Filed under: Short breaks, UK travel
PA
Take a walk along Brighton beach and you can't fail to notice the long-abandoned burnt out pier floating the middle of the sea. In many other seaside towns in Britain, this would seem sadly symbolic.
But in Brighton, the demise of the traditional British seaside holiday hasn't left the city trapped in time.
Far from it, in fact. Brighton has a life of its own that doesn't depend purely on tourism. Thanks to great restaurants, a blossoming art and music scene and brilliant nightlife, this buzzing university town is still one of the most exciting weekend destinations in the country - even if you never lay eyes on its most famous tourist hotspot: the second, fully working pier at the other end of promenade.
How to get there
From central London you can get a direct train in around an hour from Victoria. By road, it's approximately 90 minutes (50 miles) depending on the traffic. Just take the A23/M23 south until you reach Brighton.
Getting you bearings
From the train station, it's a straight walk down West Street to reach the beachfront for some day time fun. Other key areas are all close to handL worth a visit include the Lanes, the Culture Quarter and North Laine where the night life is the most vibrant.
Where to stay
There are plenty of good places to stay in Brighton, including some excellent contemporary style hotels. Among our favourites is the Queens Hotel on the seafront. Clean, affordable and with its own spa and leisure club, it ticks all the boxes - including the possibly of a room overlooking the sea.
Day 1: Get some sea air
There's no point going to the seaside and not seeing the sea, so make your way down to Brighton's huge pebble beach for a little sunbathing or a brisk walk (depending on the season of your visit). As you'd expect, there's excellent fish and chips and the pier will enable you to tick off the fun fare rides, slot machines and coconut stalls that are a traditional necessity - meaning you're free to enjoy the more modern reasons to visit Brighton.
The ferris wheel is also worth a whirl, and the Volks Railway, the world's oldest operating electric railraod, along the seafront which runs all the way to Brighton Marina, is definitely worth a ride (but it's closed in winter).
The ferris wheel is also worth a whirl, and the Volks Railway, the world's oldest operating electric railraod, along the seafront which runs all the way to Brighton Marina, is definitely worth a ride (but it's closed in winter).
Rock n roll lunch
Just a 10-minute walk away from the pier is The Basketmakers Arms on Gloucester Road, a pub which in the past was occasionally frequented by Joe Strummer and beloved of Brighton's music lovers (young and old alike). But even if you don't spot any rock royalty, the pub lunch menu is excellent, as is tucking into it in a cosy atmosphere with a (proper) pint of beer.
Speed demons!
After a relaxing day enjoying the sights, why not up the excitement stakes by taking advantage of Brighton's excellent go-kart centre? A 15 minutes drive away from the beachfront, TeamSport Indoor Karting, is a converted warehouse that offers the perfect adrenaline fix for adults and families alike where the staff, training and facilities are all top notch.
Day 2: Hit the Lanes
Having satisfied the speed demon in you, the following morning you might want to head for Lanes of a different kind. The Lanes area just north of the beachfront contains some of Brighton's best independent shops around a series of winding, car-free roads. Venture a little further uptown to find plenty of small markets and antique shops.
Get pampered
Brighton has a number of large spas and treatment centres, many of which can be quite expensive. A great alternative for anyone looking for a little TLC is The Lanes Health & Beauty salon where treatments start for as little as £20. This is no cut price massage though: the friendly service, beautifully-finished rooms and treatments are all of the highest standard.
Moshimo
A fish supper to remember
The beautiful thing about Brighton is the way it combines a traditional seaside atmosphere with modern urban options. Nowhere is this typified better than the fantastic Moshimo Japanese restaurant. What could be better than sushi a stone's throw away from the ocean? Moshimo is the sort of place you could enjoy a relaxed meal with friends or a formal dinner on a special occasion: the mixture of the conveyor belt of dishes and the softly-lit tables is pitch-perfect. But it's the quality and flavour of the dishes - from the freshest of fish to the succulent beef sashimi - that makes it so hard to leave.
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