# Brighton Staycation Guide — Where to Stay & What to Do

> Brighton guide: Royal Pavilion, Palace Pier, The Lanes and North Laine, plus where to stay, from seafront hotels to Kemptown B&Bs and South Downs campsites.

Source: https://staycation.co.uk/brighton (Staycation.co.uk). Cite the source page, not this text version.

Regency palaces, pebble beach and salt-air swagger

Photo © peter musinsky, Google Maps

[Guide](https://staycation.co.uk/brighton) [🏨 Hotels](https://staycation.co.uk/brighton/hotels) [🏡 Cottages](https://staycation.co.uk/brighton/cottages) [⛺ Camping](https://staycation.co.uk/brighton/camping) [🎟️ Attractions](https://staycation.co.uk/brighton/attractions) [🍽️ Restaurants](https://staycation.co.uk/brighton/restaurants)

Brighton sits on the Sussex coast about fifty miles due south of London, at the point where the chalk ridge of the South Downs runs out at the sea and breaks off into cliffs and a long grey shingle beach. It began as Brighthelmstone, a fishing town that had lost most of its boats and half its lower streets to storms by the early eighteenth century, and it was rescued by fashion rather than industry. A Lewes physician began prescribing sea bathing as a cure for almost everything, the Prince of Wales came down to try it in 1783, and within forty years he had built himself a domed and minaretted palace a few hundred yards from the water. The railway arrived in 1841 and turned a resort for the wealthy into a resort for everyone, and Brighton has been arguing about which of those it wants to be ever since.

The result is a city with an unusually distinct character for somewhere this close to London. Regency terraces in cream stucco run east and west along the front, some restored to the last railing and some pleasantly worn by salt air. Behind them the twisting alleys of The Lanes and the wider grid of North Laine hold several hundred independent shops - records, vintage clothing, secondhand books, tattooists, jewellers - and very few chains. Two universities, a large creative and digital sector and one of the oldest and most visible LGBTQ+ communities in Britain give the place a young, opinionated, faintly bohemian temperament that is obvious within about ten minutes of arriving.

Brighton and Hove has been a single city since 2000, and the two halves still feel different. Brighton is dense, steep and noisy; Hove, immediately to the west, has broader streets, mown lawns, a run of painted beach huts and a calmer pace. The beach itself is shingle rather than sand, which keeps it clean and makes swimming easy but rules out sandcastles. The South Downs National Park comes right up to the northern edge of the built-up area, so it is possible to be walking on open chalk grassland twenty minutes after leaving the seafront. Almost nothing a visitor wants is more than a half-hour walk from anything else, and a car is more nuisance than help.

## Getting to Brighton

Brighton is one of the easiest coastal cities in Britain to reach without a car. Fast Southern services from London Victoria take about an hour, trains from London Bridge take roughly the same, and Thameslink runs through St Pancras, Farringdon and London Blackfriars in around an hour and a quarter, which is useful if you are coming from the north on a through ticket. Gatwick Airport is only about half an hour up the line, so Brighton works well as a first or last night before a flight. Coastway services connect east to Lewes, Eastbourne and Hastings and west to Worthing, Chichester and Portsmouth. The station sits at the top of a hill and it is a downhill walk of ten to fifteen minutes to the seafront.

By road it is the A23 and M23 from junction 7 of the M25, about fifty-five miles and usually an hour and a half, though summer Fridays and bank holiday weekends can double that on the final stretch. The A27 runs along the back of the city and links to Lewes and Eastbourne one way and Worthing and Chichester the other.

Parking is the one genuine difficulty. Almost the whole of central Brighton and Kemptown is under resident permit control, on-street charges are high and hotel parking is rare and often off-site. The practical options are the multi-storey car parks at Regency Square, Church Street and The Lanes, or the car park at Brighton station, and a park-and-ride operates at Withdean for major events. If you are only visiting the city, leaving the car at home is almost always the better decision. For the airports, Gatwick is thirty minutes by train, Heathrow about two hours by coach, and the Newhaven to Dieppe ferry leaves from twenty minutes along the coast.

## Best time to visit Brighton

Spring is arguably the best-value season. April and May bring the Brighton Marathon, the month-long Brighton Festival and its enormous Fringe, and The Great Escape, which fills small venues across the city with new bands over a single weekend. The Downs are at their best in May, before the grass dries out, and hotel rates have not yet reached their summer level.

