Brighton - seaside resort/city on the south coast of England

Brighton is a famous seaside resort and charming city in East Sussex in southeastern England, 76 km south of London. In 2000, the neighbouring communities of Brighton and Hove joined to form the City of Brighton and Hove.

Brighton is known for its grand Regency architecture, several landmarks in an oriental-inspired architectural style including the Grade-I Listed Pavilion, and for its large LGBT community.

Understand

Brighton was a sleepy little fishing village, then known as Brighthelmstone, until Dr Richard Russell of Lewes began to prescribe the use of seawater for his patients. He advocated the drinking of seawater and sea-bathing in 1750. In 1753 he erected a large house near the beach for himself and for his patients. A further factor in Brighton's growth came in the early 19th century when the Prince of Wales built the Royal Pavilion, an extravagant Regency building designed by John Nash. But it was only with the development of the railways, around 1840, that Brighton truly started to boom.

The city is close to London, and is increasingly popular with media and music types who don't want to live in the capital. It is sometimes called "London-by-the-Sea" for this reason. Brighton is typically referred to as the gay capital of Britain. There is a significant gay district in Kemp Town which adds to the Bohemian atmosphere of the city.

Whilst a day trip to Brighton, or even a long weekend, will offer activities and culture for the visitor all year round, it is in the springtime that the city really starts coming to life, and May sees the return of two of the most popular festivals, Brighton Festival and Festival Fringe (see the events section). In the summer Brighton truly flourishes, with residents and visitors enjoying lazy days and beautiful sunsets on what is perhaps the city's greatest asset, the more than 5-mile stretch of shingle beach, facing south onto the English Channel.

For those with working visas, Brighton is a good spot for seasonal and temporary work, due in part to its status as a student town and in part to it being on the sea.

Get in

By train

Wikivoyage has a guide to Rail travel in Great Britain

Trains to Brighton run from London Victoria and London Bridge stations in London, taking about an hour (faster for the Brighton Express services from Victoria, although expect to add another 20 minutes if travelling during peak commuting times). Trains also run along the coast from Hastings and Lewes in the east, and Portsmouth, Southampton and Chichester in the west. Brighton is on a direct line to Gatwick Airport and Luton Airport (Gatwick is much closer, being to the south of London).

Brighton has 2 stations:

• Brighton railway station (Brighton Terminus), Queens Rd, BN1 3XP, 50.828956°, -0.141101°.
• London Road (Brighton) railway station, Shaftesbury Pl, BN1 4QS, 50.8367°, -0.136389°.

All trains stopping in Brighton stop at Brighton Terminus, on Junction Road. Local trains to Newhaven via Lewes also stop at London Road station, on Shaftesbury Place, just off Ditchling Rise. This station is only really useful for the northeastern part of Brighton, and isn't too far from the main Brighton station. When travelling to Brighton, it would be easier to just plan to go to the main Brighton station, as it is also closer to the town centre.

Trains to Brighton are operated by Southern and Thameslink. Southern operates trains to Eastbourne, Hastings, Ashford, Newhaven, Portsmouth, Southampton and London Victoria; while Thameslink operates trains to Bedford, Cambridge, London St Pancras, Luton and London Blackfriars.

Trains are crowded on Saturdays when Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are playing at home: the surge is towards Brighton around lunchtime, and towards London late afternoon.

By car

Brighton is a congested city, and not easy to drive or park in at peak times. The principal route from London and Gatwick Airport to the north is the A23, which turns into the M23 just after Crawley. The A27 runs along the south coast from Portsmouth in the west to Pevensey (near Eastbourne) in the east, and is a dual-carriageway for much of its length west of Brighton but is primarily a congested normal carriageway to the east of Brighton, the A27 turns into the M27 after Portsmouth and continues on into the New Forest National Park. There are several car parks in central Brighton - expect to pay about £1.50 per hour, even on Sundays, although they can get quite full at times, so don't count on finding somewhere to park.

The Ethos Parking (dead link: January 2023) website shows where available parking spaces are in some car parks with entry barriers around the city on a map. However, it doesn't show all car parks.

For a day at the beach, parking is available, though very limited, on the two roads parallel to the beach between the main pier and the marina, Madeira Drive and Marine Parade. As with many popular seaside resorts in England, the earlier you arrive on a warm, sunny day, the better your chances of getting yourself a space! Charges vary between seasons and the location premium, but generally in the height of summer expect to pay £15-20 per day closer to the pier, and £5-7 per day further east.

As an alternative to driving to the city centre, parking (charges apply) is available at Worthing, Hassocks or Lewes rail stations, both about 20 minutes by train from the city centre. Another alternative is to use the city's Park and Ride service (dead link: January 2023), where you park at a free car park about a 45-minute walk away from the main train station, then get a bus to the city centre.

There are particular days of the year when it is very much inadvisable to drive into Brighton:

• The children's parade day at the start of Brighton Festival. Usually the first Saturday in May. Many roads in the centre of Brighton are closed.
• The day of the annual London to Brighton Bike Ride. This is on a Sunday in June - tens of thousands of cyclists plus their support vehicles are in the city, so many roads will be blocked or difficult to get across.
• The parade day of the Brighton and Hove Pride week (dead link: December 2020). Around the first Saturday of August. Many roads in the centre of Brighton and around the pier area are closed to all traffic, and diversionary routes are long and/or not built for heavy traffic. Gridlock often ensues on Pride Saturday.
• The Brighton Marathon in early April (so much so that even the council has a whole webpage (dead link: December 2020) about parking during the marathon), where many roads in the city are closed.
• The first Sunday of November when the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run is held (unless, of course, you own a veteran car!)
• Any summer's day when the sun is shining and the whole of London decides to head to Brighton beach.

By bus

• Brighton and Hove Buses is the main bus company in Brighton, and they run to Brighton from Eastbourne in the east (with routes 12, 12A, 12X or 13X) and Tunbridge Wells in the north (with routes 28, 29, 29B or 29X). Travel on Brighton & Hove Buses cost £2 per journey or £4 a day for travel within Brighton (Southwick - Newhaven - Lewes - this is called a CitySaver). There is also a NetworkSaver ticket for travel around the network for £6.50 a day. There are many discount fares ("CentreFares", online tickets) and tickets which cost more (Nightbuses - ranging from £2 for N7 and N25 to £5 for the N69). Children only receive a discount with a BusID.
• The National Express coach route 025 from London travels via Heathrow and Gatwick Airports. Journey times to Brighton are roughly 1 hr 40 min from Heathrow and 30 min from Gatwick, offering a competitive alternative to the train. Indeed, this is the quickest way to get between Heathrow and Brighton by public transport. If travelling from Central London, don't get the coach; the train is much quicker (under 1 hr) and the slight cost increase is worth every penny.
• Stagecoach bus (dead link: January 2023) services run to Brighton from Portsmouth, via Worthing, on service 700. It costs £6.30 for one day's unlimited travel on this route.
• Metrobus has "hop-on, hop-off" services which run from Haywards Heath (with routes 271 and 272), Ardingly (with route 272) and Three Bridges (with route 272). Tickets cost between £4 and £5.30 for these routes, and can be used on Brighton and Hove Buses too.

