Tourism in Brighton:
Sights:
Pavilion Gardens:
If you have a keen eye, or a liking, for flowers, head to the Pavilion Gardens. It’s a nice place in which to sit and genuflect on a sunny afternoon. You can bet money that there’ll always be buskers plying their trade for your cash – from sitar players to full-blown bands playing double bass, guitars, banjos and horns. The Pavilion café is a good place to get a bite to eat and seating is more than sufficient. Beware of kids, though: it does tend to get a bit noisy and over-run. Nevertheless, it’s a great place to go – especially if you have children.
Brighton Art Gallery:
From retro art, to furniture and pictures dating from Brighton’s earlier days – the Brighton Art Gallery has it all. Entry is free. Also, if you’re keen on researching a bit of Brighton’s history (or sneaking the odd cheeky e-mail) there’s free internet access in the building’s library. The gallery is right near the Pavilion so you can’t miss it.
Brighton Marina:
The Brighton Marina has it all. Shoot some pins at Bowlplex or catch the odd film at Cineworld – an eight-screen cinema complex. There are ample restaurants serving all kinds of food – from Italian, to Cantonese, to Brasseries – and the boardwalk offers scope for relaxed amblings beside the boats. There are several independent shops and cafes, too. There’s a Wetherspoon with upstairs seating that offers magnificent views. Also, if you care for fishing there are two arms on which you can get your tackles out – easy! The west arm is your best bet. If you don’t fancy that, there are always boat tours.
Brighton Pier:
The Brighton Pier is undoubtedly Brighton’s most recognisable feature. There are dozens of brilliant rides on it, along with cafés and restaurants if you’re feeling peckish. I’ll warn you, though, don’t go for the crepes. There are also shops and arcades - so don’t be packing bills!
The North Laine:
The North Laine is littered with quaint independent shops – some of which may appear a bit barmy. There are dozens of cafes, along with clothes and music shops. If you’re in Brighton for the weekend you may want to check out the Komedia – Brighton’s much loved, much-lauded comedy club on Gardner Street. The club has an upstairs café (along with a gourmet burger bar) and offers food during performances. The North Laine is the perfect spot for a midday amble. Whilst you’re there, check out Shakeaway.
The Royal Pavilion:
The Royal Pavilion was the brainchild of Prince Regent – a wayward prince who loved Brighton and decided to commission Architect Henry Holland to build a pavilion - which incorporated Indian flourishes – in 1787. The building served to cater for his ostentatious parties. There are several, huge, beautifully decorated rooms replete with exotic furnishings – mostly Chinese in inspiration – in which only a prince could indulge. Entry is £5.35 for adults and £3.30 for children. It’s open from 10am-6pm.
The Booth Museum – Dyke Road:
The Booth museum houses over half a million specimens – which is hard to believe given the size of the building – and literature and data going back over three centuries. Displays include hundreds of British birds and butterflies, and also skeletons, a stuffed bear, a whale and dinosaur bones. This is an absolute must if you’ve got kids – especially kids who love to get up and go rather than squat in front of the TV.
Food and Drink:
Fiddler’s Elbow Pub – Boyce’s Street, Brighton:
This is one of Brighton’s best traditional Irish pubs. The atmosphere is hot and sweaty – just like a pub should be – and the clientele are jovial. The pub has a great range of ales, lagers and ciders and is one of the few pubs that offers Harvey’s Best Bitter – a great, locally brewed bitter direct from Harvey’s brewery in Lewes. Make sure you visit if the rugby’s showing.
The King and Queen – London Road, Brighton:
The King and Queen is a pub of royal proportions – excuse the pun. No, really: it’s huge. They offer a large range of drinks and snacks and show various sports regularly.
The Font – South Laine, Brighton:
The Font is probably one of the cooler – if not the coolest – pub in Brighton. It used to be a church so the layout is something else (with amazing seating). The food is great – at very low prices – and they have a HUGE screen. When I say huge, I mean huge to such a degree that every day dimensions don’t offer valid description. It’s a good place to go before you hit the clubs. If you’re not one for clubs, though, it’s a good place to spend an evening with friends.
