Brighton Bus Tour: Open-Top Sightseeing Across the City
One open-top loop links almost everything you came to Brighton to see. The Palace Pier, the Royal Pavilion, the i360, the seafront and the Marina all sit on a 12-stop route, and a hop-on hop-off ticket lets you jump off at any of them, then catch the next bus along. On a clear day the top deck is the best seat in town.
Written with Oliver Bennett, guiding Brighton sightseeing since 2022
Rating, review count and ranking are the operator's current Viator and Tripadvisor figures, not our own.
Short answer
Yes, Brighton has an open-top hop-on hop-off bus tour. It is run by City Sightseeing Brighton on a 12-stop Red Route that runs from the Palace Pier out to the Marina, with recorded commentary in seven languages and free headphones. A full loop takes about 50 minutes, tickets are valid for one or two days and also cover Brighton & Hove city buses, and the tour holds a 4.6 across 162 Viator reviews with a Badge of Excellence.
Brighton is walkable in patches, but the good bits are spread out. The pier and the Lanes sit at the centre, the i360 and West Pier are along the front, the Pavilion is a few streets inland, and the Marina is a fair way east past the cliffs. The open-top loop threads all of it together, so you see the lot without wearing out your feet. This is the tour we feature, and you can check today's price and dates on the official listing in about two minutes.
Viator Badge of Excellence
Best for first-time visitors, families and short stays
City Sightseeing Brighton Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
4.6across 162 Viator reviews, 93% recommend · 4.5 on Tripadvisor (#1 of 32 transport in Brighton)
Open-top double-decker on a 12-stop Red Route, from Palace Pier to Brighton Marina, about a 50-minute full loop
Hop on and off all day; choose a 1-day or 2-day ticket that also covers Brighton & Hove city buses
Recorded commentary in 7 languages with free headphones, plus 30% off SEA LIFE and 15% off the Royal Pavilion
From $20 per adult, shown for your date and currency on Viator
Opens the operator's official Viator listing, where the live price and running times for your date are shown.
What you'll see from the open-top deck
The route is basically Brighton's greatest hits in one loop. These are the stops most people plan their day around, and the tour ticket even bundles discounts for some of them.
Brighton Palace Pier
Stop 1 and the tour's main boarding point. The pier's arcades, rides and fish-and-chips are free to wander; the bus drops you right at the entrance.
The Royal Pavilion
George IV's Indo-Chinese fantasy palace, a short walk from Stop 8. Your bus ticket includes 15% off entry, or you can book a Royal Pavilion ticket ahead.
The Lanes & the seafront
Twisting jewellers' alleys, pastel houses and the beach are all central. Along the front you pass the i360, where you can book an i360 flight for the 138-metre view.
For a first visit, or a hot day when you would rather not walk miles, it earns its keep. Riders say the same three things: the top deck is a great way to see a lot fast, the seven-language commentary is easy to follow, and the ticket doubling as a normal bus pass is a genuine bonus. The honest caveat is the open top: on a grey or wet day the views suffer, and in the quieter months buses run hourly rather than every half hour.
"I really enjoyed the tour bus in Brighton because it was a relaxing way to see all the main sights without having to worry about directions. The open-top view was fantastic, and the commentary using the headphones made it easy to learn interesting facts."
Jennifer, GetYourGuide review, Aug 2025
"The tour was a great experience and provided very informative insights about the sites around Brighton. I found the price reasonable, especially since it offered discounts at many different sites."
The Red Route is a single 12-stop loop, and you can join it at any stop. Most people start at the Palace Pier (Stop 1), which is also the easiest place to buy or redeem a ticket. Here is the running order.