By plane

The city's proximity to London means Brighton is well served by airports. Brighton can be reached from Gatwick by train in as little as 25 minutes £9.80-£11.90, Jan 2023).

• Shoreham Airport (Brighton City Airport), Cecil Pashley Way, Shoreham-by-Sea, BN43 5FF (Probably best to get a train from Brighton to Shoreham - about 15 minutes, then a taxi from there to the airport), 50.8332°, -0.2920°, +44 1273 467373, reception@flybrighton.com. This airport (IATA: ESH) is 5 miles (8 km) to the west of Brighton. It is the nearest airport for light aircraft and also offers sightseeing flights. However, there are no scheduled flights from here. This is the oldest licensed airport in the UK. 2017-09-16

Get around

Brightonians often give directions relative to a prominent landmark, the Clock Tower, which stands due south of the rail station where Queen's Road meets Dyke Road (oh yes it does), West Street, North Street and Western Road.

The oldest part of the city is the Lanes, which is bounded by North Street, West Street and East Street, through which runs Middle Street - and Ship Street. Beware the spelling of the similar-named North Laine (meaning "north fields") which is a boutique and alternative shopping nirvana, to the north side of North Street.

Western Road, a major shopping street runs east–west from the Clock Tower, whilst Eastern Road runs up a hill towards the main hospital from the area known as the Old Steine (rhymes with clean) which has Brighton Pier at the seafront here.

Running north from the working Pier, you find the memorable Royal Pavilion, a run down church St Peter's, and The Level, which is being developed. Going north east from here is Lewes Road (pronounced "Lewis") which takes you out to the city boundary and both of the Universities.

Hove is found to the west of Brighton. To the east of the city, there is Brighton Marina.

By bike

Although the area is hilly, cycling is a growing form of transport in Brighton. The city is one of Cycling England's "Cycling Demonstration Towns (dead link: January 2023)". The city council's website has more details on cycling, including a map of routes.

A cost effective way of getting around town 'pay by the minute' bike rental service, BTN Bikeshare (dead link: January 2023), which has stations available across the towns. It is often the fastest way to move around, although the 'resilient' bikes can be challenging on larger hills.

By bus

Brighton and Hove Council have published a journey planner (dead link: January 2023) for local traffic.

There is an extensive bus network in Brighton and Hove. In the city centre, services are very frequent and many stops have 'real-time' bus information. The majority of buses are run by one company, Brighton & Hove Buses. The best option for a visitor is to get a £4.40 CitySAVER all-day ticket to avoid the £2.20 single fares.

Children travel at half price, and pensioners free after 9AM (with a suitable RFID card). If travelling by train, you can add a "plus bus" CitySaver option on your ticket for £2, or get a CitySaver for £3 at Brighton Station bus stops.

There are three routes on weekdays (route 52 on Saturdays too) between the City Centre and the universities with a bright yellow bus company called the Big Lemon, costing just £1.50 for a single and £2 for an all day pass.

On a few days a year, buses are disrupted by parades etc. - the same days as in the "by car" section above.

Many of Brighton & Hove Bus's vehicles are named after celebrities (some living, some deceased) and individuals who have made a contribution to Brighton & Hove city life in some significant manner. You can even suggest names for the buses to have at the bus company's website!

By train

Brighton Station is one of the most important rail terminals in the South East and from here the city of Brighton has a small suburban rail network with London Road station, Hove station 📍, Preston Park station 📍, Aldrington station 📍, Falmer station 📍 and Moulsecoomb station 📍 serving the city (Moulsecoomb and Falmer for the universities in the city).

Southern and Thameslink services do not carry bicycles during peak hours (7AM-10AM and 4PM-7PM).

By taxi

There are lots of teal (greeny-blue) and white taxis in Brighton, with the council logo on the door. They are, however, more expensive than most other towns and cities in England. In Friday and Saturday after midnight, the hire charge for a taxi is £4.10 before the journey starts.

The main taxi ranks are at Brighton train station and at East Street (near the Lanes). (Smaller ranks dotted around include: Queen Square (opposite Churchill Square), the north side of St. Peter's Church and the bottom of Montpelier Road.) Some taxi companies are:

• Brighton Taxis 4U, +44 1273 730 730 (Brighton), info@taxi4u.co.uk. 2017-04-01

• Streamline, +44 1273 74 74 74 (Brighton), +44 1273 20 20 20 (Hove), admin@streamlinetaxis.org. 2017-04-01

• Radio Cabs, +44 1273 20 40 60, bookings@brightontaxis.com. 2017-04-01

• [Https://bntaxianytime.com/ Bn Taxi Anytime] +44 7846454994 bntaxianytime1@gmail.com

See

The Brighton Attractions Combi-Saver Ticket (dead link: January 2023) saves you up to 30% on tickets to the Royal Pavilion, i360 tower, and Sea Life Brighton. Purchase at i360 (or online 3 days in advance): adult £27.70 (£26.10), child (5-15 years) £14.75 (£13.95), child (4 years – under 4s go free): £8.00 (£7.20) (Nov 2017).

Brighton Pier (Palace Pier), Madeira Drive, BN2 1TW, 50.81689°, -0.136814°, +44 1273 609361, info@brightonpier.co.uk. Daily from 10AM, from 11AM in winter. Closing times vary throughout the year, but are typically a couple of hours after sunset. Massively tacky and sickly sweet it may be, no visit to Brighton is complete without a walk along its 525 metre-long pier. Admire the views - both out to sea and back to the waterfront -, have a whirl on the rides, or take on the nostalgic arcade attractions. There are plenty of food stands serving typical seaside treats, plus a sit-down restaurant, a cocktail bar, and a pizzeria. In the summer, there's a large screen showing live sports and films. Winter visitors may see a famous murmuration of starlings: mesmerising clouds of birds flying together before roosting under the pier for the night. Entry free. Pay per ride or get an all-day wristband: over 1.2 m £17.50, under 1.2 m £9 (online prices - if you buy on the day, you'll pay more) 2020-02-02

• Brighton Beach. In the summer, the pebble beach is covered in tourists and Brightonians. Poi twirlers strike a beautiful image against the sunsets, and flaming lanterns are launched into the air on summer evenings. To the east of Brighton there is a designated nudist beach. The pebble beach gives way to a flat sandy seabed just below mid tide line so time your swimming to the low tide and avoid the painful feet. Just beyond the Marina is an area for surfers. Fishermen cast their rods from the Marina or by the giant doughnut. For £16, you can fly the short zipline over the beach (2017). There is also the wreck of West Pier which was derelict for some time before burning down.
• The Lanes -an area of small shops, the tumbled street plan reflecting the layout of the original fishing village of Brighton which was here. Almost every shop in the Lanes is a jewellery shop, although there are also cafés, bars, record shops, a shop that sells vintage weapons, and a host of Italian restaurants.
• North Laine (sometimes incorrectly called the North Lanes). A wild nest of alternativism, the North Laine area is walked by dreadlocked hippies, bright colours, punks, goths and oddballs. The shops sell everything from bongs to magic potions, from giant wooden hands to fairy wings and from bagels to fire staffs, and a full complement of cafés, bars, second-hand clothes stores and newsagents. The area is north of the Lanes on the other side of North Street.

