When the sun is shining, the sky is clear and the temperature reaches 25C, nothing is better than a beach getaway.
Among the coastal cities near London, Brighton & Hove, located in East Sussex only about 50mi away from England’s capital, is a popular student city and a famous British summer destination.
If you’re thinking about taking a day trip to Brighton from London, especially in the height of summer as I did, you might be wondering if it’s worth it or not. Trains can be packed, the beach can be overcrowded, queues everywhere…
I know your concerns.
It’s the reason that after my visits I decided to write this post with all the information you need to plan your Brighton day trip, including useful tips, a practical itinerary, costs, and the best things to do in Brighton in one day.
Table of Contents
How to Get to Brighton From London
By train
The train is the quickest and easiest way to travel from London to Brighton. It takes approximately one hour, and tickets start at £12.
There are over 200 daily trains during the high season departing from three main stations: Victoria, Blackfriars, and London Bridge. However, you can also hop on a train to Brighton from St Pancras, Farringdon, and East Croydon.
If you want to save time on your journey, take one of the fastest routes, without changes:
- From London Victoria with Southern Railway (58min)
- From Blackfriars with Thameslink (1h14min)
- From London Bridge with Thameslink (1h02min)
You can choose between off-peak or anytime day return, standard or first class.
Book your ticket online in advance so you can find the best deals.
By coach
If you’re travelling to Brighton on a budget, the best option is to take a bus.
The coach from London to Brighton takes an average of 2h45min and tickets can be as low as £6 (each way).
There are up to 4 services per day from Victoria Coach Station, Vauxhall, Stockwell, Streatham, Rose Hill, and Belmont.
The first coach departs at 8h and the last at 19h30min.
If you catch the first bus, you’ll get there before 11h, and you’ll have enough time to enjoy a day in Brighton.
By car
Driving to Brighton is more convenient, particularly for those with kids and from other parts of the UK.
From central London to Brighton takes between 1h40min and 2h, in normal traffic conditions, and the travel distance is 75mi (120Km).
How to get around
Regardless of the mode of transportation that you’re travelling to Brighton from London for the day, getting around is easy.
You don’t need a car or take public transport. You can do everything on foot.
From Brighton train station to the beach is between a 10 – 15min walk. The exit takes you onto Queens Road, and you just head straight down this road towards the sea until you reach the beach.
Brighton Coach Station is based just on the seafront. If you’re driving, find car parking and pay the daily fee because it won’t be needed.
In case you don’t want to walk around Brighton & Hove (the two parts of the city), and still want to see its best attractions, you can book the Sightseeing bus or this bike tour.
Brighton Day Trip Itinerary
- 10h – Arrive in Brighton
- 10h20min to 11h20min – Visit the Royal Pavilion and its gardens
- 11h20min – Head towards Brighton Pier via East Street (10min walk)
- 11h30min to 12h30min – Enjoy the rides or simply admire the superb views from the pier
- 13h – Have lunch in one of the seafront restaurants or do a picnic on the beach
- 14h – Relax on Brighton Beach
- 17h – Take your flight at British Airways i360
- 17h30min – Go for a stroll along the promenade and sightseeing
- 18h20min – Head back to the train station
- 19h – Leave Brighton
10 Best Things to Do In Brighton
You booked your ticket, packed your bag, and can’t wait to feel the ocean breeze blowing in your face, hear the waves, and relax on the beach, can you?
If you’re wondering what to do on a Brighton day trip, wonder no more. Here are the ten best things to do in Brighton in one day.
1 – Visit the Royal Pavilion
A trip to Brighton cannot be complete without visiting the Royal Pavilion!
The building was constructed as a modest 18th-century lodging house, but George, Prince of Wales, transformed it into a graceful neo-classical villa with the help of the architect Henry Holland.
In 1815 George hired the eminent architect John Nash, the same who designed Buckingham Palace and Regent’s Park, to redesign the building in the Indian style. The work was finished in 1823 when George was already a king.
This former royal residence is open to the public daily from 9h30min to 17h45min and costs £18. Book your ticket online in advance here.
I do recommend that you visit the interior of this exotic palace, which has all the grandeur of the Regency era mixed with Indian and Chinese styles.
But if you don’t have time, don’t miss the opportunity to marvel at this masterpiece of architecture.
