Brighton summer love: what to see and do

Where to hang out on England's south coast

Brighton is one of the sunniest cities in Great Britain, and travellers have been partying on its beaches and promenades for centuries. A popular day trip and weekend break from London, the south-coast city is sometimes known as ’Britain’s San Francisco’ and has an incredible arts, clubbing and gay scene to match.

Summer is undoubtedly the best time to visit Brighton. With the iconic pier in the distance, seaside activities mix alongside a beachside club culture that never sleeps. But you don’t have to rely on hot weather to have a good time in Brighton; there’s loads going on throughout the year whether it’s sunny or not.

To prove it, here’s a few reasons why this English seaside town is a must-see this summer.

Brighton Pier

Image by valcker (Flickr/Creative Commons)

Brighton Pier captures the best of British seaside culture and here you can eat candyfloss, play slots and spend your pennies on arcade games. If you want to ride dodgems, drink cider or have a cup of chips with ketchup then you’ll have a whale of a time. And if you’re really in the mood, you can even get married here too!

Brighton’s beach bars

Image taken from Fortune of War

Each of Brighton’s beaches has its own unique style. Situated west of the pier, you’ll find ice cream vans and kiosks in the old fishing huts and regenerated pubs and clubs in boat builders’ sheds in the King’s Road Arches.

If you fancy a pint in an upside-down-boat, then get a round in at the Fortune of War (Brighton’s oldest seafront pub) or head over to The Tempest Inn, a gourmet venue with beautiful views of the English Channel, which is perfect for a long afternoon of wine, beer and crisps.

Visitors who want to dance and drink rum, should head down to the Riki Tik Beach Bar, where you can jump into the sea if you’re feeling the heat.

Watch a film on the beach

Image taken from Brighton Big Screen

Brighton’s Big Screen is the UK’s largest beachfront cinema. It will be showing a host of modern releases and classics throughout August and September near the Palace Pier from 28th July – 28th August 2017. There will be pop-up bars, street food stalls and lots of ice cream during both the matinee and evening showings.

Scale the 'British Airways i360'

Image by Martin Pettitt (Flickr/Creative Commons)

See Brighton as you have never seen it before when you climb up 138 metres on the world’s tallest moving observation tower. Bring your camera to the glass viewing pod, where you can enjoy 360o views across Brighton, the South Downs Coast and, if you're very lucky, all the way to the Isle of Wight.

Explore the Royal Pavilion

Image by Pablo Fernández (Flickr/Creative Commons)

The exotic palace can be found in Brighton city centre and has a remarkable history. Prince Regent (King George IV) transformed the seaside palace in the mid-nineteenth century into one of the most colourful and celebrated buildings in the UK. The palace is a fabulous place to visit and has a glorious balcony overlooking the Pavilion gardens.

Go vintage shopping in the Lanes

Image by Ref54 (Flickr/Creative Commons)

If you are looking for something special to bring home with you, The Lanes offers a wonderful range of independent shops and boutiques.

The Lanes is the city’s historic quarter, famous for its twisting alleyways, and can be found just south of Pavilion Gardens, between North Street and Prince Albert Street.

Where to stay in Brighton

If you fancy a cheap weekend in Brighton then look no further than some of the city’s excellent hostels. If you book in advance, you can sleep by the sea from only 9 Euros (8 Pounds) a night. It's as cheap as chips!

*Header image by Pablo Fernández (Flickr/Creative Commons)