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Where to go and what to do
Brighton is a great city to be a student. As a city with two universities, it has all the amenities expected of a thriving cosmopolitan community - theatres, museums, art galleries and leisure facilities and also has a superb variety of shops and restaurants. It is an extremely popular city - with residents and visitors alike - and as such hosts a range of cultural and sporting events throughout the year.
Britain's favourite seaside city, Brighton is ideally placed to enjoy some of the most beautiful countryside in the south of England and for those who want to venture futher afield, the limitless attractions of London are less than an hour away by train.
Arts & Culture
Home to England's largest arts festival, Brighton & Hove has a lively art scene all year round.
The Brighton Festival attracts thousands of people to hundreds of events for three weeks in May. There's everything from contemporary dance to comedy, operas to exhibitions and circuses to street theatre.
A must-see is the Royal Pavilion. Built between 1815 and 1822 as a summer palace for the Price Regent, who later became King George IV, it is one of the most dazzling and exotic buildings in Britain. Brighton Dome is also part of the historic Pavilion Estate and hosts a packed, year-round programme of live music, dance, theatre, comedy and family events.
There are many museums and art galleries in the city, including Brighton Art Gallery & Museum, Brighton Toy & Model Museum and the weird but wonderful Booth Museum of Natural History.
Take a walk along the seafront and you'll find Brighton Seafront Artists' Quarter where local artists make and sell unique souvenirs and gifts in converted fisherman's quarters.
One of the oldest cinemas in the country, the Duke of York shows the best in classic, independent and foreign language releases. Upstairs is a balcony and cafe where you can enjoy a drink and homemade cake before the performance.
At almost 200 years old, the Theatre Royal is the most historic performance venue in the city. You can catch previews of West End shows before they transfer to London, plus comedies, musicals and a spectacular Christmas pantomime.
Outdoor Life
The city is surrounded by easily-accessible countryside - cream teas and castles, English wines and windmills, there's something for everyone. You can escape from the city by bus to the scenic viewpoint and popular picnic spot Devil’s Dyke, or join the South Downs Way for a spot of paragliding, walking, riding or mountain-biking. Arundel, Lewes and Hastings are historic local towns which are well worth a visit.
The beach is a great place to meet up with friends during the summer for sun-bathing, barbeques and sports. You can play volleyball, basketball or try a range of watersports - wakeboarding, waterskiing, powerboat driving, windsurfing and sailing. You can also take boat and fishing trips out of Brighton Marina.
Prefer to stay on dry land? Why not enjoy a spot of the number one UK summer sport at the Sussex County Cricket Club, just over the road from our Brighton centre.
Social Scene
Shopping
The main shopping centre, Churchill Square, with all the usual UK high street stores can be found in the centre of town. You can also find a selection of outlet and discount shops at Brighton Marina.
For something a little different, and a taste of what makes Brighton special, head down to North Laine. Here you'll find a bohemian collection of over 300 unusual shops selling everything from bonsai trees to vegetarian shoes, 37 cafes, 22 pubs, four theatres, two museums and an award winning library, all in less than half a square mile.
Visit The Lanes, Brighton's 'old town', to see how the town might have looked in the 17th century. The former heart of the fishing village is now a maze of narrow passages housing a variety of shops, cafes and bars.
Nightlife
Brighton's nightclub scene is legendary and is home to word famous DJs like Fat Boy Slim. Choose from jazz, soul, R&B, funk, house, salsa, 60s, 70s and 80s! It is feelgood and friendly, and anything goes.
You can catch live music at a range of venues - from the intimate Concorde Club to the vast Brighton Centre. Komedia, in the North Laine, is also a superb place to catch live music, comedy, caberet and theatre events.
Chinese, Goan, Indian, Italian, Lebanese, Mexican - you can sample food from all over the world in Brighton & Hove's 400 cafes and restaurants. Foodie areas are The Lanes, Church Street in Hove, Seven Dials and Kemp Town. Alternatively, why not try one of Brighton & Hove's bars and pubs. Legend has it that there is one for every day of the year!
Fun
All the traditional fun of a British seaside can be found on Brighton Pier - fish and chips, fortune tellers, side stalls, amusement arcades, karaoke and a fun fair!
Spend the day at Brighton Marina, which with berths for over 1,000 yachts is the largest marina in the UK. This modern development offers a range of shops, bars and restaurants, as well as a cinema and bowling complex. Get there by tuctuc or, in the summer, take the Volks Electric Railway - the oldest electric railway in the world.
"This is my second year in England. I like it very much. It’s very, very friendly, and a beautiful country. I think the sea in Brighton & Hove is very pretty. In the evenings I watch a movie with my friends, go and have dinner, something like that. I like sports very much – I often play basketball with my friends in Hove Park."
Jie Liu from China
