12 Best things to see & do in Brighton

An icon of British seaside history, Brighton’s Victorian pier offers the white-knuckle fairground rides, old-fashioned arcade games and fish and chips. The quintessential beach experience from a by-gone era.

Brighton’s most distinctive landmark – a domed Regency pleasure palace that looks straight out of Delhi, restored to its original splendour.

This emerging wine region has similar topography to France’s Champagne area, with vineyards producing award-winning bottles and laying on tastings and tours.

Not as well-known as Edinburgh’s but more alternative in spirit, Brighton’s May festivals encompass food, live music, art and theatre at venues across the city.

If you want to hang with the locals, this criss-cross of streets leading down from the station has vegan eateries, vintage shops and a classic Brighton-boho vibe. The shopping here is better than in the more famous ‘Lanes’.

The tangle of narrow pedestrian lanes unfolding south of North Street is Brighton’s historic heart; old fisherman’s cottages now chock full of independent boutiques, jewellers, cafés and restaurants.

The south coast’s longest and fastest zip wire, Brighton Zip has two wires, meaning you can race a friend at 32m above sea level. Not for the feint hearted!

Set in Brighton’s Royal Pavilion complex, this eclectic collection is a hotchpotch of contemporary paintings, textiles, puppets, masks and eccentric furniture that delves into the history, art, and culture of the region. Some ancient Egyptian artefacts too – definitely not from Brighton.

Stroll around this donut-shaped glass pod as you ascend a 162m viewing mast in the centre of Brighton, offering you 360-degree views of city and coast.

Pick up a BTNbike (register on the website and then pay 3p per minute) and wheel along the seafront from buzzing Brighton beach to the more genteel Hove lawns.

A temple to nostalgic childhood moments, this quaint museum has toy trains and cars, stuffed toys and retrospectives of brands such as Lego. 

The world’s oldest aquarium, Brighton’s Sea Life Centre is best for little kids, with its walk-through aquarium tunnels and touch pools of starfish and anemones.