Royal Pavilion, 4/5 Pavilion Buildings, BN1 1EE, 50.822353°, -0.137694°, +44 1273 290900. Oct-Mar 10AM-5:15PM daily (last tickets 4:30PM), Apr-Sep 9:30AM-5:45PM (last tickets 5PM), closed from 2:30PM 24 Dec and all day on 25-26 Dec. An interesting architectural attraction, transformed between 1815 and 1823 by the architect John Nash, at the direction of the then Prince Regent (later King George IV), into a sumptuous pleasure palace by the sea. The exterior has an Indian theme, whilst the interior was decorated with Chinese decor. Guided tours available and well worthwhile. Accessibility: two floors - only the ground floor is wheelchair accessible. Accessible toilets. 10% discount if purchased online in advance. Adults £13.00; students, seniors, disabled, unemployed £12.50; children £7.50; 10% discount if purchased online in advance. "History Pass" 2-day combination tickets to pavilion, Brighton Museum and Preston Manor: adults £16.00; students, seniors, disabled, unemployed £14.00; children £9.00 2017-11-30

• The Booth Museum of Natural History - A bit out of town up Dyke Road, this spectacular collection of taxidermy features over 300 bird specimens, a giant bear, a feejee mermaid and the infamous "Bone Room".

Brighton Museum and Art Gallery, 50.822°, -0.138°. Tu-Su and Bank Holiday Mondays 10AM-5PM. An interesting museum and history, culture and art to do with Brighton and beyond. An excellent permanent collection and brilliant exhibitions from international artists. All areas of the Museum are accessible for wheelchair users. Adults £5.20; students, seniors, disabled, unemployed £4.20; children £3.00; 10% discount if purchased online in advance. "History Pass" combination ticket - see Royal Pavilion above 2017-11-30

Brighton Toy and Model Museum, 52-55 Trafalgar St (Opposite Frederick Place. The subterranean entrance to Trafalgar Street is behind the safety railings outside the front of the station.), 50.82865°, -0.14093°, +44 1273 749494. Tu-F 10AM-5PM; Sa 11AM-5PM. A little, unknown museum hiding under the viaduct of Brighton Station, specialising in toys from the first half of the 20th century.

• Komedia - Major comedy club in North Laine.
• Brighton Marina with boats, pubs, restaurants, a supermarket and even a hotel, well to the east of the town centre.

The Old Steine. The centrepiece of Brighton's 'floral gateway', this features a rotating selection of flowerbeds, a fountain, and cafe. During the Brighton Fringe Festival (in May) there is often a large outdoor exhibition where performances take place.

Preston Manor, Preston Drove, Brighton, BN1 6SD (2 miles N of city centre; a 30-40 min walk; from Preston Park Railway Station, a 10-min walk; buses 5, 5A, 17, 40, 40X and 273 from city centre stop near Preston Manor), +44 3000 290900, visitor.services@brighton-hove.gov.uk. 1 Apr-30 Sep only: Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 2PM-5PM. A historic house, decorated and furnished in Edwardian style. Its elegant reception rooms and functional servants’ quarters reveal the ‘upstairs and downstairs’ of life at the manor. Free parking onsite: enter the drive from Preston Drove. Adults £6.80; students, seniors, disabled, unemployed £5.70; children £3.80; 10% discount if purchased online in advance. "History Pass" combination ticket - see Royal Pavilion above 2017-11-30

Roedean School, Roedean Way, BN2 5RQ, 50.81300°, -0.08436°, +44 1273 667 500. one of Britain's most famous and expensive girls' schools, the huge stone building looks out across the Channel. 2021-03-04

Sea Life Centre, Marine Parade, Brighton, BN2 1TB (20-min walk from Brighton train station: down Queens Road and then turn east towards Brighton Pier), +44 871 423 2110. Daily 10AM-6PM in Jun-Aug, closes earlier in other months, last admission one hour before closing. An aquarium with walk-through underwater tunnel, adjacent to Brighton Pier. This is the oldest working aquarium in the world. Accessibility: go from the promenade onto the seafront to access the ramp that leads to the beach. You will then see an underpass for Sea Life. Parking is limited and can be expensive. From £10.50 if purchased online or by phone in advance, or from £18.50 walk-up

• Theatre Royal, Pavilion Theatre, Corn Exchange Theatre, Dome Concert Hall - Theatre and music venues are all in the 'Cultural Quarter' that encompasses New Road, Jubilee Street and parts of North Laine.

• Jubilee Square - A modern redevelopment towards the south of Brighton's North Laine which includes the magnificent Jubilee Library, upmarket restaurants, and café culture.

St Bartholomew's Church, Ann St, BN1 4GP, 50.8308°, -0.137222°, +44 1273 620491. One of Europe's tallest churches (from floor to ceiling). Towering over Brighton, this extraordinary church is not exactly the prettiest church in the world, however its gigantic structure and incredible decoration makes this church a must-see attraction. A real gem in Brighton's history which needs tourism and donations as it has threatened with closure. 2020-09-14

Embassy Court, 50.823151°, -0.156307°. This famous 1930s art deco building was nearly demolished in the early 2000s, but has since been fully restored to its modernist reality. There are artists studios underneath. Tours of the building take place during the Festival. 2020-09-14

Brighton Fishing Museum, 201 King's Road, The Lanes, Brighton and Hove, BN1 1NB (Public transport nearest bus service: Pool Valley - 5 min walk. Nearest railway station: Brighton - 15 min walk), +44 1273 723064. Daily 11AM – 5PM. The Brighton Fishing Museum showcases the history and heritage of Brighton’s fishing industry through a wealth of photographs, remarkable artefacts and restored traditional Sussex clinker fishing boats.

British Airways i360, 50.82135°, -0.1509°. From the fully enclosed viewing pod, visitors experience 360-degree views across Brighton, the South Downs, the English Channel and on the clearest days it is possible to see Beachy Head 17 miles (27 km) to the east and the Isle of Wight 49 miles (79 km) to the west. Adults (aged 16–59yrs) from £14.40; Child (4-15 yrs) from £7.20; Child (under 4 yrs) Free; Senior (60+ yrs) from £12.15 2018-08-06

Alternative

• St James's Street/Kemp Town - Brighton's gay village, lending the city the title of 'Gay Capital of Britain', is a short walk east of the city centre. It caters to the LGBT community, and is home to a wealth of restaurants and cafes. Continuing in the same direction you reach the rather more low-key and genteel area of Kemptown Village, with another clutch of antique shops.

The area just west of Regency Square is one of the more interesting parts of Brighton to spend a day wandering (if a little less sanitised; the area has a high number of brothels and halfway houses. Still safe, but exercise more caution at night than elsewhere in Brighton). Wide range of stores-including a fabulous Chinese supermarket- and some stunning architecture.

