Ever dreamed of living in a beautiful city full of nature, away from the industrial hustle? Brighton can be your escape hatch, full of nature and beautiful attractions resonating vibrant vibes. Previously a fishing village, Brighton today has emerged to one of the most popular tourist destinations in the UK.

The most notable feature of Brighton is its seaside location. You will see beautiful pebbled shorelines stretching miles ahead of you, not to mention delightful spas and fashionable souvenir shops in every vicinity. This is a perfect spot for an elegant vacation, or a simple trip to the sea.

1. What makes Brighton unique?
2. Brighton's popular attractions
3. Nightlife in Brighton
4. Sports in Brighton
5. Food in Brighton
6. Shopping in Brighton
7. Festivals and Events in Brighton
8. Brighton living cost
9. Travel in and around Brighton
10. Explore the UK from Brighton

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1. What makes Brighton unique?

Brighton is most renowned for its diverse cultures, something that anyone can feel included in. With nearly 8 million visitors each year, surely there’s something more to its seaside location and cultural heritage. The annual festivals and nightlife attract thousands of Londoners for the perfect weekend getaway.

Brighton not only provides beautiful natural sceneries, but also incredible shopping opportunities. With a short 10-minute trip inland from the beach, you will find yourself mesmerized among the 400 independent shops and cafes.

Just as you can guess from its colorful culture, ‘art’ is something that’s not inconspicuous in the streets in Brighton. You can find an array of beautiful, contemporary street art along with some of the traditional art forms displayed in museums and art galleries.

Brighton has an exquisite taste in music and the performing arts. May or September are some of the greatest times to visit Brighton, where you will experience the famous Brighton Festival. Local and international artists fill the streets with live music, with ears from all over the world listening and dancing.

If you’re into sports, in particular, water sports, Brighton definitely won’t disappoint you. With the sea so closeby, you can choose a variety of watersports including kayaking, canoeing, windsurfing and waterskiing. But there are a plethora of other sports available, like rock-climbing, or even karting!

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2. Brighton's-popular-attractions

Brighton is full of fun things to do and unique places to visit. Some you might not want to miss include:

• Royal Pavilion: Located in the centre of Brighton, the Royal Pavilion is famous for its extraordinary exterior, displaying a beautiful fusion of cultures such as the beautiful Indian Mogul style facade and the Chinese interior.
• Brighton Museum & Art Gallery: Known for its display of Art Deco pieces, costume gallery and a beautiful collection of ceramics and porcelain, this first-rate museum is definitely worth a visit.
• Brighton Palace Pier: You will find amusement arcades and food stands, along with a majestic view of the sea. The pier is without doubt one of the most attractive tourist attractions in Brighton.
• Volk’s Electric Railway: If you’re travelling with kids, visiting the Volk’s Electric Railway would definitely be memorable. Volk’s Electric Railway is the world’s oldest operating electric railway, where you can also get a great view of the seafront from the pier. The railway is 1.25 miles long, with three accessible stations.
• Brighton Fishing Museum: If you hop along the train across Volk’s Electric Railway, you will see the fishing museum displaying Brighton’s history as a fishing town.
• Brighton Marina: Along the electric railway is the Brighton Marina, a great place for fantastic alley for dining and shopping experiences.
• SEA LIFE Brighton: Home to more than 100 species which was first established in 1872, a perfect place for any marine-lovers.
• North Laine: Located in the center of Brighton, North Laine presents you narrow alleyways full of beautiful cafes, antique stores and art galleries. A perfect destination for you to seek instagram-able sights, a shopping spree or just simply an aesthetic photo.

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3. Nightlife in Brighton

Brighton’s vibrant culture is perhaps best represented through its fantastic nightlife. Known as a ‘party town’, those seeking an easy escape from London can experience the craziest weekends with its eclectic music and spirited vibes.

Brighton’s bar scene is perfect for a simple and calm night out. Some famous ones are Molly Malones, Oxygen & Wahoo, the Fishbowl and the Globe. The Shoosh Nightclub, Coalition, the Tube and Life are clubs that are located near the seafront - you will be able to dance with the ocean breeze.

If you are looking for a quirky atmosphere while enjoying affordable, delicious dishes, visiting some of Brighton’s pubs will be great. Some famous pubs include The Prince George Pub, The Yellow Book, The Signalman and the Ginger Dog. Brighton also offers a variety of clubs that caters for the LGBTG community, such as the Bulldog, and Queens Arms.

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4. Sport in Brighton

Brighton is a great location for sports enthusiasts, as it is home to the city’s professional association football team, Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club. Having their base at Goldstone Ground, this team has made numerous notable achievements including winning the promotion to the Football League First Division in 1979, and reaching the 1983 FA Cup Final.

Being so close to the waters, Brighton also has two competitive swimming clubs: Brighton SC, formed in 1860, is considered to be the UK’s oldest swimming club, and Brighton Dolphin SC which was formed in 1891.

Other state-of-the-art facilities open to the public include:

• Yellowave Beach Sports Venue, Sea Front Attraction
• The American Express Community Stadium
• Stanley Deason Leisure Centre​
• King Alfred Leisure Centre
• Portslade Sports Centre
• Withdean Sports Complex​
• Stanley Deason Leisure Centre​

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5. Food in Brighton

Brighton is the hot spot of multicultural eats and fine dining restaurants. From its funky, creative cafes and a vast diversity of cuisines, you can experience mouth-watering dishes around the world.

Brighton’s most popular Indian restaurant is the Chilli Pickle located on Jubilee Square. Some Italian restaurants include Pinocchio and Donatello, both holding a long history in Brighton Lane and North Laine. If you’re looking for a hangover soup, ‘Holy Phok’ can offer you the holiest Pho along with tasty prawn and tofu bao buns.

