Brighton Palace Pier
The marquee stop: rides, arcades and sea air, free to walk on. Stop 1 on the loop.
Things to do in Brighton
Brighton packs a lot into a small stretch of coast: a Regency palace, a century-old pier, twisting shopping lanes, a glass tower and a beach that runs for miles. Here are the sights worth your time, and the neat trick that most first-timers miss: almost every one of them is a stop on the open-top bus loop.
Written with Oliver Bennett, guiding Brighton sightseeing since 2022
Short answer
The essential things to do in Brighton are the Palace Pier, the Royal Pavilion, the Lanes and North Laine, the seafront and beach, the British Airways i360, and SEA LIFE. You can see the lot in a day, and because they sit along one coastal route, the open-top hop-on hop-off bus links them without a long walk between each.
The top sights, and where they sit on the bus route
Every sight below is on or beside the 12-stop open-top loop. That is the point of the [tour](/tours/city-sightseeing-brighton-hop-on-hop-off/): it strings the highlights together so you spend your energy on the sights, not the walking between them.
| Sight | Why go | Bus stop |
|---|---|---|
| Brighton Palace Pier | Arcades, rides and fish and chips over the sea, free to wander | Stop 1 |
| British Airways i360 | A glass pod to 138 metres for a 26-mile view | Stop 2 |
| The Lanes & North Laine | Jewellers' alleys and bohemian shopping streets | Stop 7 |
| Royal Pavilion | George IV's Indo-Saracenic seaside palace | Stop 8 |
| SEA LIFE Brighton | The world's oldest operating aquarium, from 1872 | Near Stop 1 |
| Brighton Marina & Kemptown | Waterside bars, and Brighton's bohemian quarter | Stops 11 to 12 |
If you plan to visit several, the maths is simple: a day ticket that also works on the city buses usually beats paying for taxis between them, and it comes with the open-top views thrown in. You can check the bus ticket price on Viator, or read the full route and stops first.
Brighton's landmark attractions
The Royal Pavilion
George IV's fantasy palace, a minute from Stop 8. Bus ticket gets 15% off entry.
Seafront
British Airways i360
A glass viewing pod to 138 metres for the widest view on the coast. Stop 2.
Kemptown
Brighton's bohemian quarter of pastel terraces and indie cafés. Stop 12.
Plan your day, whatever the weather
Brighton rewards a plan, especially if it rains or you have only a few hours. These guides sort the day for you.
One day in Brighton
A tried itinerary built around the open-top loop, sight by sight.
Brighton in the rain
The indoor sights: Pavilion, SEA LIFE, the Museum and the arcades.
Free things to do
The beach, the pier, the gardens and the lanes cost nothing to enjoy.
See them all on the open-top loop
The easiest way to link the sights above, especially on a first visit, is the hop-on hop-off bus. It is the same coast the i360 looks down on, seen from the top deck.
Viator Badge of Excellence
Best for first-time visitors, families and short stays
City Sightseeing Brighton Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
- 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
Check live availability & prices on Viator →
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Ratings are the operator's current Viator and Tripadvisor figures; check the listing for today's price.
Things to do in Brighton: common questions
What is Brighton famous for?
Brighton is famous for its Palace Pier, the Indo-Saracenic Royal Pavilion, the shopping lanes, a long pebble beach, and a lively, open-minded seaside culture. The i360 tower and SEA LIFE, the world's oldest aquarium, round out the headline sights.
What can you do in Brighton for free?
Plenty. The beach and seafront, the Palace Pier itself, the Royal Pavilion gardens, and wandering the Lanes and North Laine all cost nothing. Our free things to do guide has the full list.
How do you get around the Brighton sights?
The centre is walkable, but the sights spread along the coast from Hove to the Marina. The open-top hop-on hop-off bus links them in one loop, and the ticket also works on the normal city buses. See our getting around guide for the alternatives.
Is one day enough for Brighton?
For the highlights, yes. A single day covers the pier, the Pavilion, the Lanes and the seafront comfortably, especially if you use the bus to skip the walking. Two days lets you add the Marina, Hove and a coastal day trip.