2 days in Brighton | what to see and do

Well hello to you my reader chums! If you follow my Instagram, then you would have seen I spent my birthday in Brighton. Brighton is one of my favourite cities; it has that city vibe with a beach appeal and calm atmosphere. I grew up by the coast, and love any destination with a beach really - so it made perfect sense to spend my birthday exploring Brighton. 

Day 1  - Brighton Pier, the Lanes exploring and city shopping

I set off on my birthday around 11am and got to Brighton at lunchtime, where the sun was at its highest. Every time I've visited Brighton previously I was never lucky with the weather, however this time, it was legitimate summer weather - perfect to celebrate my birthday.

Once I arrived in Brighton and parked the car, I set off exploring before checking into the hotel. Naturally, my first stop was the famous pier as that's one of my favourite spots in Brighton and makes for a lovely stroll. I stopped for a Pimms and a classic fish and chips, whilst soaking up the sunshine before heading into the Lanes.


Brighton Pier

Brighton pier fish and chips

Brighton pebbled beach

Brigton beach and pier

The Lanes are one of the cutest things about Brighton. Picture tucked away individual stores, cafes, and everyone's favourite chains lined with colourful bunting. My first stop was to try the famous Boho Gelato. I've heard so much about this ice cream but never tried it on my previous visits. I can see why it's raved about, I'd put it up there with the best ice cream I've ever tried! I chose the carrot cake and blueberry muffin flavours and they were absolutely delicious. It literally tasted just like cake!

boho gelato brighton

weekend in brighton

After a browse around the shops, I went to check into our hotel, The Lanes Hotel and it's safe to say, I was blown away! The spacious room had a four-poster bed and perfect views of the sea - it felt like pure luxury. I chilled there for a while and soaked up the view before heading to the North Laine area. Brighton always makes for a lovely walk, and from the hotel, I detoured through Pavilion Gardens and saw the Royal Pavilion to North Laine. This area is a wide selection of unique shops, chain stores, and eating establishments. As there weren't any individual restaurants that took our eye, I chose Bella Italia for my birthday dinner, as it's one of the more luxurious chains. I enjoyed a beautiful feast of delicious pasta, desserts, and cocktails.

The day ended with a taxi ride back to the hotel and watching the day turn to night on one of the longest days of the year. Hello, a 9pm sunset! 

weekend in brighton

Day 2 - Beach relaxing and brunching in the city

The second day began waking up to the bright blue skies shining above Brighton's sea, and a delicious hotel breakfast. I love hotel breakfasts; fruit, classic English egg, and soldiers and pastries, you really can't beat it.

Brighton hotel views of the beach

Brighton fairground rides

I then ventured back to the pier to go on the rides (the Magic Mouse is my favourite) and have a play in the arcades. Then, I took a stroll down one of the walkways by the pier as there are plenty of beach-themed shops. I took a look around those and then sat down on the beach. I didn't get a chance to sit on the beach the day before, so spent a while soaking up the sunshine and chatting about everything and anything. The beach is my favourite place, as wherever you are in the world, you can always find a beach to escape to, and relax.

Brighton pebbled beach

As I began to get a little peckish for lunch, I left the beach and headed back to the Lanes to find a café. I came across the Lost in the Lanes café, and I could recommend it enough! The rustic interior is every blogger and Instagrammer dream with a menu to match. It's one of those restaurants that when you walk in, you want to take a picture of it all. There are baked goods on the counter, a freshly produced menu, and a selection of local drinks. I chose the strawberry lemonade (very fresh to say the least), an acai bowl. This cake had mousse-icing and caramel sauce oozing from every bite. 

Lost in the Lanes cafe Brighton

After lunch, I bid goodbye to Brighton and headed home. Brighton is the city of beach life, shops, quirky cafes, and a super cool vibe, and I'd recommend it to anyone who hasn't visited. 

Things to know before going to Brighton
  • Parking can be very pricey - Parking in any city is always tricky and it's good to plan in advance. If you're staying overnight, check if your hotel has parking, otherwise, the only car parks I'm aware of that are open at all hours are the multi-story ones. These workouts around £25 for 12-24 hours. You can also use the Just Park app (my latest discovery) which shows you all the available parking spots in the area for the period of time you'll be there.
  •  Get the ride pass - If you'd like to spend an afternoon at the pier, using the rides, it's worthwhile buying the day pass. Otherwise, individually the rides can work out £5 each, per person, which can add up. 
  •  Everything is accessible on foot - The best thing about exploring in Brighton is how accessible all the highlights are. The pier, beach, and the Lanes are super close to each other, and the station is also conveniently located. 
  • Deck chairs - If you're looking to chill on deck chairs, it's worth noting they're free on the pier, but you have to hire them on the beach. 
  • Enjoy the cool vibes - Brighton is a unique city and a lovely day out whether it's your first or 100th time. There's just something about the vibe that's ever so different and I love it, so ultimately enjoy your time there. 
What a beautiful birthday! Brighton, your calm vibe and super cute beach area will always have my heart. Here's to a year of being 22! 

I hope you enjoyed this birthday post. What's your favourite thing about Brighton?

Thank you for reading <3

8 comments

  1. Such a lovely birthday post, Della, glad you enjoyed your birthday!😊 I'm in love with your pictures btw!😊

    Xoxo
    Shirley | https://shirleycuypers.blogspot.be

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  2. Glad you had a fab birthday! I'm going to Brighton in August and I'm so excited because I've heard so many wonderful things about it :) x

    -Charlotte / myownblogofthoughts.blogspot.com

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    1. Thank you! Aw I hope you enjoy yourself - it's a beautiful city xx

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  3. Your pictures are so lovely! I love that you always put hints and tips at the end of your posts! Super helpful! X

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    1. Thank you lovely - I'm glad you like the tips!xx

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  4. Your pictures are beautiful! I've only been to Brighton once and deffo need to go back - it's so Instagramable!

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