Get a taste of Italy at these seaside spots near London

What better way to practise the art of slow living than hiring a bike, going on a scenic seaside bike ride and taking in a deep breath of sea air? The Undercliff Walk will take you all the way from Brighton Marina to Saltdean. Before you jump on the train back home, make sure to soak up the views from the i360 where you’ll watch over the whole city and seafront (while sipping a Peroni Stile Capri, of course). Suddenly, Italy will seem that little bit closer, we promise.

There’s nothing like an authentic Italian ice cream by the seaside to give you that holiday feeling. This place is part of a successful chain that was established by Giuseppe Morelli, an immigrant from southern Italy who began selling his gelato in Scotland in 1907. Since then, the business has expanded to multiple locations in the UK. Buy yourself a lemon sorbet at Morelli’s Gelato to transport you to the lemon groves of Capri. Then, wander down to the nearby Botany Bay, a sandy beach with beautiful white cliffs that’s perfect for a well-earned riposo (Italian for siesta).

Ports are all about comings and goings, so head down to Portsmouth and let your mind set sail and dock at Capri’s Marina Grande – the island’s only port. There’s no need to book yourself onto a cruise, though, when there’s a bottle full of sunshine awaiting you at The Still & West, Portsmouth. That’s right – this place sells Peroni Stile Capri! With fantastic views of Portsmouth Harbour and the Solent, this pub will soon have you channelling those nautical vibes and dreaming of a Capri sunset bleeding into the horizon.

No trip to Capri would be complete without a boat trip, so why not test your sea legs in Whitstable to get yourself in the spirit? You can either explore the bay, go to the Muansell Forts or go seal-watching. Did you know that there’s a special rock formation named after monk seals off the coast of Capri? The Scoglio del Monacone (Monk’s Rock) used to be inhabited by monk seals until 1904. In recent years, this endangered species has been spotted in the waters of Capri again. All the more reason to pay homage to this beautiful mammal in Whitstable.

Capri’s stunning Giardini di Augusto needn’t be but a distant dream. Eastbourne’s romantic, secluded Italian Gardens are complete with Italian-style architecture and an amphitheatre-style stage that was carved out of the chalk cliff face when a former chalk quarry was landscaped into a garden in the early twentieth century. These gardens are a magical setting for outdoor summer plays, such as the upcoming production of The Winter’s Tale by EODS (Jul 26 and Aug 5, 2023). After the show, we recommend a stroll along Holywell Retreat, a quiet and picturesque shingle beach at the end of the promenade.

Capri Nights is on Thu June 22 at Night Tales, 14 Bohemia Place, E8 1DU. Book tickets here. @PeroniUK

Please drink responsibly, bedrinkaware.co.uk.