Sunniest place in the UK is officially Eastbourne, and a couple of miles east of the pier you'll come to Sovereign Harbour - one of the largest harbour developments in Northern Europe. The five separate but linked harbours comprising the Sovereign Harbour complex each have their own qualities, with four of them used as marinas that are well stocked with commercial and pleasure boats.

As can be seen from the map above, the biggest of the marinas is the North Harbour, where you can see the largest of the private vessels. West Harbour, separated from the North by restaurants, shops and pubs, is the smallest, and in addition to private boats has a few of the fishing vessels that give the Harbour a more commercial air. The Inner Harbour is the one through which all boats wanting to go to sea must pass, for the twin locks that control the water level are here. On the other side of the locks is the Outer Harbour, which is tidal and has no berthing. Quietest of the four marinas is South Harbour, only slightly larger than the West, and like that one connected to the retail facilities by a pedestrian bridge (opening and closing of which in mini-Tower Bridge fashion is controlled by officials at the harbour locks). Here is where you'll find our two-bedroomed apartment, with views over the harbour and the waterway leading from it to the Inner Harbour.