Things to do

Our DaVinci Gatwick guest house, bed and breakfast is not just conveniently situated 12 minutes from the gatwick international airport (LGW), but it's within easy driving distance of numerous attractions, too. From London to Brighton, there is no shortage of things to do and see if you have a few hours spare. Even if you have not got a car , you can use public buses and trains.A wonderful place to spend leisure time.The United Kingdom is a world class leisure and tourism destination with a diversity that is the envy of the world. Are you from the UK? Limit your carbon footprint & do the planet a favour .What to do?With so many things to do and places to stay there's simply no reason to go elsewhere. We have all types of things to do, from the best of UK pubs and restaurants, to museums, areas of natural beauty and theme parks all over the United Kingdom. Whether it's raining or sunny, you'll find plenty of things to do for all the family.Where to stay?Whether you're looking for a day out, a half term break, your summer or Christmas holiday, or just overnight accommodation and entertainment for a business trip then Da Vinci Gatwick hotel guest house is and ideal place to start you trip.Crawley TownThe local Sussex town of Crawley is quite is a fairly large town literally 10 minutes from Da Vinci Gatwick hotel. It has many large brand name shops and facilities, the well known Crawley shopping mall , multiplex cinema, ten pin bowling, chain restaurants andnight clubs.The main Crawley Post OfficeSainsbury's , Tescos and AzdaBarclays Bank, HSBC Bank, Lloyds BankCrawley shopping mall where you will find many shops and also boots the chemistHair Salon, Barber, Nails BarFlorists, Garages, StationersThe Hawth Theatre in TilgateTilgate parkK2 Leisure centrePeace Pottage Golf clubLocal AttractionsAmberley Working museumThe Hawth Theatre situate in TilgateFarmyard Family FunSussex Top AttractionsGunwharf Quays retail shoppingHolmbush Farm situated in Horsham. Only 6 miles form CrawleyChildren's farm park with lots of friendly animals. Animal handling, daily goat racing.Indoor and outdoor activity.Tilgate Park and Nature centreBeautiful parkland surrounds the Nature Centre with its rare animals, ornamental walled garden, Shire stables and craft units. A public golf centre adjoins.LondonThe Big Smoke is within easy reach by train direct to London Victoria station from Crawley and or Three Bridges train stations or Gatwick train station. – The myriad historic, cultural and entertainment attractionsWindsor Castle, Stonehenge and Georgian BathDon't leave London without experiencing this best selling tour to Windsor Castle, Stonehenge and Georgian Bath. Your day trip includes entrance to the Roman Baths and Pump Rooms, Stonehenge and Windsor CastleBrightonBrighton is within easy reach by train direct to London Victoria station from Crawley, Three Bridges train stations or Gatwick Airport train station and approximately 30 minutes by car. Brighton's on the sea, so there's lots to do there, from swimming and surfing to boating further out at sea.Brighton's number one site for tourists finding hotels in Brighton, brighton hotel accommodation, bed and breakfast, guesthouses and self catering, conference organisers and delegates, day trippers, language students, Brighton shoppers, businesses, art enthusiasts, sporty types, foodies, job seekers, and just about anyone else you care to mention.The Royal PavilionA Palace Fit for a King... Built by a PrinceThe GardensToday, The Royal Pavilion is not just about indoors but is surrounded by beautiful gardens which create a delightful setting at all times of the year. There's almost as much to see from outside as from within and a walk around the pavilion on a sunny day is sure to raise any spirit! The Royal Pavilion is open year-round. While the Royal Pavilion and Museum present the image of a cultured and elegant town, The Palace Pier is all English seaside - at its best. If you do like to be beside the seaside then you do like to stroll along the pier. Yes, it's a bit cheesey with everything from amusement arcades, fairground rides, and the usual fish and chips and tarot card readings - but it's the seaside after all! For the past fifteen years or so, it's simply referred to as 'The Pier' but with the imminent redevelopment of the West Pier, who knows what might happen.The statistics tell us that over four and a half million tourists visit Brighton Pier every year and four and a half people must like it. It's that bit of seaside fun which we've all come to expect from our favourite resort!It's always been meant for sheer pleasure from the time it was built in cast iron by Sir George Moore in the late 1890's and it continues to evolve so, in May 2007, a new Family Entertainment Centre opens in the Pier's Dome. This will feature the latest arcade machines, a wide selection of foods, ranging from traditional feasts like Southern Fried Chicken and pizza to the newer traditions such as Chinese to the latest healthy