Shimmering and shaking with personality, Brighton sits between the South Downs and the sea. Dating back to the Domesday Book of 1086 (and before), what was once the sleepy fishing village of “Brighthelmstone” developed into what The Guardian newspaper described as one of the hippest cities in the UK.
Now, as part of the City of Brighton and Hove, it’s the largest city in Sussex.
Only 47 miles from London (and on a direct train route from the capital), Brighton’s growth was in large part due to the popularity of sea-bathing and King George IV’s fondness for the town in the 18th century, as well as the arrival of the railways in the 19th century.
There is Regency, Victorian and Edwardian architecture in abundance and for some, that is reason enough to visit.
Why visit?
There are 101 reasons to visit Brighton but here are just 16 of the biggest Brighton attractions (with a few smaller suggestions thrown in for good measure).
Brighton museums
Brighton has dozens of museums and this is a great way to get to know the city. Must visits include the exotic Royal Pavilion, the quirky Brighton Museum and Art Gallery, Preston Manor, the Old Police Cells, the Toy Museum and the Fishing Quarter.
North Laine District
From being a large field in the early 18th century, the North Laine district of Brighton gradually developed into an area of artisan dwellings and industrial and commercial premises characterised by narrow Victorian streets and period properties.
Today it is perhaps one of Brighton’s most well-known areas, famed for its antique and second-hand stores, jewellers and boutiques, street food, and culture. It’s bohemian, it’s bustling, packed with quirkiness and personality, and a great hotspot for culture and art (including a Banksy).
Palace Pier
Brighton Palace Pier is Grade II* listed and 1,722ft long. It’s the only remaining Pier (of the three that Brighton once had) that you can still visit. Synonymous with seaside resort culture including slot machines, doughnuts, neon lights, fish and chips, and fairground rides, it’s another of Brighton’s “must visit” venues and you can’t really say you’ve “done Brighton” until you’ve hung out here for a while! It costs £2 to enter from March to September.
A little further down Brighton’s seafront (unsurprisingly to the west) is West Pier opened in 1866. Sadly, by 1975 it had closed to the public, and it suffered severe damage in the Great Storm of 1987. There were still plans to restore it until 2003 when a serious fire ripped through the pierhead. Fire crews were unable to save the building and a second fire brought it one step nearer to condemnation. In 2004, high winds caused the middle of the pier to collapse completely and English Heritage then declared it beyond repair. The West Pier has continued to degrade and collapse since then but remains a charismatic landmark and a compelling spot for photographers.
Well, this one does what it says on the tin! You’ll find it on the seafront and it is a house which is upside down, inside and out. Great for those fun photos and a bit of mucking about!
The Brighton i360
This slightly space-age viewing tower opened in 2016 and has quickly become one of Brighton’s definitive but most controversial landmarks. You enter a glass viewing pod and then glide up 450 ft to catch 360° views of Brighton, the South Downs and the coast whilst all the people below look like scurrying ants. There’s even a bar (the south coast’s highest bar). It has recently re-opened and is launching a new beach bar soon.
Brighton Dome
Less than a skip and a jump from the Royal Pavilion and part of the same estate (the building was originally the stables for Prince Regent) is the Brighton Dome, a multi-arts venue that includes the Concert Hall, the Corn Exchange and the Studio Theatre. All three are actually linked to the Pavilion by a tunnel. Apart from being another of Brighton’s iconic buildings, they host pretty much everything here from music, theatre, dance, comedy, visual arts, film, digital and community events. They also produce the annual Brighton Festival billed as a celebration of music, theatre, dance, circus, art, film, literature, and debate. If you have any interest in the arts, this is a must-see and do for your list.
The Artists’ Quarter
Down on the seafront (in between the Pier and the i360), you’ll find a dozen little artists’ studios including painters, photographers, and sculptors tucked away in the arches under the esplanade. There’s a really diverse selection of work here and much of it spills out of the little boutiques onto the pavement making this little corner of Brighton attractive, quirky and well worth a visit.
