A Weekend in Brighton, From Locals

As Brighton locals, we know what makes a great weekend in Brighton. We all need a weekend filling our lungs to the brim with salty sea air sometimes. If you’ve decided on a spontaneous seaside trip then our guide has all the best things to do in Brighton this weekend.

Brighton isn’t all fish and chips and arcades on the pier — though we have that too. It’s a thriving seaside city, known for being a ‘hip’ place to be. The unofficial gay capital of the UK, we have one of the largest LGBTQ+ communities here and the city goes wild every year for Brighton Pride. We have some of the coolest vegetarian and vegan restaurants going, and an eclectic food scene. Brighton is the only UK city with a Green MP and I’m proud to say our city also voted to remain in the EU (not sure what the rest of the UK was thinking).

If you’re keen to reduce your carbon footprint, a weekend away in Brighton is just the ticket for the vitamin-sea you’re after. Brighton is one of the best British seaside destinations and at only an hour from London, it’s often a go-to weekend escape for London-dwellers. Whilst low-cost Europe flights can be horribly tantalising for us Brits, there’s a lot to be said for travelling locally and exploring our south coast.

In this weekend in Brighton guide, I share the best things to do in the city but also some gorgeous country escapes in easy reach of Brighton centre.

Things To Do in Brighton This Weekend

These are our favourite things to do in Brighton. You can do the activities on our list any weekend in Brighton, as not much pre-planning is needed.

Shop In The Lanes

The Lanes is where Brighton’s quirky, independent shopping scene is. If there’s one you do in Brighton this weekend, make sure it’s exploring the Lanes. Here you’ll find art galleries and record stores, vintage clothes shops and flea markets. If you’re an early riser, you’ll need to do a few other activities first as most shops don’t open until 11AM on weekends.

My favourite shops in the Lanes are on Bond Street. Check out Jaba Yard for ethical clothing, The Lavender Room for gifts and earrings, and if you need glasses to see stuff like I do then Ollie Quinn’s is the best glasses shop in Brighton. Don’t miss Beyond Retro, a huge vintage clothing store. The flea market Snoopers Paradise often gets raved about, though I’ve always found it quite dusty.

Explore Brighton’s Coffee Scene

Need a coffee hit? I feel you. Brighton has a great independent coffee scene, so you’ll be spoilt for choice. We’ve been worknig our way through a list of the best coffee shops in Brighton. Our top picks have got to be Bond Street Coffee in the Lanes for a strong espresso, Small Batch Coffee by Norfolk Square Gardens for a delicious oat milk cortado and The Flour Pot Bakery on Brighton seafront for the views. Pelicano on Sydney Street serves super tall layered vegan cakes if you’re hankering for something sweet.

Devour Some Vegan Food

Brighton is a excellent for vegan food across loads of different cuisines. Don’t miss out on getting some veggies whilst you’re here. I’ve written up a full list of great vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Brighton because there are just so many. Highlights include Purezza, Brighton’s vegan pizza restaurant (they ferment their own cheese), Happy Maki for vegan sushi rolls, Smorl’s for falafel, Manju’s for Indian street food and Terre à Terre for something a bit classy.

If you’d rather a restaurant not exclusively geared for the veggie-palette, Brighton’s Lanes are full of great independent cafes and lunch spots too. Our favourites are Pompoko (cheap Asian food), Milk No Sugar (Vietnamese pho for a fiver), FilFil Cafe (fresh falafel) and Helm Ston Cafe (hole in the wall cafe serving gado gado).

Browse The Open Market

If your mouth is watering at that falafel place I just mentioned above, you’re in luck. It’s located in Brighton’s Open Market, a covered market with 45 independent shops including a zero-waste store and 12 artists’ studios. The market is just off London Road, and one of the up-and-coming places in the city.

Laze in the Gardens at the Royal Pavilion

Brighton’s Royal Pavilion is one of the most famous things to do on a weekend away here. This grade 1 listed former royal residence was built as a seaside residence for King George IV. His interesting taste mixed together Regency period architecture with Indian and Chinese influence. The Pavilion is close to the Lanes and has a garden where you can sit and enjoy the sunshine. You’ll find students and locals lazing in the sunshine on the grass here. The Pavilion itself opens at 10:00AM in the winter and 9:30AM in the summer, though the outside is the best part.

