Brighton: A Local’s Guide to the Best Things to Do in Brighton

The seaside city of Brighton has been enticing travelers for centuries. It is also called ‘London by the Sea’ because it’s the closest seaside resort to London (it’s just an hour’s train ride from London). So, it’s really popular for Londoners to come and spend one day in Brighton.

In this blog, I bring you the ultimate Brighton travel guide. It’s filled with the best places to stay, the best things to do in Brighton (according to my husband Paul, who was born and raised here) as well as the best places to eat. We’ve tried everything on this list so we’re writing from personal experience!

We’ve spent lots of time here over the years, as I said, Paul is from Brighton, so luckily for you, we’ve done everything on this list. So, can recommend all the places and restaurants below from personal experience!

My best description of Brighton is that it’s a little bit weird (in a good way) and a lot wonderful!

So, let’s dive in …

Local Guide to the Best Things to Do in Brighton

After spending lots of time in Brighton (my husband was born and raised here), I’ve come up with what I think is the perfect Brighton travel guide. It includes excellent coffee shops, the best restaurants, as well as awesome sunset spots. Plus, a whole lot more!

1. Wander the lanes and grab a coffee

Stroll through the lanes early in the morning to catch these narrow, quirk-filled lanes at their finest. Pop by Snoopers Paradise at Kensington Gardens in the North Laines – a quirky, treasure-filled department store that you can easily whisk away a few hours. Also worth a visit is The Duck House on 4 Union Street – in this fun store, you’ll find over 300 different types of imaginative rubber ducks.

Are you a coffee fiend – I recommend grabbing a coffee at Pelicano on Sydney Street or Bond St in the North Laines. In Brighton, you are spoiled for choice for great coffee. A good indicator of how hipster/yuppie a city is how many independent coffee shops it has, and Brighton is full of them!

It’s no surprise then that Movehub’s Hipster Index ranked Brighton as the most hipster city in the world!

Other great coffee spots in the city include the very popular Small Batch at 17 Jubilee Street, 44 Poets on Poets Corner, and Twin Pines in Kemptown.

2. Stroll along the pier and head to Stanmer Park

Take a long walk along the seafront path and try your luck at the slot machines on the Pier. Waste away an hour playing the aforementioned slots, riding the dodgems/ bumper cars at the permanent funfair here, and spoil your lunch with a head-sized stick of candyfloss.

You could also check out the huuge British Airways i360 tower while you’re here – some people will tell you it’s overrrated for the price (around £20 per person) but if it’s a clear day and it’s your first time in Brighton then I reckon it’s worth the ride. It opened in 2016 (and closed for a time in 2024/2025), and it stands at an impressive 162 meters tall.

As you can guess, you’ll get panoramic views from the top (of the surrounding Sussex countryside, the English Channel, and on clear days, as far as the Isle of Wight).

Then, take a stroll to the Madeira Lift at the seafront in Kemptown – a creaky, very old Victorian lift that brings you up the cliff that links Marine Parade with Madeira Drive. There’s even a lift attendant.

Tired out from all the fun, grab some amazingly authentic wood-fired pizzas at Fatto o Mano in Hove (or London Road). Other excellent lunch spots in Brighton include Trollburger under Brighton Station, Cin Cin in North Laine, and 64 Degrees at Meeting House Lane.

After lunch, take the 78 bus to Stanmer Park, about a 15-minute drive from Brighton. It’s well worth a visit, mainly just to explore a little on foot and take photos. There’s also a tearoom here if you fancy a snack. 

3. See the Royal Pavilion

The Royal Pavilion – easily one of the most beautiful homes ever built. It took over 20 years to be built for Prince George IV. It is often commented on how similar it looks to the Taj Mahal. And a surprising fact is that the prince never visited India; he was just drawn in by the unique style of Indian palaces.

We recommend spending around an hour and a half here – most tourists spend most of their time in the gorgeous Royal Gardens, but the interior is well worth a visit too. A fascinating fact we learned during our visit is that during World War I, the Royal Pavilion was used as a hospital for Indian soldiers. My husband didn’t know this, and he’s from Brighton!

Entry to the Royal Pavilion costs £19, but the ticket is valid for a year! Yep, with any standard ticket, you can return for free for a whole year from the date of issue!

4. Head to the Marina for food

Hit the Marina for dinner – did you know it’s the largest marina in the UK? Popular restaurants here include Chez Mal, Cafe Rouge, and Malika Indian Restaurant.

Or if you want to stay in the city for food, try Casalingo on Preston Street (the hubby’s favorite restaurant) for authentic Italian food. Or if you plan to be out Hove way for dinner – The Little Fish Market on Upper Market Street in Hove is headed by chef Duncan Ray. It’s the most awarded restaurant in the city, and as you can imagine, this teeny-tiny restaurant (it only fits 20 people) is very popular! It’s pricey but worth every penny – the menu changes regularly and they try to use local ingredients as much as possible!

Other things to do at the Marina include shopping – there are a couple of boutique stores here. There’s also a cinema, and if you’re keen to do a boat trip, this is where they start.

5. Catch the sunset in Brighton

Okay, I love sunsets. In fact, on vacation, I make it my mission to watch the sunset every night. In Brighton, I advise ending the day by watching the sunset over the West Pier. The best spot for a photo of the sunset is from the Brighton Bandstand; it can get very busy here, though.

