Marine Gardens

Marine Gardens in Worthing is a well-kept seaside park rather than a full-on attraction. Reviews mention the sunken garden, fountain, bowling green, putting green and easy access to the beach, so it’s very much a place for wandering, sitting and admiring the planting rather than burning off enormous amounts of energy. For parents, the appeal is the calm atmosphere, decent café and the fact that it feels less crowded than the main seafront. People praise the friendly staff, good menu choices and the general sense that you can actually hear yourself think. Dogs are welcome too, which makes it useful for a family walk that includes four-legged members. What it doesn’t seem to offer is much in the way of big-ticket kids’ entertainment. There’s no mention of playgrounds, toilets, baby facilities or indoor refuge, so treat it as an outdoorsy stop-off rather than a rainy-day plan. Older children may shrug, but for a relaxed seaside hour with a snack, it sounds nicely judged.