Itineraries for Your Trip to Brighton
3 Days in Brighton for Families
Brighton doesn’t fit the traditional cookie-cutter mould of family destinations. While other English seaside resorts offer plenty of sandy beaches and purpose-built family entertainments, it’s always been different. With a raffish heritage symbolized by its Royal Pavilion—an 1822 holiday residence for King George IV—it’s made its name not on amusement arcades, but on being edgy, worldly, and hedonistic.
Yet as I’ve discovered on recent visits with my stepkids, it’s burnishing its family-fun credentials with lots of child-oriented attractions. Cue its i360 observation tower, Palace Pier virtual reality experiences, hop-on hop-off buses, and slew of scavenger hunts, all of them big on kid appeal. Here are my suggestions for a fun-packed, family-bonding three days in city.
Brighton can turn rainy and blustery on a coin: be sure to pack an umbrella, even in summer.
Fire the kids’ imaginations from the get-go with a flight on the Brighton i360 tower, whose glass pod slides skyward to offer dizzying panoramas over the city, sea, and Sussex coastline. Children love the sci-fi-like ascent and once at 453 feet (138 meters) up, you can point out the seafront attractions you’ll visit next.
After a classic fish-and-chip lunch on the beach, a city walking tour is in order for older, history-minded kids. Younger ones, meanwhile, might prefer a hop-on hop-off open-top bus tour: catch one from the Palace Pier for a great way to see Brighton’s landmarks without the little ones whinging about walking.
Use this morning to get under Brighton’s skin. Take a guided walking or self-guided audio tour to focus on highlights like the Royal Pavilion, whose fantastical interiors will inspire any child’s curiosity. A short bus ride from the Pavilion is the Booth Museum of Natural History, whose stuffed animals, fossils, and dinosaur bones will transfix school-age kids.
After an educational morning, make this afternoon about old-school entertainments at the Palace Pier fairground. Thrill-seeking teens will love its rollercoaster and pendulum-like Booster ride, while little ones will adore the carousels and trampolines. Finish with an early-evening foray into The Lanes, where tiny, illuminated eateries promise a perfect noodles or pizza supper.
Make tracks for Brighton SEA LIFE®, whose tanks of rays and other marine creatures have extra impact for sitting under the promenade’s vaulted arches. Then, if time allows, take a customizable tour with a local guide to discover lesser-known attractions—perhaps admiring the yachts at Brighton Marina or riding the 135-year-old seafront Volk’s Railway.
Wrap up with a dose of classic Brighton fun. Book a digital treasure hunt and solve cryptic clues to discover the city’s hidden gems—you’ll find numerous scavenger-style tours available for all ages. Or, dive into Paradox Place, a family-friendly optical illusion wonderland promising brilliant trick photos—perfect for sharing brilliant Instagrammable posts on your stay.
