One way or the other I’ve discovered myself visiting Brighton in winter extra typically than summer season, regardless of being certainly one of my closest stretches of seaside. Nevertheless it hardly issues: with quirky retailers to browse, some nice locations to eat, sensible boutique accommodations and a complete string of points of interest, I’ve had some vastly enjoyable weekend breaks in sunshine and wet days in Brighton with children.
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As a result of whereas town is understood for its quirky, edgy model, I like visiting Brighton with kids. It’s a vastly household pleasant metropolis, so if our household days out is likely to be slightly completely different to my visits pre-daughter, there are nonetheless loads of issues to do in Brighton for teenagers.
Most of those will work year-round (relying on the climate!) and I’ve caught to points of interest in Brighton itself, however you’ve bought Hove on the doorstep in addition to some pretty countryside, historic buildings and extra Sussex days out simply outdoors town, in addition to some implausible sandy seashores in Sussex.
Brighton Sea Life Centre
The world’s oldest working aquarium, it’s solely a shell’s throw away from the ocean itself with greater than 150 creatures to see on the Brighton Sea Life Centre.
Set in placing Victorian constructing, there are common particular exhibitions, in addition to quite a lot of completely different underwater habitats, stamp path, behind the scenes tour, and lots extra to find together with the UK’s first glass-bottom boat inside, actions for teenagers and the now compulsory underwater tunnel.
One of many latest additions is the particular Day and Night time space displaying how the oceans change over the course of 24 hours, together with a bioluminescent seaside.
Save 10% if you happen to guide on-line upfront. Simply among the finest issues to do in Brighton with toddlers.
i360
With its commentary pod rising to 138m up the 162m excessive tower, the British Airways i360 is the nation’s highest commentary tower outdoors London.
Proper on the seafront searching to the previous West Pier, there’s additionally a beachside cafe. On a transparent day you possibly can see for miles alongside the coast, with town’s the most effective views because the Brighton ferris wheel was closed.
Skip the road and guide free cancellation tickets right here.
The Kings Street playground can also be a stone’s throw from the bottom of the i360 for some added enjoyable afterwards (or for one mother or father to amuse youthful children in the event that they don’t fancy hovering as much as the heavens).
The Royal Pavilion
One of many symbols of Brighton, this flamboyantly iconic royal constructing is definitely nice for visiting with children. You should purchase a children’ path for a small charge (50p after we visited) recognizing among the animals dotted all through the opulent rooms, or simply amuse your self discovering all of the dragons on the Royal Pavilion.
And workers will actively encourage you to have a lie down on the carpet within the music room to see the chandelier rising to the gold patterned ceiling.
Tickets could be prebooked or purchased on the door (reserving upfront is really helpful at standard occasions), with free return visits for a 12 months included in an ordinary ticket. There are additionally household tickets obtainable.
Purchase particular person or household tickets with free cancellation right here
Brighton Museum & Artwork Gallery
Within the Royal Pavilion’s gardens, the museum has Historic Egyptian mummies, trend, artwork, reveals about Brighton itself and an LGBTQ path.
Additionally they run particular household classes at half-term and in class holidays, so there’s all the time one thing on for household days out in Brighton.
Tickets could be booked on-line or purchased on the door, and also you get free return entry for a 12 months with normal admission.
Hit the seaside
Whether or not you’re planning to paddle, calm down within the solar or go for a stroll alongside the surf, a go to to the seaside is certainly one of my favorite issues to do with children in Brighton.
The shingle seaside won’t lend itself to sandcastles but it surely’s nice for wandering alongside, even in winter – and also you’ll nonetheless discover folks promoting ice cream.
Promenade alongside the promenade or uncover among the surprising seaside huts, seafood stalls, artist retailers and the Brighton Fishing Museum amongst different surprises alongside the seafront.
Maintain a watch out for the Mechanical Recollections Museum at 250c Kings Street Arches – the UK’s oldest established classic penny arcade, there are nonetheless round 50 classic penny slot machines to play, some courting again to the early 1900s – and Outdated Time Amusements close by.
Good for reliving a little bit of the old school seaside earlier than heading again out to the ocean.
For the greatest sandy seashores in Sussex, we’ve additionally explored alongside the coast to trace down some sandcastle-friendly favourites
Go to Brighton Pier
There’s a mixture of conventional rides, just like the carousel and dodgems, in addition to rollercoasters for older kids on Brighton Palace Pier.
