Brighton, Hove and the surrounding areas are full of great days out and things to do. I’ve decided to put together a little list of the free, or almost free, things you can do.
Brighton Palace Pier – You can’t be in Brighton without going on the pier. It opened in 1899 so this year the Pier turns 120! Obviously you can spend money, the arcades are the perfect place for getting rid of your 2ps. If you can resist the smell of fish and chips or freshly cooked doughnuts you are a stronger person than me! There is also a funfair on the end with various different offers. But if you didn’t want to spend any money you could just take a walk along all 1722ft of it. Sit in one of the free deckchairs and watch the world go by. It’s also a pretty good spot for taking some photos.
Take a walk/cycle/run along the seafront towards Hove or the marina and further – Depending on your starting point you can head along the seafront in both directions. Going west will take you towards Hove and the Lagoon. East and you get to the Marina and beyond. If you are at the Marina then you could always take the Undercliff Walk all the way to Saltdean. If you don’t feel like walking you can hire a Brighton Bike from as little as £1.
Street art / colour walk – Brighton is full of wonderful street art. From the moment you come out of the train station you are greeted by it. It’s constantly changing, which is great. It means you could walk along a street one week and see something completely different from the week before. One of my favourite lanes to walk down is Trafalgar Lane. Right in the heart of North Laine the walls are full of bright, colourful art. If colourful buildings are more your thing then Brighton and Hove have plenty of those as well. From the beach huts along the seafront in Hove to the colourful houses by Queens Park, all are within walking distance from the city centre.
Wandering through the lanes & north laine area. Brighton is full of independent shops, cafes and restaurants. The Lanes and North Laine are the place to head if vintage clothing, jewellery and one off gifts are your thing. There are plenty of coffee shops and cafes to stop off at when you need a break.
Museums – there are several museums in Brighton and Hove, some are free and some you have to pay to enter. The free ones are the fishing museum on the seafront, Hove Museum and the Booth Museum of Natural History. The Brighton Museum and Gallery in Pavilion Gardens is free for local residents, or £6 for non-residents.
Pavilion Gardens – situated around the Royal Pavilion, pavilion gardens offer green space right in the heart of the city. You can also enter the Royal Pavilion, however this isn’t free. Although local residents to get discounted entry.
Take a trip to the beach. You can’t come to Brighton without visiting the beach. It’s not a sandy one but don’t let that put you off. When the tide goes out far enough you can get some sand if sandcastle building is your thing. Otherwise you can take a walk along the pebbles, find some shells, have a beach bbq or just sit and take in the views.
Local parks and playgrounds – Brighton and Hove are both home to many parks and playgrounds. Our closest and favourite ones to visit are Hove Park, Stoneham Park, Hove Lagoon, the playground near the i360 on the seafront and Queens Park. If you are into skating there are skate parks at both The Level and Hove Lagoon.
The South Downs. Situated not far from Brighton and Hove the south downs has something for everyone. You can easily get there from Brighton using the Brighton Breeze bus service from the city centre. It takes you to Devils Dyke, where you can then go for a walk or enjoy a picnic.
If you are visiting Brighton and Hove in the Summer time there are plenty of free paddling pools and play fountains for kids to cool down in. The Level has play fountains, and there are paddling pools at Hove Lagoon, Saunders Park and Kings Road by the i360. When the weather is nice we usually head to the Lagoon or Kings Road. Both are close to cafes, play areas and the beach so as long as you take something to give you shade you can spend the whole day at them.
So many great ideas here and your photos are amazing! There really is no better city when its sunny xx