Art galleries

• Fabrica, 40 Duke Street, BN1 1AG (housed in a renovated church on the corner of Ship St and Duke St in the city centre), 50.82277°, -0.14197°, +44 1273 778 646, office@fabrica.org.uk. Contemporary art gallery that specialises in new commissioned site specific work. As an artist led space this is a unique venue in the southeast that shows important new works by international artists. Fabrica is not a selling gallery but a place that offers access to exciting large scale work and media installations. Free
• Grand Parade - An art gallery in Brighton's most central university campus. The gallery often has exhibitions of students work as well as a wealth of international artists. It is near St. Peter's Church just north of the Old Steine.
• Ink D - A small but trendy little space that exhibits obscure artists works and design. It is at the bottom of North Road, North Laine.
• Lighthouse - Another contemporary art gallery in Kensington Street, North Laine. Like Fabrica it has no permanent collection and is purely artist-led. The gallery is at the site of a disused warehouse.
• Phoenix - Another art gallery housing works from artists from all over the world. The gallery is in quite a central part of the city and is right next to Grand Parade.

Further out

• West Blatchington Windmill 📍 is a smock mill of 1820. It's on Holmes Ave, Hove.
• Jack and Jill 📍 are a pair of windmills on the Downs above Clayton village. You can visit Jill, a post-mill built in 1821. Jack is a tower mill of 1866.

Do

• Brighton Theatres. Brighton is a great place to see a theatre show or a gig. There are many many theatres and venues in and around Brighton.
• Sealanes on Madeira Drive is an open-air lido with heated 50 m pool, opening in spring 2023.
• Football: Brighton & Hove Albion, Falmer BN1 9BL (off A27 five miles northeast of town by Falmer railway station), 50.8618°, -0.0833°, +44 1273 668855. "The Seagulls" play soccer in the Premier League, England's top tier, with ther home ground at Falmer or Amex Stadium, capacity 30,750. Their women's team play in the Women's Super League, with home games at Broadfield Stadium in Crawley, shared with Crawley Town. In 2022 Falmer Stadium hosted games in the UEFA Women's Euro Finals, postponed from 2021. 2022-07-28
• Cricket: Sussex CCC, Eaton Rd, Hove BN3 3AN (A mile west of central Brighton), 50.831°, -0.164°. Sussex CCC play in Division Two of the County Championship. 2019-04-01
• Shop until you drop. Calling into many of the quirky shops in the Laines looking for that elusive deleted LP, leather bound book, one-off party dress, or organic beer, can be a highlight and a chance to uncover hidden gems.
• Duke of York's Cinema, Preston Rd, BN1 4NA (15 minutes' walk up the London Road from the Steine), 50.8339°, -0.138333°, +44 719 025747. The Duke of York's Cinema is Brighton's art house cinema, and the oldest continually operating cinema in Europe. Opened in 1910, it still has a single screen, which shows a mix of art house and more mainstream films, with a Kid's Club on Saturday mornings. The building is recognisable by the giant fibreglass legs on the roof. The bar on the first floor is a good place for a drink before the film, with a balcony that has good views of the street below. The (screening-room) balcony at first floor level has two-seat sofas, the ground floor regular cinema seats.
• Phileas Foggs Attraction, Sussex House, Crowhurst Road, Hollingbury Industrial Estate, BN1 8AF (Just off the A27. Take the junction off at Hollingbury Industrial Estate), 50.859776°, -0.132250°, +44 1273 007799, info@foggsadventures.co.uk. 10am - 4pm. Phileas Foggs Attraction is a team game attraction set in the 1900s. You are guided around the world through 16 faraway lands to complete, with many challenges along the way. Includes smells, sounds and sights from the world of the 1900s, skill, mystery and mental games in up to 3 teams. £29.50 2019-07-23
• Volks Railway, 50.81655°, -0.12109°. Apr-Sept: every 15 min from 10:15AM (on M & F from 11:15AM) to 5PM on Sa & Su to 6PM). The oldest surviving electric railway in the world, opening in 1883. The stations are all accessible by wheelchair. Wheelchairs must be folded to fit on the trains. Runs a 12-min trip Adult £3.90, child £2.30 return from the Aquarium, 50.81892°, -0.13272°. to Black Rock, 50.81453°, -0.11115°.
• Brighton Racecourse has flat-racing April-Oct. It's on Freshfield Rd a mile east of town centre.
• Plumpton Racecourse is National Hunt (jumps races) Nov-March, but it's 10 miles north in Lewes.

Events

• Brighton Festival Fringe. Month: early May. The Fringe runs at the same time as the main festival, and features over 600 events, including comedy, theatre, music, and "open houses" (local artists exhibiting in their own homes) and tours (haunted pubs, Regency Brighton, churches, cemeteries, sewers, etc.)
• Brighton Festival. Month: May. The Brighton Festival, in May each year, is the second biggest arts festival in Great Britain (coming closely behind Edinburgh). Music of all sorts, art exhibitions, and book debates.
• The Great Escape, Brighton (England). Month: mid-May. Music festival that takes part in venues all over the city in May with musicians from around the world.
• London to Brighton Bike Ride. Month: 3rd Sunday in June. A 58-mile (95-km) charity bike ride held each June to benefit the British Heart Foundation. The Ride has raised over £26 million for heart research since its inception in 1980, from the efforts of over 550,000 riders. Suitable for all levels of riders, the route passes through glorious countryside on the approach to Brighton.
• Brighton Pride. Month: 1st weekend in August. Considered by many to be the biggest and the best Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Pride Festival in the UK, attracting more than 100,000 people annually to Brighton for the week-long festival in late July-early August. Features parades, parties and music.

Learn

Brighton is home to two universities, the University of Sussex (situated on the edge of the city at Falmer), and the University of Brighton, which has campuses around the city, and in nearby towns.

Buy

Shopping is one of the main reasons to visit Brighton. But don't get stuck in the mainstream shopping area around Western Road. There are a huge array of shops catering for all tastes but the impressive assortment of independent shops and boutiques is something that differentiates Brighton from many other British cities. The atmosphere in the North Laine and in The Lanes is one of the intangible aspects of the city that leaves many wanting to return time and time again. Brighton is especially good for Music, Books and independent clothes shops. Head towards Hove on Western Road and you'll find a haven of quality charity shops outside of the centre.

North Laine contains heaps of shops and market stalls to tempt everyone's quirky or vintage fancies without a chain shop in sight. There is a flea market with numerous stalls in Kensington Gardens and another, 'The North Laine Antiques & Fleamarket' in nearby Upper Gardner Street. Shops tend to get less mainstream, the further north into the North Laine area you go.

Two Feathers, 11 Kensington Gardens, BN1 4AL, 50.826551°, -0.1386688°, +44 1273 692929. M-Sa: 10am-6pm, Su: 11pm-6pm. Native American jewellery shop selling new age products such as crystals, incense stick, aromatherapy oils and tarot/oracle cards. 2020-09-13

Enter Gallery, 13 Bond St, BN1 1RD, 50.8238194°, -0.1401966°, +44 1273 724829. M-F: 9:30am-6pm, Sa: 9am-6pm, Su: 11am-5pm. 2020-09-18

The Lanes are known for their independent shops, especially antique shops and jewellers. Can get somewhat repetitive but the indoor market Snooper's Paradise is always a joy to wander.