Summer is when the city is at full volume. June to August is warm, busy and long-lit, with the sea reaching around seventeen or eighteen degrees by late August, which is as good as the Channel gets. Brighton Pride takes over the first weekend of August and is the single busiest period of the year - rooms are booked out months ahead and prices rise sharply, so either plan for it deliberately or avoid it deliberately.

Autumn suits people who want the seaside without the crush. September often holds the warmth, the water is at its warmest of the year, the beach empties after the schools go back and rates fall noticeably. The London to Brighton Veteran Car Run finishes on Madeira Drive on the first Sunday of November and is worth timing a visit around.

Winter is cheap, blustery and rather good. Storms drive spectacular surf against the shingle, the Pavilion grounds take an ice rink over Christmas, and the restaurants and spas are easy to get into. Some seafront kiosks and rides close or run reduced hours between November and March, and the wind coming off the Channel is genuinely cold, so this is a season for eating, drinking and gallery-going rather than sunbathing.

## Where to stay in Brighton(105)

[All hotels in Brighton →](https://staycation.co.uk/brighton/hotels)

About staying in Brighton

Brighton has more beds per head than almost any English city outside London, which is good news for choice and unhelpful for narrowing things down. The first decision is not really price but position, because the city is small enough that everywhere central is walkable and different enough between districts that the wrong choice can colour a whole weekend.

The seafront along Kings Road is the classic option. Big Victorian and Regency hotels face the water, sea-view rooms cost noticeably more than those at the back, and everything a first-time visitor wants is within ten minutes on foot. The trade-off is noise: the stretch closest to the Palace Pier is busy until the early hours at weekends, and rooms at the front catch traffic as well as gulls. Ask for a higher floor.

Just behind the front, The Lanes and North Laine put the restaurants, bars and independent shops on your doorstep. Hotels here tend to be small, converted and full of character, with narrow staircases and no parking whatsoever. They suit short city breaks where you intend to walk everywhere and eat late.

Kemptown, east of the pier, is where Brighton's guest houses and B&Bs cluster, in the grand Regency crescents around Sussex Square and Lewes Crescent. Prices are lower than on the seafront proper, breakfasts are usually better, and the walk into the centre is a pleasant fifteen minutes along Marine Parade. Regency Square and the western seafront offer a similar mix of converted townhouses with the considerable advantage of a large car park underneath the square.

Hove is the answer for families and anyone staying more than two or three nights, with quieter streets, the lawns and the beach huts, and easier parking. Brighton Marina and the residential streets around Preston Park are cheaper again but need a bus or a longer walk. Whatever you choose, book well ahead for May, for August, and above all for Pride weekend, when rates across the city roughly double and the cheaper places sell out first.

[8.6 ★★★★4 star The Grand Brighton Kings Road, central Brighton seafront from £165/night](https://staycation.co.uk/brighton/hotels/the-grand-brighton) [8.5 ★★★★4 star Brighton Harbour Hotel & Spa Kings Road, seafront near the West Pier from £175/night](https://staycation.co.uk/brighton/hotels/brighton-harbour-hotel-and-spa) [8.9 ★★★★4 star Drakes Hotel Marine Parade, east of the Palace Pier from £150/night](https://staycation.co.uk/brighton/hotels/drakes-hotel) [8.8 ★★★★4 star Artist Residence Brighton Regency Square, western seafront from £145/night](https://staycation.co.uk/brighton/hotels/artist-residence-brighton) [8.0 ★★★★4 star The Old Ship Hotel Kings Road, beside The Lanes from £89/night](https://staycation.co.uk/brighton/hotels/the-old-ship-hotel) [8.4 ★★★3 star Hotel Pelirocco Regency Square, central seafront from £110/night](https://staycation.co.uk/brighton/hotels/hotel-pelirocco) [9.0 ★★★★4 star Paskins Town House Charlotte Street, Kemptown from £95/night](https://staycation.co.uk/brighton/hotels/paskins-town-house) [9.1 ★★★★4 star A Room With A View Marine Parade, Kemptown seafront from £115/night](https://staycation.co.uk/brighton/hotels/a-room-with-a-view)

## Things to Do in Brighton(38)

[All attractions in Brighton →](https://staycation.co.uk/brighton/attractions)

About things to do in Brighton

Brighton offers 38 attractions and things to do, with 30 particularly suited to family outings and 11 welcoming dogs. The town's seafront and central locations provide the full range of seaside entertainment, from traditional piers to modern viewing experiences and quirky indoor attractions.

