Guidebook for Brighton
Food Scene
Tilt
132 Preston DroveLovely independent cafe at Fiveways. Great food and coffee.
Fabulous bakery and cafe at Fiveways - three minutes from the house. Amazing bread and pastries to be found here!
158 locals recommend
The Flour Pot Bakery
40 Sydney StFabulous bakery and cafe at Fiveways - three minutes from the house. Amazing bread and pastries to be found here!
Preston Park Tavern
88 Havelock RoadLocal pub, chilled, cosy atmosphere and nice pub food.
Wonderful restaurant that has been tipped for a Michelin star. Little sharing plates of interesting, clever food...fairly pricy, probably £60 a head if you’re having wine and definitely book well ahead. Worth it!
131 locals recommend
64 Degrees
53 Meeting House LnWonderful restaurant that has been tipped for a Michelin star. Little sharing plates of interesting, clever food...fairly pricy, probably £60 a head if you’re having wine and definitely book well ahead. Worth it!
Our favourite Indian restaurant in Brighton. Currys, railway trays, street snacks, puddings...eat in or Deliveroo. On the pricy side but utterly worth it.
241 locals recommend
The Chilli Pickle
17 Jubilee StOur favourite Indian restaurant in Brighton. Currys, railway trays, street snacks, puddings...eat in or Deliveroo. On the pricy side but utterly worth it.
Curry Leaf Cafe – Kemptown Kitchen
40-42 Upper St James's StUpmarket veggie restaurant with aspirations for itself...cheffy and expect gels, crumbs, soils and so on.
125 locals recommend
Food for Friends
17-18 Prince Albert StUpmarket veggie restaurant with aspirations for itself...cheffy and expect gels, crumbs, soils and so on.
La Choza
36 Gloucester RdTotally wonderful Mexican food. The burritos are to die for!
Joint best curry in Brighton in our view! Cheaper than the Chilli Pickle and more informal. Street food is absolutely delicious. Eat in and Deliveroo.
67 locals recommend
Curry Leaf Cafe – Brighton Lanes
60 Ship StJoint best curry in Brighton in our view! Cheaper than the Chilli Pickle and more informal. Street food is absolutely delicious. Eat in and Deliveroo.
Fatto a Mano North Laine
25 Gloucester RdAmazing pizza - eat in or take away.
Signalman
76 Ditchling RiseGorgeous pub five minutes from the house with great beer.
Old school 1920s built seaside cafe on top of the cliffs with great views over the sea. Good stop off along the Undercliff walk (you’ll need to use the steps to get up on top of the cliffs)
Roedean Cafe
Marine DriveOld school 1920s built seaside cafe on top of the cliffs with great views over the sea. Good stop off along the Undercliff walk (you’ll need to use the steps to get up on top of the cliffs)
Shoreham airport is a perfectly preserved, still fully working tiny 1920s airport which is often used as a film set (see it in The Crown). The cafe, The Hummingbird, is a real architectural gem, located right by the runway, overlooking the Downs. You can sit on the terrace right by the runway and feel the breeze from the tiny planes taking off as you eat your brunch or tea.
You can get there easily by bike along the seafront cycle path from Brighton.
Hummingbird Restaurant
15G Cecil Pashley WayShoreham airport is a perfectly preserved, still fully working tiny 1920s airport which is often used as a film set (see it in The Crown). The cafe, The Hummingbird, is a real architectural gem, located right by the runway, overlooking the Downs. You can sit on the terrace right by the runway and feel the breeze from the tiny planes taking off as you eat your brunch or tea.
You can get there easily by bike along the seafront cycle path from Brighton.
Divine brunches and lunches, veggie and carnivores all catered for. Local produce, avocado toast and delicious fry ups.
52 locals recommend
Bill's Lewes Restaurant
56 Cliffe High StDivine brunches and lunches, veggie and carnivores all catered for. Local produce, avocado toast and delicious fry ups.
High end, gorgeous sea food. R and F is a Brighton institution, most famous for its oysters and champagne. Also have a branch on the beach.
244 locals recommend
Riddle & Finns
12b Meeting House LnHigh end, gorgeous sea food. R and F is a Brighton institution, most famous for its oysters and champagne. Also have a branch on the beach.
