My Weekend Trip to Brighton, UK
Brighton is a lively beach town in the United Kingdom that sits on the English Channel. And at just an hour train ride from London, and an even shorter ride from the Gatwick Airport, it’s easy to add a trip to Brighton to travels throughout Great Britain.
Brighton is well known for its rocky beaches and its carnival-style pier. On my trip, I learned that Brighton is also known for being very LGBTQIA+ friendly. It’s also got lots of vegan and vegetarian food, as well as vintage and other cool local shops.
In spring 2023, I took advantage of some cheap plane tickets and spent a weekend in Brighton. I really enjoyed the town, and I would definitely consider returning whenever I find myself in the UK next.
Here, I’ll tell you about what I did and where I ate in Brighton.
Things To Do in Brighton
Walk Along the Brighton Pier
When in Brighton, I made sure to take a stroll down the famous Brighton Pier. If you’re walking along the beach or the boardwalk, you can’t miss the pier jetting out into the ocean with colorful lights and attractions.
Although I didn’t play any carnival games or go on any rides, it was quite fun to take a walk to the end of the pier and soak in the unique atmosphere. Of course, the views are great along the pier, too, making it a popular spot to watch the sunset on clear days in Brighton.
In addition to a carnival and arcade, the Brighton Pier is home to a few food stalls and bars, so there’s plenty to do on the pier alone.
Explore the North Laine
The North Laine is a hip area of Brighton full of eclectic local shops, cafes, and restaurants. It’s a really fun place to stroll through and go window shopping—or at least take a peak at the local goods. On the weekend we visited, artisans, collectors, and other vendors even set up stands on the sidewalk!
Relax on the Rocky Brighton Beach
Naturally, a popular thing to do in Brighton on a sunny day is spend some time on the beach. I enjoyed sitting on the beach near the pier, people watching, and taking in the views of the coastline.
The Brighton beach is rocky rather than sandy, so on one hand visitors are unlikely to get sand in their shoes, but on the other hand might want to bring something soft to cushion their seats.
Where To Eat in Brighton
Breakfast at Tiffany’s
To try a vegetarian spin on the traditional English breakfast, I went to Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Breakfast at Tiffany’s is a cute corner diner located in Brighton’s North Laine area.
The restaurant served several variations of typical diner-style breakfasts. And the meals are quite cheap for the amount and quality of food provided!
The Breakfast Club
The Breakfast Club is a diner chain in England that serves decadent breakfast and brunch meals. At the location in Brighton, friendly staff members greeted my friend and I and welcomed us into the inviting restaurant.
This isn’t the place to go if you’re looking for a super cheap option, but for the amount of delicious food that came with my dish, I’d say it was well worth the price I paid. And let me tell you, they don’t skimp on the vegan options! In fact, they have several vegetarian proteins.
So, I recommend the Breakfast Club! Arrive hungry!
We Love Falafel
We Love Falafel is an affordable and delicious falafel restaurant in Brighton’s North Laine neighborhood. They offer multiple types of falafels—including rotating special flavors—served on salads or in wraps. I highly recommend the restaurant, especially for those looking for a healthy and/or vegan option in Brighton.
We Love Falafel only has a few tables of outdoors seating. So be prepared to take your food to go if you don’t find a table (or if it’s too cold and rainy—a high possibility in the UK).
Charles Street Tap
Charles Street Tap is a funky LGBTQIA+ pub with great vegan and gluten-free options (in addition to typical pub-style food for the meat eaters).
When I visited Brighton, I enjoyed a veggie burger, fries (or chips, as they’re called in England), and spicy cauliflower wings at Charles Street Tap. While I ate, I enjoyed the friendly, lively atmosphere and took in more views of the coast.
I had a lovely time visiting Brighton.
First off, I majorly lucked out with the weather—it was sunny two of the three days of my trip! So that definitely made my visit especially enjoyable.
But in general, I found Brighton to be a very nice place to visit. I highly recommend the town to fellow travelers.