Some other best sunset spots in Brighton are:

• Walk to the top of Bear Road for a lovely view of the city. It’s a short, steep walk up to this hillside grassy area.
• Hove Beach – before sundown, snap some photos of the very cute, very colorful beach huts
• Cuckmere Haven – a riverfront beach about a 30-minute drive from Brighton. One of the most iconic photo spots here is the Coastguard cottages overlooking the Cuckmere River, with the Seven Sisters in the background. Walk just above the cottages on the path to get the best shot.

Fun facts about Brighton

I told you this isn’t just any old Brighton travel guide – I’ve done heaps of research and come up with some very weird facts about this city. Some of the facts even a local won’t know!

Brighton is a weird and wonderful city by the sea. Here are some super interesting facts about the city.

• England’s first-ever casino was opened here in 1962 at The Metropole Hotel
• The Brighton Sea Life Center on Marine Parade is the world’s oldest aquarium. It first opened its doors way back in 1872
• Hitler had his eyes set on setting up home at the Royal Pavilion. He wanted it as his holiday home after taking over the U.K. (which never happened, thank god)
• Brighton has the most restaurants per capita than anywhere else in England – there’s approximately one restaurant per 250 people
• The city was the first place in the country to open a nudist beach in 1979
• Brighton Pier is made up of over 60,000 light bulbs – imagine their electricity bill
• The first Body Shop was opened here in 1976

Where to stay in Brighton?

We loved the super-famous and luxurious The Grand on the seafront if you fancy splurging. It’s undoubtedly THE most famous hotel in the city. And the rooms are stylish and some come with sea views. Plus, the breakfast is one of the best we’ve ever had in England!

If you still want to stay along the seafront but are on a budget then consider The Old Ship Hotel which offers stylish and comfortable rooms as well as a great bar on-site. Ask for a sea-facing room here. 

We’ve also stayed at Leonardo Royal Hotel in the past and really enjoyed our stay. The lobby area is very cool and the staff are super friendly. It’s also located on the waterfront and the rooms here are very spacious.

If you fancy an apartment for a few nights, we love this unique cottage a 15 minute bus-ride from Brighton. Or if you plan to stay for longer (which I highly recommend doing!) your best option is to opt for a room to rent in Brighton!

Is Brighton UK, worth visiting?

Yes, Brighton is DEFINITELY worth visiting! Brighton is a city of extremes, from its crowded stony beach to the tourist trap that is Brighton Pier to the quirky hipster-filled North Lanes.

On first look,  it may seem like a typical English city, but it’s filled with the weirdest characters.  People you wouldn’t see anywhere else in the world. But that’s why we love it. The restaurants are cool, the bars are cool (even the ‘old man’ bars are cool), and the coffee shops are cool.

If you’re spending a few days in Brighton, why not consider visiting the quaint town of Rye – a 2-hour train ride away? It’s so photogenic there, and there are loads of fun things to do in Rye!

How many days is enough in Brighton?

My recommendation is to spend at least 5-7 days in Brighton. 5 days is just enough time to see the best of the city, tick off Brighton’s best tours, and take some day trips to awesome nearby towns like Rye and Hastings. If you have 7 days, you’ll be able to slow it down and maybe even squeeze in a beach day or perhaps a day trip to London.

Brighton is especially beautiful and buzzing in Summer. If you want a quieter getaway but still want warmer weather, September is a top choice for me.

You could always combine a stay in Brighton with one of these gorgeous towns in East Sussex.

Planning your Brighton trip, this detailed UK Trip Planning Guide will help you decide when to go, what to see, how to get around, and even what to pack!

Why is Brighton popular with tourists?

Brighton is easily the most famous city in East Sussex and maybe the most famous seaside resort in all of Britain. It is a popular weekend haunt for Londoners (as it’s only an hour from the capital city), stag and hen parties, and for couples looking for an escape. 

And because it’s so close to London, you can easily hop on a train to the ‘big smoke’ for the day or night. In saying that, if you’re in Brighton over the festive period, I recommend celebrating New Year’s in London if at all possible – it’s easily one of the best cities in the world to celebrate the New Year!

Brighton is also home to the UK’s largest LGBT population. In fact, it’s widely known as the unofficial gay capital of the UK.

It’s also famous for the gorgeous Royal Pavilion, its long stony seafront, and Brighton Pier.

📖 Related Read: If you’re traveling to the UK with little ones, you may want to check out my guide to visiting Peppa Pig World! I’ve included everything you need to know!

What are the most popular things to do in Brighton?

• Blaker Street is certainly one of the most colorful streets in Brighton, if not the whole country – an entire road of brightly colored houses, every Instagrammer’s dream, right?!
• Brighton’s Victorian Sewers – Southern Water leads tours through these stinky sewers that were still being used for raw sewage up until 1990. The sewers are 7 miles long and lead all the way to the Telscombe Cliffs.
• The Royal Pavilion – easily one of the most beautiful homes ever built. It took over 20 years to be built for Prince George IV. It is often commented on how similar it looks to the Taj Mahal.
• Brighton Beach – Okay, it’s a stony beach (not a sandy one) but, still Brighton Beach is iconic and it stretches for miles. It’s the perfect place to spend a sunny day in Brighton. If you’re after a more uncrowded vibe – head for the section of beach closer to Hove.

Thanks for Reading!

I hope my Brighton travel guide will give you some inspiration for your next visit. There’s so much to see and do in this quirky seaside city, and being just an hour from London, it’s so easy to get to.

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Last Updated on October 21, 2025 by snaphappytravel