options - salads, sandwiches and smoothies.The season will also see the arrival of the new Ghost train ride, aptly named The Horror Hotel.The pier can also offer a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the betrothed as a venue for that wedding to remember! Vicoria's Bar is licenced for wedding ceremonies and can hold up to 70 people for the reception. For the larger wedding, the nearby - and elegant - Palm Court Restaurant can cater for up to 250 guests. On offer at these restaurants is both formal and informal cuisine - from fish and chips to champagne - and the opportunity to utilise the Pier's attractions for wedding photos with a difference. In the day, the Pier teems with holiday makers but, at night it glistens and glows as its thousands of lights turn it into a magical spectacle poised perilously above the sea.For the KidsAt its seaward end, the pier has been taken over by a large array of rides, the first of these - the big wheel - being installed in 1923. You do, of course, pay for the rides but these fund the rest of the pier which is free to the visitor. Rides are paid for by tokens and this can hide the speed at which a kid can get through your money!There's a great range of rides, though, from the traditional revolving tea cups and train rides to the helter skelter and 100 year-old carousel, with its elegant prancing horses. For the more adventurous, there's a white-water rapids ride and the 'hammer' which swings you up into the air, only to bring you back to earth with a jolt. For just a bit of a scare of another type there's the very newly re-scarified ghost trainFresh Air and Fireworks and fun...From the end of the pier, the coastal view is great, one of the best around and you can see Brighton's coastal stretch from east to west. While you're doing this, it's real sea air which you're breathing - a most-bracing experience!During the month of August, at the height of the holiday season, every Saturday night is lit up by a specacular fireworks display which uses the pier as its backdrop. At half past nine, the fireworks are set off from a barge adjacent to the pier and, for some 20 minutes or so, the pier is spectacularly lit up by the pyrotechnics. Visitors can watch from the pier itself or from the shore but, wherever you choose, its all free and adds that extra touch to the holiday.Many visitors report that Brighton's nightlife compares every bit to any thriving city throughout the country with its great selection of pubs, clubs and more. It is just one of the many reasons that Brighton is rated as one of the trendiest cities in the Kingdom. It's all these entertainments which make it such a draw for the hen and stag crowd. Brighton also has a thriving gay community and it gay clubs and bars are located in and around the Kemp Town area.Arundel - Castle, Town and ParksJust an hour's drive of Brighton is the lovely old town of Arundel. It makes a perfect day trip for the visitor to Brighton. Arundel, with its quaint old-world air has to be one of the most atmospheric of English towns. It's located on the Arun valley and the majestic Arundel Castle towers over the city majestically guarding it from all comers.Arundel Castle, which was built in the 11th Century, provides an amazing viewpoint for great views of Arundel and the Sussex countryside. It is the seat of The Dukes of Norfolk and is set in 40 acres of sweeping grounds and gardens, which surround the castle and provide tranquil surrounding in which to relax and take the air. The Castle has been open to visitors for nearly 200 years and is regarded as one of the great treasure houses of England.As you walk around its perimeter the views change but never cease to please. Inside the castle, its many ancient rooms display the great collection of paintings and furniture, tapestries and stained glass, china and clocks, sculpture and carving, heraldry and armour in stunning room settings.The Castle is open from the end of March to the end of October from Tuesday to Sunday but opens on the bank holiday Mondays.The town of Arundel has a lovely ancient town feel, and it's a beautiful example of a charming English village with its stunning, picturesque scenery, framed in narrow streets and containing old buildings brimming with character. There's a couple of small pubs and restaurants where you can partake of refreshment and soak in the atmosphere after taking in the views. On the 3rd Saturday of each month, from 9.00 to 1.00, it has a local farmers market when you can drink in the local atmosphere of the place.Also worth visiting while you're in Arundel is Amberley Working Museum. This is an exciting, working museum which is set in 36 acre site. It features cworking craftsmen, vintage bus rides, a narrow-gauge railway, and an electricity hall. Outside it has nature trails, and other fascinating displays.Civil Aviation AuthorityThe CAA offices are located 10 minutes from Da Vinci Gatwick guest house.The office phone number is 01293 768600. The office fax number is 01293 768601.