Brighton day trip from London
A day trip to Brighton from London: the Royal Pavilion, the narrow Lanes and the independent shops of North Laine, then the seafront with the Palace Pier, the i360 viewing pod and an hour on the beach, and to finish, a walk under the white cliffs from Brighton Marina. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
Brighton in 1 day
Day 1
Royal Pavilion
George IV's seaside palace, Indian-style domes outside and lavish Chinese-style rooms inside, built in the early 19th century.
The Lanes
A maze of narrow medieval alleys full of jewellers, antique shops, cafés and pubs in the heart of old Brighton.
North Laine
A lively quarter of independent shops, vintage stores, cafés and street art between the station and the Pavilion.
Brighton Palace Pier
The Victorian pleasure pier from 1899, with funfair rides, arcades and doughnut stalls stretching out over the sea.
Brighton i360
A glass viewing pod that rises slowly up a 162-metre tower for views along the coast and over the South Downs.
Brighton Beach
The long pebble beach beside the pier, lined with seafront arches, cafés and bars, at the heart of a Brighton day.
Undercliff Walk (Brighton Marina to the cliffs)
A flat path under the white chalk cliffs, from Brighton Marina east toward Rottingdean: a walk or a run by the sea at the end of the day. Avoid it in storms and at high tide, when waves can reach it.
Watch: Brighton
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
Getting there
Trains from London Victoria and London Bridge reach Brighton in about one hour. The Royal Pavilion is a 10-minute walk downhill from the station, and the seafront a few minutes further.
Staying in London? This day fits into those city plans, and in the Trip Builder it is one click under each of them.
When to go to Brighton
Brighton is busiest on summer weekends and bank holidays, when trains and the beach are crowded. Spring and September are good for the seafront; in winter the Pavilion and the Lanes still make a good day, though some pier rides close.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Brighton on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Brighton on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Brighton on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for United Kingdom from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Brighton
- Walk downhill from the station through North Laine on the way in, and keep the seafront for the afternoon.
- Brighton Museum & Art Gallery, next to the Pavilion, is closed on Mondays.
- Check that the i360 is flying before you go; strong wind can stop it.
- The beach is pebbles, not sand: bring something to sit on and shoes for the water.
- Fish and chips on the seafront or on the pier is the classic Brighton lunch.
- For dinner, a reader recommends Burnt Orange on Middle Street, by the Lanes.
- Photos of the i360 and the Undercliff Walk: Caterina Giammarresi. Thank you!
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Brighton Palace Pier: Ian Stannard from Southsea, England, CC BY-SA 2.0
- North Laine: Antiquary, CC BY 4.0
- Royal Pavilion: Qmin, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The Lanes: Bin im Garten, CC BY-SA 3.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