The Lanes Armoury, 26 Meeting House Ln, BN1 1HB, 50.8220822°, -0.140863°, +44 1273 321357. M-Sa: 11am-5pm, Su: Closed. World famous for selling antique war memorabilia and weapons. 2020-09-13

• Brighton is packed full of independent record shops, most of which sell vinyl, including:

Resident, 28 Kensington Gardens, BN1 4AL, 50.826184°, -0.138513°, +44 1273 606312. M-Sa: 9am-6:30pm, Su: 10am-6pm. Was voted "England's favourite indie record shop" in 2011. 2020-09-13

Across The Tracks, 110 Gloucester Rd, BN1 4AF, 50.8268812°, -0.1381297°, +44 1273 677906. 2020-09-13

The Record Album, 8 Terminus Rd, BN1 3PD (just above the station), 50.8291245°, -0.1418848°. A small shop specialising in vinyl soundtracks and other retro curiosities. 2020-09-13

• Churchill Square Shopping Centre and the surrounding area offer more mainstream goods, standard fare on UK high streets and in shopping centres.
• London Road is an unglamorous "High Street" type shopping area with some genuine bargains, particularly at the Open Market. There is a concentration of electronics, photographic and hi-fi retailers towards the northern end, around Preston Circus.
• Brighton Marina contains more up-market shops.
• The pedestrianised George St. is Hove's main shopping area, but it is not really worth a detour if you are already in central Brighton.

Eat

Brighton has excellent food, especially for vegetarians. The most famous (and fairly expensive) vegetarian restaurant is Food for Friends in The Lanes.

On the other end of the scale, there are many takeaways in Brighton catering for different kinds of tastes (pizza, Chinese, Mexican, Indian food). On the beachfront there are many stalls near Brighton Pier selling crêpes, doughnuts and ice-cream. Prices are usually fairly cheap and most are open until late.

Budget

Preston Street on the border of Hove and Brighton has a string of low to mid priced ethnic restaurants.

City centre

• Seafood stalls, A259, 50.8192644°, -0.1375122°. No seaside town is complete without them. On the seafront, about 100 m west of the pier, are a clutch of stands offering snacks of cockles and mussels, crab sandwiches, fish soup and oysters, all for a few pounds. Daytime only. 2023-02-05
• The Small Batch Coffee Company, 111 Western Rd, 50.8250386°, -0.1549217°. Has locations including Brighton and Hove. 2023-02-05
• Foodilic, 60 North Street, BN1 1RH, 50.82339°, -0.14295°, +44 1273 774138. 11AM-7PM. North Street, is another buffet restaurant, with a variety of vegetarian dishes and some carnivorous options. 2023-02-05
• Grubbs, 62 Western Rd, 50.8261339°, -0.1616095°. Something of a local legend, renowned for their many sauces and toppings. 2023-02-05
• Pompoko, 110 Church Street, 50.8240760°, -0.1388181°. A delightful, small, genuine Japanese cafe, selling a wide range of delicious dishes for a very reasonable price. (If you are eating alone or if there is space at your table, often other diners will be seated with you, which can make some people feel uncomfortable.) Take-away available. 2023-02-05
• Market Diner (Circus St.), 19-21 Circus Street, BN2 9QF, 50.82483°, -0.13529°. A "greasy spoon" famed for its all-night opening hours and "gutbusters". 2022-12-05

Elsewhere

• Burger Off, The New Oak, County Oak Ave, 50.8610494°, -0.1281999°, +44 1273 326655. Burgers. Family-run with a Five-Star Health inspectorate Rating, well worth a visit 2023-02-05

Mid-range

• The Regency, 131 Kings Rd, BN1 2HH (on the seafront almost opposite the collapsing West Pier), 50.82199°, -0.15127°, +44 1273 325 014. 8AM-10:30PM. Good value fish and seafood restaurant that won't break the bank. 2023-02-05
• The Prince George, Trafalgar Street, 50.8279525°, -0.1362046°. Pub, near the train station, serves only the finest vegetarian meals and snacks. Wi-Fi available. 2023-02-05
• Shelter Hall, 50.8201777°, -0.1451860°. Not a flop-house for dilapidated sailors, but Hanoi street food Brighton style - mix and match from various vendors. Opened in 2021, it's on the prom at the foot of West St and open M-Sa 08:00-00:00, Su 08:00-22:00. £15-25 2023-02-05
• Bill's Restaurant & Bar, The Depot, 100 North Rd, 50.8254829°, -0.1375631°, +44 1273 692894. M-Sa 8AM-8PM, Su 10AM-4PM. consistently highly rated and reviewed, the café at Bills specialises in organic munchies of the best type. 2023-02-05
• Bali Brasserie (Indonesian-Malaysian Restaurant in Hove), Kingsway Court, First Avenue, 50.824545°, -0.166507°, +44 1273 323810, info@balibrasserie.co.uk. Bali Brasserie is one of the finest Brighton restaurants renowned for delicious Indonesian and Malaysian cuisines. £20-30 2023-02-05
• Gar's, 19 Prince Albert St, 50.8211785°, -0.1407841°. Possibly the best Chinese restaurant in town. 2023-02-05
• Due South, 139 Kings Rd, 50.8206274°, -0.1458850°, +44 1273 821218. Arches. Great food and location at this relative newcomer 2023-02-05
• The Eagle, 125 Gloucester Rd, 50.8267096°, -0.1368993°, +44 1273 607765. Great vegan, vegetarian and carnivorous food 2023-02-05
• The Greys, 105 Southover St, 50.8292123°, -0.1304848°, +44 1273 680734. 11th best pub in the UK in 2004. Famous for its food, and chef "Spats" (no child licence.) 2023-02-05
• The Open House, 146 Springfield Rd, 50.8372922°, -0.1361422°, +44 1273 880102. 20th best pub in UK in 2004. Large, child-friendly pub next to London Road train station. Good food and drink. £10-25 2023-02-05
• Bardsley's, 22-23a Baker St (Just off London Road, near the level park), 50.8319418°, -0.1346087°, +44 1273 681256. 11:30AM-2:30PM & 4PM-8:30PM. Fine fish and chip restaurants serving delicious fish and chips and some really excellent specials (roys shark steaks are amazing). The family run restaurant has fantastic reviews. It is very popular with locals. £10-20 2023-02-05
• Planet India, 4-5 Richmond Parade, 50.8270863°, -0.1337158°, +44 1273 818149. Tu-Su 6PM-10PM. Great Indian vegetarian restaurant that serves an authentic menu within a friendly atmosphere (barefoot waiter included!) £20-30 2023-02-05
• Moshimo, Bartholomew Square, 50.8206304°, -0.1407563°. An unusual conveyor-belt sushi restaurant, in the glass-sided "opticon" in Bartholomew Square. £20-30 2023-02-05
• There is a stretch of Western road with several Middle Eastern and North African restaurants, for instance Kambi's,(Number 107) Mascara(Number 10) and Sahara (Number 103).
• Giggling Squid, 11 Market St, 159 Church Rod, 50.82138°, -0.1397860°. Good-value Thai restaurant noted for their lunchtime tapas. £20-30 2023-02-05
• Chilli Pickle, 17 Jubilee St, 50.8247082°, -0.1385998°. A high-concept Indian restaurant in Jubilee Square. £20-30 2023-02-05

