Things to Do in Brighton: A Complete Guide
Brighton has been Londoners’ favourite seaside escape since Victorian times, and it hasn’t lost a bit of its slightly eccentric charm. It’s a city that mixes candy floss and pebble beaches with genuinely excellent food and one of the most open, alternative cultures in the country. If you’re after things to do in Brighton, you’ll want to split your time between the seafront, the tangle of lanes behind it, and a food scene that punches well above its size. It makes an easy add-on to a longer UK trip too, especially if you are already planning a visit and want ideas for things to do in London to bookend the journey.
Brighton Pier and the seafront
Brighton Palace Pier is the obvious starting point, all flashing lights, fairground rides and the smell of doughnuts drifting over the arcade noise. It’s unashamedly old fashioned seaside fun, and even if rollercoasters aren’t your thing, walking to the end for the view back at the seafront and the Regency terraces along Marine Parade is worth it. Just west along the beach you’ll spot the burnt out skeleton of the old West Pier, left as a strange, photogenic ruin since a fire in 2003, and beyond it the i360 tower offers a slow rotating glass pod ride up for panoramic coastal views.
The beach itself is pebbles rather than sand, which surprises some first time visitors, but that hasn’t stopped it becoming one of the most popular stretches of coast in the country. On a warm weekend expect deckchairs, paddleboarders and beach bars doing brisk trade all along the front, particularly around the area known as Brighton Beach near the pier.
The Lanes, the Royal Pavilion and independent shopping
The Lanes is a maze of narrow alleyways that were once the heart of the old fishing village, now filled with independent jewellers, vintage clothing shops and antique dealers. It’s easy to lose track of time wandering between the tiny shopfronts, and prices range from proper antique jewellery to affordable trinkets, so it suits browsers as much as serious buyers. North Laine, a separate but similarly styled district just north of the station, leans more towards quirky boutiques, record shops and street art, and has a slightly younger, more bohemian feel.
No visit is complete without seeing the Royal Pavilion, George IV’s extraordinary seaside palace built in an Indo Saracenic style with onion domes that look wildly out of place, and wonderful for it, against the English coastline. Inside, the Music Room and Banqueting Room are dripping with over the top chinoiserie decor that has to be seen to be believed. The surrounding gardens make a nice spot to sit afterwards.
Brighton’s alternative culture and food scene
Brighton has long been known as one of the UK’s most LGBTQ+ friendly cities, with Kemptown forming the heart of the scene, packed with bars, clubs and cafes that keep the area lively well into the evening. Brighton Pride, held every summer, is one of the biggest pride events in Europe and transforms the whole city for a weekend. That same open, alternative spirit runs through the wider city too, visible in the street art scattered around the North Laine area and the sheer variety of independent, slightly offbeat businesses.
The food scene reflects that same independent streak. Brighton has one of the highest concentrations of vegan and vegetarian restaurants outside London, alongside excellent fresh seafood given its coastal location. Try the fish and chip shops along the seafront for something classic, or head into the Lanes and North Laine for small plates, natural wine bars and global street food stalls. The Open Market near London Road is worth a visit for cheaper, more local dining away from the tourist strip.
Even more things to do in Brighton
Brighton’s cultural scene extends well past the beach. The Brighton Dome and Brighton Festival, held every May, bring theatre, comedy and music to the city and turn it into one of the biggest arts events outside London. Fabrica, a small contemporary art gallery housed in a former church, and the many independent galleries scattered through North Laine give a good sense of the creative energy that keeps drawing artists and designers to the city.
For something more active, Devil’s Dyke, a dramatic valley in the South Downs, is only a short drive or bus ride from the centre and offers walking trails with sweeping views back towards the coast. It’s a popular way to spend a few hours if you want a break from the seafront crowds without leaving the area entirely.
Getting around Brighton
Brighton is easy to navigate on foot, with the station, the Lanes, the Pavilion and the seafront all within about a fifteen minute walk of each other. The city centre is fairly flat near the coast, though it does rise steeply as you head inland towards areas like the racecourse.
What makes Brighton such a popular day trip is the train connection to London, with direct services from London Victoria or London Bridge taking around an hour. That makes it entirely possible to have breakfast in London and be on the beach by lunchtime. Summer weekends get extremely busy, so if you want a quieter visit, aim for a weekday or come in late spring or early autumn when the weather is still pleasant but the crowds have eased off. If you fancy comparing notes with a trip closer to home, our guide to UK staycation ideas is worth a look too.
