Chris & Nat’s guidebook
Sightseeing
You're coming to Brighton, then you are going to spend a fair amount of time down the beach.
Highlights include:
Good food, decent bars and nightclubs, two piers, half decent shops (better towards the i360), a zipwire, pop-up comedy venue in the summer (the Warren at the beach), volleyball, basketball, kids play areas, crazy golf the i360, trainline (Volks railway)... the list goes on!!
Broadly speaking, the Kemptown end (east of the Palace Pier) of the beach is focused on activities that will keep kids and grown-ups entertained; central (between the piers) is focused one eating, drinking and shopping; and Hove end (west of the West Pier) is a bit quieter and more space for families and locals.
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Brighton Beach
off Kings RdYou're coming to Brighton, then you are going to spend a fair amount of time down the beach.
Highlights include:
Good food, decent bars and nightclubs, two piers, half decent shops (better towards the i360), a zipwire, pop-up comedy venue in the summer (the Warren at the beach), volleyball, basketball, kids play areas, crazy golf the i360, trainline (Volks railway)... the list goes on!!
Broadly speaking, the Kemptown end (east of the Palace Pier) of the beach is focused on activities that will keep kids and grown-ups entertained; central (between the piers) is focused one eating, drinking and shopping; and Hove end (west of the West Pier) is a bit quieter and more space for families and locals.
British Airways i360
Haus auf dem Kopf – Brighton
Royal Pavilion
Brighton Museum and Art Gallery
You're in Brighton and your on holiday, so a trip down the pier is kind of a must. You won't see many locals down the pier, but none the less it is quite good fun to go on a few rides, eat some donuts and play on the arcades.
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Brighton Palace Pier
Madeira DriveYou're in Brighton and your on holiday, so a trip down the pier is kind of a must. You won't see many locals down the pier, but none the less it is quite good fun to go on a few rides, eat some donuts and play on the arcades.
Seven Sisters Cliffs
Bahnhof Devils Dyke
Devil's Dyke RoadGreat walks and views
Neighbourhoods
Meander through the north laines, perusing local independent shops and cafes. Fully of the weird and wonderful and loads of character. It's probably our favourite area of Brighton, but it gets very busy on weekends!!
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North Laine
Meander through the north laines, perusing local independent shops and cafes. Fully of the weird and wonderful and loads of character. It's probably our favourite area of Brighton, but it gets very busy on weekends!!
Well, its where you are staying, so you have no choice to visit this area. But, that aside, it is lovely area of Brighton. Kemptown village (where you are staying) has lots of little boutique shops and some nice restaurants and local bars.
Then as you wander down St James Street towards town, you enter a strip full of bars, restaurants and nightclubs. St James Street is famed for a long and proud history of supporting the Gay community and we are city that loves to celebrate all kinds of diversity and none more so then Kemptown. For great night out, surrounded all sorts of characters, then look no further then St James Street.
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Kemptown
Well, its where you are staying, so you have no choice to visit this area. But, that aside, it is lovely area of Brighton. Kemptown village (where you are staying) has lots of little boutique shops and some nice restaurants and local bars.
Then as you wander down St James Street towards town, you enter a strip full of bars, restaurants and nightclubs. St James Street is famed for a long and proud history of supporting the Gay community and we are city that loves to celebrate all kinds of diversity and none more so then Kemptown. For great night out, surrounded all sorts of characters, then look no further then St James Street.
The Marina is a relatively short walk or a few stops on the bus. It is a really good option if the weather is not great as you have a cinema, bowling alley, casino, indoor crazy golf and plenty more entertainment to keep both kids and adults entertained.
There are also plenty of bars and restaurants in this area. They are not the amazing or memorable kind of restaurants that Brighton has plenty of, but there are some decent options and very convenient when down the marina.
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Brighton Marina
The Marina is a relatively short walk or a few stops on the bus. It is a really good option if the weather is not great as you have a cinema, bowling alley, casino, indoor crazy golf and plenty more entertainment to keep both kids and adults entertained.
There are also plenty of bars and restaurants in this area. They are not the amazing or memorable kind of restaurants that Brighton has plenty of, but there are some decent options and very convenient when down the marina.
Brighton's main shopping mall. Pretty decent as far as malls go, with plenty of shops inside, so a good option when the weather is not great. Also very close to Brighton's other main shopping areas:
- North Laines (quirky independent shops)
- South Laines (jewellery, art and high end clothes)
- Western Road and North Road - Bigger mainstream retailers
Churchill Square
Brighton's main shopping mall. Pretty decent as far as malls go, with plenty of shops inside, so a good option when the weather is not great. Also very close to Brighton's other main shopping areas:
- North Laines (quirky independent shops)
- South Laines (jewellery, art and high end clothes)
- Western Road and North Road - Bigger mainstream retailers
Or as we all know it 'Hove actually'; a reference to when someone asks where do you live and people very often say... Brighton, well Hove Actually.
Hove and Brighton merge together pretty seamlessly to become the city of Brighton & Hove.
Hove, is a little less quirky and full on then Brighton, but it is a great part of town with lots of nice restaurants and bars (with more locals then tourists) . The beach is probably a bit quieter and more family focused then central Brighton., with several dog friendly beaches and several play areas for kids.
Hove Park is one of the best parks in Brighton, with free parking and a nice play area for kids.
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Hove
Or as we all know it 'Hove actually'; a reference to when someone asks where do you live and people very often say... Brighton, well Hove Actually.
