24 Hours in Brighton
One day, the pier, the palace and the pebbles, hour by hour, ending with sunset over the Channel.
Twenty-four hours in Brighton means starting on the seafront before the crowds arrive, this order gets you the Pavilion, the Lanes and the i360 without wasted backtracking, finishing with sunset over the water. Here’s the full plan, hour by hour.
The seafront, before the crowds
Start with a walk along Hove promenade or Brighton’s own seafront, the light is properly at its best early morning, calm sea, clear air and the beach huts along Hove Lawns barely disturbed. Grab coffee somewhere nearby before the day gets going properly.
Brighton Palace Pier
Walk the pier while it’s still quiet, arcade games, fish and chips and fairground rides, a proper slice of Victorian seaside entertainment. The West Pier Ruin sits just along the coast too, a slightly eerie photo stop if you’re passing.
The Royal Pavilion
Book ahead for the Royal Pavilion, King George IV’s exotic seaside palace styled on Indian architecture, properly one of the strangest and most striking buildings in England. Save your ticket, it doubles as an annual pass, worth knowing if you’re likely to return.
Lunch in the North Laine
Walk into the North Laine, widely the heart of Brighton, street art on nearly every corner and independent shops, cafes and galleries throughout. La Choza does great Mexican street food if you can get a table, or grab something quick from one of the neighbourhood’s countless small cafes.
The Lanes and Snooper’s Paradise
Continue into the Lanes, narrow, winding streets full of independent boutiques, jewellers and vintage shops. Snooper’s Paradise in the North Laine is properly worth the detour too, a quirky indoor flea market where you never quite know what you’ll find.
British Airways i360
Head back to the seafront for the British Airways i360, the world’s tallest moving observation tower, sweeping 360-degree views over the city, the coast and the South Downs on a clear day. A proper way to see how the whole city fits together before the light starts to change.
Sunset on the beach
Watch the sunset from the beach or the top of the i360, one of the best free experiences in the city. In summer, the sun sets late enough that you’ll still have plenty of daylight left for dinner afterwards.
Dinner and a proper pint
End the day at one of Brighton’s countless independent restaurants, the city has more restaurants per capita than anywhere else in England, roughly one for every 250 people. A pint at a local pub in Kemptown or the North Laine makes for a genuinely fitting close to a full day by the sea.
That’s everything I’ve got.
A note before you plan around this: prices, opening hours, booking requirements and admission details in this guide were correct at the time of writing, but venues change these often and sometimes without notice. Always check directly with the attraction or its official website before you travel or build a schedule around a specific time or price.
Before travelling to any destination featured on this site, please also check your government’s latest travel advice, as safety situations, entry requirements and travel warnings can change.
