24 hours in (crazy cool) Brighton

I’m in love with Brighton and thank my lucky stars that I get to live and work here. When I got the chance to share my favorite tips for this seaside stunner, I jumped at the opportunity and started feverishly jotting down what a perfect day in Brighton would look like. From cozy lanes to tons of independent shops and cafes, Brighton’s full of gems you’ll need far more than 24 hours to explore. But 24 hours will get you started and will – I offer you my guarantee – make you fall in love with this chilled out city of mine.

9:00: Fuel up

Start the day with a hearty English breakfast, Brighton-style. My favorite is Kensingtons Café, at 1a Kensington Gardens in the North Laines. Try their traditional English try-up complete with beans, sausages and toast, or order a lighter, healthier alternative. Whatever you order, make sure you order enough – you’ll need all the fuel you can get to get through my awesome itinerary!

10:30: Stroll around the North Laines

Continue your day with a casual stroll around North Laines, an always vibrant and colorful neighborhood just 2 minutes from Brighton Station. The North Laines are probably my favorite part of Brighton. There are just so many quirky, unique little shops around, and you’ll find truly cool souvenirs here that you won’t find anywhere else and will actually want to keep forever. One of my all-time favorite shops in the North Laines is Snoopers Paradise – it sells anything and everything. You name it and Snoopers Paradise has got it! It’s even got a super cool, old-school photo booth which is great fun with friends.

12:00: Hit up the seaside

After all the shopping and strolling, head out to the seaside. There’s just no better feeling than sitting on the beach, feeling the breeze and listening to the gentle waves crash on the pretty pebble beach while soaking up some much-needed sun; a peaceful, blissful moment amid all the crazy hustle of the city.

In the mood for something more active? Go for a walk along the beach, have a coffee in one of the seaside cafes, or ride on the Brighton Wheel, right off the famous and oh-so beautiful Brighton Pier. Which brings me to your next must-do…

13:30: Have fun on the Pier

You can’t come to Brighton without taking a walk along the Brighton Pier and having an ice cream there. And while you’re there, kill two very British birds with one stone and have a fish & chips lunch there as well. This is pretty much a must for any self-respecting Brighton-visitor, so make sure you spend a good few hours here. After eating, check out the stalls, have a go in the arcades, play air hockey, have your fortune told, go on a little boat ride, or hope on one of the awesome fairground rides. My favorite ride is the log flume – it’s crazy fun and really makes you feel like you’re going to swoop right into the sea!

16:00: Soak up some culture

Late afternoon and you still need to tick off a few Brighton boxes. After the Pier, head off to see the Royal Pavilion. It’s absolutely beautiful inside and you can get an audio guide that will give you much more information on the history and cultural importance of this unusual Brighton icon.

19:00: Feel like a kid again

In the city with a group of friends? I’d recommend squeezing in an hour of laser tag before heading out to dinner. Running around in the dark, hiding behind corners and sneaking up on people and shooting them with your Star Wars-inspired laser gun is guaranteed to make you feel like a kid again and work up that appetite…

20:00: Snap a sunset selfie and sit down for dinner

Before you sit down at one of the restaurants on the South Laines (you’ll be spoiled for choice here with tons of Italian, English, Vegan and Asian options), don’t miss the stunning sunset at the beach; an absolutely favorite of all shutterbugs and Instagram addicts like me!

22:30: Just dance

Time to round off a beautiful day with some dancing (seriously, is there any better way?). Head over to my favorite night club, Coalition, on King’s Road Arches, by the sea. It’s a chilled out spot that hosts super fun and always full student nights almost every day of the week.  (For over 18’s only.)

01:00: Hit the sack

Time to hit the sack and recover from a perfect Brighton day. If you’re lucky enough to have more than one day in my favorite city, don’t forget to hit up Primark – the cheap and cheerful fashion emporium near Churchill Square – the next morning. If not, come back soon. Seriously – you’ve only just scratched the surface of this cooler-than-cool coastal town.

Images: Top: Les Chatfield, From top left to bottom right: Dominic Alves, Beverly Goodwill, Nick Page and Thomas Maltby. All Flickr / Creative Commons.