Brighton Pier remains the top draw, with its Victorian structure on Madeira Drive housing classic rides, games and seaside attractions alongside accessible facilities and parking. The Royal Pavilion showcases Oriental-influenced architecture and lavish interiors, plus dining and baby facilities. Rising 450 feet above the waterfront, Brighton i360's glass pod delivers expansive views of the beach, pier and South Downs regardless of weather. Preston Park, Brighton's largest public space, spreads across wide green areas ideal for family activities with parking and toilets on Preston Road. For something different, Upside Down House Brighton turns conventional rooms on their head, while TeamSport Indoor Karting Brighton in Lancing offers competitive multi-level racing circuits for families with older children.

Dining ranges from Dishoom At Permit Room to Las Iguanas Brighton, and accommodation includes The Grand Brighton and Leonardo Royal Hotel Brighton Waterfront for those staying overnight. Camping options are available at Brighton Caravan and Motorhome Club Site, Blackberry Wood and Housedean Farm Campsite.

The town itself combines Regency architecture, independent shops and a shingle beach with the character of England's most distinctive seaside destination. Neighbouring areas including Hove, Eastbourne and Hastings have their own separate listings.

[Sleeping Beauty - Brighton Family Panto ⭐ 5.0](https://staycation.co.uk/brighton/attractions/sleeping-beauty-brighton-family-panto) [The Painting Pottery Cafe ⭐ 5.0](https://staycation.co.uk/brighton/attractions/the-painting-pottery-cafe) [The Young Actors Group ⭐ 5.0](https://staycation.co.uk/brighton/attractions/the-young-actors-group) [Escape The Vault - Escape Room Brighton ⭐ 4.9](https://staycation.co.uk/brighton/attractions/escape-the-vault-escape-room-brighton) [GOVR Brighton - VR Cafe ⭐ 4.9](https://staycation.co.uk/brighton/attractions/govr-brighton-vr-cafe) [Pier Pressure ⭐ 4.9](https://staycation.co.uk/brighton/attractions/pier-pressure) [Polowood Shooting Ground & Corporate Entertainment Ltd. ⭐ 4.9](https://staycation.co.uk/brighton/attractions/polowood-shooting-ground-corporate-entertainment-ltd) [Puzzle Parade ⭐ 4.9](https://staycation.co.uk/brighton/attractions/puzzle-parade)

## Where to Eat in Brighton(635)

[All restaurants in Brighton →](https://staycation.co.uk/brighton/restaurants)

About eating out in Brighton

Brighton offers 635 restaurants and places to eat across the city, with 573 rated on Google (average 4.5 out of 5). You'll find 165 dog-friendly options, 9 with vegetarian options, and 492 with a 5 food hygiene rating. The most recommended places span diverse cuisines and styles, from casual to fine dining.

Dishoom At Permit Room scores 4.9 out of 5 from 7356 reviews and serves Indian cuisine. Pizza Pilgrims also rates 4.9 out of 5 (5240 reviews) for Italian-American pizza. Las Iguanas Brighton and Purezza both achieve 4.8 out of 5 (7952 and 5758 reviews respectively), offering Peruvian and vegan food. Popeyes reaches 4.7 out of 5 from 5366 reviews for fried chicken.

Brighton Palace Pier (4.4 out of 5, 37436 reviews) combines eating and entertainment on the seafront. The city's Regency architecture, independent shops and shingle beach provide the backdrop for your visit, with the Royal Pavilion and Brighton i360 nearby for sightseeing between meals.

The Grand Brighton, Leonardo Royal Hotel Brighton Waterfront and Leonardo Hotel Brighton offer accommodation in the city. If you're staying longer, Brighton Caravan and Motorhome Club Site, Blackberry Wood and Housedean Farm Campsite are local options. Neighbouring towns Hove and Eastbourne have their own separate restaurant listings.

