park)are a 15 minute drive away, as are the stunning chalk cliffs stretching all the way along the Sussex and Kent coasts to Dover. There are countless quintessential English towns and villages nearby such as Lewes(where you can see Anne of Cleves house and a superb castle) , Arundel (with it's spectacular Norman 11th century castle and the smallest city in Britain), Firle (where you can see "the Long Man of Wilmington" an ancient 235ft chalk carving and the biggest human representation in Europe) and Hastings(where The French were the last people to invade Britain in 1066). There really is so much history that I could just go on and on. And if you want to go a little further afield (an hour or two by car)there's Stonehenge, Glastonbury, and the New Forest just for starters.

France is only a ferry ride across the English Channel(from Newhaven two and a half hours) or the Eurostar(train) can get you to Paris door to door in a few hours..

London Gatwick International Airport is only a 30 minute train ride away so what are you waiting for?!!

We have done three successful exchanges since 2010.

We are looking for 2 or 3 days between 2nd and 6 th of jan 2013.

Also the English half term holiday:
May 25 till June 2nd or 3rd.

We can also do non-simultaneous exchanges as we travel quite a lot throughout the year so please ask if you would like to travel here another time, but can make your place available at a different time.

We are looking for an exchange, not necessarily simultaneous, in the highlands or islands of scotland or other rural locations in Scotland.

There are 3 of us in our family - Barry, Sandie and Jimmy (who is 7 years old). Barry and Sandie are 40-something professionals: Barry works in the care sector; Sandie trained as an actress and now uses her skills in corporate training and development. We love music, theatre and cinema, and Jimmy is obsessed with the Disney films, "Cars" and "Toy Story". Barry loves football

English