I grew up in Sussex just along the coast from Brighton or the City of Brighton and Hove as it’s now known. I love to go back for so many reasons – family and friends are there, of course, but Brighton is a diverse and fun city and it keeps calling me back. I thought it about time I introduced you to the British seaside town that really rocks. My Brighton…
What to do in Brighton?
A ten-minute walk south from the train station down Queens Road takes you straight to the vibrant, holiday atmosphere of the promenade and Brighton’s infamous pebble beach.
The Brighton Wheel
This is the fun sea-sidey area of town; under the promenade stalls 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 sun is shining the bars, cafés and restaurants fill the air with happy chatter.
Brighton Pier
Brighton Pier
Brighton Pier, although I’ll always think of it by it’s original name, The Palace Pier, has rides, slot-machines and fish and chips – do beware the seagulls – they’ll have your chips if you look away for so much as a second. Brighton’s Sealife Centre is right next to the pier. It was a clear, crisp December morning when I took these shots – Brighton’s just as appealing in winter don’t you think?
There’s another pier in Brighton, The West Pier although, sadly, not much of it remains.
Remains of Brighton’s West Pier
On Brighton’s West Pier
Brighton’s West Pier is where my grandparents took me for days out with my brother when we were young and I can remember rides on the bumper cars and speed boats launching from the end of the pier. This is me with a front tooth missing aged 5 on the West Pier. You can just see the Palace Pier in the background.
Take a walk along to the West Pier and you’ll see the Old Bandstand and the elegant squares and terraces of Regency Houses painted their uniform cream colour.
The BAi360
There’s a new attraction which opened in August 2016 – The BAi360. Book a flight and you’ll glide up 450ft in a space-age pod for breathtaking views of the area.
Walk further west and you’ll come to Hove Lawns and a rainbow row of beach huts.
Brighton & Hove Beach Huts
The Brighton Wheel
Udated: Now that the BAi360 has been completed the Brighton Wheel has been dismantled and has moved on. Shame, because I loved the look of the wheel sitting on the seafront.
There’s a new feature on Brighton’s seafront, The Brighton Wheel, where you can take a ride and take in panoramic views of the seafront. I’m waiting for a low tide and perfect sunset.
The Brighton Wheel
If you’re looking for upmarket shopping head for The Lanes; a maze of 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.
Brighton’s Royal Pavilion is a must see. Built for George IV as his seaside retreat, this is Brighton’s jewel in the crown and a visual Turkish delight.
Ice Skating at Brighton’s Royal Pavilion
Domes, minarets and turrets are accentuated by clever night-time lighting – pink during Gay Pride and blues and purples for Christmas. Inside gets 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 don your earmuffs and skate away to Christmas classics while the spicy aroma of mulled wine fills the air.
Brighton Pavilion
Ready for lunch? Try Bill’s in North Road for fresh, seasonal, smile-on-your-face food – a deli come café, come bistro. A friendly vibe with fab, fresh food. Brighton was the second Bill’s, after Lewes, and is now a nationwide chain with over 30 stores. The Brighton and Lewes cafes are the best though!
If your shopping tastes are eclectic then the nearby North Laine (not North Lanes!) is bohemian heaven; second-hand furniture, ornaments, vintage clothes, vinyl and an assortment of kitsch collectables can be foraged for and there’s a Saturday table-top street market too. 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.
Time for a treat and the best gelato in town without doubt (I’ve tested them all) is in the North Laine just around the corner from the Theatre Royal. 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 saw being made at the Carpigiani Gelato University.
Gelato Gusto
Brighton has more than it’s fair share of street art – it’s big, bold and colourful and you’ll find street graffiti all around the North Laine area and where you’re least expecting it.
How to get to Brighton
Brighton is so easy to get to from London. Just half an hour’s drive from Gatwick Airport or 50 minutes on the train. From London’s Victoria Station it’s just over an hour by train. Step out of Brighton Station and you can see the sparkling sea. Breathe deep and smell that fresh, salty sea air. Brighton’s waiting for you.
Where to stay in Brighton
The stylish Hotel du Vin is just off the seafront and in the heart of the lanes. The ancient building has quirky rooms and a fabulous restaurant in the cellar. If you like a more modern hotel stay at the marina a couple of miles along the seafront at Hotel Seattle which is now part of the Malmaison group.