[Neon Saigon ⭐ 5.0](https://staycation.co.uk/brighton/restaurants/neon-saigon) [Roebuck Estates Sparkling Wine Bar ⭐ 5.0](https://staycation.co.uk/brighton/restaurants/roebuck-estates-sparkling-wine-bar) [Safe Art Cafe ⭐ 5.0](https://staycation.co.uk/brighton/restaurants/safe-art-cafe) [Sussex Surplus At BELTA Community Hub ⭐ 5.0](https://staycation.co.uk/brighton/restaurants/sussex-surplus-at-belta-community-hub) [Toast And Toss ⭐ 5.0](https://staycation.co.uk/brighton/restaurants/toast-and-toss) [The Archives ⭐ 5.0](https://staycation.co.uk/brighton/restaurants/the-archives) [Godzilla Records ⭐ 5.0](https://staycation.co.uk/brighton/restaurants/godzilla-records) [Good Times Deli ⭐ 5.0](https://staycation.co.uk/brighton/restaurants/good-times-deli)

## Attractions Near Brighton

[All attractions in Brighton →](https://staycation.co.uk/attractions)

Worth the trip — within 50 miles of Brighton.

[2 mi King Alfred Leisure Centre Hove · ⭐ 3.7](https://staycation.co.uk/hove/attractions/king-alfred-leisure-centre) [🎟️Live Events & Concerts 2 mi The Outdoors Project Hove](https://staycation.co.uk/hove/attractions/the-outdoors-project) [2 mi Hove Park Hove · ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/hove/attractions/hove-park) [4 mi Brighton Footgolf Course Hove · ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/hove/attractions/brighton-footgolf-course) [6 mi Ditchling Beacon-National Trust Ditchling · ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/ditchling/attractions/ditchling-beacon-national-trust) [🎟️Paintball Centres 7 mi KidsPaintball Brighton Henfield](https://staycation.co.uk/henfield/attractions/kidspaintball-brighton) [7 mi Lewes Castle Lewes · ⭐ 4.5](https://staycation.co.uk/lewes/attractions/lewes-castle) [7 mi The Macs Farm Ditchling · ⭐ 4.9](https://staycation.co.uk/ditchling/attractions/the-macs-farm)

## Camping in Brighton(5)

[All campsites in Brighton →](https://staycation.co.uk/brighton/camping)

About camping in Brighton

Brighton itself is a dense Victorian and Regency city with almost no undeveloped land inside it, so camping means pitching on the edge of the built-up area or up on the South Downs behind it. That turns out to be no hardship. The National Park boundary runs along the northern edge of the city, and within ten miles there are working farms, chalk downland and pockets of ancient woodland, all with regular buses or a short drive down to the sea.

The terrain is chalk, which matters more than it sounds. Downland drains quickly, so pitches dry out fast after rain and are rarely boggy, but the turf is thin over solid rock and long pegs are often useless - take rock pegs and a mallet. The ridges that give the views also funnel the wind, so guy everything out properly and think twice about a tall family tunnel tent in an unsheltered field. The woodland sites north of Ditchling are far more sheltered, at the cost of the views.

Weather along this coast is among the driest and sunniest in Britain, but the Channel keeps things changeable and evenings cool even in July. May to September is the reliable window, with June and September the best compromise between warm ground, long days and sensible prices. July and August fill up months ahead, and Pride weekend at the start of August books out every site within reach of the city.

Wild camping is not legal in England without the landowner's permission, and that includes all of the South Downs National Park - there is no Scottish-style right to roam here. The Downs are almost entirely farmed or grazed private land crossed by public rights of way, and walkers on the South Downs Way should book pitches in advance at the farms strung along it rather than chance a night out. Campfires are similarly restricted: several sites near Brighton allow them in supplied fire pits, but open fires on the beach or on downland are prohibited.

