5 Things to do in Brighton

Spending most of the summer in England means lots of time to explore London, as well as nearby British towns. When I heard the seaside town of Brighton was only an hour away from the heart of London, I knew a day at the beach would make for a perfect summer Saturday.

Getting to Brighton from London couldn’t be easier- it’s a direct train ride from London Victoria, St. Pancras or London Bridge.

Before going, I’d been warned that Brighton wasn’t like beaches I may be used to from a life spent growing up on the east coast of the States- read: Brighton is a pebble beach. But, everyone told me the town of Brighton was cute enough to warrant a visit in and of itself.

And, they were so right.

Brighton is a quirky beach town, the perfect seaside escape from London.

5 Things to do in Brighton

Brighton Beach & the Pier

The beach is a can’t miss if you’re visiting Brighton a nice day. It’s pebbly, but you can rent a beach chair for just a few pounds to relax in comfort. The pier is also a must-see, the games and snacks are classic beachside treats.

After relaxing on the beach for a bit, we walked along the shore up to the Hove to admire the colorful beach boxes.

The Lanes

The Lanes are a maze of streets, packed with cute boutiques and restaurants, many of which are the epitome of ‘Brighton’. A few of my favorites:

Choccywoccydoodah: Chocolate in all sorts of fun shapes
Workshop: Gorgeous homeware with Scandi influence
England at Home: Cute and eccentric home goods
Food for Friends: Amazing vegetarian food, so delicious and beautiful

Cute Coffee Shops

After living in London for several months and struggling to find year-round cold brew and iced tea, I just assumed neither were a thing in England. Brighton changed all that. We popped in so many adorable cafes, all of which served stellar cold brew and iced teas.

Can’t miss places:

Small Batch Coffee Company: Started our day here with a cold brew topped up with coconut milk
The Flour Pot: Came here for a breakfast sandwich and another cold brew. V. adorable, and located in the North Laines, a good place for vintage shopping and spotting colorful street art
Ground: We walked from Brighton to Kemptown, and stopped here halfway through for a kiwi iced tea
Marmalade: Talk about all things darling. This Kemptown cafe was my favorite place of the day- killer cold brew, and great cakes

The Royal Pavilion

When King George IV built a summer retreat for the royal family in Brighton, I doubt he did so knowing it’d become one of Brighton’s top tourist attractions. We didn’t tour the inside, but walking the grounds was beautiful. The Eastern design influence isn’t something you see in other parts of Brighton, and it almost feels out of place until you realize it just adds to the city’s charm.

Fish & Chips

You can’t leave Brighton without trying some of the city’s famous fish & chips. Famed for being fresh and crispy, Wolfies of Hove and Bardsley’s are local favorites. My friend rated Wolfies of Hove as an A++, but I opted to try the fried Halloumi with chips at The Prince George. Y’all. SO GOOD. Will definitely be visiting again my next time in Brighton.

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5 Things to do in Brighton