Brighton is jam-packed with fun and interesting places to visit – places that will take you up in the sky, down below ground, back in time and flying through the air at a heart-racing pace. Intrigued? Read on to find out which of Brighton’s fabulous attractions might take your fancy.
The Royal Pavilion is one of Brighton’s most famous landmarks, and its original owner is largely responsible for putting Brighton on the map – so to speak! The iconic eastern-influenced palace was built in the late 18th Century as a seaside resort by the Prince Regent, who later became King George IV. George loved to throw a lavish feast – with more courses than most people can manage – and you can see his fairy tale kitchen, decadent dining hall and sumptuous four-poster bed where his niece, the future Queen Victoria, slept when she came to stay.
Right next to the Royal Pavilion is Brighton Museum & Art Gallery where you can see a permanent collection of art and design exhibits alongside new and changing exhibitions, and learn about the history of Brighton from its origins as a fishing village (before George IV made it fashionable) to how it was bombed and evacuated during World War II.
Seafront Attractions
A much more recent addition to Brighton’s skyline, and one that raised a few eyebrows when it first arrived, is the Brighton i360. Watch out for events from silent discos to concerts taking place in the sky-climbing “donut”, or simply go just to admire the panoramic views while sipping a glass of Sussex sparkling wine.
Also on the seafront you’ll find Sea Life Brighton. It’s easy to forget that it’s the world’s oldest operating aquarium when you’re standing in a glass tunnel watching sharks and turtles swim over your head! And a little further on from here you can find another historic landmark, Volk’s Electric Railway. Built by inventor Magnus Volk in 1883, it still operates and is open from April to October. There’s no need to book, you can just turn up and ride all the way to Black Rock Station by Brighton Marina, where there’s plenty more family entertainment to be found!
Of course, no visit to Brighton is complete without a visit to Brighton Palace Pier. The Pier offers fun for everyone, from hair-raising rides, arcade games and traditional fairground favourites such as Hook a Duck and Tin Can Alley, to wining and dining while gazing out to sea. In the winter months you can watch the starlings perform their stunning murmurations from here every evening as the sun goes down.
But that’s not all there is to see and do in Brighton. You can explore the city by bus with City Sightseeing Hop-on Hop-off tours; take a high-flying ride with Brighton Zip; visit Preston Manor, former home of one of Brighton’s biggest landowners; enjoy some toy nostalgia at Brighton Toy & Model Museum or, if you’re feeling brave enough, take a tour of the Brighton Sewers!