Brighton is easily the most famous coastal city in England and it may be the quirkiest and most fun, too. And because it’s so close to London you can easily hop on a train to Brighton from the ‘big smoke’ for one night.
After spending lots of time in Brighton (my husband was born and raised here), I’ve come up with what I think is the perfect day in Brighton. It includes the city’s top sights, excellent coffee shops, the best restaurants as well as a few unforgettable hidden gems!
I’ve done the research so you don’t have to so let’s uncover how to have the best one day in Brighton!
Is it worth going to Brighton for a day?
Yes, it’s definitely worth going to Brighton for a day!
Having just one day in Brighton means you’ll only be able to scratch the surface of what this quirky city has to offer. Brighton or ‘London by the sea’ as it’s often called is full-to-the-brim of amazing sights. Places like the very British Brighton Pier and the stunning Royal Pavillion (which mirrors the Taj Mahal).
And I bet you’re concerned as to how much you can squeeze into one day in Brighton! But you’ll be surprised by how much you can see in a day in Brighton, it’s a small walkable city, FYI! In one day, you’ll get to tick off the city’s top attractions as well as see some lesser-known sights like Blaker Street and the lanes.
Morning – Wander the lanes
Stroll through the lanes early in the morning to catch these narrow, quirk-filled lanes at their finest. For breakfast, we love North Laine Cafe a trendy cafe with a great outdoor terrace!
After filling your belly, pop by Snoopers Paradise at Kensington Gardens in the North Laines – a quirky treasure-filled department store that you can easily whisk away an hour or so. Also worth a visit is The Duck House on 4 Union Street – in this fun store, you’ll find over 300 different types of imaginative rubber ducks.
Are you a coffee fiend – I recommend grabbing a coffee at Pelicano on Sydney Street or Bond St in the North Laines. In Brighton, you are spoiled for choice for great coffee. A good indicator of how hipster/yuppie a city is is how many independent coffee shops it has, it’s no surprise then that Movehub’s Hipster index ranked Brighton as the most hipster city in the world!
Other great coffee spots in the city include the very popular Small Batch at 17 Jubilee Street, 44 Poets on Poets Corner, and Twin Pines in Kemptown.
Late morning – Brighton Pier & i360 Tower
Later this morning, we recommend ticking off two of Brighton’s top attractions Brighton Pier and the i360 viewing tower. Handily, both are located pretty much next to one another!
Brighton Pier
Take a long walk along the seafront and try your luck at the slot machines on the Pier. Waste away an hour playing the aforementioned slots, riding the dodgems and bumper cars at the permanent funfair here. And spoil your lunch with a head-sized stick of candyfloss. Be sure to snap some photos in front of the famous Brighton Pier sign.
Did you know, Brighton Pier is made up of more than 60,000 light bulbs?!
Then, take a stroll to the Madeira Lift at the seafront in Kemptown – a creaky, very old Victorian lift that brings you up the cliff that links Marine Parade with Madeira Drive. There’s even a lift attendant here!
i360 viewing tower
i360 viewing tower – an enclosed glass pod takes you up 450 feet to the top where you can enjoy glorious views over Brighton city and beach. There’s a bar on board too, if you fancy an early tipple!
Tickets for the British Airways i360 cost from £18.50 which give you 25 minutes in the viewing tower and access to the Sky Bar.
Book your ticket for the i360 viewing tower here!
Lunch – Hove
When you’ve tired yourself out from all the fun on the pier and the i360, walk along the beach promenade for around 15 minutes to Hove. To grab some amazingly authentic wood-fired pizzas at Fatto o Mano!
On your way to or from lunch be sure to stop by the Insta-famous beach huts here. They’re so colorful!
Fun Fact – Brighton has the most restaurants per capita than anywhere else in England – there’s approximately one restaurant per 250 people
Afternoon – Royal Pavillion
The Royal Pavillion – easily one of the most beautiful homes ever built. It took over 20 years to be built for Prince George IV. It is often commented on how similar it looks to the Taj Mahal. And a surprising fact is the prince never visited India he was just drawn in by the unique style of Indian palaces.
