Brighton City Guide

Brighton is where London goes to breathe. An hour from Victoria station, this seaside city has been attracting pleasure-seekers since the Prince Regent built his extraordinary Pavilion here in the early 1800s — and it hasn't slowed down since. The beach, the pier, and the seafront are the obvious draws, but Brighton's real magic lies in its lanes, its music, and its fiercely independent spirit.

The North Laine is a labyrinth of independent shops, cafes, record stores, and vintage boutiques that feels like a village within a city. The South Lanes offer antiques and jewellery in narrow medieval alleyways. And the music and nightlife scene is outstanding — from Concorde 2 on the seafront to the intimate Komedia comedy club, from DJ nights at Patterns to folk sessions at The Prince Albert.

Brighton has long been one of the UK's most inclusive and progressive cities. The annual Pride festival is one of the biggest in the country, and the city's LGBTQ+ scene is vibrant year-round. The food scene is equally forward-thinking, with more vegetarian and vegan restaurants per capita than anywhere else in the UK, alongside excellent seafood, street food, and independent coffee.

The South Downs National Park starts right at the city's edge, offering spectacular walks along the chalk cliffs to the east and rolling hills to the north. The beach itself — pebble, not sand — is at its best on a summer evening with fish and chips and a local craft beer, watching the sun set behind the ruined West Pier.