Spending a weekend or day trip in or near Brighton? My 10 car-free things to do in and around Brighton will give you plenty of tips for things to do, how to get around and enjoy the great outdoors!
Located on the UK’s south coast the positive energy of Brighton is captivating at any time of year. The town and beautiful surrounding South Downs have lots to offer day trippers and weekend visitors alike and are all easily accessible via public transport. Brighton is a heady mix of history, modern culture, the seaside and spectacular countryside and so makes for a smorgasbord of things to do.
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Why Brighton is a perfect destination for a grown up, car free weekend
Car free weekend or care free weekend? You don’t have to pick. Brighton is easily accessible by train from London and is served by a bus network that extends out to the beautiful surrounds of the South Downs. There’s more than enough to keep you entertained for a weekend or longer enjoying the beach attractions and seafront walks, shopping in the Lanes, a Pavilion tour, walking the South Downs, experience cultural attractions and marina activities, and soak up the laid back atmosphere of this special town and its surrounding area. My 10 things to do in Brighton will help you make the most of your time in vibrant Brighton.
How to get to Brighton
Brighton is most easily accessed from London and the south coast. By train it is just under an hour from London, 1.5 hours from Portsmouth and 2.5 hours from Southampton. National Express coaches also run services to Brighton.
Where to stay in Brighton
Brighton is awash with hotels, guest houses and BnBs so how do you work out where best to stay? In my view if you’re visiting the coast you need to be able to see the sea and so I would recommend choosing a hotel or guest house on the seafront or at least within a very short walk of the sea. It’s also good to be in the heart of Brighton, within walking distance of the main attractions and bus routes but far enough away from the pubs and clubs around the West Pier area.
If I were to visit Brighton again, I would stay at one of these seafront hotels which are well-served by bus routes or within walking distance of the town centre:
For entry tickets, group tours or organised events then check out these options:
10 things to do in Brighton for a car free weekend
1. Take a ride on the Volk's Electric Railway the world’s oldest working electric railway which runs for a mile from close to the marina in East Brighton to the Palace Pier. You could walk, bus or bike instead but the railway is a quaint and historic way to make your way along the seafront and allowed us to spot places we might want to explore more later. The railway threads through attractions that have appeared since the railway such as Sea Lanes and Beach Box Sauna – more details on both next!
2. Go for a swim and sauna on the beach – the Blue Flag beach is obviously right there although you will have to hobble across the pebbles to reach the sea. For those who enjoy a bit more comfort why not try
Sea Lanes a 50m outdoor, heated pool on the shingle beach. Its vision is to act as a stepping stone to the sea so it’s designed for a serious swim and is open early ‘til late year round. If you need a post-swim relax it’s only a very short hop to
Beach Box Sauna a circular snuggle of shepherds huts on the beach each one housing a wood-fired sauna including one with spectacular sea views. Open year round you can choose to invigorate your senses with a cold plunge pool or wrap up warm around the firepit.
3. Walk along the arches – the arches sit at the back of the lower esplanade and beach and originally housed many of the trades that called the beach their home. Now the arches host small independent cafes, bars, gelatos, art shops, exhibitions and museums. We came across
the Fishing Quarter including the Fishing Museum a small, free museum telling the tale of fishing in Brighton including how, with the arrival of tourism in the 1800s, the fishing fleet turned its hand to pleasure trips instead.
4. Tour the Royal Pavilion – approach the Royal Pavilion via the gardens from which you can appreciate the extraordinary architecture before stepping into the decadent rooms that were the seaside pleasure palace of King George IV, completed in 1823. If you want to have a sneak peak at what to expect
there is a fantastic virtual tour of the Royal Pavilion which shows off the flamboyant and vivid interiors inspired by oriental and Chinese design with elaborate wallpapers and lighting depicting dragons and snakes.
5. Experience the charm of The Lanes and have a spot of lunch -
The Lanes are a labyrinth of streets and narrow passageways just off the seafront, full of independent shops, cafes and restaurants spilling onto the pavements. This is one of the best known areas of Brighton and very popular. We stopped for lunch at a pavement café where the menu, along with so many others, was diverse and different. I’ve never had prawns on toast before but would again!
6. Visit the the Rampion Offshore Wind Farm and visitor centre - The UK is the windiest country in Europe which makes it a great location for wind farms. The
Rampion Offshore Wind Farm, located off the Brighton coast, was the first wind farm on the south coast of England and you can take a boat trip to get up close. Boat trips run by a variety of operators leave from
Brighton Marina. We chose Ross Boats for their ease of booking online and boats with toilets. If you don’t fancy a boat trip then I’d recommend the
free Rampion Wind Farm visitor centre, located in one of the arches on the seafront close to the West Pier which was destroyed by fire and storms in the early 2000s. The exhibits brought the wind farm to life for us as we stepped into a 5m wide circle demonstrating the size of the towers that the turbines stand on. An added bonus was a pair of VR headsets that virtually whisked us out to the wind farm and allowing us to join two members of the maintenance team as they take a lift up inside one of the turbines and into the control centre at the very top.
7. Pick up a tour to explore Brighton from a different perspective - there are a variety of tours available that will take you off the beaten track and help you explore the town from a new angle including bike tours, LGBTQ history tour, guided chocolate tour, and a walking food tour.
8. Catch a bus to the South Downs – the South Downs National Park stretches across several southern counties and reaches the sea close to Brighton. The area is renowned for diverse landscapes and breathtaking views, several of which easy to reach by bus from Brighton.
Brighton and Hove buses run a ‘Breeze’ service to iconic spots such as Devil’s Dyke and Ditchling Beacon and a range of
'Coaster’ services that will get you to Beachy Head and Birling Gap home to the famous white cliffs and red and white striped lighthouse. All offer amazing walking opportunities and spectacular views and if you’re feeling adventurous
consider walking some of The South Downs Way.
9. Head to Saltdean Lido for some Art Deco charm - Saltdean Lido is the only grade II* listed coastal lido in the country and has been restored to its 1938 art deco glory. Open year round, it offers a crescent shaped, heated outdoor pool, surrounded by grassy areas, a restaurant and café. Swimming times are seasonal and include adults only and lane swimming sessions.
From Brighton take the Coaster bus along the spectacular coast road to Saltdean via Rottingdean and its ancient black windmill.
10. Walk the undercliff path – Wide and flat,
the undercliff path stretches from Brighton to Saltdean and is very popular with locals at any time of year. The 5km path is sandwiched between the sparkling blue sea and the brilliant white chalk cliffs and a walk or cycle offers the opportunity to stop for coffee with stunning sea views at one of the laid back cafes that dot the path, some of which come complete with comfy sofas from which to enjoy the view. Alternatively
consider joining a bike tour along the undercliff path.