We recommend spending around an hour and a half here – most tourists spend most of their time in the gorgeous Royal Gardens but the interior is well worth a visit too. A fascinating fact we learned during our visit is that during World War I the Royal Pavilion was used as a hospital for Indian soldiers. My husband didn’t know this and he’s from Brighton!
Entry to the Royal Pavilion costs £19 but the ticket is valid for a year! Yep, with any standard ticket you can return for free for a whole year from the date of issue!
Late Afternoon – Blaker Street
Blaker Street is certainly one of the most colorful streets in Brighton, if not the whole country – an entire road of brightly colored houses, every Instagrammers dream, right?! Spend a short time here snapping some photos before heading to the nearby Block Bar for a pre-dinner drink. Here, you’ll find a lovely sun-drenched beer garden filled with colorful murals and some of the best cocktails outside of London!
To get to Blaker Street from the Royal Pavillion, it’s a short 10-minute walk via Edward Street.
Dinner – The Little Fish Market
Brighton is famous for many things but it’s its fresh fish & chips that attracts the foodies. Now, if you’re looking for something a little more upmarket for your only evening in Brighton then I highly recommend making your way to one of the best restaurants in the city!
The most awarded restaurant in the city, The Little Fish Market on Upper Market Street in Hove is headed by chef Duncan Ray. And as you can imagine, this teeny-tiny restaurant (it only fits 20 people) is very popular! It’s pricey but worth every penny – the menu changes regularly and they try to use local ingredients as much as possible!
While, if it’s just the good old-fashioned fish & chips you’re after for dinner. Then you can’t go wrong with local-favorite Captain’s on Lower Promenade, Madeira Drive (across from the beach). Get your grub to go and enjoy it on the beach, just watch out for the seagulls. As the locals will tell you the seagulls in Brighton can be very aggressive!
Evening – Watch the sunset
In Brighton, I advise catching the sunset over the West Pier after dinner. The best spot for a photo of the sunset is from the Brighton Bandstand, it can get very busy here though.
Or if you have a car or a rental car make your way to my personal favorite sunset spot in Brighton. Cuckmere Haven is a riverfront beach about a 30-minute drive from Brighton. One of the most iconic photo spots here is the Coastguard cottages overlooking the Cuckmere River, with the Seven Sisters in the background. Walk just above the cottages on the path to get the best photo.
Late evening – Party!
Brighton is a popular weekend haunt for Londoners (as it’s only an hour from the capital city) and for stag and hen parties. The city is also home to the UK’s largest LGBT population. In fact, it’s widely known as the unofficial gay capital of the UK. So, as you can guess the nightlife here is world-class!
I could spend all day writing about the best nightclubs in Brighton, there are so many! But our two favorite places to party in Brighton couldn’t be more different from one another.
First up is Popworld on West Street which serves all the nostalgic vibes. Here, you can listen to 90s music and take in the 90s interior while sipping on cheap drinks.
No 32 on the other hand has more of a classy vibe with a stylish interior, great music, and excellent cocktails! You’ll find it on Duke Street in the lanes.
Where to Stay in Brighton
We loved the super-famous and luxurious The Grand on the seafront if you fancy splurging. It’s undoubtedly THE most famous hotel in the city. And the rooms are stylish and some come with sea views. Plus, the breakfast is one of the best we’ve ever had in England!
If you still want to stay along the seafront but are on a budget then consider The Old Ship Hotel which offers stylish and comfortable rooms as well as a great bar on-site. Ask for a sea-facing room here.
We’ve also stayed at Leonardo Royal Hotel in the past and really enjoyed our stays. The lobby area is very cool and the staff are super friendly. It’s also located on the waterfront and the rooms here are very spacious.
Thanks for Reading!
I hope my guide to one day in Brighton will give you some inspiration for your next visit. There’s so much to see in Brighton, and being just an hour from London – it’s so easy to get to.
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Last Updated on June 19, 2024 by snaphappytravel