Volk’s Railway and Madeira Drive and Terrace
Volk’s Railway was the first public electric railway in the world and opened in 1883. Although it closes for the winter, when it’s open it runs along the seafront from the Palace Pier to the Marina along Madeira Drive. There is also now a heritage visitor centre at the Aquarium station that includes the history of the railway.
Madeira Terrace is a Grade II listed, 865-metre-long stretch of seafront arches and promenade on Madeira Drive built in the late 1800s. Restoration work started in 2024. Some of the people involved in getting the restoration off the ground include Norman Cook, Eddie Izzard, Chris Evans and Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club! It is also home to the longest, oldest green wall in the UK.
Once you get to Madeira Drive, you could also try the new zip wire – it’s the longest zip wire on the south coast and you land in the hull of an old boat on the beach.
Or you could try some beach volleyball or crazy golf, and be sure not to miss the unusual beach sculpture a little to the east of the zip wire. At first, you may wonder what it is, but as you get closer, you’ll see there are a series of unusual stone figures and sculptures that are the work of local fisherman (and dry stone waller) Rory McCormack.
Kemptown
East of the city centre, historic Kemptown, is a distinct district that was largely built in the 19th century and in places looks and feels like London’s Belgravia and Pimlico. That said, there are also flamboyant streets of brightly coloured houses and bustling shops, cafés and restaurants. Formerly known as the artists’ district, it’s now more commonly known for being home to a large and dynamic gay community.
Brighton Bandstand
It won’t take you long to visit but do walk along the seafront towards and just past the i360 until you come to the Bandstand. First opened in 1884, it was restored to its original condition in 2009 and is a stunning Victorian bandstand and photo opportunity.
Preston Park
As you head north from the city centre, you come to Preston Park. Here you will find a large park, a Medieval church with some incredible frescoes, a gilded tree, Preston Rock Gardens (with the city’s only waterfall) and Preston Manor.
Sea Life Brighton
This site opened as an independent aquarium in 1872 and is one of the oldest aquariums in the world! Although badly bombed in WWII, it was reconstructed and you can still see the fantastic underground Victorian Arcade. Sea Life took over in 1991 and they now have a number of major attractions which include their recently opened day to night underwater experience and their rain forest section. The aquarium is easy to find as it’s right on the corner of the roundabout opposite the Pier.
Kemptown’s Secret Sculpture Garden
This volunteer-run community garden opens in the spring and is a little pocket of tranquility. They showcase the works of different artists and serve cake! In 2025, they will open the garden to the public on 18 April as part of the Brighton Festival and Open Houses, with a new exhibition of works by German-born, Sussex-based sculptor Almuth Tebbenhoff.
Undercliff Walk
Brighton’s Undercliff Walk is 5 km long and runs from the marina to Saltdean. It’s suitable for walkers or cyclists, there are cafés along the way and at Saltdean you will find the fabulous Saltdean lido.
Sea Lanes Brighton
A relatively new place to visit, Sea Lanes is a s a 50m, 6 lanes, heated outdoor swimming pool. It’s on Madeira Drive and right by the sea and you don’t have to be a member to swim there. There are lots of other things going on here including yoga and crazy golf!
Chattri Memorial
North of Brighton, high on the South Downs and a bit of a walk away is the evocative Chattri Memorial, a memorial to the 53 Hindus and Sikhs who died during WWI and were cremated at Patcham Down ghat. Built in 1921, there is something very special about this memorial. If you’re interested in this chapter of Brighton’s history you should also visit The Indian Gate at the southern entrance to the Pavilion which was presented to the people of Brighton by the “princes and people of India” as a gesture of thanks for the care provided by the town’s Indian hospitals. It was unveiled by the Maharajah of Patiala on 26 October 1921. You should also visit the Indian Military Hospital Gallery at the Royal Pavilion which includes paintings, archive photographs, contemporary accounts and film footage.
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