Brighton

United Kingdom

Coastline: Regency splendour
Coast life: London-on-sea

Forget kiss-me-quick hats and candyfloss on Palace Pier – with its pretty, terraced squares, Brighton gives Bath a run for its Regency money.

The Queen gave Brighton a royal seal of approval when she promoted the seaside resort to city status a few years ago. With so much restoration work reaching fruition, it’s time to celebrate Brighton’s architectural heritage. As well as a wealth of restaurants, bars and cute boutiques, this patch of the country has an action-packed cultural programme.

Pictured: Square

Boutique hotels in Brighton

Our round-up of the hippest hideaways and boutique hotels in Brighton

Getting there

Planes, trains, automobiles, or maybe even helicopter – we tell you the best way to go.

Worth getting out of bed for

Highlights the best Brighton has to offer, from art and culture to fun-packed activities; we've even found the most inspiring place to enjoy the views from.

Eating, drinking & dancing

We've tracked down the best cafés for people-watching, the bars with the coolest cocktails, the most accomplished restaurants and the liveliest local nightlife in Brighton.

Smith Maps

Escape to the Great British seaside; our interactive map of Brighton will help lead you to our Smith hotels.

Taxis: The city is compact, with most of what you'll want to do and see within walking distance. If you do fancy a cab, there are plenty to hail, as well as taxi ranks in the city centre, the main ones being in East Street, Queen's Square and at Hove Town Hall.
Tipping culture: Ten per cent is standard, but many restaurants now add a discretionary 12.5 per cent, so be careful not to tip twice.
Packing tips: If you plan to take a splash in the sea, pack your jelly shoes – the beaches are pebbled.
Recommended reads: Brighton Rock and The End of the Affair by Graham Greene.
Cuisine: This is a great city for vegetarians; we recommend Food for Friends in the Lanes. Or do trad fish 'n' chips from English's or Banker's.
Currency: Pound sterling.
Dialing codes: Country code for the UK: +44. Brighton: (0)1273.
Do go/don't go: Britain is an unpredictable blighter for weather, so don’t let that dictate when you go. Weekends can be a lot busier, especially during holidays; so, for an uncrowded romantic escape, you may prefer to go midweek.