Hit the Decks of Brighton Palace Pier

A trip to Brighton would be incomplete without setting foot on the decks of the famous Brighton Pier. Gnawing at a teeth clenching stick of rock is a quintessential British seaside experience after all, and what better place to do it than the pier. Try your luck in the amusement arcades or tuck into a rustling paper bag of fish and chips (but brace yourself for potential seagull attacks!)

Cycle Along the Seafront with Brighton’s Bike Sharing

Brighton finally cottoned on and introduced a brilliant BikeShare scheme. The turquoise coloured bikes that match Brighton’s colour scheme are parked up at bike stations across the city. Just download the app, find a bike on the map, enter your password to unlock it and away you go. The price is 3p per minute and you just return the bike to the nearest bike station when you’re done. Spend your weekend in Brighton cycling around the city, into Hove or along the seafront.

Brighton Chocolate Shops

Pop into Brighton’s amazing selection of chocolate shops and get your cocoa fix. Brighton has more chocolate shops than we can count, including Montezuma’s who make their chocolate in Sussex and the famous Choccywoccydoodah. I’d recommend bee-lining for Montezuma’s to get yourself a bag of vegan peanut butter truffles — they’re too good. Real chocolate enthusiasts can take a chocolate-making class.

Take a Jaunt in Kemp Town

The colourful Pride-flag adorned streets of Kemp Town are home to Brighton’s gay scene. This lovely neighbourhood has a host of nice coffee shops, bakeries, flea markets and book shops. My favourite place in Kemp Town is the Open Bakery. Definitely stop there for an almond croissant. Check out The Brighton Flea Market, the big pink building (you’ll see it). If you’re in Kemp Town towards the evening, stop by the Black Dove, an independent pub with organic wine and local beers on tap.

Snap a Pic at a Beach Hut

You have to right? Brighton’s colourful beach huts are the perfect spot for a pic of your weekend at the seaside. These beach huts are currently selling at £20,000 so whilst we won’t be getting one any time soon, we’d certainly grab a cheeky photo in front of one.

Spot Graffiti in the Lanes

Brighton is a city peppered with graffiti. Look out for Super Mario, the Run DMC mural and the blue fire-breathing dragon. You’ll find all sorts if you start meandering through the Lanes. Here’s a top 10 for Brighton’s graffiti scene.

Shop (and Eat Ice Cream) at the West Pier Arches

Along the beach to either side of the i360, the renovated arches have been lovingly turned into independent art and clothes shops. They’re really worth a browse. Even better though, you can go for a cone full of gelato at the popular Gelato Gusto at the end arch. Try a scoop of the vegan passion fruit!

Admire Brighton’s Bandstand

Brighton Bandstand might be the city’s most beautiful building (does it count as a building?) in my opinion. It first opened in 1884 and was restored in 2009. On summer evenings, you’ll often find couples learning to salsa here and there’s sometimes a brass band playing. Underneath, there’s a nice bar and cafe where you can sit outside with a drink. Couples also get married on the bandstand for just shy of £700 if you fancied a Brighton wedding.

Fabrica Contemporary Art Gallery

Brighton’s contemporary art gallery is on a mission to educate and make art accessible to everyone. Check out Fabrica’s events and exhibitions to see what’s on when you’re in Brighton. I’ve only been by once and at the time they were running a live project event where I couldn’t fully grasp what was going on — which will be down to me, rather than them.

Head into Hove

I love heading into Hove to admire the gorgeous Regency townhouses. Often considered the more up-market counterpart to Brighton, Hove has some lovely, leafy neighbourhoods worth walking around. If you’re in the area, then I’d recommend Moonstone for authentic Sri Lankan food.

Go Indoor Bouldering

If it starts to rain (it is the UK after all!) then take yourself over to Boulder Brighton. This indoor bouldering centre is located in Portslade. You can get there by cycling along Brighton seafront (there’s a social bike parking nearby), taking the train a few stops or taking the bus through Hove. Boulder Brighton has over 250 climbs at all levels and it’s really awesome. There are lots of beginner climbs, so don’t worry if it’s your first time! Luke and I climb here 3-4 times per week.

