Ahh Brighton. Pebbled beach, quirky streets and a beautiful palace pavilion, Brighton really is the perfect mix for a great day out in the UK. Located in East Sussex along the English Channel, this vibrant city is one of the busiest seaside towns in Britain and it’s not hard to see why!
I made a day trip to Brighton with the fam around 10 years ago and loved it even with the rain and gloom! So when it came to planning a birthday, I thought why not re-visit Brighton?!
Okay okay, so it was still rain and gloom but despite that, we still got to see so much in a day and I can’t wait to share my day in Brighton with you!
Morning
Grab Some Tasty Breakfast to Start Your Day in Brighton
If you are travelling into Brighton in the morning, aim to be there by around 9.00 am. This will give you a full day of exploring Brighton.
First things first, get some fuel in ya and grab some breakfast!
There are plenty of options around Brighton to eat but I found The Lanes to have some awesome places. The ones that caught my eye because of their breakfast reviews were:
17 Grams
Bohemia Brighton and
Lost in Lanes
but in the end we opted for The Breakfast Club. I’m a sucker for a filling full English breakfast and hot chocolate with marshmallows and let me tell ya, The Breakfast Club did not disappoint!
Duration: Around 1 Hour (maybe a little more if you have to wait for a table).
Price: Prices vary depending on where you’ll eat, but you will deffo find something that suits your budget!
Get Lost in the Lanes
The Lanes is a very vibrant part of Brighton. Vintage shops, antiques, tea rooms, jewellery, the list goes on! There is something for everyone here and you must visit, especially if you are after something really unique.
If you don’t fancy breakfast, you’ll be able to find cute coffee shops and teas rooms dotted around here where you can grab a bite to eat.
I honestly did get lost here and I LOVED it. We stumbled across tiny tight cobbled lanes with diamond rings gleaming at us from every direction through the shop windows.
Duration: 1-2 hours (depending on if you decide to pop in a for a bite to eat).
Price: It is free to roam around The Lanes but the price will vary depending on what you buy and if you grab tea.
Afternoon
Explore the Royal Pavilion
The Royal Pavilion is such a great place to explore, both inside and out. Originally a seaside pleasure palace for King George IV, the Pavilion is now a museum for you to wander around.
Although we didn’t go in, we explored the outside gardens which were so peaceful to walk around, even in the rain! So if you don’t get to go in, then I highly recommend roaming through the gardens where you can take lovely photos of the Pavilion from the outside!
Duration: 1-2 hours (depending on if you go inside or not).
Price: The gardens are free (woo!). For exploring inside the Pavilion adult ticket prices start at £15.50.
Due to the current climate, you’ll have to book in advance if you wish to explore inside. You can check out all the latest information at The Royal Pavilion.
Next, you can either take a stroll through The Lanes again (maybe some off beaten paths?) or walk along the coastline to the skyscraper towering over Brighton and the sea, British Airways i360.
See Brighton Views from British Airways i360
British Airways i360 is a 450ft tower that glides up into the sky offering amazing 360-degree views of Brighton. The viewing pod itself is HUGE so there are plenty of spots to find to enjoy the views, even if it is busy.
This gave me major airport vibes as I felt like I was going onto a plane (in a good way!). Within a couple of minutes of take-off, you’ll be able to walk around the viewing pod and enjoy the wonderful views.
I am a sucker for a good view and this did not disappoint. This was my favourite part of the trip and I highly recommend you visit no matter what the weather! We visited in December when it was windy, cold and wet but the views were still amazing. But if you do visit in the summer, you may be lucky enough to see the Isle of Wight in the distance, pretty cool right?!
We even got to witness a beautiful proposal once we reached the top.
Duration: 30 minutes but we found we were waiting for about 15 minutes before entering the pod.
Price: Adult tickets start from £14.85 and vary depending on which package you pick. We ended up being able to book on the day and walk straight in but in busier times it’s best to book online in advance.
I find the best place to book is on the main site as they sometimes offer discounts and deals.
Stroll along Brighton Beach towards the Pier
Once you have stepped off the viewing tower you land pretty much on the famous pebbled Brighton Beach where you can grab a mat, seat yourself along the beach, grab an ice cream and enjoy the gorgeous sea views!
For us it was a really wet and windy day, so instead, we decided to walk along the beach and make our way to the pier, that way we could still enjoy the sea views and spot the remains of Brighton West Pier.
Tip: It may be a little busy during the summer time, if so it may be best to come to the beach in the morning when it is a little quieter!
Duration: 1 hour (longer if you decide to sit!)
Price: Free woohoo!
Play Games at Brighton Palace Pier
Ahh the famous Brighton Pier can Brighton up any dull day! (See what I did there?). This is the best place to release your inner child and just have some fun. It’s filled with arcades, roller-coaster’s and don’t forget the candy floss and donuts (so addictive!).
I had such a great time in the arcade and the hustle and bustle felt more like the Brighton I remember! The only downside was that the roller-coasters were closed that day. I’m not sure if it was because of the weather but it is always best to check opening times just in case.
Duration: 2 hours.
Price: Free to enter but coins are needed for some of the attractions!