Old school fish and chip shop near London Road serving excellent fish and chips. Also do takeaway.
32 locals recommend
Bardsley's Fish & Chips
23A Baker StOld school fish and chip shop near London Road serving excellent fish and chips. Also do takeaway.
Chi chi takeaway fish and chips five minutes walk away from the house. “Truffle oil and cracked pepper chips” plus vegan jackfruit based options.
The little fish and chip shop
14 Upper Hollingdean RoadChi chi takeaway fish and chips five minutes walk away from the house. “Truffle oil and cracked pepper chips” plus vegan jackfruit based options.
Delicious Neapolitan pizza to eat in or takeaway. Three minutes walk from the house.
22 locals recommend
Rustico
33 MarinaDelicious Neapolitan pizza to eat in or takeaway. Three minutes walk from the house.
Amazing food. Pricy but worth it! You will need to book well in advance.
145 locals recommend
The Coal Shed Restaurant Brighton
8 Boyce's StreetAmazing food. Pricy but worth it! You will need to book well in advance.
Part of a group of 3 amazing restaurants including the Coal shed and Salt room. Incredible small plates food. Pre booking well in advance is essential. One of our absolute favourite places to eat out.
Burnt Orange
Part of a group of 3 amazing restaurants including the Coal shed and Salt room. Incredible small plates food. Pre booking well in advance is essential. One of our absolute favourite places to eat out.
Part of a group of 3 amazing restaurants including the Coal shed and Burnt Orange. Incredible seafood and fish focused food. Pre booking well in advance is essential
149 locals recommend
The Salt Room
106 Kings RdPart of a group of 3 amazing restaurants including the Coal shed and Burnt Orange. Incredible seafood and fish focused food. Pre booking well in advance is essential
Traditional English pub in a lovely little village, offering good pub food. You can spend time wandering around the village and browsing the little village shops before having a roast lunch.
The Bull
Traditional English pub in a lovely little village, offering good pub food. You can spend time wandering around the village and browsing the little village shops before having a roast lunch.
Activities with kids
Indoors soft play.
Jumpin Inflatable Theme Park
5 - 7 Jubilee RdIndoor soft play for kids of all ages.
Funplex
49 Auckland DrIndoor soft play.
Saltdean Lido
Saltdean Park RoadCold but fun!
Monkey Bizness Lewes
Our nearest playground. Very nice and convenient. Has a sandpit, climbing frame, swings and a little cafe kiosk.
11 locals recommend
Blakers Park
30 Cleveland RdOur nearest playground. Very nice and convenient. Has a sandpit, climbing frame, swings and a little cafe kiosk.
Our second nearest playground. Much bigger than Blakers park and has really fun fountains for kids to play on on hot days. Lots of good play equipment and a skate park for older kids.
75 locals recommend
The Level
Union RoadOur second nearest playground. Much bigger than Blakers park and has really fun fountains for kids to play on on hot days. Lots of good play equipment and a skate park for older kids.
Large park with a good playground for kids and a velodrome (free to enter) which is good for kids learning to cycle or for rollerblading.
94 locals recommend
Preston Park
Preston RoadLarge park with a good playground for kids and a velodrome (free to enter) which is good for kids learning to cycle or for rollerblading.
Very nice beach front playground with paddling pool and sandpits. Good for younger children (maybe up to 10 or 11)
8 locals recommend
King's Road Playground
28 Kings RdVery nice beach front playground with paddling pool and sandpits. Good for younger children (maybe up to 10 or 11)
Beachfront play area with great equipment for kids (including bigger kids up to 12 or so), a good paddling pool and a cafe run by one of Brighton’s famous residents, musician Fatboy Slim, where you can get ice cream and food. Also has a water sports centre where you can pay to hire a pédalo or learn wakeboarding.
100 locals recommend
Hove Lagoon
KingswayBeachfront play area with great equipment for kids (including bigger kids up to 12 or so), a good paddling pool and a cafe run by one of Brighton’s famous residents, musician Fatboy Slim, where you can get ice cream and food. Also has a water sports centre where you can pay to hire a pédalo or learn wakeboarding.
Sightseeing
Seven Sisters Cliffs
Chilled out river walks and you can also swim/kayak/SUP in the river.
