Coastside laissez-faire meets commitment to diversity in this quirky cosmopolitan city. Here, activists of all sorts come together – with a sizeable LGBTQI community coexisting alongside folks not keen on 9-5 jobs – helping sustain small-scale delights like gay-friendly pub theatre and the Cowley Club radical social centre.
Beaches
Brighton Beach is one of the city’s primary draws for visitors. A stroll along its picturesque shoreline reveals beautifully maintained lawns, colorful beach huts and expansive expanses of sand with shallow tidal pools; when the tide goes out it transforms into an expansive expanse perfect for recreational activities like surfing and bodyboarding.
Pebbled beaches may become quite crowded during peak season, but you should have no difficulty securing a nice stretch of sand to set up your umbrella and enjoy sunbathing or reading a book in peace and solitude. Lifeguards are on duty during summer months and the waters are shallow enough for casual swimming sessions.
At Brighton beach you’ll also find plenty of dining and drinking options, from cafes, bars and restaurants with scenic sea views, to cafes, bars and restaurants offering dining with seaside views and activities for children such as renting out boogie boards or buckets and spades.
One of the most visited landmarks is the Royal Pavilion, constructed in the early 19th century as a seaside palace for King George IV and boasting distinctive Indo-Saracenic architecture and Oriental interior design. Brighton Pier dates back to Victorian era but still provides rides and other forms of entertainment; furthermore, British Airways i360 (opened 2016) soars 162 meters over Brighton to offer spectacular panoramic views across city and coastline.
Saltdean Beach lies adjacent to Brighton Beach. As its easternmost coastal village under city jurisdiction, Saltdean boasts a wide beach with promenade and long distance footpath known as Monarch’s Way that runs west as far as Dorset.
The East Cliff, rising high above the beach and composed of layers of Upper and Lower Greensand with flint and clay rubble, has been slowly eroded away over centuries to reveal a sandy beach with fine and coarse grains that attracts families as well as dog owners, though there may be restrictions as to when pets can visit certain parts of it. Furthermore, several sports clubs and golf courses use it regularly.
Nightlife
British coastal resort Brighton combines lax attitude with creativity in equal measures. King George IV kicked things off when, as Prince Regent, he built his whimsical royal pavilion dubbed Brighton Pavilion in 1787; thus making Brighthelmston into a fashionable society pleasure spot that quickly evolved into one of Europe’s party meccas.
Nightlife in this town draws visitors in droves, spilling onto its pebbly beachfront with trendy bars and clubs hosting DJs spinning hip hop to reggaeton music. A stroll along the promenade offers ample opportunity for gazing upon its magnificent view with feet planted firmly in the sand or relaxing comfortably while sipping cocktails from an armchair on its beach chair.
Volks Bar has long been a beloved staple in the local music scene, serving up electronica, drum ‘n’ bass and jungle beats to an eclectic crowd. A VIP room can help ensure you don’t miss any part of the action!
Shooshh, an exclusive venue recently revamped with a PS1 million facelift, draws a stylish crowd that dresses to impress for an eclectic mix of pop, dance music and in-house DJ sets.
Kemptown offers LGBTQ+-friendly bars, cafes and clubs, cabaret shows and drag shows; or visit Brighton Dome where legendary rock performers such as Jimi Hendrix have performed.
One of the city’s most beloved landmarks, The Palace Pier is an historic 1890s funfair that has since been renovated to serve as a casino with gaming tables and slot machines. A visit to its museum provides an ideal opportunity to learn about maritime heritage in Toronto.
If you prefer exploring on foot, take advantage of a two-hour street art tour with graffiti expert REQ or bicycle through The Lanes with a local guide – many stores here feature eco-friendly products while its boutiques and artisan bakeries make for a delightful shopping experience!
Food & Drink
Brighton is known to show its eccentricities through its food scene, and Brighton’s culinary offerings don’t disappoint either. Home to Michelin-star restaurants and an eatery owned by former Masterchef winner Ryan Atkin; yet, in typical British fashion there are also plenty of hearty options and budget eateries.
Brighton Palace Pier is an essential stop when visiting this seaside town, and taking a stroll along it should not be skipped. Not only can it provide plenty of entertainment during the day – with games and rides galore to enjoy or people watching – it becomes truly remarkable at night when illuminated with 67,000 lights!
At the pier there are plenty of places to enjoy food and drinks, from Ohso Social’s upscale burger joint to Brighton Beer Company’s craft beer store/restaurant offering up burgers and other dishes as well as helpful recommendations from their staff.
Brighton’s area consists of numerous distinct neighborhoods, each offering their own specialities in food and drink. One such neighborhood is North Laine – here you will find everything from traditional pubs to trendy cocktail lounges as well as numerous independent eateries offering up delicious vegetarian cuisine.
Terre a Terre is one of the best restaurants for vegetarian cuisine, attracting both regular customers and staunch carnivores with its inventive menu items that often resemble works of art.
Looking for casual fare? Visit Brighton’s Open Market, an indoor marketplace just five minutes’ walk from Brighton train station. There’s lots of wonderful dining options here, from cozy Greek cafes like Kouzina and Smorl’s to Casazul Taquito Bar!
Western Street, which connects Brighton and Hove, provides another fantastic option. Be sure to visit Bedford Tavern – described by many locals as Brighton’s “most haunted pub”, featuring drag bingo on Sundays. Additionally, this street features many interesting shops, boutiques and galleries for browsing!
Shopping
Brighton’s beaches and landmark buildings draw thousands of visitors each year, but its real heart lies within its vibrant independent shops. A maze of alleyways known as The Lanes and North Laine offer vintage fashion stores, second-hand bookshops, galleries offering art lessons as well as one-off boutiques that sell custom made jewelry or handmade cushions or glassware – offering something special for you home!
North Laine’s boutiques are an incredible shopping and collectors paradise, from shoes and leather bags to vintage dresses and supporting local artists and designers. Stop at Tidy Street General Store – a delightful little store where every item has been considered for maximum sustainability; featuring French label clothes alongside chunky scarves and woven baskets as sustainable shopping solutions – to find all you need and more.
London Road is home to many specialty stores selling custom art, jewellery and fresh food, all within close proximity of Surrenden Field and Withdean Woods Local Nature Reserve. Additionally, this bustling neighborhood features plenty of restaurants and cafes for an enjoyable shopping experience – plus delicious cuisine can be found nearby too!
Brighton is well known for being kind to both animals and the planet – this extends to their welfare too! A large number of Worthies will flock to Infinity Foods on Saturday morning for organic chia seeds, fermented drinks, sourdough bread – plus organic apples or wholemeal pizza slices from Infinity’s workers’ cooperative!
Kemptown, an eclectic little neighbourhood situated between The Lanes and North Laine, boasts an abundance of boutique clothing stores as well as those who design their own lines of clothes. Additionally, this area boasts many bakeries, wine shops and delis for you to indulge in while you shop!