Benefit from the Victorian splendour and Bohemian attract of Britain’s most progressive seaside resort with our information to visiting Brighton on a day journey.
LAST UPDATE: 30 Dec 2023
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Since King George IV constructed his get together pad, Brighton Pavilion, for normal royal romps by the seaside, Brighton has been the go-to-destination for a weekend of revelry.
Nearer to trendy instances, Brighton prides itself on being the poster youngster for inclusivity and counterculture. It has the best density of vegan eating places within the nation, a thriving LGBT scene, edgy road artwork and quirky retailers in run-down Victorian buildings.
Our day journey to Brighton covers an important points of interest in the appropriate order so you may see the perfect of Britain’s various seaside resort.
The map on the finish of this information supplies a strolling path to take with you in your Brighton day tour.
BRIGHTON DAY TRIP / MORNING
COFFEE
Brighton has wonderful espresso, fuelled by a aggressive impartial café scene. Begin your day trip in Brighton with Espresso@33 close to the prepare station.
NORTH LAINE
After espresso stroll round North Laine, (to not be confused with The Lanes, see under) a set of quirky impartial retailers unfold alongside a few slim streets.
The principle part is predicated round Sydney Road, Kensington Gardens, Gardner Road and Bond Road.
It’s our favorite a part of Brighton with a laid-back, various vibe. You’ll discover the whole lot from classic garments to musical devices. Shops full of curiosities overflow onto the streets. There are cool report retailers, bookstores, cafes, and loads of nice finds to be found.
Hold a watch out for the road artwork and rooftop installations giving North Laine space its distinctive persona.
Listed below are a few of the retailers to take a look at:
- Snooper’s Paradise – This well-known classic store on Kensington Gardens sells bric-a-brac, clothes, vinyl, antiques, toys and rather more.
- Photomatic – Get a retro-styled snap on the Photomatic sales space to recollect your Brighton day journey.
- Dave’s Comics – Take a look at the superb collection of graphic novels, comics, posters, youngsters’s books, and Manga at Dave’s Comics.
ROYAL PAVILION
After exploring North Laine, proceed all the way down to the Royal Pavilion.
The Royal Pavilion is a Grade I listed former royal residence. It was constructed as a seaside pleasure palace for King George IV whereas he was the Prince of Wales. His extravagance and keenness for the nice issues in life resulted within the richly adorned whimsical palace you see immediately.
It’s one of the in style issues to do in Brighton and it’s properly price visiting on a day journey.
Tickets // E book Royal Pavilion skip-the-line tickets.
PAVILION GARDENS
Don’t miss the attractive backyard that surrounds the Pavilion. The natural backyard maintained by a group of volunteers is a beautiful free inexperienced area within the centre of Brighton.
BRIGHTON MUSEUM & ART GALLERY (OPTIONAL)
The Brighton Museum & Artwork Gallery is simply throughout the gardens from the Pavilion.
The Tremendous Artwork assortment incorporates some previous masters and trendy artists. The Historic Egypt part is among the largest within the nation.
There’s additionally a trend assortment, photographs of Brighton by way of the years and a bit on design and technical innovation.
// Pavilion or Museum
For a day journey, we’d advocate doing both the Pavilion or the Museum, however you in all probability wouldn’t have time to do each.
THE LANES
Subsequent head downhill and into The Lanes. It was as soon as the hub of the previous fishing port of Brighton. At the moment it’s an space of tight lanes with eating places, tea rooms, and a few conventional pubs.
It’s an often-recommended Brighton attraction. Nonetheless, in our opinion, it’s solely price a fast stroll. It’s principally dominated by jewelry shops, however there are just a few attention-grabbing spots together with the Lanes Armoury and Paxon & Glew Artwork Gallery.
BRIGHTON DAY TRIP / LUNCH
By now you’re in all probability prepared for lunch. You possibly can both seize one thing within the Lanes or stroll all the way down to the Fishing Quarter on the seafront and take a look at some contemporary seafood. Listed below are some recommendations:
- Misplaced within the Lanes – A up to date restaurant within the Lanes with a wonderful brunch and lunch menu.
- Brighton Shellfish & Oyster Bar – A Brighton establishment on the seafront promoting a wonderful vary of shellfish together with Oysters from Jersey.
- The Brighton Smokehouse – Attempt a sandwich with historically smoked fish at this hole-in-the-wall café.
BRIGHTON DAY TRIP / AFTERNOON
FISHING QUARTER
The Fishing Quarter is dwelling to Brighton’s fishing heritage. Take a fast look across the free Brighton Fishing Museum then go to the opposite previous vaults occupied by native artists, photographers, and impartial merchants.
BRIGHTON BEACH
Head alongside the seafront, in the direction of the i360 to discover the seashore. If the climate’s good you may need time for a fast swim. Alternatively, there are many water sports activities obtainable.
You’ll additionally discover loads of bars and pubs spilling onto the seashore.
BRIGHTON i360
Stroll previous the long-lasting Brighton Grand Resort in your solution to the Brighton i360. Expertise 360-degree views of the town and the seafront from the 162-metre-high rotating statement deck.
Tickets // E book Brighton i360 skip-the-line tickets.
WEST PIER RUIN
Simply reverse the Brighton i360, is the West Pier Smash. It initially opened in 1866 and it was the primary Grade I listed pier in England. Closed since 1975, the pier fell into gradual wreck till fires in 2003 destroyed a lot of what was left. It stays a barely eery photograph spot in Brighton.
UPSIDE DOWN HOUSE
Proceed alongside the foreshore to cease on the Upside Down Home. Combining road artwork with an leisure area, expertise the phantasm of zero-gravity contained in the mind-bending home. Buy a mixed entry ticket for the Brighton i360 and the Upside Down Home, saving 20%.
