If you’re visiting Brighton for the weekend, you’ll want to cram in as many of the sights, restaurants, shops and pubs as possible. We’re Brighton locals and happy to share our insider tips on things to do in 48 hours in Brighton.
Must-visit landmarks in Brighton
Brighton has been a fashionable seaside town since the fun-loving Prince Regent – who became King George IV – enjoyed the high life here from 1783 to the mid-1820s.
The extraordinarily lavish Royal Pavilion and Garden was built as his seaside retreat. And this landmark fantasy palace is the ideal place to kickstart your first day in this South Coast resort.
The Royal Pavilion
In many ways, the Royal Pavilion sums up Brighton. It’s magnificent, quirky, over-the-top, brash, opulent, decadent and fantastic. This Grade One listed building was designed in fabulous Oriental style by John Nash and looks like a touch of India on the outside with Indian and Chinese decor inside.
We adore the Music Room with its dazzling dragons and gilded ceiling, and the Banqueting Room which is beyond luxurious with its breathtaking chandeliers. The garden is a lovely nature reserve full of flowers and trees. It’s a great place to catch your breath before heading to the famous Brighton beach.
Brighton Palace Pier
There’s a lot to take in along the beachfront. A short stroll from the Royal Pavilion gets you to the Brighton Palace Pier.
The spectacular 19th-century Brighton Palace Pier has to be the finest example of a seaside pier you’ll ever see. You could spend days here alone. No wonder it´s the first place many people head to. Did you know it is 1,722 feet long and it takes three months to repaint it each year?
There are games galore in the Palace of Fun amusement arcade. There are family-friendly traditional fairground rides as well as a few stomach churners such as the Turbo Coaster. You´ll find places to eat and drink on the pier including traditional fish and chips and ice cream while enjoying fabulous sea views.
Sea Life Brighton
Sea Life Brighton on Marine Parade is the world’s oldest aquarium and is home to an amazing array of animals from seahorses to sharks.
Housed in a glorious Victorian arcade, it’s a super chance to see sea life up close and personal. Brighton’s Sea Life has the largest collection of sharks and rays all under one roof.
The must-see attraction is Day & Night where you can discover the wondrous coral reef as it moves from day to night. You can also take a trip on a glass-bottom boat to get a closer look at the marine life. It´s entertaining and educational too. Who knew an octopus has three hearts and a doughnut-shaped brain, as well as eight arms?
Brighton i360 and Upside Down House
Head west towards Hove to see the ruins of Brighton’s West Pier and whizz up the Brighton i360 viewing tower. It’s 450 feet to the glass viewing pod where you will enjoy spectacular 360º panoramic views over the south coast and the South Downs.
The highest bar on the South Coast, the
We highly recommend you stop for a drink or something to eat in the pod. Grab a drink in the Nyetimber Sky Bar – the highest bar on the south coast – where you can sample local drinks and snacks including a favourite with us locals, Brighton Gin.
Look out for special events including Yoga in the Sky in the BA i360 pod, or an open-air walk on top of the pod.
Next to the viewing tower is the quirky, topsy-turvy Upside Down House – this makes surreal photos for Instagram!
Hove
If you keep walking west, you’ll come to Hove with its beautiful architecture, especially Brunswick Terrace. If you fancy a night out in Hove, check out The Old Market Theatre and The Brunswick for live music.
Brighton Zip
Heading east from Brighton Palace Pier towards Newhaven is another chance to bring out your inner daredevil on the Brighton Zip. You get to fly across Brighton Beach on the longest zip wire on the south coast. First, you´ll need to conquer the spiral staircase tower before embarking on an epic 300-metre zip wire ride of your life.
Back down to earth at Yellowave, you can enjoy volleyball on the sand at the UK´s only permanent beach sports venue of its kind. Or just grab something to eat at Yellowave cafe´s decked area to drink in the views across to Brighton Pier.
Volk’s Electric Railway
Heading east from Brighton Palace Pier towards Newhaven and you’ll discover another world-first for Brighton – Volk’s Electric Railway which is the world’s oldest electric railway still running. Trains run along Brighton seafront from March to October, so you can hitch a ride back to Brighton Palace Pier or the marina.
Brighton Marina
Where better to end your first day than at the busy and swanky Brighton Marina? It’s a chic place for a drink, waterfront dining, and shopping while marvelling at the grand boats.
It’s also a great location to book your Brighton weekend holiday let and My Getaways have a few amazing apartments to choose from!
There’s still a lot to see in Brighton, so day two could be a more cultural affair to wander among Brighton’s finest Regency buildings.
The Brighton Lanes
You can’t visit Brighton without experiencing The Lanes and North Laine.
The Lanes are famous for the lovely labyrinth of narrow alleyways and streets lined with shops, pubs and restaurants. Part of this area dates back to the 16th century including Brighton’s oldest pub, The Cricketers.
To the north of The Lanes is North Laine, a boho area filled with local traders, pubs, shops, stalls, independent restaurants and street performers. Grab a snack at the North Laine Café and sit outside – weather permitting – for a spot of people-watching.
Brighton Museums & Theatres
For museums and theatres, we highly recommend the Grade One listed Brighton Dome Corn Exchange and Concert Hall. The Dome was built by the Prince Regent as a grand riding house and stable block in the 1860s. Now it’s a super setting for performing arts.
Also, take a peek at what´s showing at the Grade-Two listed Theatre Royal Brighton, one of the oldest theatres in England. Performances have been held here for more than 215 years and audiences continue to flock here for West End shows and world-class entertainers.
Amazing fine art and images of Brighton can be seen in the Brighton Museum and Art Gallery.
What no sport you say? If you fancy some sporting action, check the fixtures to see Brighton & Hove Albion football club or race days at Brighton Racecourse.
Brighton rocks at night too!
Brighton has a formidable reputation for its nightlife. We say it´s the best-loved nightlife mecca of the UK. Families, lovers, stag and hen parties – everyone adores a night out in Brighton.
There´s so much choice. Head to the strip on West Street for a grand choice of mainstream nightclubs like Pryzm, Popworld, Revolution and Walkabout for a cracking night out.
Or along the seafront, you have the VIP superclub Shooshh, the iconic Coalition and The Arch, plus live music hotspots such as the legendary Concorde 2 Brighton, the long-standing Volks, and Chalk.
Brighton has a long-standing reputation as the UK’s LGBTIQ+ capital as well as being a magnet for the arts and media communities. For a great night out, head to Kemp Town – known as Brighton’s gay village – to visit a few pubs and recuperate the following morning by popping into Proud Cabaret for the all-singing all-dancing Drag Brunch on Saturdays and Sundays.
But the best-known and much-loved gay club is by Brighton Pier. Club Revenge is the biggest LGBTIQ+ venue in Brighton; set over three floors, it’s famous for its party atmosphere, music you can’t stop dancing and a stunning roof terrace for cooling off.
A few of our favourites…
A few favourites with locals and visitors are Brighton Music Hall for listening to live music in heated beach huts or the heated outside terrace; food and drinks on the roof garden at The Mesmerist; a drink or two in The Basketmakers Arms; flavoursome food at The Gingerman Restaurant and fish ‘n’ chips at Bardsley’s. A family-run restaurant that has been going since 1926.
Book your weekend in Brighton
There’s so much to experience when you visit Brighton. So what are you waiting for? At My Getaways, we have a wonderful selection of holiday lets and Airbnb accommodations in Brighton and East Sussex.
Take a look and book yourself a weekend escape to Brighton!