Evening
Grab A Tasty Meal To End your Day in Brighton
Before hitting the road to head back home, get some more fuel in ya for the ride home.
The witchEZ: There are plenty of places to eat in Brighton but ThewitchEZ is hands down one of my favourite places to eat. They offer a variety of hearty, warm meals and is the perfect place for dinner. We were recommended this restaurant and loved it soo much. The food was so tasty, the deco was quirky and we even got to meet the manager who is a dog! It just doesn’t get better than that. If you do check this out I’d love to know your thoughts on it.
Tip: Book a reservation in advance as this place can get booked up!
Fish and Chips: If you are in a hurry to get back or looking for a cheaper alternative, then nothing can beat fish and chips! There are plenty of places dotted around the seafront serving fish and chips and is the perfect end to a great day and fill you up.
Planning your Trip to Brighton
Best time to Visit Brighton:
March-May: Spring time is a lovely time to visit, but you may bump into the odd rainy day. The crowds during this time are a hit and miss. April could see larger crowds during the Easter Break and May could be a little busier due to the bank holidays!
June-August: You can get some of the warmest days of the year during these months. However, this is a peak tourist season so it can get very busy. Make sure you pack your sunscreen!
September-November: September you may find the weather to still be nice and warm and fewer crowds which is always a plus! Towards November, the weather will turn to be a little chilly.
December-February: We visited in December and found there to be hardly any people around, but the downside is that it is very windy and rainy so wrap up warm and pack an umbrella!
Getting To Brighton:
Train: A train is one of the easiest options to get into Brighton and is a 15-minute walk from the Brighton Station to Brighton Beach and a 13-minute walk to The Lanes.
If you are travelling from London, there are direct trains to Brighton that leave from London Victoria Station, London Bridge, London Blackfriars and London St Pancras and take around an hour in travelling time via Thamelink and Southern Railway.
Coach: Taking a coach is one of the cheapest options. It is about a 2-minute walk to Brighton Beach from Brighton Coach Station and around a 5-minute walk to The Lanes.
If you are travelling from London, a coach can be taken from some London Airports as well as Liverpool Coach Station and Victoria Coach Station via National Express.
Car: We opted for the car as it turned out to be a little quicker for us. If you do take a car, I suggest taking a look at apps like Google Maps to see how long it will take you so you can plan your day accordingly.
Where to Park
If you do drive to Brighton, parking can be- no scratch that- IS a nightmare and so expensive. Don’t do what we did and pay over £30 for just a couple of hours.
London Road Car Park: I’ve heard this car park is much cheaper at £10 for 9 hours and £15 for 24 hours but it is a little further out in terms of walking (around a 16-minute walk to The Lanes and over a 20-minute walk to Brighton Beach).
Regency Square Car Park: This car park situated near the British Airways i360 and at a competitive price compared to other car parks (like the one we parked in!). Reviews for this car park say to arrive early to grab a spot, so keep that in mind.
Just Park App: Alternatively you can book a car park spot in advance on the app. You search for the area you want to park in and it will show you options of the nearest available parking spots for your day and duration, as well as the price. Most of the parking spots are driveways but sometimes it’s the most convenient way to park!
Staying for longer than a Day In Brighton
Where to Stay
If you do decide to stay for a night or longer there are plenty of places to stay in Brighton.
The following places I haven’t stayed it but would love to check out if I ever go back:
Budget:
I’m not one to stay at hostels, instead I stay at one of the well known hotels such as Premier Inn, Holiday Inn, Travelodge etc and then I compare the prices of those on the dates that I am visiting and go with the cheapest one.
Medium Range:
- Artist Residence Brighton: I really like the Artist Residence Brighton as some of the rooms offer a view of the sea and the British Airways i360 tower. It is on my list of places to stay in Brighton! (3 stars)
- The Twenty One: An award winning luxury B&B but at a great price. (4 stars)
Luxury:
- The Grand Brighton: If you want to spend a little more coin this hotel is a luxury Victorian seafront hotel. (4 stars)
- Airbnb: I decided to splurge out a little and book a Penthouse Airbnb with a hot tub overlooking the sea. It was such a nice place to stay in and our hosts were exceptional. The hot tub is the cherry on the cake!
What else to see in Brighton in a day
The Chattri Memorial: A peaceful memorial dedicated to the Hindus and Sikhs from the Indian Army who lost their lives in the First World War. It can be quite a walk to get there but the views are said to be breath-taking. This is something I wish I saw, and can’t wait to see when I re-visit.
Devil’s Dyke: A little further out of Brighton but a great place for a hike.
Upside Down House: A house literally turned upside down along the beach, really fun to see!
Hunt for Street Art: Brighton is filled with street art, and you may find a piece by Banksy!
Spot the colourful beach huts: a very bright row of colourful beach huts along the coastline, see if you can spot them!
Hope you guys have an awesome trip to Brighton and let me know what your favourite places to see in Brighton are, I would love to know!
This guide was awesome, I followed your advice when i took my partner to Brighton for the weekend. She loved it! Thank you!!
That’s so lovely to hear! Glad you both had a wonderful time, it is a great place to visit! 🙂