Visiting the Royal Pavilion was one of the highlights of my Brighton day trip. I loved it!
2 – Get a bird’s eye view of Brighton
Dominating Brighton and Hove’s seafront skyline is the British Airways i360, a viewing tower and fully enclosed glass pod designed by the architects behind the conception and build of the London Eye.
The tower is designed as a 162m (531ft) tall needle structure with an ascending and descending spacious circular viewing platform, has a capacity for 200 people, and provides unparalleled panoramic views of the city of Brighton and beyond.
You can admire the city landmarks, artwork on rooftops, wind farms out at the sea, and the stunning coastline from the Seven Sisters cliffs to the Isle of Wight.
The British Airways i360 is open year-round, “flights” operate every 30min on the hour and half-hour, and the adult ticket (from 25 years old) costs £17.95.
This is a one-and-only experience and I highly recommend it. Book your flight ticket online in advance here.
3 – Take a stroll along the promenade
Whether you’re visiting Brighton for the day, during the spring, summer, or fall, strolling along the promenade is the perfect way to experience Brighton and Hove’s vibrant seaside.
You’ll see people playing sports, cycling, rollerblading, skating, running, street artists performing, etc.
You can walk from the Marina to Hove Lagoon, 4mi (6.5Km), but my recommendation is to go from the pier to the vivid beach huts.
4 – Explore Brighton Palace Pier
Another famous landmark that you can’t miss on your day trip from London to Brighton is the Palace Pier, one of the most impressive piers in the UK.
The 525m (1,722 ft) long Pier in Victorian style has an array of attractions to please every visitor.
From a waterfront theme park with rides to arcades, restaurants, bars, and deck chairs to enjoy the views, fortune tellers, and activities for the whole family.
Don’t forget to put the Palace Pier on your list. You’ll be rewarded with splendid sea views.
5 – Wander around the streets of Brighton
Even though you’re spending only a day in Brighton, you still have time to wander around its charming streets.
My recommendation is that when you leave the train station, walk down Queens Road until the pedestrianized Duke Street. There are shops, pubs, and eateries with outdoor seating, and you can continue through the adorable Duke Lane.
Another appealing street to check out is East Street, home to Brighton’s oldest boozer dating from at least 1568, high-end shops and restaurants, street artists, etc.
6 – Discover the picturesque Brunswick Square
Another place to check out is Brunswick Square, on the Hove side of the city.
It’s a central square with a beautiful and perfumed garden surrounded by identical yellow terraced houses built for the upper classes between 1820 and 1840.
Brunswick was home to notorious residents, it’s very peaceful and one of my favourite points of interest in Brighton.
In addition to the square, there are two distinguished seafront buildings, one on each edge, with Corinthian columns, Welsh Slate roofs, and Scottish stone pavements.
Brunswick Square and Terrace is one of the finest examples of Regency development in Great Britain. If you’re an architecture lover, you shouldn’t miss it.
7 – Savour the local dishes
The coastal town of Brighton has a wide range of restaurants and gastropubs for every taste and pocket.
From Middle Eastern cuisine to Japanese, Indian, Italian, French, Greek, and of course British.
If British food doesn’t excite you, what about having locally caught fish and chips while taking in the sea views from the pier? Or fresh shellfish by the beach?
Well, if you’re not a big fan of seafood or a vegetarian, there are other dishes that you can try during your Brighton day trip, such as Shepperd’s Pie, Bangers and Mash, etc.
Don’t leave Brighton without savouring a 99-flake ice cream. It’s ridiculously delicious!
8 – Enjoy the live music
If there’s something that Brighton isn’t short of, it’s live music.
When visiting Brighton, you’ll find local talents playing music everywhere you go.
From classical music at The Royal Pavilion’s gardens to trendy hits at the seafront bars, jazz at The Bandstand, and folk music at the Upside Down House, there are genres to please everyone.
The most popular outdoor terraced beachfront bars to enjoy live music whilst sipping a cocktail are Brighton Music Hall and OhSo Social.
9 – Practice sports
A day in Brighton can be packed with fun activities, especially if you’re a sports lover.
It’s because the seaside of the city boasts a wide range of places to play your favourite sport.
Beach volleyball, basketball, football, bocce, and beach tennis (the first time I saw people playing this sport), are just some of them.
