Forget the catwalk - it's the sort of models you make and operate that are on show at Modelworld at the Brighton Centre. Roaming robots, miniature railways and radio-controlled cars are to be found alongside demonstrations and a huge modelling workshop.
Imagine Henry VIII warming his hands at the octagonal hearth when he came to stay in the 13th-century Penshurst Place and Gardens. Kids love the ancient suits of armour in the Baron's Hall. Visit in June to admire the Rose Garden.
Join a guided tour of the Jacobean Godinton House mansion and explore the stunning medieval hall and beautifully restored labyrinth of rooms. The house is surrounded by 12 acres of beautiful landscaped grounds including a rose garden.
One of the most anticipated mountain festivals, The Banff Mountain Film Festival sets off on a world tour, visiting 30 different countries. Catch it at the Komedia Club, Brighton for some jaw-dropping and thought-provoking features.
Henry VIII and novelist Vita Sackville-West have both been residents of the National Trust house, Knole. Surrounded by a 1000-acre deer park, its early 17th-century state rooms contain an important collection of tapestries, and paintings by Van Dyck and Gainsborough.
Scientist and botanist John Rodgers, a friend and contemporary of Charles Darwin, started planting the south-facing Riverhill Gardens in 1842. Spring and early summer sees an explosion of colour from rhododendrons and azaleas within the three-acre Wood Garden.
Delve into Ashford's history at the Ashford Borough Museum, which houses local archaeological and geological artefacts. There's also a fascinating range of black-and-white photography featuring old Ashford, and a special exhibition entitled Ashford at War.
Preston Manor - a perfectly preserved Edwardian manor house open to the public - has over 20 rooms to explore across four floors. It feels as if the family have just popped out and you are snooping around their home.
A new addition to Brighton's bustling calendar of annual events, the Brighton Marathon is the first English marathon to be held outside the capital. Benefitting from a beautiful seaside setting, it's already attracted interest from sports fans internationally.
The Volk's Railway can carry up to 40 passengers for about a mile along Brighton beach and is a lovely way to get to the Marina from the centre of town.
The Brighton Science Festival brings a range of shows to quirky venues, from libraries to pubs, right across the city. From demonstrations and talks to hands-on family days out, it promises to be a celebratory fortnight of science.