11 locals recommend
Barcombe Mills
Chilled out river walks and you can also swim/kayak/SUP in the river.
You can generally park for free by the lido in the council car park. Nice place to swim in the sea and there’s a cafe on the beach.
48 locals recommend
Saltdean Lido
Saltdean Park RoadYou can generally park for free by the lido in the council car park. Nice place to swim in the sea and there’s a cafe on the beach.
Good place to swim in the sea even when it’s low tide - you can still get out to the deeper water fairly easily as it’s not too rocky. Park along the seafront or if it’s busy, head onto Braemore or Berriedale roads to park on the street.
Berriedale Avenue
Berriedale AvenueGood place to swim in the sea even when it’s low tide - you can still get out to the deeper water fairly easily as it’s not too rocky. Park along the seafront or if it’s busy, head onto Braemore or Berriedale roads to park on the street.
Great beach with a lovely cafe (take away) that does great cake plus ice creams, bacon sandwiches and drinks.
Great for rockpooling when tide is low. You can only swim comfortably two hours before and after high tide as the rocks make it hard to get to the deep water the rest of the time.
Park on Greenways for free. Parking gets difficult on hot sunny weekend days (you may need to walk for 10 minutes to get from car to beach).
You can also get to the ovingdean cafe and beach from Brighton by bike along the Undercliff path.
Ovingdean Café
Undercliff WalkGreat beach with a lovely cafe (take away) that does great cake plus ice creams, bacon sandwiches and drinks.
Great for rockpooling when tide is low. You can only swim comfortably two hours before and after high tide as the rocks make it hard to get to the deep water the rest of the time.
Park on Greenways for free. Parking gets difficult on hot sunny weekend days (you may need to walk for 10 minutes to get from car to beach).
You can also get to the ovingdean cafe and beach from Brighton by bike along the Undercliff path.
Path that stretches beneath the cliffs from Brighton marina to Rottingdean. You can cycle or walk.
82 locals recommend
Undercliff Walk
Undercliff WalkPath that stretches beneath the cliffs from Brighton marina to Rottingdean. You can cycle or walk.
Mostly off road, mostly flat cycle path from Guildford to Shoreham - 36 miles or so. Fine with a road bike as it’s mostly on proper path not mud.
12 locals recommend
Downs Link
Mostly off road, mostly flat cycle path from Guildford to Shoreham - 36 miles or so. Fine with a road bike as it’s mostly on proper path not mud.
Great views over Brighton and a pub (gets quite busy) where you can have lunch.
267 locals recommend
Devils Dyke station
Devil's Dyke RoadGreat views over Brighton and a pub (gets quite busy) where you can have lunch.
South Downs Way
South Downs Way14 mile cycle and footpath from Hampden Park to Heathfield. Perfect for cycling with kids as it’s flat and smooth all the way. Passes through Horam and Hailsham where you can pick up food. You can access it by rail - get the train to Polegate. The station is very near the trail.
Cuckoo Trail
Cuckoo Trail14 mile cycle and footpath from Hampden Park to Heathfield. Perfect for cycling with kids as it’s flat and smooth all the way. Passes through Horam and Hailsham where you can pick up food. You can access it by rail - get the train to Polegate. The station is very near the trail.
National Trust - Nymans
Typical beautiful National Trust.
Gorgeous National Trust. Also has a fantastic woodland trail (you don’t need to pay to go in for this bit) which has been set up for den building...brilliant place to spend a drizzly afternoon building an enormous den.
74 locals recommend
Sheffield Park
Sheffield ParkGorgeous National Trust. Also has a fantastic woodland trail (you don’t need to pay to go in for this bit) which has been set up for den building...brilliant place to spend a drizzly afternoon building an enormous den.
Cute working port town with plenty to while away a nice day out. Walk along the river Adur, hang out near the harbour, visit the amazingly preserved 1920s tiny Shoreham airport.
61 locals recommend
Shoreham-by-Sea
Cute working port town with plenty to while away a nice day out. Walk along the river Adur, hang out near the harbour, visit the amazingly preserved 1920s tiny Shoreham airport.
Stunning views over the Downs to the north and over the Channel to the south. Perfect place to start a walk east or west along the South Downs way.
