Day Trip to Brighton from London

Brighton is the perfect place for a day trip from London. Located on the south coast of England in Sussex, it is the most popular seaside destination in England with thousands of visitors flocking to Brighton beach in the summer months. Over the past decade or so, Brighton has gained a reputation as being a vibrant and youthful city with a great number of bars, restaurants, concerts and shows popping up over the past few years. There are also many top places to visit in Brighton. The essential places to visit on any day trip to Brighton would include The Royal Pavillion for a taste of Royal Victorian era Britain, Brighton Pier which hosts popular rides for kids and the i360 Observation Tower, offering sweeping panoramic views over the city and the surrounding Sussex coastline. The Lanes is a very famous area of Brighton which has a load of little independent and sometimes quirky shops and cafes and is a wonderful place to stroll around a sunny afternoon. Brighton makes for a perfect day trip from London located just a 1 hour train ride from the capital.

getting there:

Brighton is conveniently located just 1 hour from London by train. There are regular departures from London Victoria station, which is one of the major train stations in the capital. Make sure you buy your train tickets in advance, because the prices can get very expensive the nearer you get to your travel date.

The Royal Pavillion:

The Royal Pavillion

Start your Brighton day trip from London with a visit to the Royal Pavillion. This beautiful building was built for George IV in 1787 into a spectacular summer home for the Royal Family. The Royal Pavillion is an architectural masterpiece influenced by the Indian style. Its a great place to visit to get a feel of Victorian-era with grand rooms like the spectacularly grandiose banqueting room, the great kitchen, the wonderfully furnished music room as well as the beautiful gardens and the estate. You can spend around an hour wondering the different rooms, and the Pavillion houses an impressive collection of artwork on loan from The Queen as well displaying elegant furniture and Regency items. Central to any visit is a trip to The Royal Pavillion Tearoom offering a wide selection of afternoon teas.

Website: http://brightonmuseums.org.uk/royalpavilion/
Opening Times: Open Daily. Oct-March 10:00-17:15; April-Sept 09:30-17:45
Ticket Price: Adult £13; Child £7.50; Student/Senior £11.50

Brighton Pier:

A short walk from the Royal Pavillion is Brighton Pier, which dates back to 1899. One of the top places to visit in Brighton, this Victorian pier has become one of the trendiest places in the city, and is renowned for its amusement arcades, perfect for kids!. Dotted in between the arcades are quite a few places to eat and drink as well as many attractions and rides. Of special note are the famous fish & chip restaurants along the pier. An unmissable part of a day trip to Brighton!

Website: www.brightonpier.co.uk

lunch & shopping: the lanes

For those looking for unique shopping experiences, The Lanes is a famous area of Brighton that has over 300 quirky little shops ranging from jewelry and fashion to chic furniture design stores. What gives this shopping district its character are the narrow little alleyways and narrow streets that connect the shops. Alternatively, for those looking for more conventional shopping, Hove, located just west of the city centre, offers an array of shopping opportunities from fashion shops and specialty boutiques to interior design stores, as well homemade produce stalls. Hove is set amongst beautiful Regency townhouses and mansions.

This is also the perfect place to have lunch, with lots of trendy little cafes and restaurants.

British Airways i360 Observation Tower:

Start the afternoon of your day trip from London by soaring 450 feet into the sky on the world’s tallest moving observation tower. The i360 Observation Tower was actually designed by the same architect that built the London Eye, and you can see many similarities. Visitors can take in the breathtaking 360 views of over 66 miles of coastline, from the South Downs to the Isle of Wight.

Top tip: Brighton’s weather is unpredictable, and is often cloudy and overcast. If the weather is overcast, there’s really nothing to see from the observation tower! Whilst tickets are a little cheaper if you purchase them online, we recommend waiting until you get to Brighton to decide whether to visit or not, depending on the weather.

Website: http://britishairwaysi360.com
Opening Times: Mon & Tue 11:00-18:00; Wed, Thur & Sun 10:00-19:00; Fri & Sat 10:00-20:30
Online Ticket Price: Adult £14.40; Child £7.50; Student/Senior £12.50

Brighton Beach:

Brighton Beach

The i360 Observation Tower is located next to Brighton Beach, considered one of the best city beach break destinations in the world and one of the top places to visit in Brighton on a day trip from London. This famous pebble beach is part of the lifeblood of the city and offers a variety of activities such as kayaking, volleyball, and frisbee, as well as a great place to just sit and chill out. The beachfront promenade is home to a number of restaurants and bars, as well as the artists quarter.

Top Places to Visit in Brighton:

Entertainment & Night Life:

Brighton is renowned for its cultural scene, with great bars, restaurants, concerts, shows and nightlife.

Music:

The two major music centres in Brighton are The Brighton Centre, which regularly brings in the biggest artists from around the world. The Brighton Dome, built in the art deco style, hosts a superb concert hall with genres ranging from classical to contemporary.

Theatre:

The Theatre Royal brings hit productions from London’s West End to Brighton. The Brighton Dome also hosts more eclectic, local productions.

Bars & Restaurants:

Brighton hosts an array of bars, from the quieter and more tranquil places to cocktail bars overlooking the seafront. There are a wide selection of restaurants with seafood being the most popular choice – specialties include fish ‘n’ chips as well as oysters.

map of Brighton:

how to get to brighton from London:

by public transport:

This is the best, fastest, and most convenient way to get to Brighton from London. Trains run from London Victoria Station to Brighton every 15 minutes on the Southern Line. The journey lasts just under 1 hour.

by car:

Alternatively, Brighton is accessible from London via the A23. Journey times vary according to traffic but can take anywhere from 1 hour and 30 minutes to 2 hours and 30 minutes.