Brighton

Royal Pavilion & Gardens

The former seaside palace of the Prince Regent (George IV) transformed by John Nash between 1815 and 1822 into one of the most spectacular buildings in the British Isles. The Pavilion houses many unique pieces of furniture and works of art including original pieces lent by The Queen and a magnificent display of Regency silver-gilt. The Royal Pavilion Tearoom, with its fabulous balcony, overlooks the Pavilion gardens, which have also been returned to their original splendor.

Brighton Pier

A Victorian pier with various food and drink outlets, fairground attractions and Palace of Fun amusement arcade. Also hosts club nights, seasonal activities and events.

Sea Life Brighton

The oldest operating aquarium in the world, featuring exhibits from the coastline to the depths of the ocean, including a face to face encounter with sharks and a hands-on rock pool experience where you can handle crabs and starfish. Ride the UK’s first Glass Bottom Boat, have a fascinating Behind the Scenes tour or meet snakes, piranhas and poison dart frogs in the Rainforest adventure.

Brighton Museum & Art Gallery

Brighton Museum houses one of the most eclectic collections outside London. Interesting and dynamic galleries – including fashion and style, 20th century art and design, and fine art – feature exciting interactive displays that will appeal to all ages.

Booth Museum of Natural History

This museum houses over half a million specimens dating back three centuries, as well as an impressive collection of natural history literature. Exhibits include hundreds of British birds, insects (from butterflies to beetles), an orca skeleton and dinosaur bones.

Komedia

Live music and entertainment venue with a great programme of gigs, concerts, comedy, cabaret, theatre and club nights in the trendy Laines area of Brighton.

Budget Options

YHA Brighton

The YHA Brighton Youth Hostel, in all its Regency grandeur, is on the doorstep of all of Brighton’s main attractions. You will find it less than a minute’s walk from the world famous Brighton Pier, two minutes from Brighton Pavilion and three minutes from the Lanes shopping area. Room options include singles, doubles or dorms of up to eight beds. Free Wi-Fi throughout the hostel.

Kipps Backpacker’s Hostel

An independent backpacker’s hostel offering affordable accommodation with a range of room types and views of Brighton Pavilion. Facilities include a licensed bar, free Wi-Fi and roof terrace. This hostel is clean and well-maintained.

Splurge Options

Hotel Pelirocco

A unique-themed hotel which calls itself Brighton’s original rock and roll hotel. Room options include the Hard Rock Single, Lord Vader’s Quarters (a twin with bunk beds), Cloud Cuckoo Land (a double) and Betty’s Boudoir, a supreme double and tribute to 1950s pin up Bettie Page. More of a splurge option, but so unique it’s worth considering for a short stay. Also has a quirky little bar, with occasional live music events and option of breakfast.

Royal Pavilion Tea Shop

The beautifully restored Royal Pavilion Tearoom, on the upper floor, is a sophisticated cafe with a sunny balcony overlooking the Royal Pavilion gardens. You will want to try the traditional cream tea if you’re in the area during the afternoon; this is an indulgent selection of sandwiches, cake, scones with jam and clotted cream, and specialty teas.

The Flour Pot

Situated in Brighton’s hip North Laine area, The Flour Pot Bakery offers good, simple food served in a laidback, welcoming ambience. What started as a wholesale bakery creating beautifully hand-crafted artisan bread, cakes and pastries has grown into one of Brighton’s most unassuming food and coffee haunts, using carefully-sourced seasonal ingredients, and serving locally roasted and freshly ground small batch coffee and specially selected teas.

Boho Gelato

A unique boutique ice cream store selling handmade, Italian-style ice cream and vegan sorbets. With 24 ever-changing flavors ranging from Vanilla to Cherry, Mojito to Pink Lemonade! You might like to try the ‘Elderflower and Mint’ or ‘Lychee and Rosewater’ sorbets for a particular treat.

Choccywoccydoodah

This brilliantly-named chocolatier’s outlet is the place to go if you have a very sweet tooth. Spoil yourself with their pure hot chocolate in white, dark, or Belgian milk chocolate, or perhaps a thick velvety ice cream milkshake. Famous for generous slices of cake served with ice cream and molten chocolate, dipping pots, ice cream sundaes, and banana splits. Yum yum!

Northern Lights

A trendy Scandinavian Bar & Kitchen in an old converted fisherman’s cottage a short walk from the seafront. This place has loads of character.

The Coal Shed

Specialists in locally-sourced and sustainable meat and fish dishes, they have quickly made a name for themselves as serving the best steaks and grilled fish in the city. This restaurant also features a wine list which includes over 50 reds, 20 whites, and a wide selection of champagne and fine sparkling wines.

The Cyclist

An Independent and extremely colorful 1940’s-styled Café Bar in Brighton Station. Serving delicious, locally-sourced and home-cooked food, complemented with local ales, scrumptious wines, teas, coffees, and thirst-quenching cocktails.

Bombay Aloo

Cheap and cheerful, all-you-can-eat vegetarian Indian buffet restaurant, featuring five curries and a range of salads and sides.

Terre à Terre

An award-winning vegetarian restaurant, which is more of a splurge option admittedly, but one not to be missed if you are a vegetarian or vegan food fanatic. Here you will find vegetarian food at its most delicious and indulgent, with excellent service, wonderful flavors, and a warm welcome.

The Open Market

The recently restored historic Open Market, located on London Road, is home to over 50 of Brighton’s most talented local producers and artists. With a strong focus on fresh nutritious foods and ethical products, the market offers a wide selection of produce, as well as an exceptional variety of locally-made fashions, crafts, handmade jewelry, toys, home wares and furniture, world foods, garden goods and much more.

Brighton Lanes’ historic quarter

A shopper’s paradise of independent shops, Brighton Lanes’ historic quarter is a fabulous maze of alleyways offering antiques, vintage and jewelry shops, alongside specialist contemporary and designer boutique fashion stores and art galleries.

North Laines Shopping Area

The Brighton North Laines shopping area is a crisscross of streets in the heart of the cultural quarter of the city. The Brighton Laines area boasts the largest selection of independent retailers on the South Coast, with a mix of ethnic, kitsch and funky stores as well as an impressive mix of fashion from up-and-coming designers, selling everything from vintage chic to vegan-friendly shoes. Also home to stylish studios selling locally-made jewelry, sculpture, ceramics, glass, metalwork and paintings, as well as a cutting-edge photography studio at the North Laine Gallery.

Brighton Marina

A working marina and waterside leisure park, which is home to an 8-screen cinema, 26-lane bowling alley, casino, and health and fitness club, as well as a good selection of high street stores selling fashion, home furnishings, gifts, accessories and books. There is also a great selection of cafés, restaurants and pubs, or you could enjoy traditional English fish and chips on the quayside.

• Getting Around – Parking is often difficult and can be costly in Brighton, and parking enforcement officers are very proactive. So if you are driving, be sure to read all signage carefully and have plenty of change available for ticket machines. Brighton is well serviced by public transport.

• Diverse Brighton – Brighton has long been considered the UK’s gay capital and hosts one of the biggest Pride festivals in Europe. The city has an expansive gay scene, with a number of hotels and B&Bs that are gay-owned or cater specifically for gay and lesbian visitors. You’ll find most of these in the vibrant Kemp Town district of the city, just east of the city center and home to the city’s ‘gay quarter’.