Splurge

• Terre à Terre, 71 East St, 50.8202048°, -0.1391694°, +44 1273 729051. Well-respected vegetarian restaurant, with a lively crowd and bright décor - voted 2nd best British restaurant in the Observer Food Monthly 2004. 2023-02-05
• English's of Brighton, 30-31 East Street, 50.8212090°, -0.1393525°, +44 1273 327980. Seafood restaurant. Decor and clientele tend towards the old-school. 2023-02-05
• Gingerman, 21a Norfolk Square Brighton East Sussex BN1 2PD, 50.82405°, -0.15532°, +44 1273 326 688. fine-dining restaurant (Norfolk Sq.) garnered numerous accolades and spawned three sister operations: 2023-02-05
• Ginger Pig, 3 Hove Street, Hove, East Sussex BN3 2TR, 50.82624°, -0.18023°, +44 1273 736 123. 2023-02-05
• Riddle & Finns The Beach, 65 Kings Rd BN1 1NA (just east of Music Hall.), 50.8203035°, -0.1449047°, +44 1273 821218. Daily noon-10PM. Great reviews for this upscale seafood restaurant on the beach front. They have another branch on Meeting House Lane. 2023-02-05

Drink

There are many, many pubs and bars catering for all tastes. Any list of reasonable length will be far from complete; if there's a street in central Brighton there is likely to be a pub on it. LGBT-orientated pubs, bars and clubs are mostly in the Kemp Town area of the city, in the vicinity of St James's Street and Marine Drive.

Look out for the spirit 'Tuaca', a sweet Italian brandy liqueur. Almost every bar in Brighton will have it (ask for a squeeze of lime!) but it's rare to see elsewhere in the UK.

Station and Trafalgar Street

The Evening Star, 55-56 Surrey St, BN1 3PB (200 m from railway station), 50.82768°, -0.14205°, +44 1273 328 931. If you enjoy real ales this is a must. They have a wide selection of tap ales, ciders and bottled Headbangers too. Best of all, it's really cheap! 2021-02-27

• The Great Eastern, 103 Trafalgar Court, +44 1273 685681. Offers a wide range of US bourbons and rye whiskeys.

• The Prince Albert, Trafalgar Street. Boisterous indie kids' pub, with a selection of local ales and a mural of its patron saint, John Peel.

• The Lord Nelson, 36 Trafalgar St. The "Nellie" is a thoroughly traditional, multi-roomed pub serving a range of ales from the 200-year-old brewery in nearby Lewes.

• Trafalgar Wines, an off-licence with an amazing array of bottled beers from around the world.

North Laine

Basketmakers Arms, 12 Gloucester Rd, BN1 4AD, 50.82660°, -0.13688°, +44 1273 689006. Great traditional backstreet pub on a side street in the North Laine area. Excellent choice of English ales and excellent good value food. Often busy so arrive early to bag a seat.

Eagle, 50.82672°, -0.13701°. directly opposite is also excellent. 2021-02-27

The Heart & Hand, 75 North Rd, BN1 1YD (just off Queen's Rd), 50.82582°, -0.13959°. This traditional pub, is an indie kids' favourite, famed for its jukebox 2021-03-06

Ten Green Bottles, 9 Jubilee St, Brighton BN1 1GE (opposite the Jubilee Library), 50.82502°, -0.13875°, +44 1273 567 176. a wine bar and merchant 2021-03-06

The Lanes

The Cricketers, 15 Black Lion St, BN1 1ND, 50.82130°, -0.14129°, +44 1273 329 472. Brighton's oldest pub, with a plush Victorian interior. Pricey. 2021-03-06

• Hotel du Vin and Pub du Vin (Ship St.) Two excellent but very pricey operations in the Lanes.
• The Victory (Duke Street). Old-fashioned green-tiled pub with fine ales and gigs upstairs.

Pavilion

The Royal Pavilion Tavern (Pav Tav), 7-8 Castle Square, BN1 1FX, 50.82153°, -0.13852°. A cheap pub colloquially known as the 'Pav Tav'. Expect to see just about any type of person in here from Indie Kids and Goths to Old Men and Chavs who somehow all manage to co-exist harmoniously. There is also a nightclub above the pub. 2021-02-27

Ye Olde King & Queen, 13-17 Marlborough Pl, 50.82468°, -0.13706°. A faux traditional old pub that never loses its popularity! The decor is in a fake-medieval style, but the place is fun if you like a studenty atmosphere. Especially popular with students from the language school called St.Giles close to the pub always hang out here. It is a meeting point for them. As the name of the pub shows, there are portraits of former English kings and queens. The pub has a high ceiling and the space is large. Various forms of entertainment which include karaoke, televised sport and occasional live music.

Churchill Square and Seafront

Fortune of War, 156 Kings Rd, BN1 1NB, 50.82036°, -0.14457°, +44 1273 205 065. The most interesting beachside pub, designed to look like a galleon. Can heave as well! 2021-03-06

• The Quadrant.(12-13 North St.) Historic, precipitously multi-level pub by the Clocktower, with good beer and live performances.
• Regency Tavern, 32-34 Russell Sq. Very welcoming if pricey pub, attracting a quiet, mixed clientelle. It is renowned for its kitsch decor, which becomes extra fabulous during Christmas and Valentine's Day.

Western Road area

The Bee's Mouth, 10 Western Road, 50.82520°, -0.15625°. Hove. This self-described "jazz dive" serves a selection of potent and pricey world beers in faux-oriental ambience resembling one of Amsterdam's more smokily atmospheric venues.

• Craft, (22 Upper North Road, behind Top Shop). Beer geek's heaven, with 9 cask ales, 30 draught beers and more yet in bottles.
• The Farm Tavern (Farm Rd. Hove). Cosy, friendly pub with a small but well chosen selection of ales, in a side street off Western Road.
• Lion and Lobster. (24 Sillwood St.) Large pub with cluttered, Victorian junk shop interior. There are screens for watching sport, but it is also possible to get away from it.
• Molly Malones. (57 West Street) Irish pub with live music, good decor and fairly expensive drinks. Somehow infamous, nobody knows why. Best visited at the end of the night when it's filled with locals all similarly confused as to how and why they're there.
• Temple Bar (121 Western Road). Large pub in a shopping area, serving a good selection of Sussex ales and world beers. Somewhat pricey.

Hove

• The Ancient Mariner, 59 Rutland Rd, BN3 5FE, 50.83529°, -0.18286°, +44 1273 748 595. 2021-02-28
• The Better Half Pub, 1 Hove Pl, BN3 2RG, 50.82554°, -0.17529°, +44 1273 737 869. 2021-02-28
• The Foragers, 3 Stirling Place, BN3 3YU, 50.83023°, -0.17621°, +441273733134. Is a gastropub emphasising local and organic ingredients.
• The Poets Ale and Smokehouse (Poet's Corner), 33 Montgomery St, BN3 5BF, 50.83408°, -0.17897°, +44 1273 272212. Hove's best Harvey's pub. Regular live music is offered, and the pub is home to a Folk club.
• The Urchin, 15-17 Belfast St, BN3 3YS, 50.83035°, -0.17506°, +441273241881. 2021-02-28