[Blackberry Wood ⭐ 4.8 · from £30/night](https://staycation.co.uk/brighton/camping/blackberry-wood) [Brighton Caravan and Motorhome Club Site ⭐ 4.5 · from £26/night](https://staycation.co.uk/brighton/camping/brighton-caravan-and-motorhome-club-site) [Brighton Experience Freedom Glamping ⭐ 4.4 · from £78/night](https://staycation.co.uk/brighton/camping/brighton-experience-freedom-glamping) [Hampshire Hills ⭐ 5.0 · from £60/night](https://staycation.co.uk/brighton/camping/hampshire-hills) [Housedean Farm Campsite ⭐ 4.7 · from £22/night](https://staycation.co.uk/brighton/camping/housedean-farm-campsite)

## Self-Catering Cottages in Brighton

[All cottages in Brighton →](https://staycation.co.uk/brighton/cottages)

[Brighton Pavilion 2 bed · sleeps 4](https://staycation.co.uk/brighton-and-hove/cottages/brighton-pavilion-uk50480) [🏡Cottage North Laine Cottage 2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £591](https://staycation.co.uk/brighton-and-hove/cottages/north-laine-cottage-m488439) [🏡Cottage Windsor Court 1 bed · sleeps 3](https://staycation.co.uk/brighton-and-hove/cottages/windsor-court-uk46156) [🏡Cottage The Beach Studio 1 bed · sleeps 4 · from £473](https://staycation.co.uk/brighton-and-hove/cottages/the-beach-studio-uk44349) [Beachfront Penthouse 3 bed · sleeps 6 · from £2,362](https://staycation.co.uk/brighton-and-hove/cottages/beachfront-penthouse-syk1197318) [Brighton Escape 2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £641](https://staycation.co.uk/brighton-and-hove/cottages/brighton-escape-uk48288) [🏡Cottage The Little Beach House 2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £661](https://staycation.co.uk/brighton-and-hove/cottages/the-little-beach-house-uk46769) [🏡Cottage The Hideaway 5 bed · sleeps 10 · from £2,080](https://staycation.co.uk/brighton-and-hove/cottages/the-hideaway-syk1134556)

## Common questions about Brighton

How many campsites are there in Brighton?

We list 5 campsites in and around Brighton, of which 4 take tents and 5 offer glamping.

Are there dog-friendly campsites in Brighton?

Yes — 3 of the 5 campsites we list in Brighton accept dogs, including Blackberry Wood and Housedean Farm Campsite.

Which campsites in Brighton have electric hook-up?

3 of the 5 campsites we list in Brighton offer an electric hook-up.

Where can I stay in Brighton?

We list 105 hotels, B&Bs and guest houses in and around Brighton. Prices start from around £89 a night.

What is there to do in Brighton?

We list 38 attractions and things to do in and around Brighton.

Where can I eat in Brighton?

We list 635 restaurants, pubs and cafes in and around Brighton.

### 🏨 Find Hotels in Brighton

Search hotels, B&Bs and self-catering on Booking.com.

[Search Accommodation →](https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-101762279-15734754?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.booking.com%2Fsearchresults.en-gb.html%3Fss%3DBrighton%252C%2BUnited%2BKingdom)

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### Explore Brighton

- [🏨 Hotels & B&Bs](https://staycation.co.uk/brighton/hotels)
- [🏡 Cottages](https://staycation.co.uk/brighton/cottages)
- [⛺ Campsites & glamping](https://staycation.co.uk/brighton/camping)
- [🎟️ Attractions](https://staycation.co.uk/brighton/attractions)
- [🍽️ Restaurants](https://staycation.co.uk/brighton/restaurants)
- [🗺️ More in East Sussex](https://staycation.co.uk/east-sussex)
- [🧭 All of the South East](https://staycation.co.uk/regions/south-east)

## Staycation ideas for Brighton

[All staycation ideas →](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas)

[Dog-Friendly Places to Eat in Brighton: Cafés, Pubs, Restaurants Cafés, pubs and restaurants in Brighton that Google lists as allowing dogs, grouped by type of visit, with ratings and a few practical tips.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/dog-friendly-places-to-eat-brighton) [The Best Last-Minute UK Staycations Six well-connected UK towns and cities worth booking at short notice, chosen for easy travel and a decent spread of accommodation once the school-holiday crowds have thinned.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/best-last-minute-staycations) [Brighton Staycation Guide: Where to Stay, What to Do and Where to Eat A Brighton staycation guide: seafront and boutique hotels, the Royal Pavilion, the pier and the Lanes, where to eat, a two-day plan, South Downs camping and day trips along the coast.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/brighton-staycation-guide) [Staycations Near London: Easy Breaks Within Two Hours The best staycations within about two hours of London: seaside towns, historic cities and countryside bases you can reach by train, from Brighton and Whitstable to Oxford, Winchester and the New Forest.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/staycations-near-london)