Itineraries for Your Trip to Brighton
3 Days in Brighton for Foodies
When I moved to London at 18, Brighton became our coastal playground. On sunny spring weekends, I’d drive there with friends to munch fish and chips as we strolled along the pier, grab an ice cream as we browsed the boutiques of The Lanes, and spend our meager student’s wages on brunch at a bohemian café.
Today, Brighton’s foodie scene is no longer the best-kept secret it used to be—and all the better for it. No one should miss out on this beach town’s legendary food festivals, bustling farmers’ markets, and plethora of independent restaurants, cool cafés, and artisan food shops. Getting hungry? This 3-day itinerary is a good place to start.
Bring your swimsuit—Brits hit the beach the second the sun comes out, so you’ll want to be prepared!
If you only have time for one thing, make it Shelter Hall food hall for lunch.
Explore Brighton’s vibrant, compact neighborhoods on a walking tour. You can see the historical center, art district of Kempton, and sister town of Hove on foot. Admire the Royal Pavilion and Brighton Palace Pier, stop by foodie favorites such as The Little Fish Market, and pick up tips from a local on a tour.
The Lanes are one of Brighton’s most atmospheric quarters, crammed with independent shops, cafés, bakeries, and delicatessens. Take the afternoon to wander, tasting chocolate at one of Brighton’s beloved chocolatiers and grabbing baked goods from the Flour Pot Bakery.
Brighton is the gateway to the Sussex wine region, renowned for its sparkling wines, and what better way to enjoy a wine-tasting tour than on a traditional red double-decker bus? Visit two different wineries, sample various English wines, and cap it off with another unmissable British tradition—a pub lunch.
Breathe in the ocean air with a walk along Brighton Beach and Brighton Pier. Tuck into fish and chips (Captains Fish and Chips is my fave). Then, head to Brighton i360 viewing tower for a drink at the city’s highest bar, Nyetimber Sky Bar. Try locally produced Brighton Gin—its distillery offers tours.
Brighton’s spirit shines through in its food scene, so seek creative dishes. Dive into Brighton’s thriving vegan and vegetarian scene, visit the Shelter Hall food hall to try innovative global cuisine, or experience the city’s legendary LGBTQ scene with a bottomless brunch and drag queen show.
From the quirky to the traditional: End your Brighton foodie weekend with a classic British afternoon tea. Learn the proper way to spread jam and cream on your scone (it’s something even the Brits can’t agree on!), munch through a selection of finger sandwiches, and feel like a local sipping English tea.
