Oh Brighton, beautiful little seaside town. Less than an hour by train from London, Brighton is one of the most popular day trips in the UK. And that's no surprise! It's a quirky, creative town with a beach, making it the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of the capital.
While you could easily spend a week in Brighton and enjoy some relaxing time on the beach, taking a day trip is just as perfect. You can visit some of the main sights and still have enough time to eat fresh fish and chips by the beach. I've put together this itinerary for my own day in Brighton, so you don't have to worry about what to do.
If you decide to extend your trip, there are plenty of cozy and welcoming places to stay. For example, the Britannia Study Hotel http://britannia-study-hotel.eastsussex-uk.com/en/ offers comfortable accommodation and is conveniently located, making it easy for you to explore Brighton's attractions.
We'll take a look!
How to spend a day in Brighton
As taking a day trip to Brighton is a great idea (especially if you're in London), I've put together this Brighton day trip itinerary to help you out. It includes all the main highlights in an efficient way so you can make the most of your time in this charming seaside town.
Visit Brighton's Royal Pavilion
Our first stop when you spend the day in Brighton is one of the city's crown jewels: the Royal Pavilion. This Indian-style palace seems completely out of place in Britain, something I certainly didn't expect to find here! But it's beautiful and a must-see in Brighton.
The Royal Pavilion was built over 200 years ago, by order of King George IV (then Prince of Wales). Although he never visited India, he was intrigued by the style. That's why his beach residence looked like this.
It's not all Indian style though. The interior has more of a Chinese influence.
During the First World War, the building was used as a hospital for Indian soldiers. And today, it's one of Brighton's most visited tourist attractions.
While the interior is very impressive, the Royal Gardens are just as enjoyable. In the 80s and 90s, they were restored to their original design. Make sure you set aside around two hours for your visit.
Cross Brighton Pier
If you've ever seen pictures of Brighton, chances are you're already familiar with the famous pier. The Victorian pier has been part of the city since 1899 and is packed with shops, arcades and restaurants (how about some fresh fish and chips?). It's probably the best place to enjoy a view of the beach too!
See Brighton from above in the British Airways i360
You can find this iconic observation tower a little further down the beach from the pier. The British Airways i360 is 138 metres high and gives you stunning panoramic views of the beach and Brighton. There's even a bar on board ???? You can pre-book tickets to ensure you get a seat - but you might want to make sure the weather is fine when you visit. It's much better when the weather's on your side.
Walk down the seafront promenade and discover Brighton beach
Brighton beach isn't made of sand, it's made of pebbles. Coming from the Netherlands, where all beaches are sandy, this was quite a surprise! However, it's still a good place to sunbathe, weather permitting.
But as we're only spending a day in Brighton, you might want to skip the sunbathing and walk the seafront promenade instead. Swirling through the pebbles, the four-mile long promenade gives you the perfect opportunity for a lovely stroll along the beach, with tons of little shops on the side.
What struck me most about Brighton was the proximity of the beach to the city centre. I think that's one of the things people love so much about the city.
Photograph the colourful shacks on Hove Beach
Have you ever seen photos of Brighton's colourful beach huts?
Well...
They're not technically in Brighton, they're in Hove. But luckily, the promenade stretches all the way to Hove. From Brighton Pier, it's just over a mile. Especially if the weather is fine, it's a lovely walk. If you decide to add the i360 to your itinerary too, from there it's just a 15-minute walk.
Shop till you drop in the alleyways
Back to Brighton to explore the famous Lanes. This network of streets is located in the city's historic quarter, and is the perfect place to go shopping. Filled with boutiques and independent shops, it's a must-visit when you're spending time in Brighton.
You can find the coolest items here. From antiques and vintage clothes to record shops and restaurants. The perfect place for a quick coffee for your afternoon caffeine fix ????
Spot the coolest street art
Although it's not really a specific location or spot in the city, it still deserves a mention in this article. Brighton is a very creative city, and it shows in its street art. The city is full of the most beautiful murals and colourful graffiti. Especially near North Laine (not the Lanes, that's a different area), you can find a ton of cool graffiti art.
Eat fresh fish and chips by the beach
What's a visit to one of the UK's best seaside towns without some fresh fish and chips, right? As mentioned earlier, you can get delicious fish and chips on Brighton Pier - I can't think of a better place to enjoy such a traditional dish, close to the sea! Watch out for the seagulls though ???? They love some of these fish too!
Best times to visit Brighton
As a seaside town, Brighton is best appreciated in the sunshine. But as this is still England, you can never be 100% sure that you're avoiding the rain ???? However, the best months to visit Brighton are between May and September. The temperature is better and there's less chance of rain. Bear in mind that July and August are Brighton's peak tourist months, so it can get very crowded.
How to get to Brighton
Brighton is the perfect day trip from London as it takes less than an hour to get there by train. It's no surprise that Brighton welcomes 9.5 million day visitors every year (!!!).
By plane: The easiest way to reach Brighton by plane is to fly into London and take the train from there.
By train: As mentioned above, taking the train to Brighton is the easiest way to do a day trip. It's quick and you can get there from London in less than an hour.
If you're coming from other UK cities, you can also take the train. But be sure to check how long it takes, as it may be worth booking a weekend in Brighton rather than a day trip. For example, it takes over four hours!
By bus: Another, cheaper option is to take the bus. From London, you can get a bus ticket for as little as £9 and it will take about an hour and a half. Again, from other UK cities, the journey might be a little too long to spend just a day in Brighton, so you may want to extend your stay.
Add more cities to your UK itinerary
Spending a day in Brighton is fantastic, but why not add more cities to your itinerary? There are so many great city breaks in the UK, so why not spend a weekend in Bath or two days in Bristol?
If you want to head up north, I'd highly recommend visiting Manchester for the weekend or exploring York in two days.
Conclusion - How to have a great day out in Brighton
Taking a day trip to Brighton from London is never a bad idea! But even if you decide to stay for a weekend because you're coming from further afield, this beautiful city won't disappoint.
I hope this Brighton itinerary has helped you plan your own trip or at least given you some ideas of what to do in Brighton. I can't wait to go back!
FAQ
How many days do you need in Brighton?
Although spending a day in Brighton gives you enough time to see all the highlights, I would recommend spending two or three days. That way you can see all the sights but also have time to enjoy the beach.
How to spend the day in Brighton
In the morning, visit the Brighton Royal Pavilion and Brighton Pier. Afterwards, enjoy panoramic views of the city from the BA i360, stroll along the promenade towards the Hove beach huts. End your afternoon shopping in the Lanes and round off the day with fresh fish and chips by the water. For more information, you can check out my Brighton day trip itinerary in the article above.