BRIGHTON PHOTOGRAPHY
Simply behind the Upside Down Home within the King’s Street Arches, we advocate popping into Brighton Images. They’ve gorgeous photographs of the town and South Downs space by native photographers.
BRIGHTON BEACH BANDSTAND
Proceed alongside the seafront to the Brighton Bandstand. The ornate construction opened in 1884 and it was restored to its unique situation in 2009. It’s thought of to be one of many best examples of a Victorian bandstand nonetheless surviving in England immediately.
BRIGHTON PALACE PIER
Retrace your steps and head again to the Brighton Palace Pier. The long-lasting Brighton attraction opened in 1899 and has supplied fairground leisure ever since. There are rides, arcade video games, facet reveals and varied play areas. The Helter Skelter is one among Brighton’s most recognisable points of interest.
BRIGHTON DAY TRIP / EVENING
SUNSET DRINKS
After getting your kicks on the Palace Pier, seize sundown drinks. Palm Court docket Restaurant occupies a major spot on the pier with unbeatable sea views.
From November to January, giant numbers of starlings congregate at daybreak and nightfall round Brighton’s pier. Once they take to the skies it’s a improbable wildlife spectacle often known as a ‘Starling murmuration’.
NIGHTTIME ENTERTAINMENT
Brighton has an extended fame as an inclusive vacation spot. At simply 50 miles from London, it’s simple to reap the benefits of the nightlife on a day journey.
The realm of Kemptown is the homosexual capital of Brighton and it’s the proper spot for a pub crawl. Black Dove, Plotting Parlour and Proud Cabaret are all price testing.
The Brighton Dome is the highest stay music vacation spot on the town. It’s a novel venue that options the whole lot from classical music to bop and comedy.
On the finish of the evening, stroll again to Brighton prepare station and take the prepare again to London.
MAP | BRIGHTON DAY TRIP
Beginning on the prepare station, this map supplies a route by way of North Laine in the direction of the seafront then again to the Palace Pier to seize all of the points of interest on this present day journey.
Easy methods to use this map / Click on on the highest left of the map to show the record of places, then click on on the places to show additional data. Click on on the highest proper nook of the map to open a bigger model in a brand new tab or the star to save lots of to your Google Maps.
OTHER THINGS TO DO IN & AROUND BRIGHTON
Listed below are just a few extra issues to do in Brighton you probably have some extra time, or maybe for a 2nd day journey.
SEA LANES
The Sea Lanes opened in June 2023 and reworked a beforehand uncared for space of the Brighton seaside. When you could not have time to go to in your Brighton day journey, it’s a improbable swimming venue with a number of bars and cafes overlooking the water.
BEACH BOX SPA
The Seashore Field Spa is an all-year sauna set on the pebbles of Brighton. There are 3 totally different saunas: two 6-seaters and one 12-seater. The wood-fired, transformed horse trailers even have panoramic views of the ocean. A number of remedies can be found, and so they host common occasions with a wholesome and mystic focus.
SEA LIFE & ZIPWIRE
Sea Life Brighton holds the excellence of being the oldest working aquarium on the earth. It opened in 1872 and continues to be one among Brighton’s star points of interest. There are round 5,500 creatures within the Victorian aquarium. Simply throughout the highway Zip Wire Brighton is the longest zip line on the South Coast.
BRIGHTON TOY MUSEUM
The Brighton Toy Museum is situated beneath the Victorian arches of the railway station so it’s a very good factor to go to in your method in or out of city. It’s dwelling to an intensive assortment of toys from the golden age of toy manufacturing together with uncommon classic mannequin prepare units.
BRIGHTON MARINA
Brighton Marina is a harbour with procuring, eating, and leisure choices. A lot of the eating places are chain shops you can discover anyplace and it’s round 40 minutes’ stroll from the Palace Pier, so we advise you give it a miss in your day journey.
HOW TO GET TO BRIGHTON
Brighton is a seaside resort, 47 miles (76 kilometres) south of London.
The quickest path to Brighton from London is by prepare from both London Victoria or London Bridge.
Direct trains depart repeatedly and take just below 1 hour.
Verify low-cost prepare tickets on thetrainline.com
DAY TRIPS FROM BRIGHTON
In case you determine to remain on just a little longer within the South Downs space, listed here are some nice day journeys from Brighton we extremely advocate.
- The Seven Sisters Cliff Stroll is among the best within the nation and only a 20-minute bus trip from Brighton.
- Lewes is a conventional market city and an important day trip from Brighton. The excessive road has a mixture of nostalgic and up to date retailers, and Lewes Fortress dates again to 1066. It’s round 20 minutes by prepare.
- Satan’s Dyke is a 100-metre V-shaped valley, 6 miles from Brighton. It’s an important place to benefit from the great outside of the South Downs.
IS ONE DAY ENOUGH IN BRIGHTON?
Given the proximity to London, at some point in Brighton permits you to see the primary points of interest together with North Laine, the Pavilion, and the Palace Pier. You’ll additionally be capable to take pleasure in Brighton’s nice meals scene and keep just a little later into the day to take pleasure in sundown.
Turning your Brighton day journey right into a weekend break is a good choice in summer time when you may laze on the seashore and reap the benefits of the newly opened Sea Lanes.
WHERE TO STAY IN BRIGHTON
In case you determine to remain over and luxuriate in an extended, lazier day in Brighton, listed here are some lodge suggestions.
OUR PICK
CHIC PUB
THE GINGER PIG
Mixing custom with up to date fashion, The Ginger Pig is an expensive keep in a contemporary pub with wonderful meals and cocktails.