St James's Street and Kemptown

• Kings Arms (56 George St.) A modern and funky bar, offering a relaxing atmosphere during the day, before turning in to a pre-club bar at night. They offer regular cabaret nights and a weekly quiz night.
• The Barley Mow (92 St George's St.) Perhaps the best of a good selection of pubs in Kemptown village, with Sussex ales and fresh cooked food.
• The Black Dove 74 St James Street. Eclectic and interesting surroundings, very impressive beer and cider list, live music and performance arts in an intimate space.
• Charles Street Tap, 8 Marine Parade, BN2 1TA, 50.82010°, -0.13550°. LGBT-orientatated bar. Half-price drinks (excluding sparkling wine and cocktails) M-F 5-9PM, Su 8:30PM-close. Small dance floor. Get there early to get a table. Outside smoking garden, sheltered but no heaters. Entry fee selected nights 2015-02-27
• The Hand in Hand (33 Upper St. James's St.) Everything is quirky about this little pub from the eccentric regulars to the collection of Edwardian erotica on the ceiling. Live music on Sundays if you can squeeze in.
• St James Tavern, 16 Madeira Place. Laid-back pub offering over 70 rums, decent real ales, Thai food and an atmosphere all its own.
• The Sidewinder, 65 Upper St James Street, +44 1273 679927. Su-Th noon-midnight, F Sa noon-2AM. Cosy pub, live music some nights. Great beer garden with lots of tables and about ten heated booths; fantastic smokers' pub. Entry free 2017-09-16

Hanover

The Hanover area of Brighton (north-east of the centre, walk north from St. James, or cross the Level from the bottom of Trafalgar St.) has numerous excellent pubs in close proximity (hence its nickname: "Hangover") to each other and is well worth the 15 minute walk from the city centre. The stand-out is the The Greys Freehouse, 50.82923°, -0.13051°. Brighton's best known pub crawl takes place in this area — up Southover St and down Islingword Rd (or vice-versa) — the hill is very steep!

The atmosphere is more relaxed than the centre and the historic Victorian terraced streets with their brightly coloured houses are also notable.

In Southover Street and you will find The Geese, 50.82932°, -0.13038°. , Greys, Dover Castle, 50.82818°, -0.12852°. , Sir Charles Napier, 50.82781°, -0.12798°. and Haus On The Hill, 50.82727°, -0.12643°. all of which are worth a visit.

Islingword Road runs parallel to Southover Street and there you will find the The Admiral, 50.83180°, -0.12876°. , Village, 50.83088°, -0.12777°. , The Constant Service, 50.82903°, -0.12614°. and The Islingword Inn, 50.82776°, -0.12485°.

There is also a small but good beer festival once a year in Hanover.

Northern Brighton

Well off the tourist trail, Brighton's relatively gritty northern sprawl is home to a number of boozers, some rough, others diamonds.

• Mitre (Bond Street) Traditional Harvey's pub, just off the London Road shopping area, with quietly dotty regulars.
• Druids Arms, 79-81 Ditchling Rd, BN1 4SD, 50.83186°, -0.13445°, +44 1273 680 596. Strenuously eccentric pub (the landlord sports a fez) with cheap beer and Thai food, where the Open Market backs onto the Level 2021-02-28
• Preston Park Tavern, 88 Havelock Rd, BN1 6GF (Havelock Road, near Preston Park Station), 50.84175°, -0.14108°, +44 1273 330 517. Gastropub with a good line in ales. 2021-02-27

Clubs and musical venues

• The Dome and Corn Exchange are large, neighbouring venues, both architecturally distinguished, being parts of the Royal Pavilion complex. Well known acts are interspersed with more avant garde choices.
• The Brighton Centre on the seafront is the largest live performance venue in town, although far from the best loved as a building. The programme is mainstream.
• Komedia in the heart of the North Laine area is a multi-room venue with a wide variety of comedy and music.
• Concorde 2. A medium-sized venue with a busy schedule of live music, a stone's throw from the pier.
• Casablanca (3 Middle St) Scruffy, studenty club offering Jazz, Funk Latin and Disco from DJs and live acts.
• Volks (Madeira Drive) Small nightclub offering "underground" music — appropriately, it is built into a seafront archway.
• Funky Fish Club.(Madeira Hotel, 19-23 Marine Parade) A sweaty Soul and RnB club where the more mature need not feel uncomfortable.
• Proud Cabaret Brighton (George St. Brighton)
• Green Door Store club and live music venue in the arches beneath the station.
• Latest Music Bar. A medium-sized live venue with a varied, generally trendy, bill of fare, just off the seafront.
• The Verdict (dead link: January 2023). (Edrward Street). A special-purpose Jazz venue and supper club, north of St James's Street.
• The Brunswick in Holland Rd., Hove is a large pub venue hosting several performances a week of comedy, jazz, funk, soul and cabaret. Ticket prices are generally not much more than £5.
• The Prince Albert 48 Trafalgar Street. One of Brighton's oldest pubs, and an Indie venue (music upstairs) instantly recognisable from its outside mural of the late John Peel, and invaluable early Banksy graffito.
• The Ranelagh, St.James St/High St. This small pub is an intimate Blues music venue at night, with garden for watching the world pass by. Wi-Fi available.
• The Greys (Southover Street) is a tiny pub venue which only hosts live music occasionally, but is nonetheless worth keeping an eye on because the (mostly acoustic) acts are so well chosen. Advance booking highly advisable. Also respected for its food and drink.
• The Hope (Queen's Road), the Fiddler's Elbow(Boyce St.) and The Neptune (Victoria Terrace, Kingsway, Hove) are other music pubs.

Sleep

Budget

A general note on hostels in Brighton- research the place you're booking into thoroughly before committing. Some are not meant for travellers although marketed as 'hostels'. Hostelpoint on the seafront in particular has a rough reputation, being overcrowded with junkies and generally unsafe. Spend a couple of quid extra and go for a friendlier place, it's worth it.

• St Christopher's Brighton Hostel, 10-12 Grand Junction Rd, +44 1273 202035. (bookings are taken via the central office, tel: +44 20 7407-1856) Directly next to the National Express coach station, on the seafront and with direct view of Brighton Pier; bed in a – albeit fairly cramped – mixed dorm from £16 a night, continental breakfast included; hotel rooms are also available; clean, no curfew, friendly staff. The hostel rooms are directly above a pub so if you are planning on getting some sleep this may not be the best choice for you!
• Grapevine Seafront, 75 Middle St, +44 1273 777717.
• Baggies Backpackers, 33 Oriental Pl, +44 1273 733740. Probably the best hostel in Brighton. A gorgeous and clean backpackers with a warm and friendly vibe. Quite a party place on weekends but things rarely get out of hand within the hostel itself. It's just off the beach, two blocks west from the Old Pier. Look for the i360 eyesore, British Airways' towering (and inarguably phallic) contribution to the Brighton seafront. Accepts a limited number of long-term (2 weeks+) guests, at a reduced rate. Spread over 4-5 floors and not wheelchair accessible. £16 weekdays/£23 weekends 2019-07-31
• Gullivers B&B, 12a New Steine, +44 1273 695415. Right in the city centre, approximately 250 m from Brighton Pier. Double Rooms from £46.25pppn.
• Kipps Hostel, 76 Grand Parade, +44 1273 604182. Close to Old Stein, Kipps is a pleasant place to stay with a variety of room sizes (10 share mixed dorm to private rooms). The staff are very helpful and welcoming.