South Downs Walk

Escape the city centre and head up to the South Downs. You can get onto the Downs by going up the hill from the seafront on Freshfield Road until you reach the race course. The Downs is just behind it. One of our favourite walks is the Brighton to Lewes walk. If you want to walk in a loop back to Brighton, head down the sea front to Ovingdean and take the route onto the Brighton Downs and back round to the town centre.

Hike Seven Sisters Cliffs

Seven Sisters Cliffs is one of my favourite hikes in the world. Major praise considering we’ve walked up some blinking incredible volcanoes! Luke and I walked all the way from Brighton and across Seven Sisters, which was a crazy 2-day hiking trip. If you’re not feeling so crazy, you can the bus from Brighton to Cuckmere Haven which is where the walk across Seven Sisters starts. The bus takes around 40 minutes. You could take a longer day hike if you start in Lewes and can catch the bus back. There’s an excellent cafe called Saltmarsh at the beginning of the walk too so save yourself for a coffee and a scone.

Duke of York’s and Dukes at Komedia Cinemas

Brighton’s two independent cinemas, the Duke of York’s and Dukes at Komedia screen new releases and re-run old classics. Check their schedules online or just turn up and see what’s playing. The Duke of York’s is Britain’s oldest cinema that’s been in continual use. An evening at the cinema is one of the best things to do in Brighton if you’re visiting in the autumn or winter months.

Watch the Sunset Over Brighton’s West Pier

Brighton’s West Pier was set on fire and heavily damaged in 2003. English Heritage decided it would be viable to restore the old pier based on the framework still in place, but unfortunately no funding was secured for the project. The remains of the pier have been left and it has become an iconic part of Brighton’s coastal view. The most gorgeous sunsets happen over here, and during the summer starlings flock around the pier.

Get Ready for a Night Out in Brighton

Brighton is a magnet for stag and hen-dos on the weekend, so if you’re up for a night out you’ll more than likely encounter a few. We’d recommend starting your night in Gung-Ho, the sustainable cocktail bar on Preston Street. If you’re anything like us, then an espresso pick-me-up is just what the doctor ordered before a night out in Brighton.

If you’re on the other side of the city, then go for Shuffle, a cocktail bar where you can shuffle the music. Their jukebox is accessible by smartphone so you can choose the tunes whilst you drink. The Hop Poles is one of my favourite late night joints in Brighton. It’s relaxed and retro, more like a pub than a club but with a live DJ on the weekends. If you love live music, check out The Mesmerist at short-notice or read up in XYZ Magazine.

Brighton Fringe and Brighton Festival

If you’re about in festival season, make the most of the amazing shows put on at Brighton Fringe (1st – 31st May) and Brighton Festival (2nd – 24th May. There’s often a lot of new and up-and-coming talent at the festivals, so shows can be hit or miss. I’d recommend browsing what’s on and taking a chance on something that takes your fancy. That’s what we’ve done in past festivals and loved it.

Avoid the i-sore-360

Most of us Brighton locals would really rather the i360 was taken down. Since its erection it’s been blocking beautiful beach views across Brighton’s neighbourhoods and can be seen from pretty much everywhere. I can see the red alien spaceship from my bedroom window in the evenings and even when I’m working out at the gym.

Planning Your Weekend in Brighton

Brighton Accommodation

Brighton has an array of seafront guesthouses, boutique hotels and hostels. Accommodation prices on weekends in Brighton can go up to double week day prices. I’d recommend booking ahead of time, as accommodation gets booked quickly during the summer weekends. If you’re intending to visit Brighton for the weekend during Pride, it’s worth booking accommodation months in advance due to the huge demand.

How To Get To Brighton

Brighton is only 1 hour from London Bridge and London Victoria, and 1.5 hours from London Victoria. Direct trains from these stations run hourly. Thameslink and Southern Rail are the two train carriers operating between London and Brighton. Whilst Thameslink trains are cheaper, those tickets are less flexible as you cannot travel on Southern trains.

There are also great train connections from the southwest and direct trains go from Southampton. When searching for and booking our trains, we use thetrainline.com or Omio to compare train, bus and flight routes and prices.

What would be on your list of best things to do in Brighton this weekend? Let me know in the comments!