How to spend a day in Brighton

The last time I was in Brighton was quite some time ago (let’s say I was still into collecting shells on the beach – how time flies!) so clearly a visit to this trendy, vibrant seaside town was well overdue.

An hour away from London on the train, Brighton is a great option for a day out. Brighton continues to be a popular town, made fashionable by the Prince Regent during the Regency era. It is now an artistic haven with street art around every corner and trendy cafes, restaurants and shops to keep you busy for endless hours.

The Beach

Let’s face it, you can’t come to Brighton and not visit the beach! Even though it’s pebbly, it’s still a great place to relax and people watch. Just remember to bring blankets with you or hire a deck chair so you don’t get ‘pebble butt’.

Head to Brighton pier for the quintessential English experience and grab some fresh seafood while walking along the pier. There are rides as well but, even if this isn’t your thing, it’s still a nice walk with views out to sea.

Top tip: Deck chairs are free on the pier!Exploring the streets of Brighton – ‘The Lanes’ and ‘North Laine’

A refreshing shopping experience, Brighton offers boutiques and stores that aren’t available on the general high street. This is a great place to shop for vintage clothes, accessories or antiques. The colourful buildings and street art add a really edgy vibe to the place and could keep me busy for hours.The Royal Pavilion

The Royal Pavilion is one of the most unusual and visually impressive palaces I’ve seen. From the exotic exterior of the palace to the lavish interiors (complete with dragon chandeliers), inspired by China and India, this palace has a colourful history and is a must-see when in Brighton. The palace gardens are also a nice place to relax and take in the impressive architecture.

Top tip: Tickets are £13 (adults) but you can get a 10% discount if you book online.Food

I was amazed by how many food options there are in Brighton which is turning out to be quite the foodie destination. For lunch, I would highly recommend Food for Friends, a delicious vegan restaurant. I’m not even vegan but would go back there every single week if this restaurant was in London! The menu was varied and really well thought through. The food itself looked great, was delicious and full of flavour. Try the Portobello mushroom stuffed with feta and the strawberry, pear and elderflower refresher. For coffee and cake, head to Pelicano in Sydney Street. The lemon and almond cake was so good and the décor was really quaint. Another plus point is that it’s very close to the train station so a great place to grab a cup of coffee just before you head back home.Overall, a great day out and a new found love with the English coastline! Hopefully it won’t take me another decade to visit!

Have you been to Brighton? What are your favourite things to do?