Brief Brighton Introduction Walk
Some things about Brighton I just hate - the excessive drinking and the consequential horrific behaviour concentrated in West Street, the ankle-deep litter in front of Churchill Square Shopping Centre and the ridiculous lack of parking are some of the things that at times put me off visiting Brighton.
Of course all of those problems have become so British that I’d say they should be experienced at least once, if you want a feel for the highly topical Britishness.
Luckily my dislikes become mere dust specks on the fantastic spread of great things that Brighton has to offer, and with the city only an hour away by train from London, it makes a great day trip destination for international visitors.
Despite all of my complaints above, who can really say no to Regency architecture, the Royal Pavilion, North Laine, restaurants serving food from all corners of the world , the Lanes, the smell of the sea, the sound of seagulls and even the two piers - cheesy and burnt out as they may be.
I’ve mapped out a route below that hopefully can serve as a quick introduction to just a few of the things that make Brighton such a great place to visit. It is by no means to be seen as a guide to Brighton, but more as a few samples of what I personally enjoy about Brighton.
The route starts at Brighton station and takes you straight to the charming madness of the North Laine. For a softer landing you could, from the station, walk straight down Queens Road to the beach and reverse the route from the West Pier instead.
Route on map
Route description
1. From Brighton station walk out the main exit and continue down Queens Road, after about 150 metres turn left down Gloucester Road. You’ve now entered the North Laine, which used to be Brighton’s industy centre but is now full of quirky little shops, cafes and restaurants.
2. Continue down Gloucester Road till you reach Kensington Gardens on your right. Walk down Kensington Gardens, which is one of the busiest North Laine streets. Here, amongst other great shops, you’ll find my favourite sweets shop, Caramella.
3. When you reach the end of Kensington Gardens, turn right on to North Road and then immediately left on to Gardner Street. On this busy street, you’ll find anything from live entertainment (Komedia) through to frozen yoghurts and pies.
4. At the end of Gardner Street, cross Church Street and continue down Bond Street. If you find yourself wondering what the queue is for, you’ve probably reached Shakeaway. I have yet to wait it out, but I have it on good authority that the shakes are worth the wait.
5. When you reach the end of Bond Street, you’ve also reached the end of North Laine. Turn left on to North Street and then left again on to New Road. Walk past the row of benches and turn right into the Royal Pavilion gardens. Take time to visit the Palace or relax in the gardens.
6. Leave the Royal Pavilion through the North Gate (with copper dome) on to Church Street. Turn right outside the gate and then right again along Old Steine. You’ll get a nice view of the Royal Pavilion as you walk along here.
7. Continue along Old Steine till you reach St James Street. Cross the road here and walk through the small park, past the Victoria Fountain. As you come out of the park, you should now be able to see Brighton Pier and the sea.
8. Brighton Pier gets very crowded at times, so if you’ve brought children with you, now is the time to keep an extra eye on them. The 524 metre long (1722 feet) pier offers everything you’d expect from a typical British seaside town including a funfair, an arcade, side stalls, ice cream and fish & chips stands. If the queue at the fish & chips stand is too long, you might want to try one along the beach instead.
9. As you leave Brighton Pier turn left and walk down on to the beach. Walking along the beach you’ll find many places to grab a bite to eat, have a drink or just sit and watch people, the sea and the seagulls. Walk past the volleyball and basketball courts to the sad remains of the burnt out West Pier.
10. At the West Pier walk up the stairs to Kings Road. Cross Kings Road and walk up along Regency Square for a taste of just one of Brighton’s many squares.
11. At the top of Regency Square, turn left and then immediately right on to Preston Street. At the top of Preston Street, turn right on to Western Road where you’ll find all the usual high street stores.
12. Continue along Western Road past Churchill Square Shopping Centre and keep right on to North street. Continue down North Street until you reach Meeting House Lane and the Lanes sign. As you turn right down Meeting House Lane you’re entering the Lanes, where this brief taster of Brighton ends. Take your time exploring the narrow streets of the Lanes (Meeting House Lane, Brighton Place and Market Street). If you have time and room for a meal, I can highly recommend Bella Italia in Market Street.
13. When it’s time to catch your train, make your way back up North Street and turn right on to Queens Road, which will take you straight back up to Brighton train station.
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