You can rent a bike, a paddleboard, a kayak, or jet sky, not to mention walk and swim in the sea. It’s free.
10 – Relax on Brighton Beach
A day trip to Brighton cannot end without spending some time on its famous beach.
The buzzing pebble beach, dotted with wind farms at the sea, has crystal-clear green water and excellent infrastructure.
There are toilets, lifeguards on duty, chairs and umbrellas for hire, restaurants, bars, beach clubs, playgrounds, a kid’s swimming pool, souvenir shops, and even art exhibitions.
After travelling from London to Brighton, sightseeing, and being entertained by the city’s attractions, you must be eager to simply lounge on the beach.
So, lay down your towel, take off your clothes, put sunscreen on, rest, and relax on the beach feeling the cool breeze.
P.S: If you don’t want to lie on the pebbles, which isn’t that bad, you can hire a deck chair for £4.00, a sunbed for £8.00, a parasol for £7.00 and a windbreaker for £5.00.
Is Brighton Worth Visiting?
Absolutely!
The greatest thing about taking a trip to Brighton is that it is not just a beach getaway. There are more things to do and see than just lying on the beach.
The top Brighton attractions are within walking distance, the city is easy to navigate, has a very good vibe, and welcomes all tribes.
Furthermore, if you live in a bustling city like London, what can be better than going to the beach on a summer day?
I had a fantastic time in Brighton & Hove and highly recommend that you visit it, even for the day.
Is Brighton Expensive to Visit?
If you’re planning to take a day trip from London to Brighton by train, you’ll spend between £30 – 100.
Here’s the breakdown of my expenses.
- Return ticket: £25.10
- British Airways i360 Sparkling Wine Experience: £29.50
- Drinks and food at Brighton Beach Club: £30
- 99 Flake ice cream at JJ’s: £2.50
Total: £87.10
Extra Tips for Planning a Day Trip to Brighton
Plan your trip in advance to arrive in Brighton early and get the most out of it.
Bring a towel, sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, and plenty of water along with you.
There’s a Tesco and a Sainsbury’s on Queens Road, a 5min-walk from the train station, in case you want to get some snacks and refreshments.
Arrive at least 15min before the train departure to get a good seat.
If you’re driving, you can leave your car at Regency Square car park, which is located opposite BA i360, at BN1 2FG.
Ticket holders must arrive at BA i360 at least 20min before the flight time.
Safe travels and have fun in East Sussex.
Watch Video – What to Do on a Brighton Day Trip from London
More posts about the UK that might interest you:
- 8 Best Things to Do in London for Free
- Nearest Tube to Buckingham Palace
- Where to Find the Best Christmas Lights in London
- 3 Days in Edinburgh – Best Things to Do, Where to Stay & Eat
- Boating on the Canals with GoBoat London
- Van Gogh Immersive Experience London
- Best UK Road Trip Ideas for Your Holiday
Don’t forget to save these pins for later 😉
- Book Your Flight Find deals on airlines on my favorite search engine: Skyscanner. Be sure to read my How to find cheap flights article.
- Rent A Car Rental Cars is a great site for comparing car prices to find the best deal.
- Book Accommodation Booking.com is my favorite hotel search engine. But Hotels.com and Hilton Hotels have very interesting reward programs.
- Protect Your Trip Don’t forget travel insurance! I always use World Nomads for short-term trips and SafetyWing for long-term ones. Find out why Travel Insurance: Much More Than a Precaution, a Necessity.
- Book Tours in Advance Book unforgettable experiences and skip-the-line tickets with GetYourGuide or Viator .
- Book Ground Transportation BookaWay offers a stress-free experience with secure payments and no hidden fees. You pay online and receive your itinerary by email.
- Luggage Solutions Rent your luggage with Cargo or if you need to drop off your own luggage and enjoy your time without dragging it all over a city, find a LuggageHero shop here.
- Get a Travel Card Revolut Card is a pre-paid debit card that enables cash machine withdrawals in 120 countries. I’ve been using my Revolut Card for over a year and never paid foreign-transaction fees again. Get your Revolut Card with free shipping here.
- Packing Guide Check out my How to Pack a Carry-on Luggage For a Five-month Trip to help you start packing for your trip. Don’t forget your camera, chargers and other useful travel accessories. World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers in over 100 countries. As an affiliate, we receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is information only and not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.
