Brighton Travel Guide (with tips, itinerary and map)

Our Brighton Travel Guide includes recommended places to visit and things to do, accommodation options, tips and more for one of the most popular seaside resorts and cities on the southern coast of England. Everything you need to plan your visit and essential reading for any visitor to Brighton!

Plan your visit to Brighton

Located south of London on the southern coast of England is the popular seaside resort and city of Brighton and Hove. Described as ‘bohemian, hedonistic and colourful’ (VisitBritain.com) Brighton is a cute, quirky English city that has it all.

Brighton is also the perfect base for exploring some of England’s prettiest villages or why not take a day trip to the Seven Sisters cliffs located in the South Downs National Park?

FAQs – Visiting Brighton

When is the best time of year to visit Brighton?

May to September is the warmest and sunniest time of year to visit. Peak season is July and August when Londoners flock to the seaside during the hot summer months.

It can be breezy in Brighton at any time of year! It can also be chilly in winter so pack accordingly.

The Brighton Festival is held in May and covers the arts – film, dance, comedy, literature, circus, theatre, and opera. Find out more information on the official site.

How many days do you need in Brighton?

Plan to spend at least a day to enjoy some of Brighton’s attractions. This would provide enough time to visit the Royal Pavilion and Pier plus enjoy a walk around the Lanes.

Brighton is the perfect destination for a weekend getaway or as part of a road trip along the southern coast of England.

What is the best way to get around Brighton?

Brighton is a compact city and is easily explored on foot.

There is also a hop-on-hop-off bus available to get you around to all the major sights if you prefer.

How can I get to Brighton from London?

By train from London

For timetables and tickets, we recommend the trainline. Take the train to Brighton for the day.

Tip – If this is your first time catching a train in the UK read our complete guide to UK train travel which includes all the information you need to know to make travelling around the UK by rail a relaxing and stress-free experience.

• Distance from London: 47 miles
• Time taken by train: Fastest is 52 minutes to around 1 hour 20 minutes
• Depart London Victoria. London Blackfriars or London Bridge.

By car from London

Brighton can take between 1 to 2 hours from London by road. Take the A23/M23 south until you arrive in Brighton. It is that easy!

There is a park and ride scheme available to get into the city. Alternatively there are number of car parks in the city. Don’t forget to carry change to pay parking meters.

Take a tour from London to Brighton

• From London: Seven Sisters and South Downs Full-Day Tour – Explore the beauty of the South Downs National Park and see the famous white cliffs of the coast on a small group tour from London. Visit the chalk cliffs of the Seven Sisters and discover the Neolithic carving of the Longman of Wilmington.

• Private Brighton & Arundel Castle or Petworth House Day Tour – Visit the lovely Regency seaside resort of Brighton and continue to Arundel Castle, home to the Duke of Norfolk for over 700 years. Travel in style in a luxury chauffeur-driven vehicle with door-to-door transfers from central London.

Attractions, places to visit & things to do in Brighton

Where to stay in Brighton

Find more special stays in my Accommodation Guide for England.

Tickets, tours and experiences in Brighton

Below you will find a selection of the best tickets, tours and experiences available in Brighton. These tours are all available from Get Your Guide which is our tour company of choice due to their flexible cancellation policies and great customer service.

• Brighton Sea Life Centre – Visit the world’s oldest aquarium.

• Grand Brighton Bike Tour – Experience Brighton by bike on a leisurely 2.5-hour guided tour, and explore the artistic back streets of North Laine, the flamboyant architecture of the Royal Pavilion, quaint Fishing Quarter, Georgian architecture of Brunswick Square, and more.

• Brighton Zip Line Experience Ticket – Get an adrenaline rush on the longest zip line on the south coast of England and experience Brighton from a different perspective. Race your friends on a dual zip line or choose the complete package and have a go on the drop zone.

• Guided Chocolate Tour with Tastings – Sample your way around the seaside city of Brighton on this unique guided tour. With a local, visit some of Brighton’s most beloved chocolate shops and taste a selection of delicious sweet treats.

• Brighton Walking Food Tour – Discover the history and cuisine of Brighton on a 2-hour walking food tour, making regular stops for tastings of local food and drink.

• Private Customisable Brighton Tour With a Local – Book a local for a personalised exploration of Brighton. Your local host will give you a local perspective on both top attractions and lesser-known parts of the city with a flexible and exciting itinerary.

Enjoy your visit to Brighton

This guide will have provided inspiration plus practical information to help plan your visit to Brighton. You will find more inspiration and ideas to help plan your travels around England in these travel guides:

• Devon Travel Guide (including tips, itinerary + map)

• Dorset Jurassic Travel Guide (including tips, itinerary & map)

• York Travel Guide (including essential travel tips, itinerary + map)

• Peak District Travel Guide

• Lake District Travel Guide

• 10 virtual tours of famous landmarks in the UK

Looking for more inspiration for your travels in England? Check out my England Travel Planning Guide which has loads of ideas, tips and resources to plan your itinerary.