Eleanor Forrest

Seaside towns aren’t just candyfloss and fairground rides anymore – not that there’s anything wrong with that. The fact is that the UK’s collection of seaside towns now includes spots which have thriving, elevated food scenes and popular romantic mini-break destinations, and Brighton is one of our favourites.  Yes, the beach is pebbly and the seagulls are a menace, but there’s a long list of reasons why this colourful, quirky patch of Sussex coast was named one of the best cities in the world for 2025. It’s got funky concert venues, independent shops, slap-up vegetarian food and top-notch pubs as well as seaside cafés, hidden museums, shiny new wellness venues and copious options for good (and I mean really good) fish ‘n’ chips. So, here are the very best things to do in Brighton. RECOMMENDED:🍝The best restaurants in Brighton☕The best coffee shops in Brighton🐟The best places for fish and chips in Brighton🍺The best pubs in Brighton This guide was recently updated by Liv Kelly, Time Out’s Travel writer who is originally from Brighton. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.