17 of the best · Brighton & Hove, United Kingdom
The Royal Pavilion, the Palace Pier and the West Pier, the i360, SEA LIFE and Volk’s Railway, the beach huts of Hove, Pride, the racecourse and the historic airfield at Shoreham.
Our 17 favourites, listed A–Z · Updated October 2026
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Three of our favourites from this list, vetted by people who know and love Brighton.
The prince’s pleasure palace
George IV’s seaside palace, with Indian-style domes outside and dazzling Chinese-inspired rooms within.
The classic seaside pier
Brighton’s pleasure pier, with fairground rides, arcades and fish and chips over the sea.
Madeira Drive, Brighton BN2 1TWExplore View on map
138 metres above the sea
A glass viewing pod that rises up a slender tower on the seafront, with views along the coast and to the Downs.
Lower Kings Road, Brighton BN1 2LNExplore View on map
In-depth stories behind the list.
The back story
A fishing town that became the most fashionable resort in England: sea-bathing, a prince’s pleasure palace, the railway, the piers, and the city by the sea today.
The back story
Regency terraces, St James’s Street and the heart of LGBTQ+ Brighton: Kemptown, and the Pride weekend every August.
The seafront and the Pavilion.
138 metres above the sea
A glass viewing pod that rises up a slender tower on the seafront, with views along the coast and to the Downs.
Lower Kings Road, Brighton BN1 2LNExplore View on map
The classic seaside pier
Brighton’s pleasure pier, with fairground rides, arcades and fish and chips over the sea.
Madeira Drive, Brighton BN2 1TWExplore View on map
The prince’s pleasure palace
George IV’s seaside palace, with Indian-style domes outside and dazzling Chinese-inspired rooms within.
Since 1872
The Victorian aquarium on Marine Parade, opened in 1872.
Marine Parade, Brighton BN2 1TBExplore View on map
A Victorian pier in the sea
The skeleton of the Victorian West Pier, standing in the sea off the King’s Road.
A Victorian electric railway
The little Victorian electric railway that runs along the beach east of the Palace Pier.
Huts and promenades.
Painted beach huts
Rows of brightly painted beach huts along Hove promenade, one of the city’s best-loved sights.
Every August.
Every August
The city’s great LGBTQ+ celebration every August: the Community Parade, Pride on the Park and the Kemptown street party.
Houses, harbours and beach sports.
Boats and waterfront walks
The yacht harbour east of Kemptown, with waterfront restaurants, a cinema and walks.
Edwardian house and gardens
A historic manor house and walled gardens beside Preston Park.
Preston Drove, Brighton BN1 6SDExplore View on map
Sand courts on the seafront
Sand courts for beach volleyball and other beach sports on Madeira Drive.
299 Madeira Drive, Brighton BN2 1ENExplore View on map
The racecourse and the airfield.
Sightseeing flights
The historic airfield at Shoreham, with a 1930s Art Deco terminal and sightseeing flights over the coast.
Terminal Building, Cecil Pashley Way, Shoreham-by-Sea BN43 5FFExplore View on map
High above the city
The racecourse on the hills above Kemptown, with views over the city and the sea.
Freshfield Road, Brighton BN2 9XZExplore View on map
The ice rink.
In front of the Pavilion
A seasonal ice rink in front of the Royal Pavilion each winter, with a rinkside bar and kitchen.
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