Situated at the southern tip of the United Kingdom, Brighton is a coastal city that offers much more than a tourist-lined beach and pier.
| Collaborative post |
While the Brighton shoreline is a certified must-visit site across every Brighton tourist guidebook, this famous beachfront doesn’t cover the entire breadth of things to do and see while you’re in southern England.
Brighton is a city that offers so much more than a spectacular beach view and a fun carnival-like experience. Behind its iconic beach is a city steeped with a rich history, a vibrant art scene, eclectic gastronomic delights, and other bits and bobs that make the city effortlessly charming.
If you’re looking to enjoy Brighton in a way that’s unique and off-beat, then you’re in the right place. I’ll walk you through some of the most fun things to do in Brighton that go beyond cold sea dips and the usual pier-side thrills.
Let’s jump right into it.
1. A local workshop or class
If you want to immerse yourself in something new and meaningful to you, then consider joining one of the many local classes hosted in the city.
Brighton is home to a plethora of creative workshops that appeal to a wide range of people. From pottery classes to photography walks, there are many locally-hosted activities that you can consider joining in this vibrant city. You just have to find the right group online and see when their next meet up will be held.
If you’re looking for a specific thing to do while in Brighton and are into the arts, consider joining Pinot & Picasso paint and sip sessions.
This activity is a guided workshop that allows you to paint in a judgment-free and relaxed environment while experiencing a cosy wine session in good company. You get to keep the artwork you painted, too, as a bonus.
Of course, choose a class that resonates with your individual interests, or something that makes you curious. Whatever class you opt for, you’re sure to find a ton of value in joining these classes or workshops in Brighton.
While the class itself is enriching, the learning isn’t the only perk you’re getting. Besides participating in an activity that you genuinely enjoy, you can also socialise with like-minded locals, both fellow students and instructors, in a cool and hip setting. This can be a fun, unique, and refreshing activity for tourists looking to try something out of the typical tourist track.
2. Hire a Beryl Bike
If you don’t mind having a moderately active day in Brighton, consider hiring a bike through the city’s only approved public sharebike scheme, Beryl Bikes. Brighton’s teeming with various Beryl bike hubs in various parts of the city, making it easy to get and dock at designated bays.
Hiring a bike is also a fairly cheap way to get around, starting at just £1 and increasing by a few pence every minute. You can also get bundle passes if you plan to ride bikes more frequently to save on costs.
Brighton is a fairly bikeable city. It’s mostly flat, has dedicated bike lanes, and there’s not too much traffic. You can choose to bike around the port and seaside for some scenic views, but you can also travel the less-popular routes to see the more local areas of the city.
The great part about hiring a bike is the freedom of movement you can achieve with your two-wheeled transportation. You’re not restricted to the movement of the bus and train and their schedules.
As long as you’re fit enough to endure a bike ride, then this could be a fun way to explore the city at your preferred pace.
3. Get lost in The Lanes
The Lanes is a must-visit when in Brighton. You don’t need to have a concrete plan before venturing out in this part of town. In fact, it may be better to go there blind and just wander around aimlessly.
This historic part of town was once considered the heart of an old fishing town, but is now a modern-day shopper’s paradise. Semblances of that bygone era still exist in the exteriors of the place, seen particularly in the flint stone walls and brick-paved roads.
Nowadays, the Lanes is a place locals and tourists frequent for its wide variety of independent boutiques, vintage shops, cafes, pubs, and jewellery stores.
The shops and businesses in Brighton’s lanes are all situated in a maze of narrow alleyways, making each turn and corner feel like a new place of wonder.
When visiting the Lanes, keep an open mind and a full wallet, as most of the fun when visiting this place is wandering around, purchasing hidden trinkets, and eating good food in any corner you may wander into.
4. Watch a cabaret
Let’s face facts: there’s nothing more English than watching performative theatre. And what better way to spend a night in Brighton than to see a theatrical performance that only comes alive at night?
Brighton’s nightlife is rich with several shows that can you can enjoy on an evening. Specifically, drag shows and cabarets are quite the hit in this city.
In fact, many people regard Brighton’s shows as the most cheeky, glamorous, and comedic that there are in the South East of England.
Have a look for nightly shows in popular local venues like Haus of Cabaret, Queens Arms Brighton, or Showlesque and Gamestars. The shows are filled with slapstick comedy and irony, guaranteeing a laugh and a good time no matter where you choose to go and regardless of whether it’s your first show or tenth.
5. Stroll within the Royal Pavilion and garden
Besides Brighton’s iconic beachfront, another main highlight in town is the Royal Pavilion and its accompanying garden. This landmark is a Chinese-inspired royal ground that served as King George IV’s former palace, making it quite a unique sight in English territory.
You can step inside this tourist attraction and admire the 19th-century Asian elements that surround the halls of this royal building. After admiring the interior, you can step outside and enjoy the sight of a carefully-managed and nicely-curated garden in peace.
If you time your visit right, there are also guided tours taking place in the Royal Pavilion that you can consider joining, where you can see the basement or restricted areas of the castle. You may even catch a glance of people getting married in the building, giving you an intimate slice of local culture in one of Brighton’s most beautiful tourist attractions.
6. Look at the city’s street art
In many of England’s iconic cities, there’s often a region that celebrates the creative flair of its citizens.
And in Brighton, this is no different, as there are several streets, alleys, and roads where you can see these creative works come alive and feel as if you’ve stepped inside an open-air gallery.
In particular, the North Laine is an iconic street art paradise with picturesque murals, political commentary, and quirky art all showcased in various aspects of the road, from the walls to the shop shutters.
These street art pieces are created by a mix of famous artists and anonymous people, showcasing the layers of creativity packed into this spot in Brighton. Simply walking along this road and nearby alleyways and snapping photos can be a great way to spend time in Brighton and feel its creative atmosphere.
7. Visit the Brighton i360
Lastly, you can cap off your trip to Brighton with a visit to the Brighton i360 viewing pod. This tower allows you to see Brighton from 531 feet (162 meters) high in the sky, allowing you to view the coastline, city, and the farther bits of Brighton from an unobstructed vantage point.
What makes the i360 unique from other city towers is its mobility. The i360 pod glides high up, moving and rotating.
This allows you to snap pictures or enjoy the horizon fade from coast to city without moving or turning your head.
Furthermore, the tower also has an in-house bar complete with cocktails and drinks, making it a nice place to go to at dinnertime when the city lights shine all around the town. If you like the idea of seeing cities from a high perspective, a visit to this tower is the best way to enjoy panoramic views over Brighton.
I hope you’ll find these tips useful on your next visit to Brighton. Enjoy your trip!
