| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Best for | A seaside day out |
| Time needed | A day trip |
| Budget | ££ |
| Best time to go | Summer |
| Getting around | Train from London, then everything is walkable |
The brief
Five visits between 2014 and 2022, with a mix of friends and partners.
Top placements
1. The Lanes
A maze of twisting alleyways full of antiques, jewellery, boutique fashion and design shops. They were the centre of the old fishing village of Brighthelmstone and were fully laid out by 1792. Map
2. Brighton Palace Pier
The 1,722 ft Victorian pier, opened in 1899, with fairground rides, bars and deckchairs facing the sea. Map
- Tip: come back after dark, when it's lit by 67,000 bulbs.
3. Royal Pavilion
George IV's seaside palace, built from 1787, with the domes and minarets John Nash added from 1815. Map
Also seen: the Clock Tower, built in 1888 for Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee, and the British Airways i360.
The flat white index
Every city gets a coffee score. Same order everywhere, so cities compare fairly.
| Café | Score /5 |
|---|---|
| Cafe Coho | Recommended |
| Bond St Coffee | Recommended |
| Trading Post Coffee Roasters | Recommended |
| Pelicano Coffee Co | Recommended |
City score: 5/5. Lots of great choice.
Ad spotting
The city is covered in wild posting, and murals are everywhere.
Good to know
- In the 2001 census, 2.6% of Brighton and Hove listed their religion as "Jedi Knight", the highest share in the country.
- During the First World War the Royal Pavilion became a military hospital, treating over 2,300 men.
- The i360 was launched as "the world's tallest moving observation tower" until Guinness revoked the record and the Advertising Standards Authority told British Airways to stop using the claim.
The verdict
Would I rebook? Yes.
Return on investment: 9/10