Brighton, a city with a big heart …. and plenty fresh air. I really enjoyed walking down the memory lanes of the 6 years I lived there – and it has hardly changed anything. I love this post, Suzanne – and if I hadn’t just returned from Brighton … I would had booked a trip. Your images are brilliant too … the Pier part and the wheel my favorite.
I took these pics on a cold winter day but it was bright and crisp – nice not to have as many tourists around as in the summer. My favourite pier was always the West Pier – the one that burnt down. So sad that it’s still just a rusting shell 🙁
After looking at these great photos, Brighton is definitely on my bucket list!
That’s great – hope you like it as much as I do!
Hi Skibunny 🙂 Are you back yet?
I always think the Pavilion looks an amazing place. Maybe, one day. And I love Ella’s poster too.
The Poster’s lovely. Hope you had a great trip, I got back Sunday evening. Any time you’re this way Jo, just get in touch 🙂
Brighton was one of the first cities I visited in England – I loved it! If I had to living in England it is the one place I’d consider above all. It’s friendly, beautiful, has everything I would need – and a fast train to Gatwick. I’ve never been able to master driving on the ‘other’ side of the road so Brighton’s good transport connections were always a big plus!
Lovely to hear you liked my home town! I don’tlive there now and really miss the fast connection to Gatwick. Where are you based now?
It looks like great fun to visit and the beach huts are so cheerful! I appreciate that you tested all the gelato there too… 🙂
Gelato has to be tested where ever you go in my opinion!
Tapas? Gelato? I lived in England for a year (Devizes in Wiltshire) for a year 1969-1970 when my father was an exchange teacher there. I don’t think there were any tapas or gelato in the whole of the British Isles back then 😉 Fish and chips, Cornish pasties and a Sunday roast with Yorkshire pudding was about as exotic as it got back then. We never made it to Brighton. It never seemed warm enough to make me want to go for a dip in the English Channel. (We were once in Torremolinos, Spain on the Costa del Sol in March because of a family emergency. The Spaniards were walking around in winter coats. The Brits were easily recognizable—walking around in shorts and sandals with socks 😉
No way would there have been tapas or gelato back then! I think the photo of me was taken in 1969 so round about the time you were here. I don’t think I’ve dipped my toes in the Channel for decades! Brits abroad huh – always easy to spot!
You have totally made me want to visit Brighton again. I have lots of friends who live up north and they’ve never been so I’ve promised to drag them there this summer because I know they’ll love it.
Your pictures are gorgeous and that one from when you’re little is so cute!
I’m an hour away now but still get back every week and I really miss it! That pictures was a long, long time ago now 🙁
Brighton was one of my favorite places to visit when I lived in London. This post brought back a lot of memories 🙂
I have a lifetime of memories of Brighton from a small child to teenager and as an adult now – so fortunate to grow up in such
a great city!
I love posts like this about places in the UK. Only been to Brighton once for a few hours (going to a concert there) so didn’t see much. I love your photos of the pavilion, the street art and that lovely watercolour 🙂
Jude xx.
Thanks Jude – I hope you get to visit properly some time, it’s very photogenic!
This is another excellent travel post Suzanne. Closer to home, but I still need to find the time.
Thanks Dave – sometimes the best places are right on your doorstep!
Hi Suze, have you been to Brighton Museum, next to the Pavilion? It’s really interesting! x
No I haven’t been there – shame on me! It’s one of those places I’ve thought about going but never got around to – I will now x
We only went in because it was lashing it down with rain! There is an interesting room with pictures of the old pier sand actual kitchen cupboards from Embassy Court etc
Definitely going to drop by next time I have an hour spare 🙂
I am now so sorry that I never made it down to Brighton while visiting the UK….will definitely next time!!
Hope you don’t have to wait too long!
I haven’t been back to Brighton for years. There used to be a really good little tapas bar in the Laines, I wonder if it is stil there?
Do you remember what it’s called? I’ll check it out 🙂
Casa Don Pepe I think, the cuttlefish were delicious
Thanks – I’ll make enquiries 🙂
You may know of it already but Agua Dulce is another great tapas place in Brighton Suzanne 🙂
http://whywasteannualleave.wordpress.com/2013/11/29/girls-day-out-on-brighton-pier/
No I haven’t been there so thanks for the tip!