Brighton Information - information for tourists and visitors to Brighton

About Brighton - General Information Situated on the South East coastline of England, Brighton is popular with day-trippers and clubbers alike. From students to professionals, Brighton is home to people from all places, and all walks of life. Its easy access from London rail terminals makes it an affordable and welcome break from the toils of city life. Famous for its pebbled beaches, Brighton has a lot more on offer, and is popular with tourists year-round. There is a large gay scene in Brighton with a large selection of gay and lesbian orientated bars and clubs. Brighton has a large array of trendy bars, clubs and restaurants, as well as traditional British pubs and restaurants. The annual Brighton festival, held in May, offers a range of music, dance, film and theatre throughout the month. The weather in Brighton can get very nice in the summer with the sea breeze moderating the temperature; the winter weather can be quite bracing! Getting There Getting to Brighton by train from London Victoria, East Croydon or Gatwick Airport is easy, and shouldn't take longer than an hour. Brighton is also easily accessible by car. From the M25 motorway, join the M23 and then follows signs to Brighton. Places To Eat and Drink Earth and Stars (Windsor Street) - Homely bar selling organic drinks and food, playing chilled out tunes. Shouldn't be too hard to spot as the building is painted bright turquoise! The Coach House (59 Middle Street) - Beautifully laid out restaurant bar with outside seating and nice food. The Dorset (corner of Gardner Street) - Victorian style cafe bar and restaurant in the North Laine area. The Font and Firkin (Union Street, The Lanes) - Large 'Firkin' Pub in a converted church serving good food and a large selection of ales. The Hop Poles (13 Middle Street) - Great bistro food at reasonable prices and a large selection of wines; also has a courtyard bar. The Sussex (33-34 East Street) - Friendly town centre pub with home-cooked food. Western Front (11 Cranbourne Street) - Close to the shopping centre, this is a pleasant place to enjoy some food and a drink in the summer with outside seating. The interior is decked out with big wooden tables ideal for a more cosy environment in the colder months. Terre à Terre (71 East Street) - Fine vegetarian and vegan dining just off the seafront. Book in advance: 01273 729051. Food For Friends (17/18 Prince Albert Street) - Global vegetarian and vegan cuisine with reasonably priced changing menu. Bombay Aloo - (Ship Street) - Vegetarian Indian cuisine all-you-can-eat style buffet for around £5. English's Restaurant - (29/30/31 East Street) - Fish and seafood restaurant dating back 400 years, with six separate dining rooms and an outdoor courtyard area for the warmer months. Things To See And Do The Lanes The Lanes, the historical heart of the fishing town of Brighthelmstone, is an exciting area of winding alleys and hidden squares and passages. This area offers a vibrant mix of record/CD shops, specialist piercing, clothing, 'new-age' shopping, souvenirs and antiques. The Lanes is also a popular celebrity choice for jewellery shopping! There are also plenty of coffee shops and restaurants, from seafood specialities to gourmet vegetarian, as well as the traditional pubs and franchised eateries. North Laine Between North Street and Trafalgar Street, the station and the Royal Pavilion, lies the hip and funky area of North Laine. Known as the 'cultural quarter' of the city, it boasts 300 individual shops, as well as cafes, bars, pubs and theatres. Shop to your heart’s content, or chill out and people watch! Enjoy The Royal Pavilion with its extravagant oriental style and stunning gardens, and also the exciting exhibits at Brighton Museum & Art Gallery. This area is also where you can find Brighton’s Theatre land. Choose from the Theatre Royal, the Brighton Dome or the Komedia. Beachfront and Piers Famous for its pebble beach and piers, the beachfront area offers a diverse host of attractions, day and night. Visit the Fishing Quarter with its museum, modern art trail and seafront Artists’ Quarter, have a ride on the carousel, hire roller-blades, have a bite to eat in one of the many cafés and bars, or simply watch the world go by from a deckchair! The Sealife Centre is also on the seafront - a good place to go if the rain starts to fall! Brighton has two piers; the main Palace Pier is the only pier in England to be open year-round, and also offers free deck-chair hire. Here you can find everything from amusement arcades and fairground rides and games to souvenir shops, fish and chips and even karaoke! The West pier is slowly descending into the sea but there are restoration schemes on the horizon... By night, the beachfront clubs are open every night of the week. There is also open-air cinema, free performances at the Ellipse area, music on the beach, and shows and concerts at the seafront Brighton Centre. Another popular music and club venue on the seafront is Concorde II. Hove Continue past the West (Old) Pier, and you will find the peace statue marking the entrance to Hove. Here the seafront takes on a more leisurely feel. Take a right turn up one of the Victorian avenues and venture along a mile of cafés and restaurants known locally as ‘the strip’. Brighton Marina Brighton Marina, another celebrity haunt, is one of Europe’s largest Marinas. Here you can see millionaire yachts alongside small pleasure boats. Activities on offer are diving, sailing, boat trips or fishing. This area also serves a range of leisure activities such as tenpin bowling, a big screen cinema, a casino, and also waterfront shops (including a regular French market), bars and restaurants. If you would like more information about Brighton try: www.brightonlife.com www.realbrighton.com www.gaybrighton.com www.travelxl.com www.gaytoz.com