Hove

Hove is the western half of Brighton & Hove — a distinct town in its own right until the two authorities merged in 1997 to form Britain's newest city. The longstanding local joke — "I'm not from Brighton, I'm from Hove, actually" — points at a real character difference: Hove is quieter, more residential, and generally regarded as more affluent than central Brighton, though the two merge seamlessly along the seafront.

Church Road is Hove's main shopping street, running parallel to the seafront about a quarter of a mile inland. It has a good range of independent shops, restaurants, and cafes, with a stronger independent character than the big-city high streets of central Brighton. George Street in Hove is a shorter, denser shopping street with an excellent range of restaurants and bars.

The seafront in Hove is less frenetic than Brighton's pier end. Hove Lawns — the broad green verge between the esplanade and the beach — is used for outdoor events including the Foodies Festival. Hove Beach has parking, showers, and a slightly less crowded feel than the central Brighton stretch.

Hove also contains some of Brighton & Hove's most significant architecture: the Brunswick Estate (Grade I listed Regency development), Adelaide Crescent, and the churches of St Andrew's and All Saints. The University of Brighton has campuses in both Brighton and Hove, and the city's two universities (Brighton and Sussex) between them bring around 40,000 students into the local economy.