If we were headed to Brighton while watching our wallets, this is how we would do it!
10AM - The Royal Pavilion (from £11)
4/5 Pavilion Buildings, Brighton BN1 1EE | Open 10am - 5:15pm daily
The Royal Pavilion is a spectacular seaside palace and one of Brighton’s most treasured landmarks. Built as a party pad for King George IV, this historic house mixes Regency grandeur with the visual styles of both India and China. The Royal Pavilion is one of the most opulent buildings in England, and undoubtedly one of the finest examples of early 19th Century chinoiserie anywhere in Europe.
The entire palace is an astonishing spectacle, and within its eye-popping architecture lies some of the most lavish interiors you’ll ever have the pleasure of seeing. The dragon-themed banqueting hall is breathtaking, and the music room with its ceiling of 26,000 gold scales is something you really do have to see to believe.
Click here to book tickets
12.30PM - Lunch at Iydea
17 Kensington Gardens, Brighton BN1 4AL | Open 9.30am - 5.30pm
It’s best to park any prejudices you might have about vegetarian canteens at the door, because Iydea has some of the most vibrant, colourful food in the city. Here they serve hearty, fresh, beautifully made vegetarian dishes that are full of goodness through and through.
Diners choose from one of several hot mains and a choice of two salads as well as toppings and sauces. The kitchen prepares everything with an honest commitment to flavour and you’ll be wowed by the sophisticated approach they take with every one of their delicious dishes. For healthy, hearty food that’s good for the body and the soul, there’s no better place to go.
1.30PM - Brighton Fishing Museum (Free!)
201 Kings Rd, Brighton BN1 1NB | Open 10am - 4pm
For a true feel of the city, pop into the Brighton Fishing Museum where you’ll learn all about Brighton’s fascinating and eclectic past. From its beginnings as a fishing community to being a resort known for its medicinal seawater in the 1700s, Brighton has transformed dramatically over the years, but its history is forever connected to the sea.
Located in the fishing quarter, this museum offers a unique perspective on the city’s development over the years, with exhibitions that will entertain and educate visitors of all ages.
3PM - Brighton Palace Pier and Brighton Beaches (Free!)
Brighton Palace Pier is undoubtedly one of the city’s most famous and most beloved attractions, and has been visited by millions of tourists, sightseers, and day-trippers since it was opened 120 years ago. You’ll easily wile away the hours enjoying all the arcade games and fairground rides on offer, and of course a trip to the city’s famous stone beaches is in order too.
Head west of the pier to the King’s Road Arches for arty shops, ceramic stalls, and ice cream kiosks, and further on you can trade your spare change for copper pennies in the tiny Mechanical Memories Museum (free), where vintage slot machines, and one-armed bandits crank away in wonderfully working order.
6PM - Dinner at Bardsley’s (From £6.50)
22-23a Baker St, Brighton BN1 4JN | Weekdays 12-3pm & 4.30-9.30pm
No trip to Brighton is complete without indulging in some scrumptious fish and chips, and the best place for this seaside treat is Bardsley’s of Baker Street. Named one of the Top 10 fish and chips restaurants in the country by the Guardian, Bardsley’s has been serving up fabulous fish for four generations. With hefty portion sizes, scrumptious homemade chips, and the lightest, crispiest batter you’ll ever get the chance to taste, Bardsley’s delivers quality fare that won’t disappoint.