For a perfect afternoon tea experience, ‘The Mock Turtle’ can offer you the perfect Victorian experience. Along with tea, you can enjoy homemade cakes and British desserts. An alternative can be ’Metro Deco’, more of a Parisian-style tea room with lavishly charming decorations.

And of course, your trip here can not be completed without a visit to Brighton’s seafood restaurants. With a plethora of options, one of the most famous restaurants is ‘The Salt Room’, where you will be served fresh and delicious seafood meals elevated by the view of the i360 tower. The oldest seafood restaurant in Brighton is the ‘English’s Seafood Restaurant and Oyster Bar’, which opened in 1945, that will also offer you a cozy, authentic dining experience with the freshest seafood ingredients.

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6. Shopping in Brighton

The Lanes is some of the best places for a shopping spree in Brighton. Like the labyrinth of shopping districts, you are filled with narrow alleys packed independent shops, cafes, vintage emporiums and art galleries.

The Lanes would especially be a great place if you’re looking for the perfect gift shopping opportunity. The Lanes Patisserie and the Bar du Chocolat are famous shops located in The Lanes, perfect for that daily dose of sugar.

For those who are looking for high-street shopping, the Churchill Square shopping centre and the North Street are the perfect place. Famous designer labels and high fashion brands are conveniently gathered near the Brighton railway station. It’s filled with around 90 shops, along with a broad range of restaurants and innovative cafes definitely worth paying a visit.

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7. Festivals and events in Brighton

Brighton has a number of eclectic festivals and events throughout the year, including:

• Brighton Festival: One of the most famous and established music festivals in England where thousands of international travellers can enjoy a plethora of arts including dance, circus, art, film, music and theatre.
• Brighton Fringe: An open-access arts festival that is held every year, being one of the largest fringe festivals in the world (largest in England). It holds a large series of arts programmes and performances throughout May to June.
• Foodies Festival: The UK's largest celebration of food and beverages. This festival usually takes place during May every year, presenting a wide range of culinary activities and experiences.
• Brighton Pride: The most popular LGBTQ event in England that aims to promote diversity and equality among the LGBTQ community. This festival usually takes place during August, along with performances from globally famous artists including Clean Bandit, Dua Lipa, Jessie J and Britney Spears.
• The Great Escape Festival: A world-class music festival happening over the course of 3 days during May, hosting over 400 bands and singers from all over the world.

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8. Brighton living costs

Budget guide:

• One-way Ticket (Local transport): £2.60
• Meal out: £15.00
• Fast Food (McDonalds): £6.00
• Gasoline (1 litre): £1.29
• Cinema ticket: £10.00
• Taxi (normal tariff): £2.80

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9. Travel in and around Brighton

Given that Brighton is relatively small, the vast majority of tourist attractions are in close commutes. This makes traveling more convenient as there are numerous efficient and affordable bus services and readily available taxis/bikes.

By Plane

Brighton does not have an airport within the city. The nearest airport is the London Gatwick airport (LGW), located halfway between London and Brighton. There are many ways to reach Brighton from the terminal, including Gatwick Express rail service and bus rides.

By Train

Brighton has an excellent service of trains that are accessible from most parts of England. The easiest route is from London Victoria Station that takes only 52 minutes to reach Brighton. There are also direct routes from London Bridge and Kings Cross, but trains have less frequent services and take a longer time.

By Car

Brighton is notorious for its scarce parking spots, being recently awarded as the city with the most parking tickets in the UK. Although driving to Brighton is an option, be mindful that parking illegally can cost some unwanted fees. The vast majority of drivers take the A23 route, along with the option for the M23 route whereas both links to the M25 London Orbital Motorway.

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10. Explore the UK from Brighton

Brighton is a very convenient starting point to reach out to nearby beautiful cities in the UK. With its readily available transportation services, you will be able to fully grasp the rich history that other cities have, along with incredible natural landscapes. Within a short distance, you’ll stumble upon some of Britain’s beautiful ‘city villages’ including:

Hove

Hove is a seaside resort in the county of East Sussex with an impressive seafront, Regency townhouses, terracotta mansions, and elegant mews, this is a perfect location for anyone that is looking for a fun and enjoyable weekend trip.

To experience a unique laid back vibe, shopping at Hove will provide you the best of both worlds. From strolling around an array of funky interior design shops, fashion boutiques, specialist shops, to fine dine at international restaurants, and independent cafes, you have basically the entire county wrapped around your fingers.

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Eastbourne

Similar to Hove, Eastbourne is a lively seaside resort town located in the South East of England. Famed for its award-winning beaches and iconic cliff at Beachy Head, Eastbourne is a perfect destination for a summer vacation or a wide camp into the wilderness.

You can also enjoy different tours to numerous attractions such as Towner art gallery, Congress Theatre, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and also experience many entertainment and music venues.

Today, Eastbourne is widely known for its popular culture, especially its aesthetic natural landmarks that attracted many filmmakers to use this town as a backdrop to many television series and films.

Rottingdean

Situated just moments up the coast of Brighton Marina, Rottingdean is a picturesque seaside village that is known for its trendy and fashionable vibes, especially when among artists, writers, and politicians.

Rottingdean is a great shopping destination for you to visit in one day. From the eclectic range of shops and boutiques, to specialist confectionaries and finest footwear, you never run out of places to go to. There are also numerous tea rooms, local produce shops, restaurants, and pubs scattered throughout the shopping centre to help rest your weary feet.