You can walk to Lewes from here - it’s 6 miles and you can get the train back to London road Brighton.
You can park in the National trust car park at Ditchling beacon, and there’s normally an ice cream van parked there too.
84 locals recommend
Ditchling Beacon Car Park
Stunning views over the Downs to the north and over the Channel to the south. Perfect place to start a walk east or west along the South Downs way.
You can walk to Lewes from here - it’s 6 miles and you can get the train back to London road Brighton.
You can park in the National trust car park at Ditchling beacon, and there’s normally an ice cream van parked there too.
A lovely little town, famous for its antique shops and flea markets. Spend the day here nosing round independent shops, visit the Harvey’s Brewery and try the local beer, walk along the river Ouse.
290 locals recommend
Lewes
A lovely little town, famous for its antique shops and flea markets. Spend the day here nosing round independent shops, visit the Harvey’s Brewery and try the local beer, walk along the river Ouse.
Art Deco 1920s pier...more sedate than Brighton pier (no rides but there is a little arcade with shove ha’penny machines).
53 locals recommend
Worthing Pier
Marine ParadeArt Deco 1920s pier...more sedate than Brighton pier (no rides but there is a little arcade with shove ha’penny machines).
Cycle from Brighton to Worthing along the coastal cycle path for a fun day out.
https://www.sustrans.org.uk/find-a-route-on-the-national-cycle-network/south-coast-promenades-worthing-to-brighton
National Cycle Network Route 2
National Cycle Network Route 2Cycle from Brighton to Worthing along the coastal cycle path for a fun day out.
https://www.sustrans.org.uk/find-a-route-on-the-national-cycle-network/south-coast-promenades-worthing-to-brighton
Brighton Pavilion
London
Brighton Museum and Art Gallery
Hove Museum & Art Gallery
19 New Church RdBrighton Palace Pier
Madeira DriveShopping
Treasure trove of second hand bric a beach, books, antiques, furniture.
Treasure trove of second hand books, bric a bric, antiques and furniture.
7 locals recommend
Lewes Antiques Centre
42 Cliffe High StTreasure trove of second hand books, bric a bric, antiques and furniture.
Enormous rabbit warren of second hand/antique dealers’ stalls over two floors. You can get very lost in here! Then go to Bill’s cafe for the most amazing lunch.
15 locals recommend
Lewes Flea Market. (The Famous!)
14A Market StEnormous rabbit warren of second hand/antique dealers’ stalls over two floors. You can get very lost in here! Then go to Bill’s cafe for the most amazing lunch.
Snoopers Paradise
7/8 Kensington GardensSecond hand indoor vintage market in Brighton’s North Laine
Several streets of quirky, independent, delightful little shops and cafes. Famous and beloved by locals and tourists.
186 locals recommend
North Laine
Several streets of quirky, independent, delightful little shops and cafes. Famous and beloved by locals and tourists.
Brighton’s famous South Lanes is a labyrinth of alleys stuffed with independent jewellery shops (mainly second hand), cafes and quirky independent shops.
439 locals recommend
The Lanes
Brighton’s famous South Lanes is a labyrinth of alleys stuffed with independent jewellery shops (mainly second hand), cafes and quirky independent shops.
Rather soulless shopping centre with major brands- Office, Zara, Next, Lego, Fossil and many more.
236 locals recommend
Churchill Square Shopping Centre
Russell PlaceRather soulless shopping centre with major brands- Office, Zara, Next, Lego, Fossil and many more.
Sainsbury's
93 Lewes RdLarge supermarket 5 mins drive from house.
Waitrose & Partners
130-134 Western RdPosh supermarket. No parking.
Food scene
Fabulous but expensive restaurant specialising in fish and seafood.
149 locals recommend
The Salt Room
106 Kings RdFabulous but expensive restaurant specialising in fish and seafood.
Excellent new restaurant serving pricy but delicious food. Reservations essential.
41 locals recommend
Burnt Orange
59 Middle StreetExcellent new restaurant serving pricy but delicious food. Reservations essential.
Relaxing
Quirky beach front saunas inside converted horse boxes. So relaxing…one of my favourite places. Booking is a good idea. Google beach box spa.
Beach Box Spa
285 Madeira DrAmazing outdoor sauna on the beach. Book in advance.