Mid-range

The Brighton Hotel, 143-145 Kings Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 2PQ, 50.82262°, -0.15437°, +44 1273 820555, info@thebrightonhotel.com. This Grade II listed hotel is on the seafront directly opposite the Brighton Bandstand. 2015-07-06

• Granville Hotel, 124 Kings Rd, +44 1273 326302. It's right on the seafront, with no other buildings between it and the beach, and so half of its 24 rooms have a great view of the sea. Each room is decorated in a different style - Japanese, Art Deco, Wedgwood and lace, etc. Some of the rooms have built-in Jacuzzis in the en-suite baths. Well-executed breakfasts, including a vegetarian (and optionally vegan) version of a full English breakfast. Seaview rooms start from £108 (price for two people including breakfast); other rooms are £88. All rooms are non-smoking.
• Mercure Brighton Seafront Hotel, 149 Kings Rd, +44 844 815 9061, info@mercurebrighton.co.uk. This grand Victorian beachfront hotel was built back in 1864 and has all the period features. Next to Brighton Pier. Internet access in all rooms. Double rooms from £100 per night.
• New Steine Hotel, 10-11 New Steine, +44 1273 695415, +44 1273 681546. New Steine Hotel is right in the heart of Brighton city centre, a few hundred metres from the Pier. The restaurant, the New Steine Bistro has been awarded the AA Breakfast and Dinner Award for outstanding quality and service. Double rooms from £95 per night.
• Artist Residence, 34 Regency Square BN1 2FJ, +44 1273 324302. Modern graffiti art decorates this characterful small hotel. Good scores for comfort and service. B&B double £110 2020-07-04
• Room With A View, 41 Marine Parade, Brighton BN2 1PE, +44 1273 682885. Bright clean B&B in a Regency house on Kemp Town prom. No children under 12 or dogs. B&B double £110 2020-08-17
• Paskins, 18 Charlotte St BN2 1AG, +44 1273 601203. Smart, Art Deco style B&B; vegan bias but breakfast also offers bacon etc. B&B double £70 2020-08-17
• Hotel Pelirocco (the Peli), 10 Regency Square, +44 1273327055, info@hotelpelirocco.co.uk. Check-in: 3pm, check-out: noon, options of late check out 1pm or 2pm. The original boutique hotel in Brighton, with 19 individually themed rock'n'roll bedrooms. Own cocktail bar with local beers. Art exhibitions. Offer catered wedding receptions and whole hotel hire. Breakfast included when book direct, vegetarian and vegan options. Singles from £59, doubles from £99 2022-03-22

Splurge

Grand Hotel, Kings Rd, 50.821389°, -0.147222°, +44 1273 224300. The only 5-star hotel in Brighton. On the seafront, 200 rooms from £120 a night. 2016-12-12

• Hotel Du Vin, +44 1273 718588. Close to the Seafront and the pier with a beautiful courtyard entry. This is where the stars stay when in Brighton. Great restaurant as well. Rooms start at around £175 but many would say 'completely worth it for the exclusivity alone'.
• The Claremont, Second Ave, Hove, +44 1273 735161. 5-star hotel 50 yards from the seafront in Hove. Single £75, double from £125.
• Queen's Hotel, 1 Kings Rd, +44 1273 321222. Contemporary, fresh and centralcentral Seafront hotel boasting breathtaking Channel views, spacious rooms, swimming pool, steam room, sauna & gym. Free Wi-Fi. Great restaurant menu, extensive wine, cocktail & Champagne list. Enjoy a high quality stay at a sensible rate. Our best prices are available online.
• The Thistle, Kings Rd, +44 871 376 9041. Has swimming pool, sauna, and spa, as well as an AA awarded restaurant and hotel bar. From £99.
• Hotel Una, +44 1273 820464. Hotel Una is tucked away in Regency Square adjacent to the West pier. It's a bit of a secret that is well worth discovering. Excellent website shows all the individual room styles. Singles from £55, up to £375 for their top room
• Kemp Townhouse, +44 1273 681400. Stylish and very comfortable boutique hotel in the heart of Brighton, with a Visit Britain five-star rating. Not the cheapest, but excellent value for affordable luxury Singles start at £70, and doubles at £90
• Oriental Brighton Bed and Breakfast (B&B and Guesthouse), The Oriental, 9 Oriental Pl, +44 1273 205050. Beautiful bed and breakfast in the heart of Brighton.
• Hilton Metropole, Kings Rd (on the seafront to the west of the pier), +44 1273 775432. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. Hotel with a distinguished history, much of which is still visible in the reception and dining areas. Positives are large rooms and family-friendly policy that gives 50% discount on second room for kids. Offsetting this is the generally poor maintenance and disappointing service levels. From £100
• Drakes, 43 Marine Parade, Kemptown BN2 1PE, +44 1273 696934. Upscale small hotel facing Palace Pier. Stylish rooms, great dining. Assistance dogs only. B&B double £150 2020-07-04

Cope

Stay safe

Although Brighton is generally a safe place, like every other big city it has its share of problems. The city centre can get quite rowdy at weekends, and West Street is best avoided after midnight. The sheer volume of people on weekends combined with alcohol consumption make Friday and Saturday nights on this street potentially volatile. However, it is still perfectly possible to have a civilised Friday or Saturday night at one of the venues favoured by locals and sensible tourists.

Brighton attracts quite a lot of homeless people, although most of these individuals are harmless. They will likely only ask you for money and, if you refuse, will simply go on to the next person. Drug-users often gather around London Road and the Level, although these places are perfectly safe before dark. Some areas on the outskirts, such as Whitehawk and Moulsecoomb, have a bad reputation, but most tourists would have little reason to visit them anyway, being far removed from the main attractions and cultural venues the city has to offer.

As with most LGBT-friendly towns and cities, caution should still be used for same-sex public displays of affection in certain areas, but by-and-large the diversity of Brighton & Hove is celebrated and welcomed. In Hove, The Lanes and North Laine areas of the city, same-sex displays of affection will generally go unnoticed and are seen by most residents as acceptable as the norm between men and women. In the Kemp Town and Kemp Town Village areas especially, any homophobic abuse towards LGBT visitors would likely be met by residents with outright hostility towards the perpetrator of such abuse.

Lifeguards patrol the city's beaches from the end of May until the first weekend in September; signposts on the beach show which areas are covered. In an emergency related to the sea, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

Connect

As of Aug 2022, Brighton, Hove and their approach roads have 4G from all UK carriers. There's 5G along the beachfront but it's surprisingly patchy for such a cosmopolitan buzzing place - Three has the best. Wifi is widely available in public places.

Go next

• Lewes – this gorgeous medieval town has a castle, as well as Glyndebourne Opera House, a famous opera house, set in beautiful grounds where opera-goers eat gourmet picnics at intervals which can be brought in or ordered from their own catering service. Eleven miles from Brighton and 20 minutes away by train.
• Dieppe, France – by ferry from Newhaven Harbour, about east of Brighton. Services are three daily and take around four hours. The service is operated by DFDS
• Rottingdean – Just east of Brighton, with memories of Kipling, Burne-Jones and several other artists.
• London – an hour away via train or 2 hours via coach.
• Worthing – There is no reason you wouldn't want to visit this lovely town. Short journey via train from Brighton Station.