Things to do in Brighton and Sussex

Brighton is London's closest proper seaside town, roughly 1 hour by direct train from Victoria or London Bridge, and it splits neatly into a few parts: Brighton Pier for arcade games and fried food over the water, the Lanes for narrow shopping streets and the Royal Pavilion's domes just behind the seafront.

The beach itself is shingle, not sand, so leave the beach towel plans flexible. A few miles east along the coast, the Seven Sisters chalk cliffs offer a quieter, greener alternative to the more famous White Cliffs of Dover — walkable from Seaford or Eastbourne, with no entry fee for the coastal path itself.

Sea temperatures stay cold even in July, and cloud cover is common; check tide times before any cliff-top walk, since the path can close in poor weather.