Hove and Brighton merge together pretty seamlessly to become the city of Brighton & Hove.
Hove, is a little less quirky and full on then Brighton, but it is a great part of town with lots of nice restaurants and bars (with more locals then tourists) . The beach is probably a bit quieter and more family focused then central Brighton., with several dog friendly beaches and several play areas for kids.
Hove Park is one of the best parks in Brighton, with free parking and a nice play area for kids.
You're coming to Brighton, then you are going to spend a fair amount of time down the beach.
Highlights include:
Good food, decent bars and nightclubs, two piers, half decent shops (better towards the i360), a zipwire, pop-up comedy venue in the summer (the Warren at the beach), volleyball, basketball, kids play areas, crazy golf the i360, trainline (Volks railway)... the list goes on!!
Broadly speaking, the Kemptown end (east of the Palace Pier) of the beach is focused on activities that will keep kids and grown-ups entertained; central (between the piers) is focused one eating, drinking and shopping; and Hove end (west of the West Pier) is a bit quieter and more space for families and locals.
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Brighton Beach
off Kings RdYou're coming to Brighton, then you are going to spend a fair amount of time down the beach.
Highlights include:
Good food, decent bars and nightclubs, two piers, half decent shops (better towards the i360), a zipwire, pop-up comedy venue in the summer (the Warren at the beach), volleyball, basketball, kids play areas, crazy golf the i360, trainline (Volks railway)... the list goes on!!
Broadly speaking, the Kemptown end (east of the Palace Pier) of the beach is focused on activities that will keep kids and grown-ups entertained; central (between the piers) is focused one eating, drinking and shopping; and Hove end (west of the West Pier) is a bit quieter and more space for families and locals.
Local food scene (Kemptown only)
Brighton & Hove have the second highest number of restaurants in the UK (only London has more) and new restaurants are opening all the time. So, it would be a fairly thankless task to provide recommendations for the whole city. So these recommendations are just the ones in the Kemptown area.
For recommendations outside of the Kemptown, I would recommend visiting: https://restaurantsbrighton.co.uk/
A good day time option for a range of Asian cuisine (though mainly Sri Lankan)
Nanima Asian Kitchen & Café
36 Saint George's RoadA good day time option for a range of Asian cuisine (though mainly Sri Lankan)
Pizzaface
35 St George's RdVery nice local pizza for takeaway or delivery
Super tasty curry that any curry lover should enjoy.
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Curry Leaf Cafe – Kemptown Kitchen
40-42 Upper St James's StSuper tasty curry that any curry lover should enjoy.
Metrodeco
38 Upper St James's StArtisan tea and cake
egg & spoon
107-108 St George's RdRedroaster Cafe
1D St James's StArtisan
117 St George's RdCafe Rust Kemptown
115 St George's RdWoodbox Pizzeria
1 Paston PlLocal pubs
The Thomas Kemp
8 St George's RdBusby and Wilds
9 Rock StGreat food & roasts
The Barley Mow
92 St George's RdApparently does good pies
Saint George's Inn
33 Upper Sudeley StGood outdoor beer garden
Hand In Hand
33 Upper St James's StLittle tiny pub!
The Sidewinder
65 Upper St James's StCocktails
The Plotting Parlour
6 Steine StGood cocktails
Brighton Rocks
6 Rock PlShops
Brighton Flea Market
31a Upper St James's StGood for kids
Opened as Brighton Aquarium in 1872, it is the oldest operating aquarium in the world!! Kids normally love an aquarium and this one is less than 20 minutes walk away.
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SEA LIFE Brighton
Marine ParadeOpened as Brighton Aquarium in 1872, it is the oldest operating aquarium in the world!! Kids normally love an aquarium and this one is less than 20 minutes walk away.
Also know as VERA. Opened in 1883, inventor Magnus Volk's Electric Railway is the 'world's oldest operating electric railway.
It's a fun way to get to or from the Pier to Kemptown and you jump onboard from pretty much the bottom of the road.
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Volk’s Electric Railway
285 Madeira DrAlso know as VERA. Opened in 1883, inventor Magnus Volk's Electric Railway is the 'world's oldest operating electric railway.
It's a fun way to get to or from the Pier to Kemptown and you jump onboard from pretty much the bottom of the road.
The Marina is a relatively short walk or a few stops on the bus. It is a really good option if the weather is not great as you have a cinema, bowling alley, casino, indoor crazy golf and plenty more entertainment to keep both kids and adults entertained.
There are also plenty of bars and restaurants in this area. They are not the amazing or memorable kind of restaurants that Brighton has plenty of, but there are some decent options and very convenient when down the marina.
240 Einheimische empfehlen
Brighton Marina
The Marina is a relatively short walk or a few stops on the bus. It is a really good option if the weather is not great as you have a cinema, bowling alley, casino, indoor crazy golf and plenty more entertainment to keep both kids and adults entertained.
There are also plenty of bars and restaurants in this area. They are not the amazing or memorable kind of restaurants that Brighton has plenty of, but there are some decent options and very convenient when down the marina.
Jungle Rumble Adventure Golf - Brighton
286 Madeira DrHollywood Bowl Brighton
Marina WayDrusillas Park
Alfriston RoadMonkey Bizness Lewes
Soft play
Funplex
49 Auckland DrKing's Road Playground
28 Kings Rdkids play area and paddling pool