Indiana – Church Road, Brighton:
Indiana is tipped as one of the best Indian restaurants in Brighton. That accolade is not applied lightly. The food is delicious and the service is astounding. They offer a comprehensive menu. Some of the best dishes to go for are Peshwari naan, sagaloo, Bombay potatoes, Indian mixed grill and chicken madras. Each meal comes with complimentary poppadoms complete with mango chutney, mixed salad and some really hot chilli paste that you don’t want to get on the wrong side of. They offer little in the way of drinks but they make up for it with the two beers they offer: Cobra and Kingfisher. The latter is an amazingly soft (and amazingly under-recognised), delicious, palatable beer.
Topolino Duo – Church Road, Brighton:
Just over from Indian is Topolino Duo. It’s an amazing Italian restaurant with a comprehensive menu, offering a huge range of pasta and pizza dishes. If I were you, I’d go for the Gnocci. Also, their desserts are to-die-for.
Pablo’s – Ship Street, Brighton:
There are two of these restaurants located quite near each other. The one you want is just off North Street. For an Italian restaurant, they offer some surprising dishes – from bangers ‘n’ mash to chasseur chicken with asparagus. You can relax, though, as this restaurant matches quality with price in a way that will keep your pockets quite content. The set menu is £5.95 and includes a choice of starter, main and dessert. The dessert is either coffee or ice-cream – it costs a little extra to have steamed puddings. If you’re feeling wild, though, have a slice of one of their delicious cheesecakes.
Bankers Fish and Chips Restaurant – Western Road, Brighton:
Along with Bardsley's of Baker Street, Bankers is by far the best fish and chips restaurant in Brighton. They offer a wide range of fish and other dishes – including deep-fried brie with cranberry sauce, and more traditional meals such as scampi and sausage and chips. Food is available for both eating in and takeaway – if you’d rather have a nibble whilst sitting on the beach.
Other bets include:
- The Spanish Tapas Restaurant (South Laine, Brighton – opposite the Font)
- Walkabout – bottom of West Street
Itineraries:
One-day: Ignore the prosaic and indulge in the extraordinary. Start with the Pavilion in the morning then head to the pier for the afternoon. Have lunch – ideally fish and chips – and then head off to the marina, walking along the seafront. Knock down some pins and maybe do a spot of fishing for an hour (fishing tours) before heading back into town. Get dressed up and go out for meal. Your best bet – for food and family value – is either the Spanish Tapas Restaurant or Pablo’s – they’re also both located in easy-to-get-to places. If you fancy something different, hop onto a number five bus and head out to Indiana or Topolino Duo.
Two-day: Treat day 1 the same as before. On day 2, go to the Brighton Art Gallery for an hour or two. Go out to the Booth museum for a look around before coming back into town. Another idea is to get the number 77 from the seafront and go to Devil's Dyke. It's the highest point in sussex and offers undisturbed views of the whole of the Sussex Downs. There's also a great pub there - although it's a little expensive. You can also do zorbing and gliding if you wish as the steep hills make for a range of extreme sports activities. You might want to see a film at either the Odeon cinema or Cineworld in the evening. If you fancy dinner, treat the restaurant choices the same as before. There’s always Nandos, though, which is just off West Street.
Three-Day: Treat the first two days the same. If you really want to try something different, you have a range of choices. There’s the Saltdean lido – an outdoor swimming pool just past Rottingdean (which is also a great place to go) or Hove lagoon – if you’re interested in doing some kayaking or windsurfing. You could even just take a stroll down the North Laine before heading back to your hotel. If you want a good night out, head to one of Brighton’s many clubs. Your best bet is one of the following: Oceana, Walkabout or the Honey Club (on the Brighton seafront promenade).
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