It’s positively not simply old school enjoyable although, with updates like VR headsets to put on on the Tornado, for instance. Or if you happen to’re visiting Brighton with youthful children, there’s an enormous four-storey mushy play space for kids 90cm and taller to discover – plus a toddler space for little ones below 0.9m as effectively.
Purchase your wristbands on-line upfront, and it can save you as much as 25% in comparison with paying on the day, with completely different choices for kids of various heights.
Plus you’ll additionally discover eating places serving all the pieces from whelks to doughnuts, fish and chips and pizza plus Brighton rock (naturally).
Fly on the zip line
Zoom above the seaside and seafront on the longest and quickest zip line on the south coast of England – because it’s a twin zip line, you possibly can even race your loved ones and pals.
After climbing to the 32 excessive platform close to Brighton Pier, you possibly can pace above the shingle on the 300m lengthy zipwire to the touchdown stage on the seaside itself – designed to appear to be the hull of a ship.
Accessible for age 6+ (so long as you’re 1.3m tall), it takes round 45 minutes and you should put on closed-toe sneakers. Purchase skip-the-line tickets right here.
Wander the Lanes
Good if you happen to’re visiting with teenagers (or tweens) however there’s one thing for pre-schoolers within the Lanes too.
Between the homewares, trend, classic and boutiques, the Portray Pottery Cafe lets you’re taking your creations dwelling the identical day, or choose up a few days later.
Or take a look at the most recent occasions at Komedia, which incorporates some nice Brighton children’ reveals among the many performances.
Half the enjoyable is simply strolling and shopping, with loads of kitsch among the many stylish… to not point out a complete string of locations to seize an ice cream if you might want to bribe/reward smaller family members. Try Brass Monkey ice cream and Boho Gelato amongst others.
There are many locations to eat across the Lanes too – sadly Rock Ola, with its retro American vibe and pancakes has shut, though if you happen to head again in the direction of the seafront, JB’s American Diner has the same really feel.
Volks Electrical Railway
Inbuilt 1883, it’s Britain’s oldest electrical railway and runs for simply over a mile alongside the beachfront, from the Pier to Brighton Marina – good for small drained legs.
This one isn’t year-round although, usually you possibly can usually trip the Volks Electrical Railway from round Easter to the tip of September.
After a serious renovation undertaking in 2018, and being compelled to shut quickly throughout lockdown, trains might be operating from April 2023 (topic to the climate).
No have to prebook tickets, and canines are additionally welcome on board.
Sales space Museum of Pure Historical past
Based as a Victorian collector’s non-public museum, the Sales space Museum is a kind of barely eccentric collections that the UK appears to specialize in – countless circumstances of birds displayed of their pure setting (full with eagles pouncing on lambs) plus skeletons and dinosaur bones.
Youthful children will in all probability be fascinated by it, together with the 2 bears on the entrance, older ones may discover it a bit creepier.
Free to enter, though you need to stroll by the small present store on the way in which out and in.
Brighton Toy Museum
A whopping 4 thousand sq. toes dedicated to toys and fashions, with greater than 10,000 within the assortment on the Brighton Toy Museum.
Sitting below town’s station, there’s loads of mannequin trains for mini practice spotters, plus traditional teddy bears, Dinky automobiles and puppets.
Good for reliving your individual childhood on the identical time. The museum is closed on Sundays and Mondays, so if you happen to’re visiting on the weekend, be sure it’s first in your record.
Tickets could be prebooked on-line or purchased on arrival.
The Outdated Police Cells
One for older children, the combo of native police memorabilia and tales of extra ugly crimes sits alongside among the previous cells themselves below Brighton’s City Corridor.
You must be a part of a guided tour to go to the Outdated Police Cells – at present there are two operating at 10.30 and 11.30 on Saturdays, with extra occasions anticipated for 2023, or greater teams can even guide by appointment.
There’s additionally a brand new household path and reveals on ladies in policing coming for 2023.
The Upside Down Home
One in all a number of Upside Down Homes throughout the UK, it’s big enjoyable watching everybody apparently standing on the ceiling or in any other case defying the legal guidelines of gravity.
Simple to pop into, on the seafront reverse West Pier, seize a couple of pictures within the weirdest positions you’ll find – stretch out to seize a cup, bounce off the partitions or glue your self to the ceiling alongside the way in which.
