The Royal Pavilion is a seaside palace remodelled by John Nash between 1815 and 1823. Its architecture combines Regency grandeur with Indian architecture and Chinese-inspired interiors—a striking starting point for exploring Brighton and Hove. The Brighton Dome offers a different architectural accent: its Indian-inspired domes meet Art Deco details. The venue hosts music, theatre, dance, comedy, literature, visual arts, film and participatory events.
Art and history from many perspectives
Brighton & Hove Museums operates five venues in the city: the Royal Pavilion, Brighton Museum & Art Gallery, Preston Manor, the Hove Museum of Creativity and the Booth Museum of Natural History. Brighton Museum & Art Gallery has galleries dedicated to fashion and style, 20th-century art and design, and visual arts. Individual exhibitions and displays may change. The Hove Museum of Creativity focuses on family-friendly galleries about memories and creative activities; their contents may also change over time.
Preston Manor is the only historic country house in Brighton. The visitor experience focuses on the social life of the upper classes in 1912 and on the lives of servants below the formal rooms. If you would like to visit Preston Manor, check its opening arrangements in advance. The Brighton Toy and Model Museum offers a very different perspective on collections: it displays more than 10,000 exhibits, including a rare collection of historic model railways. The museum is housed in early Victorian railway arches beneath Brighton station; individual displays may change.
In Rottingdean, different themes in art and history can be explored side by side. The Grange Museum has rooms dedicated to Edward Burne-Jones and Rudyard Kipling. The Grange Gallery presents works by contemporary and historic artists in curated exhibitions. Rottingdean Windmill stands on Beacon Hill as a Grade II listed landmark. The local preservation society opens it to visitors regularly; opening arrangements may vary.
Coast and historic rides
Brighton Palace Pier is a 1,722-foot-long Victorian pier on Brighton and Hove’s eight-mile coastline. Its facilities include a fish and chip restaurant, food and drink kiosks, fairground attractions, two amusement arcades and an indoor soft play area. As visitor facilities may change, check the current arrangements before your visit. SEA LIFE Brighton also combines an attraction with architectural history: the aquarium is housed in original Victorian architecture and is the world’s oldest operating aquarium.
Volk’s Electric Railway offers another historical perspective. It opened in 1883 and is considered the world’s oldest operating electric railway. Historic trains carry visitors along a route of around one mile on Brighton beach. The service is seasonal, so check operating times before planning your ride. Brighton Festival has a different focus: this annual curated multidisciplinary arts festival takes place across the city and its surroundings, while dates and programme vary each year. Brighton Fringe offers events, performances and workshops throughout the year, welcoming artists and audiences in Brighton, Hove and beyond.
Green spaces and regional experiences
The parks also offer different ways to spend time outdoors. Stanmer Park has woodland trails and extensive open spaces for picnics and walks across the Downs. Preston Park is Brighton’s largest urban park and is home to the country’s largest municipal rock garden. Further afield, South Downs National Park is near Brighton and Hove and can be reached by bus, bicycle or car. Breeze up to the Downs bus services connect Brighton with Stanmer Park, Devil’s Dyke and Ditchling Beacon. Check routes and timetables before travelling.
Local flavours and practical experiences
Brighton and Hove’s food and drink scene includes local fish and seafood, vegetables from Sussex farms, Sussex wine, local spirits, craft beer and kombucha. Brighton Open Market features more than 50 local producers and creatives; the mix may change. If you’re interested in how spirits are made, you can book behind-the-scenes tours of the Brighton Gin distillery, including tastings and insights into the production line. At Brighton Gin School, participants create their own gin recipe, distil their gin and design a bottle finished with a wax seal. Check dates and availability for these bookable experiences in advance.
The options range from architecture and collections to the coast and historic rides, green spaces and culinary discoveries. Consider which of these themes interest you most to shape your time in Brighton and Hove to your own preferences.
Explore more destinations: Hove, Saltdean, Milton Keynes, Isle of Wight, East Sussex, Kent, Portsmouth, Berkshire.
For the broader travel overview: South East England.
