A year of lockdowns has left many people craving travel. A week in the Bahamas, Barbados, Benidorm - whatever your personal preference, the idea of a holiday is rather appealing.

However, what we have come to take for granted is how lucky we are to live where we do.

You would be hard pushed to name another city where you can duck between high street shops before taking a dip in the sea, followed by a quick trip to a national park which lies mere minutes away by car.

Yet, in Brighton and Hove, all of this is possible.

Looking further afield to Sussex, the county boasts an enviable portfolio of rolling green hills, striking white cliffs and beautiful beaches.

To fully appreciate this, sometimes we just need to take a step back and change our perspective - and that is exactly what Michael Brown, also known as @dji_mavic_drones_UK on Instagram, has given us.

The drone pilot and photographer sent his lens to the skies to capture some of Sussex's most awe-inspiring landmarks, and a few of the county's hidden gems, from above.

Aerial shots of the South Downs National Park and moody skies over Shoreham seafront show the natural beauty on offer in the county, but he has also captured some of the noteworthy man-made features of the landscape.

Brighton Palace Pier's colourful collage of rides looks like something out of a cartoon, set against the backdrop of the city and a clear blue sky. The Beachy Head Lighthouse, the Amex stadium, the Clayton Tunnel near Pyecombe and the new helipad atop the Royal Sussex County Hospital are all also given the bird's eye view treatment.

The network of pathways and grass in Regency Square is almost unrecognisable from the air, while many may not have realised that the roof of the Holiday Inn on Brighton seafront is decorated with geometric patterns.

You can scroll through our full picture gallery at the top of this page.