There are two flooring to discover (the bottom flooring is accessible however there are stairs to the higher flooring)
Tickets could be prebooked on-line, and you’ve got 20 minutes inside (no re-entry) so it’s effectively value trying out among the pictures on-line for inspiration earlier than you go.
The Cauldon
Add some magic to your day trip in Brighton with children with a go to to The Cauldron, the place you possibly can refuel with a spot of potion making.
After a welcome drink poured by magic wand, you’ll even be outfitted with a wand of your individual to brew up two extra molecular cocktails – non-alcoholic variations additionally included.
The potion making expertise is about inside a wizard-themed bar and restaurant and is just appropriate for teenagers aged 5+, with particular weekday and Sunday time slots obtainable for households.
Take a free strolling tour
Uncover a facet of Brighton that many guests by no means see on a strolling tour with one of many Brighton Greeters.
A part of the Worldwide Greeters community, it matches native residents with guests (so you need to guide upfront) to present you a free tailor-made tour of town – often round two hours lengthy.
Youngsters are welcome too, so it’s a good way to get an perception into town and discover your bearings firstly of a visit.
Try the Treasure Map Trails assortment, together with the Brighton Pavilion map for an additional enjoyable approach to discover Brighton with children – get 10% off utilizing code MUMMYTRAVELS.
Brighton Bike Tour
The household model of the Brighton Bike Excursions takes you previous the sights and alongside the seafront, with a information to indicate you the most effective cycle routes and let you know all concerning the metropolis.
The common tour lasts round 2 1/2 hours if you happen to’re visiting with older children (tickets could be reserved upfront, pay nearer to the time with free cancellation choices).
Or contact them straight for personal household tour choices, which should be booked upfront. There’s additionally bike rent if you happen to fancy exploring solo, in addition to the Brighton Bikeshare scheme (anticipated to restart once more in 2023).
Brighton Bus Tour
Open-top bus excursions are all the time a very good choice if you happen to’re visiting with youthful children – good for seeing among the highlights whereas saving your power for extra exploring later.
The Metropolis Sightseeing tour of Brighton – which runs from April to October – together with the hop-on hop-off bus tour but additionally provides you limitless bus journey on all Brighton and Hove bus companies if you wish to discover additional afield.
There’s an audio information to present you extra background on the stops alongside the route, with greater than 10 locations to hop on and off, ranging from Brighton Pier and passing the Royal Pavilion alongside the way in which.
You possibly can guide tickets with one or two day validity, together with a reduction utilizing my code MUMMYTRAVELS6 if you happen to guide by this hyperlink.
Preston Park
Whereas the seafront is likely one of the metropolis’s largest points of interest for households, if you happen to’re in search of some inexperienced house throughout your journey to Brighton with children, Preston Park is the largest in Brighton.
A 15-minute bus journey from the centre (or round 10 minutes by bike), it’s certainly one of eight award-winning Inexperienced Flag parks, and infrequently hosts occasions together with circuses, festivals and live shows plus different household actions.
However everytime you go to, save a while to discover The Rockery, with walkways main by the streams and waterways – simply throughout the street from the principle park.
And don’t miss recognizing the final of the ‘Preston Twins’, thought-about to be the most important and oldest elm tree in Europe – its twin, sadly, fell sufferer to illness a few years in the past – over in the direction of Preston Manor within the north of the park.
The Open Market
After a giant redevelopment, the historic market on London street now homes greater than 50 native companies for an opportunity to seize some nice meals or snaffle a memento.
It’s a enjoyable choice if you happen to’re in search of locations to eat in Brighton with children – mini foodies will love the selection, with all the pieces from Korean and sushi to falafel, Greek and Bangladeshi, together with conventional faves for extra choosy children like sausage rolls.
Alongside the way in which there’s natural chocolate, a French patisserie, artwork and crafts, classic trend and collectibles.
For extra issues to do in Sussex with children, take a look at my high picks, together with extra concepts for east Sussex
**First revealed 2015, up to date 2023**
PIN FOR LATER: THINGS TO DO IN BRIGHTON WITH KIDS
Disclosure: I’ve beforehand obtained free entry to the Sea Life Centre but additionally paid to go to: all selections for this record of issues to do in Brighton with children and opinions stay my very own. This put up incorporates affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I could obtain a small fee
Pictures: Deckchairs, aquarium exterior, Pavilion, the other way up home and promenade courtesy of Depositphotos; i360 courtesy of VisitBritain; Preston Park courtesy of Picfair; all others copyright MummyTravels
