The Best things to do on a Brighton day trip

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The North Laine

If your shopping tastes are eclectic then the North Laine (not North Lanes) is bohemian heaven; second-hand furniture, ornaments, vintage clothes, vinyl and an assortment of kitschcollectables can be foraged for and there’s a Saturday table-top street market too. Don’t miss Kensington Gardens, Gardner Street and Bond Street.

Some streets are totally residential and, for that matter, highly Instagrammable.

The bars and cafés are laid-back, hip and arty with excellent people watching potential. For entertainment it’s worth checking out The Komedia for an evening show, its café-style live entertainment consists of music, cabaret and its Krater Comedy Club hosts live laughs every weekend.

Did you skip breakfast? Ready for lunch? Check out some of the best brunches in Brighton.

Enjoy a gelato

Time for a treat and the best gelato in town without doubt (I’ve tested them all) is in the North Laine at 2 Gardner Street. Gelato Gusto makes fresh gelato every day in the most amazing flavours – I’m still waiting to try the chilli chocolate and mint!

Sorbetto, Belgian Waffles and other mouth-watering deserts will tease your taste buds and in winter the hot chocolate’s a dream – there’s seating inside. It’s just as good as the gelato I tried at the Carpigiani Gelato University.

If coffee and cake is more your thing then there’s no shortage of cafes and coffee shops in the North Laine but Pelicano (28 Sydney Street) is one of my favourites. Not just a coffee shop it’s a roastery and freshly roasts its coffee each week.

Pelicano serves single-origin artisan coffees and has a wide range of loose teas. If you fancy a snack they serve freshly-made sandwiches, paninis and salads which you can eat inside or in the tiny back yard garden.

The Royal Pavilion

Brighton’s Royal Pavilion is a must see on your Brighton day trip. Built for George IV as his seaside retreat, this is Brighton’s jewel in the crown and a visual Turkish delight.

Domes, minarets and turrets are accentuated by clever night-time lighting. Think pink during Gay Pride and blues and purples for Christmas. Inside is even more exotic with a riot of Chinese opulence and silk paintings, the ultimate seaside pad.

At Christmas the Pavilion becomes the backdrop for an outdoor ice rink where you can skate away to Christmas classics while the spicy aroma of mulled wine fills the air.

From the Pavilion make your way to The Lanes…

The Lanes, Brighton

The Lanes are a maze of old narrow alleyways yielding a cornucopia of classy shops, restaurants and even the odd celeb. Jewellery and antique shops, designer boutiques and gift shops mean you may want to flex your wallet.

There are some good restaurants in the Lanes and as it’s probably time for lunch so head to one of my favourites…

• Food for Friends for fabulous vegetarian food: 17-18 Prince Albert Street, Brighton
• English’s for Oysters and fresh seafood – the oldest seafood restaurant in Brighton: 29-31 East St, Brighton
• Donatello’s – Italian food in the Lanes with loads of seating and reasonably priced dishes
• Bill’s in North Road (which is in North Laine) is the second ever Bill’s and has great food and a great vibe.

From the Lanes head to Brighton beach and…

Brighton Palace Pier

Brighton Pier recently regained its original name and I’m really pleased to see it called the Brighton Palace Pier again. The Pier is a quintessential Victorian British pier with a funfair, slot-machines, candy floss and fish and chips. This is an essential part of your Brighton day trip.

Beware the seagulls – they’ll have your chips if you look away for so much as a second. Time spent on the Palace Pier is one of the best free things to do in Brighton.

Brighton’s Sealife Centre the world’s oldest operating aquarium is right next to the pier. There’s a new attraction next door – Book your BAi360 abseil here a 300 metre-long zip-wire for adrenaline seekers.

Brighton Beach and Seafront

Head for the seaside and Brighton’s famous pebble beach. Under the promenade stalls and small shops sell crafts, colourful prints and original pieces by local artists as well as buckets and spades and Brighton Rock. A carousel lends that funfair vibe and when the bars, cafés and restaurants fill the air with happy chatter.

Take a stroll along the seafront until you come to the…

British Airways i360

The BAi360 opened in August 2016. Book a flight and you’ll glide up 450ft in a space-age pod for breathtaking views of the area. I was lucky enough to attend the press opening but, as you’ll see from the video below, the weather wasn’t that great.

On a clear day you’ll see fabulous views over Brighton and Hove and some rooftop artwork which has appeared since the i360 was completed. If you’re looking for an adrenalin buzz you can abseil from the doughnut at the top down to the beach below. Book your BAi360 abseil here.

The West Pier and Bandstand

Brighton’s West Pier is where my grandparents took me for Brighton days out with my brother and sister when we were kids. I remember back in the day when there were bumper cars, a music hall and speed boats launching from the end of the pier.

It’s sad to see so little left of it but the memories go on. This is a great place to watch the sunset and, if you’re lucky, you might catch a murmuration of starlings which roost on the West Pier.

Keep walking past the West Pier and you’ll see the Old Bandstand and the elegant squares and terraces of Regency Houses painted their uniform cream colour.

If you want to walk a little further west and you’ll come to Hove Lawns and its rainbow row of beach huts but you’re probably ready for dinner by now. Head back along the seafront and make your way to one of the restaurants you clocked earlier in the day. A walk up Queens Road will lead you straight back to the station and should take around 15-minutes from the seafront.

Brighton and Hove Beach Huts