Stop
Where it drops you
1
Brighton Palace Pier (main boarding stop)
2
West Pier / i360
3
407 Grand Avenue (Hove seafront)
4
Palmeira Square
5
Seven Dials
6
Brighton Station
7
Jubilee Clock Tower (for the Lanes & North Laine)
8
Brighton Pavilion (for the Royal Pavilion & Museum)
9
The Level
10
Brighton Racecourse
11
Brighton Marina
12
Paston Place (for Volk's Railway & Kemptown)
Ticket
1-day or 2-day hop-on hop-off, from $20 per adult on Viator. The ticket also covers Brighton & Hove city buses.
Full loop
About 50 minutes if you stay on the bus the whole way.
How often
Every 30 minutes in peak season (24 May to 13 Sep), then hourly (19 Sep to 1 Nov). First bus around 10am, last around 5pm.
Season
Open-top, so it runs spring to autumn rather than year-round. It does not run on Brighton Pride day.
Commentary
Recorded, in seven languages, with free headphones.
Accessibility
The lower deck is wheelchair and buggy accessible; the open top deck is reached by stairs.
Cancellation
Free up to 24 hours before, through Viator.
Price
Shown live on the Viator listing for your date and currency. We do not print prices that can go stale.
The main boarding stop is right by the Palace Pier on the seafront, a few minutes from the Lanes and a ten-minute walk downhill from Brighton Station. If you are arriving by train, the loop is an easy first move: it gets you oriented before you decide where to spend the day.
Who the Brighton bus tour suits
It is not for everyone, and that is fine. Here is who tends to get the most from it.
A good fit if you are
Visiting Brighton for the first time and want the lay of the land fast
Travelling with kids, or with anyone who tires on long walks
Down for a day trip from London and short on time
Planning to visit the Pavilion, SEA LIFE or i360 anyway (the ticket discounts them)
Maybe skip it if you are
Staying a week and happy to walk everywhere at your own pace
Visiting in deep winter, when the open-top service pauses
Only here for the beach and the pier, both a short stroll apart
Yes. City Sightseeing Brighton runs an open-top hop-on hop-off tour on a 12-stop Red Route from the Palace Pier to the Marina. A full loop is about 50 minutes, and your ticket lets you get off at any stop and rejoin a later bus all day.
How much is the Brighton bus tour?
Tickets start from about $20 per adult on the operator's Viator listing, which shows the live price for your date and currency. A ticket is valid for one or two days depending on the option you pick, and it also covers Brighton & Hove city buses, so it doubles as a day pass.
How long does the tour take and how often do buses run?
The full loop is roughly 50 minutes without hopping off. Buses run every 30 minutes at peak season (late May to mid-September) and hourly into the autumn, with the first bus around 10am and the last around 5pm.
Does the bus tour run in winter?
It is an open-top service, so it runs spring through autumn rather than all year. If you are visiting in the depths of winter, the regular Brighton & Hove buses still reach every sight on the route.
Is the Brighton bus tour worth it, or should I just walk?
Central Brighton, the pier and the Lanes are walkable in twenty minutes. The bus earns its keep when you also want the Marina, the i360 and Hove, which are spread along the coast, or when you are short on time or energy. On a clear day the open-top views are the selling point.
Is the tour suitable for wheelchairs and buggies?
The lower deck is wheelchair and buggy accessible and service animals are welcome. The open-top upper deck is reached by stairs, so the best views involve a short climb.
What does the ticket include besides the bus?
As well as unlimited rides on the tour, the ticket gives you unlimited travel on Brighton & Hove city buses, recorded commentary in seven languages with free headphones, and partner discounts including 30% off SEA LIFE Brighton and 15% off the Royal Pavilion.
Why trust this Brighton bus tour guide
Oliver Bennett has guided sightseeing around Brighton since 2022 and has shown the city to well over a thousand visitors. He knows which stops are worth hopping off at and which you can admire from the top deck. Every figure and rule on this page comes from the operator's official Viator listing and cross-checked sources, not from memory.
Pick your date on the operator's official Viator listing, where today's price and running times are shown. With free cancellation up to 24 hours before, reserving early costs nothing.
